Touro University International Essays (1393 words) -

Touro University International James L. White ETH 501 Module 4, Case Assignment Dr. Steven J. Gold INTRODUCTION The purpose of this report is to discuss my opinion on the question "Should disabled veterans get preferential treatment over better qualified candidates who are not disabled veterans?" By discussing these topics, I hope to offer some knowledge on preferential treatment in the work place. I will conclude this report with a brief summary of the entire analysis, highlighting some of the most significant parts that the report contains. DVAAP VS Affirmative action The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) describes the Disabled Veterans Affirmative Action Program as," Veterans' preference in its present form comes from the Veterans' Preference Act of 1944, as amended, and is now codified in various provisions of title 5, United States Code. By law, veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during certain specified time periods or in military campaigns are entitled to preference over others in hiring from competitive lists of eligible's and also in retention during reductions in force." (OPM, 2006). This tells me that as an active duty member depended upon the time frame in which I have served my country, when I become a veteran I am entitled to employment preference over my peers. The Feminist Majority Foundation defines Affirmative Action as a program that seeks, "to remedy past discrimination against women, minorities, and others by increasing the recruitment, promotion, retention, and on-the-job training opportunities in employment and by removing barriers to admission to educational institutions. Because of the long history of discrimination based on sex and race, most affirmative action programs have been directed towards improving employment and education opportunities for women and minorities." (Feminist Majority Foundation, 2000). In my own words affirmative action makes it illegal to discriminate against an individual based upon race, religion or gender. The legal origins for this comes from, "Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 11246, as amended by Executive Order 11375 in 1967, provided the initial legal basis for affirmative action for women in employment in the United States. Title VII prohibits discrimination by any employer or labor union on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) was established to enforce Title VII, although the agency only began to enforce the sex discrimination prohibition in the late 1960s and only after intense pressure from women's organizations." (Feminist Majority Foundation, 2000). I believe that affirmative action and the Disabled Veterans Affirmative Action Program are similar. The goal with both programs is to ensure everyone has an equal right to employment without being discriminated against. For an example, in the past many women were not offered certain jobs or promotions because of their gender, in today's society we still have steps to take, however affirmative action clearly makes discriminatorily practices illegal. In 1996 Ruth Barnard from the School of Nursing at the University of Michigan had this to say about affirmative action "Yes Affirmative action was and is needed to achieve full gender equity in employment. Despite 30 years of non-discrimination law, gender prejudice and discrimination still persist...The proportion of women in regular University of Michigan faculty appointment is low, and most are in the low paid non-tenured positions." (Barnard, January 16, 2006). I can see the similarities when I look at the preferences for disabled veterans. Since the civil war veterans have struggled to find jobs after their military obligation was up. An Organization called Disabled American Veterans (DAV) had this to say about opportunities for disabled veterans, "...the wake of World War I, when thousands of American doughboys came home to an America that was not prepared to care for the carnage of war. More than 4.7 million Americans served, 53,500 were lost in combat. Accidents and illnesses (mostly from the deadly Spanish flu pandemic) took the lives of 63,000. More than 200,000 soldiers were wounded during the war. America was not prepared to go to war or face its aftermath, especially caring for the sick and wounded. Months after returning home, half of the 4 million soldiers were released from military service. With the country drained of its economic resources due to the war, there was little funding available to help war veterans in search of employment and medical care. Within a year, 4 million Americans were jobless, broke and past hope. Recession and unemployment crippled the American economy. As a result, veterans were left to fend for themselves, especially those who were disabled. Jobs were almost nonexistent

Systems of government in Ancie essays

Systems of government in Ancie essays Ancient Greece was on of the first ever cultures (that is known today) to develop a rand of different systems of government. These systems, although most have been dramatically changed, are still used today. These government forms lasted throughout the Ancient Greek times- from 3000BC onwards to 300BC. The four most important types of government in Ancient Greece were Monarchy, Oligarchy, Democracy and Tyranny. Monarchy was the first of the forms of governments to be developed by the ancient Greeks. In this type of government, rule was passed down through the ruling family, and when a child was born, who would one day become the potential and sole ruler of the Greece, they were raised from birth to do so. Problems did arise through this form of government. Because the rule was passed down through birth, who was to know if the next ruler would become a Tyrant? And many of the rulers did. The citizens couldnt really do much to change the ruler if he was- unless they somehow overpowered him. Oligarchy was the next form of government developed by the ancient Greeks. As opposed to Monarchy, the rule was not passed down through birth, but rather, the rulers, or the oligarchs were drawn from the noble classes or they were some of the wealthiest citizens in Greece. Oligarchy means rule by a few. Oligarchy means rule by a few- and that is how some of the problems arose- because each of the rulers saw themselves as most elite, they couldnt decide between themselves and they fought amongst themselves. Also, the poor were treated very badly and they stayed poor, while the rich people got richer. Quality of work went down as well, because people were getting hired, not because they were good at he job, but because they were rich/commendable. ...

How to Choose an Online High School

How to Choose an Online High School Choosing an online high school is a challenge. Parents need to find a virtual program that offers an accredited diploma and provides academic support for students, all without breaking the bank. Asking the right questions will help you find the online high school that best meets your needs. Here are twelve of the most important questions to consider: What type of online high school is this? There are four types of online high schools: private schools, public schools, charter schools, and university-sponsored schools. Being familiar with these school types will help you sort through your options. Who accredits this school? An online high school that is regionally accredited will have the widest acceptance. Diplomas and credits from regionally accredited schools are generally accepted by colleges and secondary schools. Some colleges and high schools may also accept national accreditation. Keep an eye out for unaccredited and diploma mill schools – these programs will take your money, leaving you with an inferior education and a worthless diploma. What curriculum is used? Your online high school should have a time-tested curriculum that meets your child’s academic needs (remedial, gifted, etc). Ask about additional programs such as special education, college prep, or advanced placement. What training and qualificatio ns do the teachers have? Be wary of online high schools that hire teachers without a college diploma or teaching experience. Teachers should be credentialed, know how to work with teenagers, and be comfortable with computers. How long has this online school existed? Online schools come and go. Choosing a school that has been around for longer can help you avoid the trouble of trying to transfer schools at a later date. What percent of students graduate? You can learn a lot by an online high school’s graduation track record. If a large percentage of students drop out, you may want to reconsider. Be aware that certain types of schools (such as academic recovery programs) will always have a smaller number of graduates. How many students go on to college? If college is important to you, choose an online high school that sends a lot of its graduates to college. Be sure to ask about services such as college counseling, SAT preparation, and admissions essay assistance. What expenses can be expected? Most private schools charge tuition by the semester. Public programs may provide classes free of charge, but require parents to pay for expenses such as computers, software, and internet connections. Ask abou t additional charges for curriculum, technology fees, graduation fees, and all other expenses. Also, ask about discounts, scholarships, and payment programs. How many students does each teacher work with? If a teacher is assigned too many students, he may not have time for one-on-one help. Find out what the student-teacher ratio is for most classes and ask if there is a better ratio for essential subject such as math and English. What additional help is available for struggling students? If your child is struggling, you need to know that help is available. Ask about tutoring and individual assistance. Is there any extra charge for additional help? What distance learning format is used? Some online high schools require students to work independently and turn in assignments by email. Other programs have virtual â€Å"classrooms† that allow students to interact with teachers and peers. Are any extracurricular activities offered? Find out if there are any clubs or social events available to students. Some schools offer extracurricular virtual programs that engage students and look good on a resume. In addition to these twelve basic questions, be sure to ask about any further concerns you may have. If your child has special needs or an unusual schedule, ask how the school will be able to accommodate these issues. Taking the time to interview online high schools can be a hassle. But, enrolling your child in the best possible program is always worth it.

How Virgin Atlantic Advertise itself in the UK and Los Angeles Essay

How Virgin Atlantic Advertise itself in the UK and Los Angeles - Essay Example For a large and successful organization like Virgin Atlantic, the company uses various modes of advertising depending on the location or place where it tries to target. The type of advertisements or promotional strategies used depends on the consideration of the cultural barriers, language, attitudes of people towards such factors like advertising, advertising regulations and media infrastructures. In Los Angeles, Virgin Atlantic mainly advertises through the radio, print advertisements and publications. The following figure shows some of the print advertisements used in USA by the company. Figure 1: Print Advertisements in USA (Source: Virgin Atlantic, â€Å"Print Advertisements†) The company has recently launched its second phase of its global advertising campaign in Los Angeles. This has been titled as ‘Get Local’. This campaign targeted the ‘out of home’ advertisements which included bill boards, train shelters, buses, etc that runs in the top gat eways in the US. This primary includes Los Angeles along with New York, Washington D C, San Francisco and Boston. This is a perfect picture of an adaptation strategy by the company as it not only highlights particular aspects of the upper classes flying experiences but also tailored to present certain nuances that resonate in the city in which they appear. The following is an example of an advertisement of Virgin Atlantic in Los Angeles. Figure 2: Example of advertisement of Virgin Atlantic in Los Angeles (Source: Virgin Atlantic-b, â€Å"GET LOCAL CAMPAIGN†) Following is an example of an advertisement used by Virgin Atlantic in UK. Figure 3: Print Advertisement in UK (Source: Virgin Atlantic-a, â€Å"UK Advertisements†) In 2003, Virgin Atlantic used e-mail marketing for the creation of a new standard of upper class air travel which had lie-down beds along with personal services in the upper class cabins. E-mail alerts were sent to the air travellers having a hypertext which directed them to the website of Virgin Atlantic. Under this system customers were able to take a complete look at the cabins which were introduced, the ticket options available and the check routes also. The idea was to attract the upper classes of passengers to pay for the premium prices by the exclusivity and comfort that the new cabins provided. Virgin Atlantics’ integrated communication schemes used membership schemes with benefits that enhanced the name of the brand considerably and helped in increasing the happiness and satisfaction of the customers also (Hackley, p.128). There are certain standardized marketing elements used by the airline for all places. These global marketing elements include its logo, brand value and distinctive airplanes. The brand value of the airline as â€Å"caring, honest, value, fun, innovative†, is found in all its communication and strategies. However, certain adaptive formats are evident in its accompanying international adver tisements where it tries to translate its brand themes in certain culturally specific ways and at the same time tries to retain its international image. For example, it tries to draw passengers from Los Angeles through its bright, luxurious and

International Trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Trade - Essay Example Countries will therefore strive to maximize their output through efficiency and optimum resource allocation. Specialization is an aspect of production whereby a country concentrate in the production of products that it can produce efficiently using the available resources. Specialization create a difference in the availability of commodities in different countries and hence the need for trade. The case of surplus of a commodity resulting from specialization applies perfectly to Rodamia due to its mode of production. Rodamia is a vast country that specializes in production of agricultural products. Its neighbors Suntize, Uthania, and Alfanzia are slightly smaller in size and production capacity. This paper will therefore present a report on the state of Radamia’s international. The report will be aimed at making recommendations to the country’s president. International trade has advantages as well as limitations to the concerned countries. In most cases the benefits of i nternational trade overweighs the limitations and hence its continuity. This implies that Rodamia will benefit from the advantages of international trade and at the same time suffers from the effects of the trade due to its limitations. Rodamia is a large country with many resources that include land, labor and capital these resources enable the country to produce goods and services for its growing population. In the process of meeting, the requirements of its people the country experience some aspects of overproduction resulting from specialization and availability of resources. International trade will therefore create a market for excess produce of the country. The country’s economy depends mainly on agriculture and therefore the sector is of great interest to the country. Through international trade, the country will be able to realize specialization. International trade will enable the country to concentrate in the production of agricultural products. This will enable th e country to realize the benefits of specialization, large-scale production, and economies of scale. Large-scale production to meet the domestic and international market demand will increase the country’s per capita income resulting into improved standards of living (Tucker 78). The country has a chance to realize more benefits once fully engaged in the trade and I therefore recommend international trade to the country. The availability of benefits or advantages from international trade implies that the trade has some limitations. Limitations of international trade are difficulties or barriers that prevent free trade. Most countries have tried as much as possible to create free international trade. However, it is impossible to eliminate the difficulties. This implies that Rodamia should be prepared with appropriate strategies to tackle these limitations. To devise effective strategies required to tackle the limitation Rodamia’s president needs to be aware of some of th e difficulties that his country might face from foreign trade. International trade is a long-distance form of trade and hence it is difficult to establish and maintain a close relationship between traders and their customers. This issue will create a difficult environment for international trade through the extra cost required to maintain the long distance relationship. Secondly, cultural differences between the countries involved in international trade will contribute to the difficulties experienced in the trade. Cultural differences will make people of a certain country to be selective in terms of their consumption and this might interfere with free trade. The country also needs to be aware of restriction imposed by different countries to control their imports. Knowledge of these limitations

Employee Empowerment and Motivation Essay Example for Free

Employee Empowerment and Motivation Essay Employee empowerment is the process of enabling or authorizing an individual to think, behave, take action, and control work and decision making in autonomous ways. It is the state of feeling self-empowered to take control of ones own destiny (Heathfield, n.d., 1). In other words, giving the employees the power and ability to make decisions that affect not only their department but the company as a whole as well. Empowerment has become an increasingly used human resources (HR) catchphrase when analyzing the corporate world of today. Empowerment of the employees can increase employee morale, improve company performance, and improve employee relations, however is not an overnight process. All levels of employees, supervisors, and executive management have to work together and be properly prepared in order to make an empowerment program successful. Improving Employee Morale In many corporate organizations, the lower level employees often feel unappreciated and underutilized. Often, employees can feel like just another number, destined to do the same thing day after day with all decisions being made by upper management. When companies adopt an employee empowerment approach, these feelings can be reduced or even eliminated. Allowing, and even mandating employees to have a say in company decisions makes them feel important to the success of the company. Employees want to be heard and they want their opinions to matter. The most effective morale booster is for an employee to see his or her idea become a company policy. When this happens, the employee feels more valued and being recognized as an important contributing part to the company. Improving Company Performance Another benefit of employee empowerment programs is usually a noticeable improvement in company performance. The simple explanation for this fact is that employees who are most familiar with the day-to-day processes have the best hands on knowledge to be able to implement educated changes and improvements to those processes. Often, many members of management and the corporate officers are hired into their jobs based on education and experience with other companies; they often never worked their way up within the current company and have therefore, never experienced the day-to-day processes. Therefore, decisions made by those officers are often solely based on hypothetical situations and projected  profits; they are often so focused on the bigger picture that they overlook the details. However, when the employees performing the job are asked to make decisions, they look at from the bottom and up and take those forgotten details into consideration. Improving Employee Relations When employees are not involved in company decisions, often they operate within their own confined department. Often, the employees take actions without thinking about the repercussions of their actions to other departments; this is done mostly out of lack of communication of what those repercussions might be and not understanding how each process inter-relates. When employees are given the empowerment to make company decisions, it encourages open communication. Once employees know that they are going to be held responsible for their decisions and that those decisions will impact the whole company, they will take the time to work with other departments to investigate how things affect the company as a whole. This serves to not only achieve better decision making but also opens lines of communication and strengthens the company feeling of being more of a family unit. Making Preparations For Employee Empowerment Although employee empowerment seems like a simple concept, it cannot be implemented without preparation. All levels of employees within the company must be prepared and in agreement with the idea in order to make it work. Expectations must be communicated from the top most levels of management down to the base employees and vice versa in order for empowerment to work. Flat OrganizationOne of the first steps in successful employee empowerment programs is the flattening of the organization structure and its organizational chart. When the organization has too many decision makers and not enough line employees, conflict is inevitable and empowerment will not be successful. This change in organization may include the restructure of elimination of jobs to eliminate the dictatorial chain of command and bring all employees closer to the result. This transference of responsibility to the employees allows management to focus on other things such as researching new ideas and processes that are presented by the employees. Employee and Management ResistanceWhenever a company adopts an employee empowerment program, resistance from all levels is expected. Supervisor and Management level employees will often resist empowerment programs because they feel are giving up control that they worked hard to achieve. The human nature to enjoy a feeling of control and empowerment threatens that control. Supervisors and managers must be counseled in advance to make sure that they understand that their input is still crucial and important and that empowerment of their employees will be for the betterment of all parts of the company. One would think that employees would jump at the chance to participate in employee empowerment programs. However, many employees often balk at the opportunity. They often lack the self-confidence to make decisions they know will affect the whole company. Others believe that empowerment is just another word to justify piling more responsibility on the employees. According to Abrahamson (2004) in which he discussed how organizations can go through change overload and how employees can experience change fatigue and burnout. To prevent this, employees must be convinced of the positive effects of employee empowerment. The company must strive to make the employees understand that the program is being implemented because the company values their experience and opinions and truly values their input. EducationOften, both management and employee resistance is caused by the feeling the employees do not have the knowledge needed to make the proper decisions for the company. Education is the key answer to this fear. By educating the employees about the company as a whole and the operations of those outside of their own department, confidence in the employees decisions is heightened. Education about the empowerment process in general will also help to quell fears by clearly defining everyones role within the company following the changes so that everyone knows what is expected of them and is confident with their future within the company. Conclusion Employee empowerment is an important part of the successful operation of todays organizations. By allowing the employees to have in an  input in company decisions not only lifts their morale, but more use of their experience and knowledge with day-to-day operations to make better decisions. This allows the company to service their clients better and ensure the continued success of the company within their market. Companies looking to start empowerment programs should take the time to educate employees completely and discuss the program benefits with all employees at all levels. This will help ensure that all employees are committed to the program and to ensure its success. â€Æ'References Abrahamson, E. (2004), Change Without Pain. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, Retrieved April 4, 2009 from http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Tr-Z/Trends-in-Organizational-Change.html. Heathfield, S.M. (n.d.). Human resources: Employee empowerment. Retrieved April 4, 2009 from http://humanresources.about.com/od/glossarye/a/empowerment_def.htm.

Red-Eared Sliders Essay --

Introduction: Invasive species are crawling to places they shouldn’t be, making the world react in a dramatic way. It can be passed throughout a number of ways: by All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), canals and changes to waterways, gardening and landscaping, transportation of animal carcasses and raw wood, along with other items. The Red-Eared Slider travels by another unique way to become an invasive species: being dumped by pet owners. Since this happens so frequently, the Red-Eared Slider is on the 100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Species List. Place of Origin (How it arrived): The Red-eared slider is an invasive turtle species with a large pet fanbase. It’s originating from the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, and the southeastern corner of the United States . This popularity of this animal, which are usually brought overseas, and placed in pet stores have its consequences. This invasive species is usually dumped by pet owners who are misinformed on the Red-eared slider and dislikes the attributes that it has (That it can grow to the size of a dinner plate and they bite). Areas Found: The red-eared slider has been dumped and stranded throughout the world. Just a few of the places where the invasive species is found is Australia, Europe, Israel, South Africa, Guam, Canada and the Carribean. The Red-eared Slider inhabit areas with still, warm water, like ponds, lakes, swaps, creeks, streams, and slow-flowing rivers. The invasive species is throughout the world, which makes it highly dangerous with fighting native turtles for the perfect area and habitat for them. Description of Species: The Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is a semi-aquatic turtle belonging the the Emydidae family. They are titled the Re... ...turtles, such as Little RES Q. People dump their Red-Eared Sliders daily, and makes the Red-Eared Sliders go up more and more on the 100 Worst Invasive Species List. Works Cited http://alienspecies.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/eng/species/red-eared-slider-turtle http://www.ontariostreams.on.ca/keep_care.htm http://www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond/turtles.asp?tr=10 http://www.climateontario.ca/doc/factsheets/TERRESTRIAL_INVASIVE_FACTSHEET-Final.pdf http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-red_ear_slider.htm http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Red-eared%20Slider%20Turtle.html http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/pw/vp/toad/red-earedslideralert.pdf http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Biodiversity/2ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_068682.html http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Biodiversity/2ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_068685.html

Regulation of Hate Speech Essay

The idea that the government might cut off hateful or propaganda filled-speech is counter to the idea that America cherishes, that all people are created equal with unalienable rights, one of which is the right to voice unpopular ideas. Racist speech on campus or in the public square is uninviting, but acceptable, under certain circumstances. In Charles R. Lawrence III’s essay, â€Å"On Racist Speech,† Lawrence argues against the regulation of speech that he deems inflammatory, however he does seem to play both sides of the fence. He argues against regulation of racist speech by the government that does not contribute to the overall health of the minority community discourages censorship that could lead to a duct taping over certain mouths in America, in effect he would be happy if the majority populations simply let the minorities have a little more of the crumbs. The more unpopular an ideas is the less likely people will view the idea is a net benefit to humanity. Fostering free speech in the America, in the Court room and on college campuses would bring about a new paradigm in relations between minority and majority groups because they may start to understand each other in a more humane way. Lawrence suggests that a community of fair-minded people will self-regulate speech. The question of self regulation becomes an easily misunderstood idea, if it is not rectified with sanctions. Ku Klux Klan members (for instance) have no moral concern over the groups that they belittle and harass. Instead of demonizing the racist groups, Lawrence calls for counter rallies at University to bring the atmosphere of free speech to every citizen. Counter demonstrations are a healthy and necessary activity; however, the community, as a whole, needs to send a message that they strive for is positive, while the racist groups represent negativity. According to Lawrence, a distinction is drawn on campus â€Å"between ideas [that] are presented at times and places and manners that provide an opportunity for reasoned rebuttal or escape from immediate injury,† and ideas that are used as â€Å"assault weapons† (64). If counter demonstrations alone were sufficient to combat racism, then laws or university regulations would not be needed. Kermit Roosevelt III in his article â€Å"States as Speakers† offers another opinion somewhat piggy backing on the matter of restricted free speech, he suggests that â€Å"the concept that government may restrict speech of some elements of our society in order to enhance the relative voice of others is wholly foreign to the First Amendment† (62) If one were to intentionally violate the university’s regulations, then one voluntarily gives away his or her privilege to free speech; however, by forbidding the expression of racist speech on campus, or in workplaces, responsible authorities do not violate the First Amendment. Institutionalized racism as exemplified by the landmark Supreme Court case Brown vs. Board of Education, and it is a lesson to all Americans. The Supreme Court struck down the concept of â€Å"separate but equal,† which states that segregation is socially just as long as whites and nonwhites receive equal resources (Lawrence 62). Not surprisingly, this is not how segregation works. Some members of the dominant class (the white majority) did not like the idea of integrated schools, but they were unable to prevent societal change because the winds of change were blowing against them. Maud Blair illustrates in her article â€Å"Whiteness as institutionalized racism as conspiracy: understanding the paradigm† suggests that â€Å"Whiteness is an ideology or social creation, a signifier of power and privilege in both global and local terms. Whiteness is not †¦ to be mistaken for White people although the two are of course closely linked. This civil rights movement continued despite the segregationist and supporters of separate but equal and the so called â€Å"whiteness stereotype†. Lawrence combats this idea with a remedy of his own, while arguing to protect minorities we must start â€Å"eliminating the system of signs and symbols that signal the inferiority of blacks† (62). Interestingly, Lawrence seems to play both sides of the fence he wants to appease the writes community while toying with minorities in a deceitful way. He proposes that it may even be elitist or judgmental to protect minorities; he wonders how the unpersecuted can know the effects of persecution (62). The real issue is keeping protective measures from going so far that those who enact such measures end up doing exactly what racists are guilty of; that is, assuming that minorities are inferior and incapable of defending themselves. While the idea of reducing hate speech is an ideal one, some minorities understand that allowing Neo Nazis who demonstrate in the public square, while unpleasant and hurtful, is a necessary evil. Racists hate mongers, and bigots of all kinds are intent on destroying the sense of safety that the minority community should be able to enjoy. It is never acceptable for a racist group to intimidate other minority groups without penalty. The penalty should not be the elimination of all speech because a few fanatics want to have their way. While many minority groups do not support the censorship of free speech, some Americans acknowledge the result of emotional and physical pain that might be inflicted upon the intended targets of a racist demonstration. Racist demonstrations are a means of intimidation and oppression. Lawrence argues how the regulation of hateful speech â€Å"cannot be anticipated or avoided,† but states that announcing the time and location of racist demonstrations â€Å"would give minority-group members and their allies the chance to avoid the speech altogether† (63). The protection of ritualized racism, demonstrations, rallies, and marches, is therefore, acceptable to Lawrence. Sustaining Lawrence’s assertions, Jeffery Liew author of the article â€Å"Hate Speech: Asian American Students’ Justice Judgments and Psychological Responses† suggests that â€Å"Hate crime legislation is controversial for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it can often conflict with a core value of American democracy enshrined in the First Amendment: the freedom of speech† (364). Liew’s argument is a based on the American democracy could be devalued if censorship is taken serious and implemented. The Supreme Court weighs heavily on the minds of free speech participating members. If Lawrence and Liew’s arguments are to be taken seriously, they needs to reexamine the possible that violence can occur because the reaction when conflict mixed with emotion is sometimes a recipe for an explosion of violence. Any form of violence is not a guaranteed free speech right. Lawrence also implies that government regulation breeds Libertarian martyrs because Libertarians naturally dislike government regulation. If the government regulates all forms of speech, then Libertarian Americans will, in turn, argue for a necessary remedy to the regulation. When some Libertarians are displeasing justify deregulation. The government regulates everything from air and tobacco to arsenic in the water the Libertarians would gladly point out. When it comes to the First Amendment activist and free speech advocate Annabel Patterson has a simpler view in her article â€Å"More Speech on Free Speech† she asserts â€Å"As Justice Holmes said long ago (in Gitlow v. New York). Every idea is an incitement to somebody . . . every sentence is potentially, in some situation[s] . . . fighting word[s]† (Fish, qtd in Patterson 60). As an alternative to additional laws governing expression, Lawrence makes a case for the inclusion of lawyers in the process of protection of free speech: â€Å"[g]ood lawyers can create exceptions and narrow interpretations that limit the harm of hate speech without opening the floodgates of censorship† (64). The question of separation of powers starts to rear its ugly head. With every day that passes the United States seems to lose another piece of freedom, or so the Libertarians would have you believe. Lawrence’s assertions makes one believe that he wants the judicial branch involved in First Amendment issues. There are fallacies in his argument; first, his premise that lawyers would abide by the limits of their power is somewhat preposterous. Secondly, the Supreme Court has made some awful decisions in its history. The Dred Scott case is a prime example of the government regulating from the bench. Lawrence is correct in his assertion that one’s free speech rights cannot be regulated by the government; however, they can be self-regulated by universities and community colleges across the country, via the idea of time, place, and manner, as well as self-regulation by open-minded communities. We see this today as many college campuses allow speech that they deem ok, while disregarding the rights of the conservative community to have the same rights. There may be a day when all men and women are created equal in the sight of the college administrator. While the United States’ government regulates hate speech when it is intended to incite bodily harm amongst its victims, it generally does not get involved in matters of derogatory speech because it is covered in the 1st Amendment. The intent of the framers of the Constitution made it crystal clear that the only way to restrict Free Speech rights was to change the constitution. There are, and always will be, moments when the rights of some seem unfair to others, however freedom comes with its prices, and those prices seem sometimes unbearable to one’s sole. However, the price of free speech is borne by the people sworn to protect this country, the soldiers that lay down their lives in conjunction with the idea that every person has a value and the values of America supersede those of any other country. It does not matter if one personally agrees with another person’s First Amendment rights, because if you are an American you are guaranteed full protection under the law. Government regulation of speech goes against the very nature of America and should be struck down at every possible moment. Members of the ACLU and ACLJ ironically agree in this concept. America need not go down the road to perdition or it may not come back with its dignity intact.

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 12

Micha â€Å"Dude, where the fuck is your head today?† Ethan asks and seconds later a grease rag hits me in the face. I throw it back at him, hard. â€Å"You're starting to piss me off with this crap.† Ethan widens his eyes exaggeratedly. â€Å"Whatever man. You've been so distracted for the last two days.† He sticks his head back under the hood. â€Å"And I'm not going to say why.† â€Å"Good, because I don't want to hear it.† I round the back of my car and eye over the tools on the wall of the garage. I grab a rusty toolbox, one of the few things my dad left behind, and toss it into the garbage can. He called again this morning, begging on the answering machine for either my mom or I to pick up. Ethan raises his head up and eyes the garbage can. â€Å"Wanna explain what that was for?† â€Å"Nope.† I pick up a wrench and start working on the car. We work on it for a while, but it's hot and I'm getting more pissed off at my dad by the second. Finally, I move back and throw the wrench down onto the concrete. Ethan doesn't ask questions this time. â€Å"We should have a party tonight,† I announce, unable to hold still. â€Å"A big one, like the one we had on graduation night.† â€Å"You really want to relive that night?† Ethan backs out from under the hood. â€Å"Because I'm not sure I do.† I step outside into the sunlight, determined to get my mind off stuff. â€Å"What you can't remember doesn't hurt, right?† â€Å"I don't think you want to go there.† Ethan walks next to me and we stare down the driveway at an old guy pushing a shopping cart. â€Å"There are plenty of times in my life I wish I could remember – that I'd give anything to remember – but I can't. I lost like a year of my life. It's better to stay within the boundaries of a semi-clear head. Besides, this doesn't sound like you at all. What's up?† â€Å"Nothing's up.† I sigh, raking my fingers through my hair. â€Å"I'm just thinking out loud.† Ethan returns to the garage and starts working on the engine again. Around sophomore year, he started hanging out with these kids at school, who had really heavy views on the world and liked to sit around and get high while they talked about it. Ethan somehow ended up being friends with them, and within a month, he had dropped out of school and got into some pretty heavy shit. A year later he made the decision to get some help. He cleaned up his life, cut the habits, and worked the hell out of himself to catch up in school. He was a grade behind, but managed to graduate with our year. Looking at him, you wouldn't guess. The side door of Ella's house swings open and Lila steps out. She looks upset, although not as bad as she did last night. She glances up the driveway at the house across the street, where there's a very loud game of tackle football going on in the front yard. Her eyes roam to my house and then widen when she sees that I'm watching her. She gives a tentative wave from the top step. â€Å"Hey, Micha.† â€Å"What's up?† I say with a nod of my chin. â€Å"Is Ella up yet?† Shielding her blue eyes from the sun, she looks up at Ella's window. â€Å"Yeah, she said she'd be out in a second. She's just talking to her brother.† â€Å"He's not being a dick, is he?† â€Å"I'm not sure what constitutes as a brother being a dick, since I don't have one.† A smile cracks at her lips. I walk toward the fence, pulling up my jeans that are riding low on my hips. â€Å"There's no yelling going on?† Lila shakes her head and meets me at the fence, plucking some of her blonde hair away from her mouth. â€Å"But Ella's not much of a yeller, is she?† I rest my arms on the top of the fence. â€Å"It depends on which one we're talking about.† Her face falls. â€Å"How could I know her for eight freaking months and not know anything about her. It must say something about me, right?† I feel bad for her. â€Å"I think Ella kind of made it her mission to keep who she was hidden from you. It's not your fault.† She eyes me over with this suspicious look. â€Å"Honestly, it seems like she's that way with everyone, except for you.† â€Å"We've known each other forever,† I say. â€Å"We have a comfortable relationship.† Her blue eyes twinkle with mischievousness. â€Å"One where you feel her up in the car?† â€Å"It feels like you're trying to start some trouble,† I say, liking the girl even more. â€Å"Maybe I am.† She leans over the fence to the side of me so she can get a better view of the inside of the garage. â€Å"Is that Ethan in there?† I step back so she can get a better look. â€Å"Yep, he's working on the car.† â€Å"I think I'll go give him some help.† A grin spans across her face and she hops over the fence, squealing as her shoe gets caught in the wire. Trying not to laugh at her, I unhook her shoe and she walks into the garage, surprising Ethan. The door to Ella's house opens and my attention centers on her as she steps out into the sunlight. She's wearing a tight, black and purple plaid dress, and knee high lace-up boots, but her hair is curled up neatly. It's like a mix of her old look and her new one. Her face is guarded as she ambles across the driveway, with this strange look in her eyes, like she's terrified yet excited at the same time. â€Å"Did Lila come out here?† She bites her lip and I want to lean over and bite it for her; taste her and feel her like I did last night. Without taking my eyes off her, I nod my head at the garage. â€Å"She's in there with Ethan. I think she might have a thing for him.† â€Å"I think you're right.† She pauses. â€Å"I think I might have freaked her out a little, just barely.† â€Å"You mean you and Dean might have freaked her out a little?† â€Å"She told you I was talking to Dean?† â€Å"She mentioned it.† I extend my hand to her. â€Å"Why don't you come over and join the party on this side of the fence?† â€Å"A party of four?† she asks, trying not to grin and looking as cute as hell. I snag her by the hip, jerk her toward me playfully, and dip my lips to her ear. â€Å"It can be a party of two. Just say the word.† She shivers from the feel of my breath on her neck. â€Å"I think we better keep it a foursome.† I press my fingers into the curve of her hips. â€Å"I didn't know you liked it kinky.† She swats my shoulder and I laugh, my dad problems feeling less heavy. â€Å"Relax, I was just kidding, even though you're the one who brought it up first.† â€Å"I was joking.† â€Å"I know†¦ I think I am going to have a party tonight.† â€Å"Don't you have one of those every night?† I cock my eyebrow. â€Å"Besides the night you showed up, have you seen one going on?† She wrinkles her forehead. â€Å"No.† She sits down on the fence, swinging her legs over to my side. â€Å"Micha, what have you been doing for the last eight months?† â€Å"Pinning for you.† I avoid the truth. That I haven't been doing much of anything besides looking for her and helping my mom take care of things. She tucks her dress underneath her legs and I get a small glimpse of the black lacy panties she has on. â€Å"Where do you work?† Against her protest, I spread her legs apart and put myself between them. â€Å"I work at the shop with Ethan a lot, but it's not going to be forever. I have plans. I'm still working on getting everything lined up.† She places her hands on my chest, holding me back. â€Å"I think the lines between our friendship are getting a little blurred.† â€Å"That happened a long time ago,† I tell her, gliding my palms up the sides of her bare legs. â€Å"At least for me it did.† Her jaw tightens. â€Å"It's things like that which make them blurry and things last night†¦ and things like in the car.† â€Å"There seems to be a lot of things, which I think might be a hint that you and I belong together.† Her eyes snap wide and I back off to try another tactic. She needs to smile and let those stressed lips free. I pinch her side and she squeals. â€Å"Don't do that,† she says, holding back a laugh. â€Å"You know I hate being tickled.† I graze my fingers across her other side and she squirms, before falling over the fence and landing on her back in the grass. I leap over the fence easily as she scrambles to her feet. She narrows her eyes, backing toward her back door. I run up to the side of her and she skitters out of my reach. She glances at the door and then at the front yard, which is closer to her. â€Å"Micha, seriously,† she warns. â€Å"We're too old for this.† I spread my arms out to the side innocently. â€Å"I'm not doing anything.† Her eyes flick to her house one last time and then shaking her head, she spins around and runs for the front yard. I give her a head start before I sprint off after her. When I round the house, she's up on the front porch, jiggling the door knob. I laugh at her. â€Å"Is it locked?† She heaves a frustrated sigh and hops over the railing, slipping on the grass. â€Å"Dammit Micha! I'm so going to kick your ass for this.† â€Å"I'm planning on holding you to that threat.† I jog after her across the neighbor's yard. She races across the grass, her hair falling out of a clip. She leaps over the brick fence into the next yard and smashes a row of flowers. Without using my hands, I hop onto the fence, but trip during my dismount and fall on my knees. She freezes in the middle of the lawn and starts to laugh at me. â€Å"You so deserved that.† I get to my feet, dusting the dirt off my knees, and a dark smile rises on my face. â€Å"You think that's funny?† Her eyes sparkle and it's worth the fall. â€Å"You look ridiculous.† â€Å"Do I?† I take a step toward her. She takes a step back. â€Å"You do.† Abruptly the sprinklers turn on, drenching the grass and her. She screams and covers her head with her arms. â€Å"Serves you right for laughing at me,† I say with a grin. She lets her arms fall to the side and smirks. â€Å"Well, at least it keeps you away from me.† Her dress is clinging to her body in all the right places and pieces of her wet hair stick to the sides of her face. She begins to twirl in circles with her hands up above her head. â€Å"You're beautiful,† I say, unable to help myself. Ella Micha looks ridiculous and I can't help but laugh. I haven't laughed in so long that it feels unnatural leaving my mouth. It's like we're kids again, as if this moment belongs in another time where things are weightless and full of sunshine. As I'm laughing at him, the sprinklers turn on and my clothes instantly get soaked. At first I squeal, but then I let go, lifting my hands above my head and twirling in the water, figuring he won't come in after me. He calls out something about me being beautiful and then he charges into the sprinklers, completely blind-siding me. His arms snake around my waist and we collapse to the ground but Micha holds my weight up, so I land on the wet grass gently. â€Å"Micha,† I say, trying to be serious. â€Å"Don't do it. You know how much I hate being tickled.† â€Å"Which makes it even more appealing.† Water beads in his hair, his long eyelashes, his lips. With one hand, he pins my arms above my head and presses his body against mine. My wet clothes cling to my skin and I can feel every part of him. â€Å"I take that back. This is more appealing.† He lets his hand move up my ribs, his thumb sketching along the ridges, sending my body into a frenzy. I stop fighting him and lay perfectly still. Water sprinkles our faces as he lowers his lips to mine. Our wet tongues twine together, full of desire as they collide. A strange, unfamiliar feeling opens inside of me again and my legs fall apart and hook around his waist, requesting more of him, like they did last night. Micha draws back, looking surprised as he glances at the house to the side of us and then at the street. Then he lets out an untamed growl and deepens the kiss, thrusting his tongue deep into my mouth. I suck on his bottom lip and trace my tongue along his lip ring. It sends a quiver through his body and I'm secretly pleased, but my pleasure confuses me. â€Å"Ella,† he groans and then kisses me fiercely. His hand travels upward and cups my breasts. His thumb circles around my nipple and through the wet fabric of my clothes, the feeling is mind blowing. It's driving me wild and my knees vice-grip against his hips. A moan laced with ecstasy crumbles from my lips. I'm starting to lose control again and it's alarming. I try to get past it this time, but it consumes me and I have to stop. After a lot of effort, I get my arms between our bodies and I push him away. â€Å"We should get back.† I look at the brick home of the yard we're laying in. â€Å"Besides if Miss Fenerly comes out, she'll have a heart attack.† Micha's aqua eyes penetrate me. There's mud on his forehead and grass in the locks of his blonde hair. â€Å"If that's what you want.† Maneuvering to his feet, he takes my hand and lifts me to mine. He plucks pieces of grass out of my hair and lets his hand linger on my cheek. Holding hands, we walk across the grass and down the sidewalk, leaving a trail of water behind us and something else. Something invisible to the outside eye, but to me it's more noticeable than the sun in the sky.

Free Essays on The Allegorical Goodman Brown

should not be overlooked as this also leads to the realization that a man (a good one) can deal with the devil and possibly win. At this stage in the story the reader still has hope for the goodman who must now deal with what he feels is his duty honor-bound. A "good man" in Hawthorne's day was a person who came from a proper lineage. This very lineage Hawthorne exploits as he begins the goodman's discourse with the devil. The goodman claims that he is from a family of good men that have never been into the forest on such an errand to meet the devil; Hawthorne depends upon this defense to criticize the patriarchal lineage upon which a person places his worth. This view is quickly derailed as the devil himself states that all of his ancestors were with him as they tortured women in Salem or burned t... Free Essays on The Allegorical Goodman Brown Free Essays on The Allegorical Goodman Brown The Allegorical Goodman Brown Gilberto Segura The story about Young Goodman Brown centers around the allegory of a man pitted against his past and his desires to reach beyond that which his benighted heaven would put before him. The allegory is Christian due to the references in Young Goodman Brown to the devil and Satan; it only seems logical that the crux of the story is based upon the religious imagery of Hawthorne's New England in the times of Salem and active religious strife. The beginning of the story mentions the goodman's wife, Faith. The names of the characters alone serve as an indication of what Hawthorne puts as an obvious religious allegory with the goodman and faith soon to be pitted against an unspeakable evil. The goodman even swears that after this night he will "cling to her skirts and follow her to heaven." The devil awaits Young Goodman Brown as he states that the clock of the old south was striking but a few minutes past (Hawthorne is stating how quickly the devil can moveintensifying the airs of the preter natural). Young Goodman Brown replies to the devil that faith was keeping him awayHawthorne's play on words should not be overlooked as this also leads to the realization that a man (a good one) can deal with the devil and possibly win. At this stage in the story the reader still has hope for the goodman who must now deal with what he feels is his duty honor-bound. A "good man" in Hawthorne's day was a person who came from a proper lineage. This very lineage Hawthorne exploits as he begins the goodman's discourse with the devil. The goodman claims that he is from a family of good men that have never been into the forest on such an errand to meet the devil; Hawthorne depends upon this defense to criticize the patriarchal lineage upon which a person places his worth. This view is quickly derailed as the devil himself states that all of his ancestors were with him as they tortured women in Salem or burned t...

An Analysis of the Morality of Boiling Lobsters Alive in Consider the Lobster, an Article by David Foster Wallace

An Analysis of the Morality of Boiling Lobsters Alive in Consider the Lobster, an Article by David Foster Wallace When a meal is placed before you, you do not usually think of the journey those ingredients went on to reach you. You do not consider how far the corn traveled or the pain the lobster went through in order to become your food. David Foster Wallace’s article, â€Å"Consider the Lobster,† delves into the controversy surrounding the live boiling of lobster for human consumption. In order to effectively get his point across, Wallace outlines the Maine Lobster Festival and connects human experience with the lobster’s experience. Initially, Wallace goes into great detail explaining the environment surrounding the Maine Lobster Festival in order to convey the idea that people nonchalantly ignore the massacre of thousands of lobsters right beside them. He outlines this to accurately show the hypocrisy of peoples’ nonchalant attitude surrounding the mass slaughter of the lobsters when they may find the mass slaughter of any other animal horrific. Further, he attempts to initiate compassion in his readers by gruesomely portraying the killing of the lobster. He does this in a way that sparks fear, disgust, and uneasiness within a reader who may see it as analogous with ones own pain and experiences. In summation, David Foster Wallace gets you thinking about the morality of boiling lobster alive for consumption through the portrayal of Maine’s lobster festival and the depiction of pain experienced by the lobster. We see how mindlessly people act when difficult matters concern their food and the morality of it. Also, we do not often pay attention to the pain animals may experience before they reach our plate. Thus, Wallace’s article encourages us to think before we eat.

Fieldwork GPS report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fieldwork GPS report - Essay Example The first type is the Total Station, which is classic equipment and is not only a GPS system. The other two types of equipment used are the Trimble Juno SB handheld and Leica antenna. These two types of equipment are used in similar ways to position points, but the Leica antenna is more accurate and expensive. On the other hand, the Trimble is cheaper than the Leica antenna. This report will show how the devices can be used and a comparison between all three based on the results each type of equipment’s accuracy. Aim: To understand how GPS systems work by using different types of equipment, and to know which device is most accurate. List of equipment: GPS Leica antenna Total Station GPS Trimble Juno SB handheld Explanation and results of fieldwork: (Figure 1: Wild Park area from Google maps) The field work was conducted at Wild Park in Brighton (Figure 1). The first step was set two points as references by using Leica antenna GPS devices. The benefit of these two points is to make the work more accurate. The group started with using a handheld Trimble for each student. Firstly, we opened the device and added information to it. We then made a line across the valley. Finally, each student took random points to show the land in the valley. The map for the points was done using the geographical information system ARCGIS programme, and the results are shown on this one map for the points and contours as well as a 3d map (Figure 3): (Figure 2: Contours map of Trimble device) (Figure 3: 3d map of Trimble handheld points using ARCGIS programme) The second lot of work was done through using a Lieca antenna device. For this step, we only used one piece of equipment. We started by taking points across the valley. Then, random points were taken. The map used ARCGIS programme; one map is a contours map (Figure 4) and the other is a 3d map (Figure 5). (Figure 4: Contours map of antenna GPS points) (Figure 5: 3d map of antenna points) The last piece of equipment used w as a total station. Through this device, two lines across the valley were taken. One line went across the valley, while the other line went the length of the valley. The points of the total station are presented in a diagram by using Excel and the ArcGIS programme of the Wild Park valley (Figure 6 and 7). (Figure 6: Diagram from Excel file of total station points) (Figure 7: Image of total station points using the ARCGIS programme) Discussion and comparisons between the three devices and methods: The Trimble Juno handheld and antenna dGPS devices used a GPS system to show the points on the map. The system used three satellites to present the easting, northing, and latitude, or X, Y and Z of the points. The accuracy of the position of points will be more accurate when the device uses an accurate clock and can read the signal from the satellite even when the weather is not good. The total station does not use the GPS system, and the accuracy of the points depends on the control points and if the devices have sets on it very well or not. From the points in the Excel file, the maps, which were drawn using an Arc map or arc scene programmes, and type of reading of equipment, I will make a comparison between the devices. Firstly, the Lieca antenna dGPS equipment or differential GPS is a receiver antenna (rover) that receives a signal from a station base that is reserved in a big area. The advantage from this way of using a GPS