The Critical Role of informati

The Critical Role of informati The Critical Role of Information Systems Today?s information systems are both technical and social in nature. Management must understand the importance of information within the organization. It is management?s job to understand how information is collected, processed, and distributed. We are all extremely affected by information systems and must be willing to understand and work with them. Our global economy does not allow us to depend on face to face transactions like in the 1980?s. Today, few managers can ignore the importance and impact of how information is handled by their organization. Information systems play a critical role in today?s business organization and society (Laudon 5).Since the emergence of the global economy, the success of firms today and in the future depends on their ability to operate globally. The American economy depends on imports and exports. Foreign trade, both imports and exports accounts for a little over 25 percent of goods and services produced in th e United States, and even more in countries like Japan and Germany.Financial Management SystemThis percentage is currently and will continue to grow in the future (5).Globalization of the world?s industrial economies greatly enhances the value of information to the firm and offers new opportunities to businesses. Today, information systems provide the communication and analytic power that firms need to conduct trades and manage businesses on a global scale. Globalization and information technology also brings new threats to domestic business firms. This is brought on by the customer?s ability to shop in a worldwide marketplace, obtaining the price and quality information reliably, 24 hours a day. The worldwide market place brings competition to a higher level than ever before, forcing all businesses to play a part in this global economy. In order to become a profitable player in a worldwide market firms, need powerful information...

How Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Came to Be

How Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Came to Be In reaction to an increase in the amount of cocaine being smuggled into the United States and cocaine addiction epidemic proportions in the 1980s, the U.S. Congress and many state legislatures adopted new laws that stiffened the penalties for anyone convicted of trafficking certain illegal drugs. These laws made jail terms mandatory for drug dealers and anyone in possession of certain amounts of illegal drugs. While many citizens support such laws many view them as inherently biased against African Americans. They see these laws as part of a system of systemic racism which oppresses people of color. One example of mandatory minimums being discriminatory was that possession  of powdered cocaine, a drug associated with white businessmen was sentenced  less harshly than crack cocaine which was more associated with African American men. History and the War on Drugs Mandatory drug sentencing laws came about in the 1980s in the height of the War on Drugs. The seizure of 3,906 pounds of cocaine, valued then at over $100 million wholesale, from a Miami International Airport hangar on March 9, 1982, brought about the publics awareness of the Medellin Cartel, Colombian drug traffickers working together,  and changed U.S. law enforcements approach towards the drug trade. The bust also sparked new life into the War on Drugs. Lawmakers began to vote more money for law enforcement and began to create stiffer penalties for not only drug dealers, but for drug users. Latest Developments In Mandatory Minimums More mandatory drug sentences are being proposed. Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), a proponent of mandatory sentencing, has introduced a bill to Congress called Defending Americas Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2004. The bill is designed to increase mandatory sentences for specific drug offenses. It includes mandatory sentencing of 10 years to life in prison for any person age 21 or over who attempts or conspires to offer drugs (including marijuana) to someone younger than 18 years old. Anyone who has offered, solicited, enticed, persuaded, encouraged, induced, or coerces or possess a controlled substance, will be sentenced to a term not less than five years. This bill was never enacted.   Pros of Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Supporters of mandatory minimums view it as a way to deter drug distribution and use by extending the time that a criminal is incarcerated therefore preventing them from committing more drug-related crimes. One reason mandatory sentencing guidelines are established is to increase sentencing uniformity- to guarantee that defendants, who commit similar crimes and have similar criminal backgrounds, receive similar sentences. Mandatory guidelines for sentencing greatly curtail judges sentencing discretion. Without such mandatory sentencing, defendants in the past, guilty of virtually the same offenses under the same circumstances, have received vastly different sentences in the same jurisdiction, and in some cases from the same judge. Proponents argue that a lack of sentencing guidelines opens up the system to corruption. Cons of Mandatory Drug Sentencing Laws Opponents to the mandatory sentencing feel that such punishment is unjust and does not allow for flexibility in the judicial process of prosecuting and sentencing individuals. Other critics of mandatory sentencing feel that the money spent in longer incarceration has not been beneficial in the war against drugs and could be better spent on other programs designed to fight drug abuse. A study performed by the  Rand Company  said such sentences have proven to be ineffective in curtailing drug use or drug related crime. The bottom line is that only decision makers who are very myopic would find long sentences to be appealing, said study leader Jonathan Caulkins of Rands Drug Policy Research Center. The high cost of incarceration and the small results that it has shown in fighting the war on drugs, show that such money would be better spent on shorter sentencing and drug rehabilitation programs. Other opponents to mandatory sentencing include Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who in August 2003 in a speech to the American Bar Association, denounced minimum mandatory prison terms. In too many cases, mandatory minimum sentences are unwise and unjust, he said and encouraged the bar to be leaders in the search for justice in sentencing and in racial inequities. Dennis W. Archer, former Detroit mayor and Michigan Supreme Court Justice takes the position that it is time for America to stop getting tougher and start getting smarter against crime by reassessing mandatory sentencing and irrevocable prison terms. In an article posted on the ABA website, he states, The idea that Congress can dictate a one-size-fits-all sentencing scheme does not make sense. Judges need to have the discretion to weigh the specifics of the cases before them and determine an appropriate sentence. There is a reason we give judges a gavel, not a rubber stamp Where It Stands Because of cuts in many state budgets, and overcrowded prisons due to mandatory drug sentencing, lawmakers are facing a financial crisis. Many states have begun to use alternatives to imprisonment for drug offenders- usually called drug courts- in which defendants are sentenced into treatment programs, rather than jail. In states where these drug courts have been established, officials are finding this approach to be a more effective way of approaching the drug problem. Research shows that drug court alternatives are not only more cost-effective than prison sentences for defendants who commit non-violent crimes, they help reduce the rate of defendants who return to a life of crime after completing the program.

Dating paragraph Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dating paragraph - Essay Example I currently work as support staff in the I.T department where most of my duties revolve around creating systems and getting applications and software that ensures operations efficiently. I work at a pharmaceutical company that brings in medicine and medical equipment from Europe and Asia mostly and sells to retailers within the country. My other hobbies include reading legal drama novels (in another life I would have probably pursued a career in law), dance/trance music and indie rock, and a good old-fashioned meal of fries and a cheeseburger. Things I am not too fond of include loud-mouthed and intolerant people, that is, people who cannot accommodate people that are different from them whether in physical appearance or social background, reggae music, celery (I don’t care how healthy it is, it tastes unpleasant!) and brown bread. That being said, I should point out that I do try to eat healthy and keep fit though I am not much of a runner. My choice of exercise is swimming thus warm weather places appeal to me, and cycling. My favorite alcoholic drink is vodka mixed with club soda and I indulge in this when I am out partying only, I generally do not enjoy drinking at home maybe an occasional glass of sweet red wine. This brings me to another revelation; I have a sweet tooth, which has cost me many visits to the dentist! I am looking for an outgoing girl to complement my laid-back nature who enjoys TV and movies as most of my free time is spent watching comedies and legal drama stuff. It would be a plus if she can bake, as I like to indulge my sweet tooth from time to time. Men should look for a girl that brings out their good parts and helps them become better. I am a good listener and I believe this is important in relationships as it makes communication easier. However, I hate confrontations, this makes me walk away from any potential arguments, and I will more likely than not let things slide when they should be aired out. I am working on this and at

To What Extent might Globalization be seen as Disadvantageous to Our Essay

To What Extent might Globalization be seen as Disadvantageous to Our Society - Essay Example Before moving on, there is a dire need to define what globalization, in essence, is - globalization is a term which encompasses a number of difficult series of economic, social, technological, cultural and political changes that have been happening from time to time on the global front. These changes have seen some serious strides that have been made with regards to increasing interdependence as well as mergers and interacting units between people from different locations and companies with diversified interests. The term started to take form in the year 1944 but it was not before the year 1981 that the economists actually started using it. The main person responsible for coining the term globalization is considered to be Theodore Levitt. Furthermore, in an economic zone, globalization plays a significant role in increasing trade on an international front which as compared to the global economy, is much faster and ahead of its time. In addition, one can predict an increase in the flow of capital that has been coming from the global regimes which might include the foreign direct investment as being one part of it. Moving on, there are the agreements which are signed on a global scale that eventually lead to world bodies like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and others. Global financial systems also come to light as their developmental work gets thumbs up. International transactions speed up as the world bodies like WTO, WIPO, IMF and the like play their role in a more coherent and active manner. Economic practices like global sourcing or outsourcing as we know of it, off-shoring and others increase courtesy the multinational concerns. Hence poverty-driven mechanisms are enacted but not followed to the extreme core, t hus resulting in the poor masses which are spread in every nook and corner of the world today. Â  

Future of Montserrat Essay Example for Free

Future of Montserrat Essay The island of Montserrat is situated upon an underwater volcano created by a destructive plate boundary, with the volcanos peak protruding from the south side of the island by the name of Chances Peak in an area entitled Soufriere Hills (in the Caribbean). For 350 years the volcano had remained dormant; however a few weeks ago, Chances Peak became active again and began to emit dust and ash – warning signs that an eruption was almost imminent. On July 20th 1995 (yesterday) the anticipated eruption occurred, producing numerous quandaries for the surviving residents of Montserrat. Montserratians will experience the social impacts of the eruption; these may be the most direct of all the predicaments they encounter and therefore the most challenging to face. Since the volcanos on the island are perceived as unpredictable, the inhabitants are fearful of another eruption. Though they are presently being transferred to a temporary safe region, it is unknown whether a subsequent eruption would be more severe than the first and raise the figures for the injured or killed (19) unnecessarily. Hence the many who have left the island to reside (maybe permanently) in neighbouring islands, the UK or the USA, however this only applies to the populace that possess sufficient funds to do so. The safe regions are reportedly extremely crowded; consequently, with the low sanitation levels, the spread of disease will accelerate. Also, farmers are unable to farm due to constricted land and the devastating environmental impacts of the volcano. If the more wealthy (we can assume the more educated) no longer choose to reside in the island, a ‘brain drain’ will transpire, leaving farmers and communities with small businesses that rely on tourism on Montserrat, though if eruptions cease and the volcano becomes dormant again, life for the farmers could improve as over time the soil of the area would be very fertile. As a result of the ‘brain drain’ there would be an absence of teachers; therefore the children on Montserrat would not be able to learn for a period of time. Moreover, a deficiency of doctors and hospital personnel would leave many people in need of medical help unattended to. Furthermore, persons already residing in the north of the island would have to compromise with the new displaced people; this may cause some feuds over pace etc†¦ The GDP and GNP of Montserrat are predicted to face dramatic cutbacks due simply to the loss of people on the island, and the lack of income from farmers who do not have access to land they can farm on, or businesses that have been destroyed – which is common as many companies were positioned in Plymouth – a city that was completely covered by ash and soon after finished off by deadly pyroclastic flows. If the GDP and GNP do fall, citizens who have decided to stay will be significantly poorer, and therefore may not be able to pay taxes. In addition, a vast sum would have to be paid in damages to property and the building of temporary displaced peoples camps. Due to ash clouds, airports would be closed down, and airlines would have to pay massive amounts in lost revenues. Conversely, industries for other forms of transport (such as shipping companies) would benefit, as passengers search for alternatives to flying. The frequency of imports and exports would not decrease massively as a mere 1% of trade in the UK occurs on flights. Also, (elaborating on the point of aid given by other countries above) since the Montserrat was included in the Federal Colony of British Leeward Islands, the UK may offer some financial support to help improve the islands economy if the damage to it is serious enough. Additionally, the volcano has had colossal impacts on the environment (both positive and negative). Firstly, the ash has suffocated many of the flora and fauna, furthermore, the pyroclastic flow and lahars have killed all life (excluding human) within a 2km radius. Carbon dioxide emitted from the volcano is predicted by scientists to contribute to the greenhouse effect, sulphur dioxide expected to cause environmental issues as sulphur in the stratosphere is the main cause of acid rain. Nonetheless, as a result of two thirds of the islands population predicted to leave the island) the flora and fauna may flourish as there will be less human activity and settlements, leaving nature to itself without interference from machines, factories, and other forms of pollution. The land and soil affected by the volcano will also become fertile, which will, in turn, enhance the growth of plants and trees after an amount of time, and allow them to regrow. The slopes of Chances peak after the eruption are reportedly steeper than before, which will promote growth of delicate, and rare plants can grow with the protection of the slope. The volcano is also expected to alter the weather around Montserrat, causing rain, thunder and lighting. Sea temperatures have reportedly risen, killing some species that rely on specific living conditions, also silting in rivers or lakes has forced boats to stop navigating them as the depth is insufficient. On political terms, and elaborating on the point made above concerning tax and its correspondence with the lack of people on the island, the amount of tax received by the government would decrease too, resulting in a government prone to corruption. Moreover, the government may not be considered fit to run the country by its people, and may be voted out. The government of Montserrat may be forced to relinquish their independency, and amalgamate with another country to become part of their nation (a plausible example would be Montserrat re-joining Britain). On the topic of short term needs, a few that exist are food and drink, and temporary residency areas. Since the eruption would have most likely demolished many of the populace’s properties, and belongings, they will need an alternative place to stay such as the safe zone which has been arranged in the north of the island and is one third of the islands size, compressing hundreds into a tiny space. The government would also be burdened with the task of providing sufficient food and drink for the residents as they would have no means of income, or a market area to buy their own. Medical aid has also become necessary, however not as much as expected as (thankfully) most who occupied the most affected areas had been evacuated before the eruption. Long term necessities will help sustain lives devoid of poverty and hunger for the people of Montserrat. An example of a need which will help the populace in the ‘long run’ is loans to restart businesses and companies citizens had lost in the pyroclastic flows or ash. Furthermore, the government or a country aiding Montserrat could assist by building an early detection system or research facility, to identify when future eruptions may occur, therefore allowing time to prepare. MEDC’s like the USA or the UK might be reviewing plans to assist through the means of creating rehabilitation programmes, or even allowing the people of Montserrat to apply for permanent residency; this would solve the problem or relocating people to live their lives in a safe location.

Virginia Woolfs Use of Moments of Being Essay -- Biography Biographie

Virginia Woolf's Use of Moments of Being      Ã‚   Virginia Woolf is recognized as one of the great innovators of modern fiction. Her experiments with point of view and her use of stream of consciousness have influenced many writers that followed her. But one particularly interesting technique that does not seem to receive much attention is her use of "moments of being."    She first mentions moments of being in her essay, "A Sketch of the Past," which was to be the beginning of her memoirs. She begins with one of her earliest memories: a night in the nursery at St. Ives. She vividly recalls the way the blinds fluttered in the wind, the light coming through the window and the sound of the sea. She had a feeling of "lying in a grape and seeing through a film of semi-transparent yellow" (65). This memory is so strong that when she recalls those sensations they become more real for her than the present moment. This observation leads her to wonder why some moments are so powerful and memorable--even if the events themselves are unimportant--that they can be vividly recalled while other events are easily forgotten. She concludes that there are two kinds of experiences: moments of being and non-being. Woolf never explicitly defines what she means by "moments of being." Instead she provides examples of these moments and contrasts them with moments of what she calls "non-being." She describes the previous day as:      Ã‚  Ã‚   Above the average in 'being.' It was fine; I enjoyed writing these first   Ã‚  Ã‚   pages . . . I walked over Mount Misery and along the river; and save that   Ã‚  Ã‚   the tide was out, the country, which I n... ...ople. When the cotton wool is rent, when one experiences a moment with full consciousness, one experiences the true intensity of life. These moments of being can be read as brief poems hidden among the trivial details of life that some characters--and readers with them--are fortunate enough to experience.    Works Cited    Winterson, Jeanette. "A Gift of Wings." In Art Objects: Essays on Ecstasy and Effrontery. New York: Vintage Books, 1995.    Woolf, Virginia. Between the Acts. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1969.    -------. Mrs. Dalloway. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1981.    -------. To the Lighthouse. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1981.    -------. "A Sketch of the Past."In Moments of Being.Ed. Jeanne Schulkind. 2nd ed. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1985.

Elder Abuse Essay

Elder abuse is a horrible problem: during people’s sunset years, they should relax and be comfortable, not have to worry about abuse from family members and caregivers. However, the issue of people abusing the vulnerable elderly is a growing one in the United States. What causes it? This essay explains a growing theory that accounts for the causes of elder abuse. According to Quinn and Tomita (1997), there are five main hypotheses for elder abuse (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). The first is simple power: some people simply focus on dependency issues (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). Others are acting out due to the stress of acting as a caregiver; this is particularly common within family caregiving settings (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). Another hypothesis states that elder abuse is simply caused because some individuals have grown up in families that solve problems with violence (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). Another hypothesis claims that some are related to ind ividual abuser’s problems, such as substance abuse and depression (Quinn & Tomita, 1997, pp. 86-87). Finally, the last hypothesis states that in some societies, elders have lost their personhood due to greed, lookism, and hatred of the disabled. Most other studies support at least one of these hypotheses. For example, Brandl and Raymond found that the most common cause of elder abuse was caregiver stress, regardless of whether the caregiver was a family member or professional; they also emphasize the role of the elderly person: an abused child may abuse their parent once the parent is frail, for example; this connects to Quinn and Tomita’s hypotheses of violent families and individual abuser’s problems (Brandl & Raymond, 2012). Nerenberg, too, claims that caregiver stress is the main cause of elder abuse (Nerenberg, 2002). She emphasizes the perspective of the caregiver, particularly the first-time caregiver, as these individuals are more likely to engage in elder abuse (Nerenberg, 2002). Meanwhile, Hawes focuses on professional caregivers’ abuse of the elderly in long-term care facilities (Hawes, 2003). Hawes does not offer many causes, but hints at them by discussing the low pay and high-stress nature of caregiving jobs (Hawes, 2003). Thomason ascribes the causes of elder abuse to a changing society in which people live longer and are ill-prepared for caretaking (Thomason, 2011). He emphasizes the social  causes of elder abuse, focusing on the need to make everyone aware of the issues related to elder abuse and aging (Thomason, 2011). In contrast, and by focusing on the individual level, Vetere emphasizes caregiver burnout as a major cause of elder abuse (Vetere, 2011). Bronwell addresses the causes of elder abuse only implicitly, but presents data on the low pay and long hours in the caregi ving industry and also discusses the aspects of burnout and frustration that can cause family-based elder abuse to occur (Brownwell & Podnicks, 2005). In addition to discussing the elderly abusing themselves by failing to engage in self-care, they also offer data that some risk factors mean one is more likely to become an abuser: a low level of education, mental retardation (by the caregiver), substance abuse by either the elder or the caregiver, a prior history of violence or psychiatric issues, and stress (Gorbien & Eisenstein, 2005, p. 282). Gorbien and Eisenstein (2005) proposed five archetypes for abusers of the elderly, which are the overwhelmed, the impaired (e.g., mentally or physically), the narcissistic, the bullying, and the sadistic (Gorbien & Eisenstein, 2005, p. 284). In keeping with the overall causes mentioned by Quinn and Tomita, these archetypes offer reasons individuals may turn to abuse (Quinn & Tomita, 1997). Thus it can be said that a theory for the causation o f elder abuse is that within a context of a society that is poorly equipped to deal with the elderly, and within an individualist, looks-oriented society that discriminates against the disabled, many people are ashamed or frustrated by their relatives’ (or clients’, in the case of professional caregivers) decline. This feeling of helplessness and disgust, combined with stress and burnout – exacerbated due to the poor preparation most family caregivers have, and the long hours and poor pay offered to many professional caregivers – creates a context in which abuse is likely. Additional factors, like abuse from the elders themselves (e.g., bitter about losing capacity, holding long grudges against family members, aggression due to cognitive decline such as through Alzheimer’s) can spark an abusive incident. Moreover, if an individual has any of the characteristics noted by Gorbien and Eisenstein, they may be more likely to abuse. Working towards a theory of elder abuse, one can imagine a flow chart (provided on the next page). First, the background of this abuse occurs against a context of a society fiercely focused on beauty and ableism. Second, if an individual ends up  caring for an elder and they are poorly prepared or compensated, this context intensifies. Third, if an individual is impaired in some way, he or she will quickly become burned out and stressed. Fourth, pre-existing interpersonal factors like abuse are exemplified in elder caregiver situations. Fifth, some personality types (narcissists who want others to admire them for their s upposed selflessness; sociopaths) want to care for elders for their own sick needs. Sixth, if a caregiver has a risk factor such as low IQ, low education, substance abuse, or mental health issues, he or she is more likely to be an abuser. Finally, caregivers suffer burnout, and eventually, when caring for an elder individual, they may engage in a violent incident. This theory is outlined in the flowchart below, which moves from left to right. Major causes are represented by larger circles. Works Cited Brandl, B., & Raymond, J. A. (2012). Elder Abuse and the Elder Justice Movement in America. San Francisco, CA: American Society on Aging. Brownwell, P., & Podnicks, E. (2005). Long-Overdue for the Critical Issue of Elder Abuse and Neglect: A Global Policy and Practice Perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Gorbien, M. J., & Eisenstein, A. R. (2005). Elder Abuse and Neglect: An Overview. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. Hawes, C. (2003). Elder Abuse in Residential Long-Term Care Settings: What Is Known and What Information Is Needed? Washington, DC: National Academies Press,. Nerenberg, L. (2002). Preventing Elder Abuse by Family Caregivers. Washington, D.C.: National Council on Elder Abuse. Quinn, M. J., & Tomita, S. K. (1997). Elder Abuse and Neglect: Causes, Diagnosis, and Intervention Strategies. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Thomason, D. (2011). Addressing The Cause of Elder Abuse: A Critical Component to Aging Health Policy. Retrieved October 16, 2013, from Kaplan Unv iersity Online: http://www.kaplanuniversity.edu/public-service/articles/addressing-elder-abuse.aspx# Vetere, P. M. (2011). Elder Abuse: What Are We Missing? Ottawa: The College of Family Physicians of Canada. Woolf, L. M. (1998). Elder Abuse and Neglect. St. Louis, MO: Webster University.

Hybrid Vehicles: the Dark Side Essay

Abstract In the past decade, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) have been making a big commotion with the innovative, gas saving technologies that accompany them. The illusion that HEVs are 100 percent environmentally friendly in all aspects also follows the HEV wave. Sadly the illusion often wins over unsuspecting customers the instant better gas mileage is offered. This review on the environmental impact of the hybrid electric vehicle observes the unseen sides of the automotive â€Å"green movement.† The piece compares how an ordinary gasoline vehicle (non-HEV) can achieve gas mileage that is just as good, if not better, than the more expensive hybrid option. This reality check on the newest technologies uproots what manufacturers do not want anyone to know or think about when buying a vehicle including: environmental pollution of the hybrid electric vehicle, non-HEV fuel economy, the lack of pay-back from owning an HEV, and how the HEV lacks the level of versatility required for many Am erican families. Hybrid Electric Vehicles The Dark Side Thesis: Hybrid Electric Vehicles should cease to be produced because of four main issues: environmental pollution has not reduced, better fuel economy can be achieved in non-hybrid vehicles, there is no payback in owning a hybrid, and hybrid vehicles do not possess the same versatility many American families need. I. Environmental Pollution and the Hybrid Electric Vehicle A. Batteries contain Nickel, Lithium, and Lead 1. Mining these materials is hazardous, causes acid rain 2. Shipping these materials is costly and [the transportation vehicle] contributes to pollution B. Car accidents happen 3. Vehicular accidents happen all of the time, HEV batteries are prone to damage and can leak harmful materials (acids) into the environment. 4. Recycling batteries is impossible right now. Where do the batteries go? II. Non-HEV Fuel Economy C. European Diesels vs. HEV 5. For decades European automotive companies have been producing diesel powered cars achieving mpg in the 40-90 range depending on the size of the vehicle 6. Americans have yet to adopt this technology due to discrepancies in emissions controls and standards. D. Alternative Fuel Technologies 7. Hydrogen power is becoming more available to the consumers in larger cities such as Los Angeles and New York City. 8. The technology is still rather expensive, but if the government stopped wasting money on HEV development and started spending on the development of Hydrogen Power, our depending on foreign oil would diminish and we would have a reliable, renewable, and ecologically sound energy III. HEVs Do Not Pay To Own E. Non-HEV vs. HEV 9. Most non-HEVs will tend to pay themselves off in a matter of years because they have small maintenance costs and relatively easy upkeep. 10. HEVs have many new features that are expensive to keep up in today’s market, especially with limited accessibility to replacement parts. F. Maintenance 11. HEVs are filled with a plethora of new costs that can drain a wallet dry! Depending on how long an HEV is owned the owner must maintain both the electric and gas motor along with the battery. 12. A battery costs upwards of an expensive $2,000. IV. HEVs and the Population G. Urban Population and HEV Use 13. Many Americans live in congested cities where fuel consumption is tremendous and pollution is a major problem. 14. HEVs offer the convenience of shutting off the gas motor while stopped and operating only the electric motor when in stop-and-go traffic. 15. More accidents happen in and around the city; it is more likely for a hybrid to be subject to accidents in the city. H. Rural Population and HEV Use 16. Many people living in small towns and villages need four-wheel drive vehicles that can take hard labor. 17. Gas mileage is indispensible to this population. 18. HEV applications in trucks and sport utility vehicles have failed to deliver gas mileage vastly superior to that of non-HEVs. 19. Blue collar workers need vehicles with muscle and power, HEVs do not offer that. Conclusion Hybrid Electric Vehicles The Dark Side The hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) has become an extremely popular choice for many Americans in the past decade. Because it has become so popular, the HEV has lead to many new and harsh environmental impacts on a global level. Hybrids have been viewed as the answer to the United States’ oil dependency. Providing superior fuel economy and lower emissions, a hybrid car was sure to be a hit among city-dwelling citizens; however, the popularity of the HEV is beginning to look like a bad thing. HEVs require a battery to power the electric motor. The batteries contain chemicals that can be released into the environment in the case of an accident or disposal. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Hybrid Electric Vehicles should cease to be produced because of four main issues: environmental pollution has not reduced, better fuel economy can be achieved in non-hybrid vehicles, there is no payback in owning a hybrid, and hybrid vehicles do not possess the same versatility many American families need. Environmental Pollution and the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Smog infested cities have been searching for an answer to pollution; the hybrid vehicle was the response or so it seemed. HEVs have been around long enough to leave both a positive and a negative impact on the environment. A hybrid was meant to reduce fuel consumption and minimize harmful emissions and it does the job well; however, the people who see a hybrid as â€Å"eco-friendly† do not see the polluting monster that hides behind the cloak. Hybrids require a plethora of different parts that normal cars do not typically need. The entire process requires a tremendous amount of energy from other sources, such as diesel power. The process through which HEV batteries are made emits more impurities than an HEV will produce in its lifetime. Not only can HEVs produce pollution before they are made, but they can also contribute to pollution while driving down the road. If one of these vehicles were to get in a major accident, the harmful chemicals within the battery could leak into the ground and contaminate water supplies. The same thing happens when HEVs are sent to the wrecking yard. The batteries are not easy to recycle and there has yet to be an efficient and environmentally safe way to dispose of the hazardous materials. The hybrid electric vehicle has started to fuel controversy over the true environmental impact of such vehicles. Most batteries found in HEVs today consist of nickel metal hydride (NiMH), or lithium ion (Li-Ion); two very toxic chemicals. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (2011), the most environmentally vulnerable component of a hybrid vehicle is the battery. Disposing of the batteries is a major concern and manufacturers have yet to present proper disposal instructions. The largest environmental problem with batteries is the mining and manufacturing of the raw materials that go into them. Many human and machine workers are needed to extract the materials from the Earth, producing immense amounts pollution and damaging the health of the humans in the mines (para. 8). HEVs have a long way to go before becoming the optimal eco-friendly vehicle; Dr. Dominic Notter of Empa Technology and Society Laboratory (2010) writes that â€Å"15 percent of the total [environmental] burden can be ascribed to the battery (including its manufacture, maintenance and disposal),† (para. 7). Notter suggests that lithium batteries are not as environmentally bad as they were first understood to be. The Empa team speculates that the biggest environmental impact by HEVs is the sources where the electricity is produced to charge the batteries. The sources can be an assortment of nuclear, coal-fired, and hydroelectric power creating a heavily offset balance between the emissions of the source and the battery itself. In short, HEVs are indirectly responsible for the environmental impacts caused by the batteries (Niederà ¶st, 2010). Non-HEV Fuel Economy Setting aside the problems associated with HEVs, Non-HEVs are plenty capable of achieving tremendously better fuel economy. European diesel technology has come a great distance in the past ten years. Many small diesel cars are able to achieve seventy to eighty miles per gallon with stock configuration, compared to standard gasoline which in most small cars only achieves thirty miles per gallon. Thirty miles per gallon by U.S. standards is pretty good, but it can be better. Today there are large trucks that can achieve twenty-two miles per gallon on diesel fuel, yet smaller gas trucks will get only fifteen miles per gallon. The technology to make Non-HEVs more fuel efficient is there; it just needs to be utilized and executed. Part of the reason that the U.S. has not used new diesel technology is because of the emissions standards difference from Europe’s current standards, but there is no acceptable reason why the U.S. cannot invest bringing smaller, cleaner diesels to the mar ket. Engineers have been improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines for over one hundred years. The article â€Å"Fuel Economy Today—Alt Fuels Tomorrow† (2010) suggests that â€Å"the king of fluid energy efficiency is diesel fuel,† (para. 3). Diesel fuel is a major driving force in the U.S. economy by propelling nearly â€Å"1.3 million long haul semi trucks† on U.S. roads every day (â€Å"Aerodynamic†, 2011, para. 2). Nearly every item on today’s market is delivered by either diesel burning semi truck or locomotive, which constantly raises demand for the most updated diesel technologies as the U.S. economy strives to go green. On another front, diesel is becoming a popular option on smaller, lighter duty vehicles meaning diesel could be the next gasoline. This transition could lead buyers away from the hybrid market as most small diesels provide decent fuel economy and in the long run are a better deal. According to â€Å"Gasoline Panic 2011: Hybrid/Electric Vehicles Not the Answer† (2011), Joe Wiesenfelder, senior editor of Cars.com, believes that, for economic purposes, the purchase of an HEV because of fuel costs makes little sense. â€Å"Buying a [Nissan] Leaf or [Chevy] Volt now is no more logical – and probably less- due to market realities. The new compacts like the Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra are a better choice in the long run due to lower price and respectable fuel economy,† asserts Wiesenfelder (para. 6). Non-HEVs may not be as efficient as a gas/electric hybrid, but the extra expenses associated with HEVs are enough to say that Non-HEVs are the most economically reasonable choice when purchasing a new car. Alternative energy is another way America can eliminate its dependence on foreign oil. One of the most popular developing fuels is hydrogen. Hydrogen is an extremely efficient fuel that emits only water, while regular 87 octane gas is tremendously inefficient and it emits poisonous gases. If the U.S. strongly invested in the development of hydrogen within the next century, the nation could be fully independent of foreign oil and fuel prices would be minimal. Today hydrogen vehicles are available for lease in some major cities. Currently the technology is not quite ready for mass production as the system is not durable enough for mass production and the technology is still too expensive to make any giant leaps in progress. Politics are the major issue behind the slow progression of hydrogen fuel technologies. Jonathan Gal (2009) noted that the reason why alternative energies are not being pushed for with as much excitement is because the idea is worth billions of dollars and oil companies are taking advantage of the situation and jacking up prices on oil-based products. Big companies know that once alternative fuels become widely available to the public the profits will immediately disintegrate (para.3). Oil barons have been fighting against the move for alternative fuels, which is understandable; however, they do see the profitability in accommodating alternative fuels and are quickly scooping up companies that want to produce the new energies. Hydrogen is a great fuel for America to renew itself. In opposition to the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel, one might argue that it is far too explosive to use in a passenger car and is simply not safe; the Hindenburg is a prime example of its dangerousness. The Hindenburg was a German airship that was filled with hydrogen and coated with a powdered aluminum and iron oxide paint. The myth is that hydrogen was the main cause of the Hindenburg catastrophe. Although hydrogen was a key player, it was the highly reactive coating that ignited the flame to start the hydrogen on fire. Of course there is more to that story, but it proves that hydrogen is only as dangerous as the machines it is engineered into. HEVs Do Not Pay to Own Over the last decade it has been speculated that owning an HEV will never pay to own within the lifetime of possession. The average non-HEV will typically take five years to pay for itself. Americans want a car that will be useful, reliable, and will pay to own. Typical American families will run their cars for ten to fifteen years before getting a new vehicle because with all other expenses taken into account a new car is the last expense a growing family needs to worry about. HEVs are packed with relatively new technologies that are not easily and economically replaced. Replacement HEV parts are difficult to find and are never cheap. A typical battery for a HEV can run up a bill of more than $2,000. Fleming, Privott, Taylor, and McDuffie (n.d.) have done research regarding the lifetime of a typical HEV battery. Granted many HEVs have not been around long enough to need replacement, the team used a figure of ten years to estimate the annual cost of battery maintenance and replacemen t. After meeting with automotive dealers to gather prices of replacement HEV batteries, the team produced the price of an HEV battery to be â€Å"†¦about $2600, there would be an additional cost of approximately $3400 for installation.† Compare this information with the cost of a Non-HEV battery price of about $30-$40 and the price differential becomes extremely apparent (p.6). Expensive repairs make a vehicle incredibly difficult to pay off within the lifetime of the ownership. Non-HEVs have been around long enough to the point where paying for repairs is relatively cheap and parts are easy to find; many components are interchangeable and can be installed by anybody. The internal combustion engine, according to Virginia Tech’s Consortium on Energy Restructuring (2007), has been the most preferred method of supplying energy to major companies globally because the machines are easy to maintain, familiar to all ages, and high dependability (para.4). Although HEVs are advertised to be the new family vehicle, it is obvious there are many issues that need to be taken into account before the HEV will truly be a family and economically friendly vehicle. HEVs and the Population There are billions of people on this planet, but only a few select groups of the populace really need or want HEVs. Many of the people who live in heavily urbanized areas, such as Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles are the only populations who could benefit from using an HEV. A convenience offered by an HEV is that it can shut off the gas motor when stopped and run solely on the electric motor to reduce the harmful emissions that all major cities are prone to. The use of the electric motor also eliminates gas consumption during stop-and-go traffic, which is when most pollution from exhaust accumulates. Cities are victim to a large number of accidents every year. From fender benders to pile-ups, all types of accidents are highly likely in a city setting. HEVs are equipped with all of the latest safety technologies, but what is most dangerous is the leaking and spreading of battery acid during an accident and afterword, not to mention hybrids are also quieter than gas vehicles making the hearing impaired pedestrian more likely to end up on the hood of an oncoming HEV. Joanne Silburner of NPR’s Health Blog, suggests that without the engine noise, blind people and people listening to music are the most likely to walk in front of an HEV without knowing any better. Silburner also points out that the uneducated driver of an HEV might be a possible risk to pedestrians as HEV engines shut off when the car is not moving; leading to what could be a panic reaction from the driver (para.6-7). In small towns and rural areas across the U.S. many families need fuel efficient, people-moving, and reliable vehicles that are easy to maintain. HEVs do not make the cut when it comes to meeting the needs of a rural-dwelling family. In rural areas, places and locations are commonly spaced widely apart and highways or two lane roads connect them. HEVs are known to get worse gas mileage on the highway than in the city, which is incredibly unappealing to the long distance commuters. Automotive companies have tried to address these problems with hybrid trucks and sport utility vehicles; however, the performance of the vehicles was too poor to achieve a tremendous upgrade in gas mileage. The failure to produce an efficient hybrid truck brought the automotive companies back to the drawing board. Today there are large diesel trucks that can achieve an impressive twenty-two miles per gallon while hauling heavy loads. According to U.S. Department of Energy (2011), diesel vehicles meet the same emissions standards and regular gas vehicles and the diesels are â€Å"more powerful and fuel efficient than similar sized gas engines (about 30-35% more efficient),† (para.1). With the technologies available today humans can fine-tune machines, like car engines, to run at top efficiency and still produce vast amounts of power to add both thrill and utility to the drive. Conclusion HEVs are popular; it is unlikely that the major automakers of the world will even consider pulling HEVs from their lineup of vehicles. The consequences in the marketplace would be too large. Being eco-friendly is a major perk to most people; companies need to accommodate their respective customer base. This accommodation restricts the companies from taking back their promises and providing a true eco-friendly product. Overlooked environmental pollution, non-HEV improvements, HEV cost of ownership and population demands are all reminders of how the eco-friendly revolution has blinded the general public from what happens behind the â€Å"green† screen. It is up to the people to understand that HEVs are not the key to a bright future, but are another obstruction to achieving the real eco-vehicle. References Aerodynamic add-ons reduce fuel consumption of semi trucks by 7-12%. (2011, February 16). Retrieved March 16, 2011, from http://missionzero.org/categories/12-Transportation/saved_entries/8007-Aerodynamic-add-ons-reduce-fuel-consumption-of-semi-trucks-by-7-12- Consortium on Energy Restructuring, Virginia Tech. (2007). Internal Combustion Engines. Retrieved March 23, 2010 from http://www.dg.history.vt.edu/ch5/ices.html Fleming, D., Privott, T., Taylor, J.R., & McDuffie, T. (n.d.). Hybrid electric vehicles vs. internal combustion engine vehicles: Which gives you more bang for your buck?. Retrieved March 22, 2011 from http://education.uncc.edu/cmste/summer%20ventures/2010%20World%20View%20of%20Math%20and%20Data%20Analysis/THomas%20Privott-%20Davis%20Fleming.pdf Fuel economy today: Alt fuels tomorrow. (2010) Fleet Equipment 36(3), 14. General Reference Center Gold. Web. Retrieved March 16, 2011 Gal, J. (2009, July 06). The politics of alternative energy. Retrieved March 24, 2011 from http://www.prlog.org/10275672-the-politics-of-alternative-energy.html Gasoline Panic 2011: Hybrid/Electric Vehicles Not the Answer. (2011, March 4). PR Newswire. General Reference Center Gold. Web. Retrieved March 16, 2011 Niderà ¶st, R. (Ed.). (2010, August 27). The eco-balance of Li-ion rechargeable batteries for electric cars â€Å"greener† than expected. Retrieved from EMPA Materials Science and Technology, Switzerland. Retrieved February 24, 2011, from http://www.empa.ch/plugin/template/empa/*/99149/—/l=1 Silberner, J. (2010, April 19). Hybrid cars’ silence just one factor in high pedestrian death rate. Retrieved on March 24, 2010 from http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/04/hybrid_cars_silence_just_one_f.html United States Department of Energy. (2011, March 24). Diesel Vehicles. Retrieved on March 24, 2011 from http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/di_diesels.shtml United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, February 18). Environmental impacts from automobiles. Retrieved February 22, 2011, from http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/OWCM.NSF/product+stewardship/autos-impacts#batteries

Glass Menagerie Essays - English-language Films, The Glass Menagerie

Glass Menagerie Essays - English-language Films, The Glass Menagerie Glass Menagerie In The Glass Menagerie, the main characters are Laura, Amanda, Tom, Jim, and Father. Each character can be found with symbols that best represent them. Laura 's two symbols are Blue Roses and her glass menagerie, Unicorn. Amanda 's yellow dress and bathrobe can express her love she has of the past event. Tom 's symbols are the movies and merchant marine. Jim's symbolize itself as a gentlemen caller for Laura. The Father 's portrait portrays his abandonment of the Wingfield family. Laura is a hypersensitive young girl. She spends all of her time in a world of glass ornaments and stayed in her apartment. Even though she tries several times to participate in the outside world, she is too fragile. The Blue Roses represent the uniqueness of Laura. Blue Roses do not exist in this world or even if there is, it is not by nature. This rose is different from other roses just as Laura is different from other girls. The color blue represents the sadness and depression. Laura felt these feelings at home because she is not as popular as Amanda and she cannot succeed in college that Amanda hopes her to be. Amanda's expectation caused Laura to feel bad when she does not meet her requirements. Laura had dropped out of Rubicam Business College and she can not find any gentleman caller. Roses represent Laura along with her beauty and innocence. The stem of the rose can define as the support that Amanda and Tom gave her. The thorn is her shyness. It is her shy! ness that no one wants to go near her and she does not want to go near anyone. The Glass Menagerie represents Laura' hypersensitive nature and fragility. Laura is just as easily broken as a glass unicorn and just as unique. When Jim accidentally bumps into the unicorn and breaks it, the unicorn is no longer unique. When Jim kisses Laura and then shatters her hopes by telling her he is engaged, she becomes broken-hearted and less unique. The innocence that made Laura so unique is now lost. Both Laura and the glass menagerie break when they are exposed to the outside world. When Laura gives Jim her broken unicorn, it symbolizes her broken heart that Jim will take with him when he leaves. She gives Jim a little bit of herself to take with him and he leaves behind a little bit of himself with her shattered horses. Amanda is a middle-aged southern woman whose husband had abandoned her. She spends her time reminiscing about her seventeen gentlemen callers and nagging at Tom and Laura. She is completely depending on Tom for financial business of the family and a responsibility for Laura's future. Amanda dreams back to the time when she was a young girl wearing yellow dress. Those certainly were better days. The past was a wonderful experience for her compare to the reality which she a now an abandoned wife with two children. Mr. Wingfield was cruel to leave the family but Amanda still loves him. She wears his bathrobe and often looks at the portrait of her husband. She can not put the past behind her. Amanda is obsessed with her past as she constantly reminds Tom and Laura of that one Sunday afternoon in Blue Mountain. " When Jim arrives, Amanda is dressed in the same girlish frock she wore on the day that she met her husband. She regresses to her childish days of entertaining! the gentleman callers. She chooses to live in the past. Moreover, she hoped that the gentleman caller is not handsome because Mr. Wingfield is handsome and he wins her heart in a second. She does not want Tom to be a drunkard, have manner in eating, and stop smoking. She wished her children luck, happiness, and success in the future but irony, she rather live in a life of illusion and recall all of her past experience. Tom Wingfield loves to go to the movies. But Amanda does not believe that his evenings are so innocent. She does not understand that Tom wants adventure. Since his life is full of responsibility: money, future of Laura, boring job. He wanted more in

Why you should keep your networking circle small

Why you should keep your networking circle small When it comes to your professional network, the more the merrier, right? After all, more people = more chances for connection, word-of-mouth opportunities, etc. Sounds great in theory, but in reality, it might surprise you to learn that experts are recommending that you scale back your professional network and keep a smaller, more nimble group of people as your inner circle. There’s some debate over what that number actually is- evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar famously did a study and determined that 150 is the magic number of maintainable social/professional relationships in anyone’s life. The reality is that there’s probably no rigid number for each person’s professional network, but your limit should be where you can reasonably maintain a professional relationship with someone.If that sounds counterintuitive to you, here are some of the reasons you should think about downsizing your professional crew.Your network should be carefully curated and t ended.The whole point of networking is the relationships. Think back to your kindergarten class. Can you remember the names all 20 or so kids, or do you remember just a small subset of friends or particularly memorable kids? Our brains are conditioned to keep the most important information and discard the rest, and our social relationships tend to follow suit. You want your network to be people who are the most relevant to your professional growth and goals- not necessarily every person you’ve met since you were an intern at XYZ Corp.You want to focus on quality, not quantity.Some people in your network are, quite simply, going to be more useful and relevant to you than other people will be. Taking a close look at your network and who still aligns with your current professional self and your hoped-for-future professional self can help you define your goals.It’s okay to let people go.An unwieldy network of connections might be a symptom that you have trouble letting go or don’t want to risk hurting anyone’s feelings. Realistically, professional network â€Å"breakups† are easier than other kinds of social pruning. The stakes are low if you stop following someone on Twitter or remove them as a connection on LinkedIn. If you don’t find someone’s insights useful or are not likely to ever have a conversation with them again, why keep them kicking around in the social media ether? You don’t need to be obvious or mean about it or make a dramatic announcement about how you’re making cuts. Plus, it’s unlikely your coworker from three jobs ago is likely to send you a devastated â€Å"whyyyyyyyy?† message afterward. Chances are, they were getting about as much out of the relationship as you were.It gives you more bandwidth for long-term professional growth.Limiting your network to a small inner circle lets you put in more time and energy into building those relationships- emails, occasional hang outs, check-ins, etc. Networking isn’t just about getting something from others; it’s about building yourself as well and finding your people. You want your interactions with your network to be mutually beneficial- not a chore or a one-way transaction for either of you. If you’re hitting up someone in your network only when you’re sniffing for an opportunity, then your calls/texts/emails are likely to start going ignored. On the other hand, if you put time into getting to know someone, you both get the benefit of each other’s expertise and a deeper knowledge of what each person has to offer.When it comes to your network, remember: better, not more. There’s no prize for the number of LinkedIn connections, or the most â€Å"likes† on your latest professional rant on social media. You should be surrounded by people who know and support your goals, and vice versa- not hundreds of people who sort of know your name from scrolling through a newsfeed. You’ll find that your professional life- and your personal one as well- will be all the better for these higher-quality relationships.

(Emotion) .....not really sure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

(Emotion) .....not really sure - Essay Example When speÐ °king Ð °bout my personÐ °l ego ideÐ °l, I would refer myself to the first group of people, who Ð °re ideÐ °lizing the world rÐ °ther thÐ °n living in the reÐ °lity. CreÐ °ting ideÐ °l imÐ °ges of me Ð °nd the outer world is whÐ °t describes my personÐ °lity. I therefore, live in the present, Ð °nd reject who I Ð °m Ð °t the moment while concentrÐ °ting who I wÐ °nt to be. Since it is impossible to reÐ °ch the ideÐ °l, I do not perceive the world Ð °s it is Ð °nd often disÐ °ppoint in life. I mÐ °y thus describe myself Ð °s nÐ °Ãƒ ¯ve person, but Ð °lso the one who enjoys life Ð °nd sees everything in the best colors. My ego-self is constÐ °ntly judging Ð °nd rejecting its Ð °rising stÐ °te Ð °nd trying to fit itself into Ð ° certÐ °in ideÐ °l. It is not just being where it is Ð °nd Ð °llowing itself to unfold freely. Ð s Ð ° result, it does not understÐ °nd where it is for it is invested in being somewhere in pÐ °rticulÐ °r, being Ð ° certÐ °in wÐ °y, or in sÐ °tisfying Ð ° pÐ °rticulÐ °r ideÐ °l. Ð nd even if this ideÐ °l is tÐ °ken from spirituÐ °l teÐ °chings, the sÐ °me mechÐ °nism of ego Ð °ctivity is in operÐ °tion. TrÐ °pped in the ego-self, I do not trust thÐ °t Being myself will tÐ °ke me where I need to go. 2. Second, Ð °nd equÐ °lly importÐ °nt, is the Ð °bility Ð °nd willingness to be Ð ° teÐ °m member, plÐ °ying dÐ °ily roles in such Ð ° fÐ °shion thÐ °t the whole is Ð °lwÐ °ys greÐ °ter thÐ °n the sum of its pÐ °rts. It must be recognized Ð °nd Ð °ccepted thÐ °t no teÐ °m is ever stronger thÐ °n the weÐ °kest member, so thÐ °t eÐ °ch member must be Ð °ssigned to mÐ °ke full use of tÐ °lents possessed. 3. Third, thÐ °t Ð °ll individuÐ °ls Ð °re equÐ °l Ð °nd thÐ °t eÐ °ch Ð °nd ever one must fully recognize thÐ °t equÐ °lity Ð °nd with full Ð °cceptÐ °nce of the other, but thÐ °t we Ð °re Ð °ll humÐ °n beings; eÐ °ch with our own pÐ °rticulÐ °r weÐ °knesses Ð °nd strengths; so thÐ °t in full teÐ °m fÐ °shion ones strengths Ð °re emphÐ °sized Ð °nd weÐ °knesses