CORPORATE OWNERSHIP, GOALS, and GOVERNANCE Research Paper

CORPORATE OWNERSHIP, GOALS, and GOVERNANCE - Research Paper Example Blair looks at the rights of owners and concludes that shareholders do not have sufficient rights to be called the corporate owners. The article details the rights that owners have such as the right to acquire and dispose off assets and a right to get profits generated by the asset and its sale. The article claims that shareholders do not possess all these rights instead it is distributed to various stakeholders. The article argues that since these rights are not possessed by shareholders, it cannot be said that they are the owners of companies. The author also says that calling shareholders the owners of companies cannot guarantee them the rights of owners. However, the author in conclusion advocates for not distributing these rights because they may discourage investment. The distribution of rights between the shareholders and managers is also discussed. The shareholders, given that they contribute capital, have a right to elect the directors. Directors are the ones who make invest ment decisions on behalf of the shareholders. The shareholders do not possess the ultimate right to control the decision making of managers. The author says that this is because in large corporations the shareholders may be so many that even the managers may not know some of them. Shareholders also have limited liability and so cannot be responsible for the debts of firms. This author says this denies them the ultimate right to say that they are the owners of the firms. To support his argument, the author looks at how corporations create wealth. She says that wealth creation in a firm is not just because of the share capital of shareholders, but other stakeholders such as customers, employees and suppliers also make special investment contributions that are important to the company. The authors say that all stakeholders in the firm are investors. She gives an example of employees who dedicate their time and human resource to serve the firm. Even though they are compensated, they nee d to be recognized in the ownership of the firm. In conclusion the article discourages the view of looking at ownership of firms in terms of assets invested. It argues that the employees also create wealth for firms and their contribution must be respected. The article puts up a strong defense for inclusion of other parties, especially the employees in the ownership of firms. This view is good, but it fails to state what level of ownership can these stakeholders posses. Inclusion of employees as owners of firms just by virtue that they help in wealth creation would present a complex scenario in the ownership and management of firms. The only recommendation would be that the employees should be encouraged to buy shares in the firm so that they can be part of owners. â€Å"Corporate Ownership and Governance† by Connelly Brian et al The aim of this article is to demonstrate that corporate governance is not a reserve of the board of directors but also owners participate in the go vernance of firms. They do this by looking at the different forms of corporate ownership and how they influence decision making in the firm. They divide this in two categories, outside ownership and inside ownership. Inside Ownership This is when stock is held by the insiders. These insiders tend to make decisions that favor the

Pest Analysis Of The Bae Company Finance Essay

Pest Analysis Of The Bae Company Finance Essay This article want to analysis the five-year of financial data which from 2004 to 2008 of BAE ,in order to understand the companys business profitability and development capacity and found the further possibility to enhance the utilization efficiency of it ,so that to promote the investment activities of the enterprises business goal of maximizing value in accordance with a benign operation. Instruction BAE Systems is the merger of British Aerospace (BAE) and Marconi Electronic Systems (Marconi Electronic Systems) which was established in November 1999. In September 2004 BAE Systems acquired Alvis Vickers and merged it with its RO Defence ordnance division to form BAE Systems Land Systems.In June 2005 BAE Systems acquired United Defense and reorganised its land systems businesses into BAE Systems Land and Armaments, with Land Systems and Land Systems Hà ¤gglunds as subsidiaries of this U.S. based operating group. It is an international company engaged in the development,delivery and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air,on land,at sea and in space. In 1999 the net sales of the company was 89.29 billion pounds (14.449 billion U.S. dollars)of which military sales was 5.837billion pounds. In 2000, it becamed the third of the worlds 100 largest military companies. Now, the company employed more than 100,000, and annual turnover of the company is 12.3 billion pounds and orders amounted to 37.5 billion pounds. PEST analysis of the BAE company 1.Politics. BAE Systems is a global company which conducts business in a number of regions, including the Middle East.Sales market over more than 130 countries, this brought great opportunities to the company. However,Government regulations and administrative policies of some countries could change quickly and restraints on the movement of capital could be imposed; governments could expropriate the Groups assets; burdensome taxes or tariffs could be introduced; political changes could lead to changes in the business environment in which the Group operates; and economic downturns, political instability and civil disturbances could disrupt the Groups business activities. New threats and conflict arenas are placing unprecedented demands on military forces and presenting BAE Systems with new challenges and opportunities to assist those forces in meeting changing defence and security needs.( Susana Callao,2007) 2.Economic and Society Global passenger traffic is forecast to increase by approximately 5% per year. Strong growth is expected in Asia and the Middle East and lower growth in the more mature North American and European markets. The market for large commercial jets is forecast to continue to grow on the back of rising passenger travel. Annual revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) are forecast to grow by approximately 5% through to 2023 creating an expected average demand of some 830 aircraft deliveries a year. The US represents over 45% of the total forecast global defence spend (including equipment, personnel and operating costs) to 2010. Defense and transport development brings a huge market demand for the BAE. 3.Technology BAE Systems has played an important role in transatlantic,most notably has advanced technology in the M777 howitzer and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programmes. The US and the UK have a long history of defence industrial cooperation that has provided significant benefits to both countries.In todays environment of coalition operations it would be the advantage of both governments and defence industries to allow and,indeed, to encourage freer technology sharing between the UK and the US. For BAE Systems an improved technology sharing environment would enable its engineers and scientists in the US and the UK to collaborate more effectively,and bring together their collective skills and expertise to the benefit of its two major customers, the UK and US governments,as well as to its shareholders. Review and anlaysis of company stratey 1.Pricing policiys. BAE companys major pricing policy is before business sales occure sign fixed price contracts with clients. Large part of the companys sales come from fixed-price contract. Because the companys largest partner is the United States, the U.S. team a great need for defense products, so the business mainly occure in sectors such as government troops, using a fixed-price sales contracts to ensure fixed sales and also to simplify transactions. 2.Market position.BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. Global businessof the company is based around six home markets in US, Saudi Arabia Australia, Sweden ,South Africa, and the UK. It is the worlds second-largest defense company and the third-largest Airlines defense and also the third-largest electronics Airlines. 3.Comparison with that of its competitors. The Groups business is subject to Significant competition. Most of the Groups businesses are focused on the defence industry and subject to competition from national and multi-national arms with substantial resources and capital, and many contracts are obtained through a competitive bidding process.( Tim Sutton,2004)The Groups ability to compete for contracts depends to a large extent on the effectiveness and innovation of its research and development programmes, its ability to offer better programme performance than its competitors at a lower cost to its customers, and the readiness of its facilities, equipment and personnel to undertake the programmes for which it competes. 4.Development Strategy of BAE Systems BAE Systems is a large international companies who has the responsibilities to its clients shareholders, employees and partners.Its strategy goal is to maximize the interests of shareholders. In order to achieve the companys strategic goals, the Board promotes to enhance the companys culture atmosphere and establish Operational Framework. .That is based on principles of good governance, aset of definitions, values, policies and processes that guide the companys work and behaviour, and a uesful system of delegated authority(David Tyrrall,2007). In order to realise the management of the companys business and deliver their strategy,the Operational Framework covers all wholly andmajority-owned businesses and describes the Groups mehods to its organisation, culture which including ethical principles of business conduct, values and governance framework vision, delegated authorities , and corebusiness processes. Financial Analysis for BAE Systems Industry Analysis In the global aerospace and defense industries Europe accounts for 19.6% of the global markets value. In 2004 the European aerospace and defense market grew by 0.9% which reached a value of $249.9 billion. The civil aerospace sector generated the second largest revenues in 2004, reaching a value of $62.3 billion, equivalent to 24.9% of the markets value.In the next five years, it is expected to be greatly growth. By 2009, the market is forecast to reach a value of $278.2 billion, which equates to a CAGR of 2.2% in the 2004-2009 period, higher than the global market as a whole. However, Asia-Pacific will see spending rise by 4% per annum while the US market is predicted to decline with a 0.6% rate over the same period.During thie time the third biggest aerospace and defense company it will also play an increasingly important role in operation and management in the future. BAE Systems recorded revenues of $20 billion during the fiscal year 2005, an increase of 25% over 2004. The operating profit of the company was $1.6 billion during fiscal year 2005, an increase of 16.3% over 2004. The net profit was $1 billion in fiscal year 2005, compared to a net profit of $5.5 million in fiscal 2004.Rolls Royce is the leading player in the global civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy markets. Compared to BAE systemss business performance, Rolls Royce company recorded revenues of $7.4 billion during the fiscal year 2005, an increase of 5.2% over 2004. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in revenues from the companys civil aerospace division. The operating profit of the company during fiscal 2005 was $397.5 million, an increase of 43.5% over fiscal 2004. The European aerospace and defense market generated total revenues of $234.9 billion in 2005, this representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.3% for the five-year period spanning 2002-2006. The US and Asia-Pacific markets grew over the same period with CAGRs of 6.7% and 3.4% respectively, to reach the values of $502.6 billion and $157.2 billion in 2006. BAE systems occupies an important position in the industry. In the whole industry it can realized its business very well. The following financial analysis is to analyze 2004 to 2008, the specific circumstances of these years. Here collect the relevant data of the BAE for five years. These data which is important can best reflects the companys operation. The preparation of data sheets is as follow. The following analysis mairly use dynamic ratio of fixed base method and ues the data of 2004 as a fixed base period to analyze the indicators. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Five-year summary Income statement à ®- ³ à ®- ³ à ®- ³ à ®- ³ à ®- ³ 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 Sales including Groups share of equity accounted investments 4,459 3,916 4,007 3,697 3,063 Electronics,IntelligenceSuppo rLandArmaments 6,407 3,538 2,115 1,270 482 Programmes Support 4,638 5,327 4,615 4,660 International 3,333 3,359 3,428 3,138 Programmes 2219 Customer Solutions Support 2,856 Integrated Systems Partnerships 2,022 HQ Other Businesses 235 243 295 471 464 Intra-operating group sales (529) (673) (695) (655) (417) 18,543 15,710 13,765 12,581 10,689 Underlying EBITA6 (restated) Electronics, Intelligence Support 506 437 429 324 256 Land Armaments 566 324 168 86 (8) Programmes Support 491 456 331 261 International 35 435 412 403 Programmes 10 Customer Solutions Support 497 Integrated Systems Partnerships 95 HQ Other Businesses (101) (203) (146) (117) (50) 1,897 1,449 1,194 957 800 Profit/(loss) on disposal of businesses 238 40 13 (4) Uplift on acquired inventories (12) (44) EBITA5 2,135 1,477 1,207 909 800 Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets (424) (297) (139) (122) (110) Finance costs including share of equity accounted investments 697 93 (174) (196) (132) Profit before taxation 2,408 1,273 894 591 558 Taxation expense including shar e of equity accounted investments (640) (373) (248) (147) (219) Profit for the year from continuing operations 1,768 900 646 444 339 Profit/(loss) for the year from discontinued operations 22 993 111 (336) Profit for the year 1,768 922 1,639 555 3 Balance sheet Intangible assets 12,306 9,559 7,595 8,217 6,115 Property, plant and equipment, and investment property 2,558 1,887 1,869 1,922 1,901 Non-current investments 1,040 787 678 1,730 1,535 Inventories 926 701 395 485 498 Payables (excluding cash on customers account) less receivables (5,866) (5,373) (4,298) (4,596) (3,891) Other financial assets and liabilities 240 52 6 (7) Retirement benefit obligations (3,365) (1,629) (2,499) (4,101) (3,210) Provisions ( 845) (809) (695) (718) (491) Net tax 256 63 648 1,012 876 Net cash/(debt) 39 700 435 (1,277) (668) Disposal groups held for sale 64 137 Minority interests (55) (36) (17) (16) (10) Total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 7,234 5,966 4,117 2,788 2,655 Financial statement and cash flow analysis, After the 2003 recession, Europes aerospace industry will experience a steady growth phase. As prediction, there will be a 3.9% annually growth, which is also reflected in BAE Systems financial report after 2004. Profitability Analysis Profitability mainly in Revenues ,Sales, Operating profit, Order book, Return on sales, Net cash, and Cash inflow from operating activitie. The company recorded revenues of $20 billion during the fiscal year ended December 2005, an increase of 25% over 2004. The operating profit of the company was $1.6 billion during fiscal year 2005, an increase of 16.3% over 2004. The net profit was $1 billion in fiscal year 2005, compared to a net profit of $5.5 million in fiscal 2004.And for the company Europe Aerospace Defense in 2005 it generated revenues of $42.5 billion, an increase of 7.7% on the previous year. The European aerospace defense market generated total revenues of $184.3 billion in 2008, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% for the period spanning 2004-2008. However the BAE system has higher the average. Sales represents the amounts derived from the provision of goods and services, and includes the Groups share of sales of its equity accounted investments. Compared with 2004,the sales of BAE increased by 14.2% in 2005,2.1%in 2006,16.4% in 2007 and 37.6% in 2008. Overall,BAEs sales revenue is in a increase trend. Starting in 2006, a significant increase had been showed and compared with 2007 the sales of 2008 increased by 18%.he significant increase in sales in 2008 has primarily been caused by the Land Armaments operating group due to high armoured wheeled vehicle volumes in the US and full- year impact of the Armor acquisition. This shows that BAEs products have strong market potential. Operating profit.Operating profit is a indicatore to measure of business efficiency. BAE Systems recorded revenues of 16,671 million in the financial year 2008 which is an increase of 16.5% over 2007. For the 2008, the US which is the companys largest geographic market, accounted for 56.4% of the total revenues. Operating profit in 2008 is 2.2 times of 2004,in 2007 it increased 52.1%,from  ¿Ã‚ ¡774m in 2004 to  ¿Ã‚ ¡1177m. Operating profit is showing the trend of rising year by year reflects a good profitability of BAEs business. There is a very good market prospects of the enterprise. Inventory turnover.Decline in inventory turnover .However, when compared with the same industry Boeing it is still very high. Accounts receivable turnover in 2005 and 2006 was lower than that in the other early years. However, in 2007 and 2008, BAEs accounts receivable turnovera increased substantially ¼Ã…’Total asset turnover ratio is relatively stable, but slightly higher than the industry standard. Order book.Order book reflect the popularity of the product, it also shows the potential of products in the market.However, the number of orders can not be a comprehensive response to the operating performance of companies.Between 2005 and 2004,the order book was increasing ,while in 2006 the book order was only 31.7 bn ,reduced almost by 37%.then there was a recover and in 2008 the order book was 46.5bn although it was still less than 2004. Reduction in order book illustrates the business sales market in the shrinking.Reduction in main business volume, indicating that the development of enterprises might have gone wrong strategy. Return on sales.From the table it can be seen that the return on sales is increasing year by year , But the order is indeed the in reduction.The Prorfit for the year in 2006 is very high however the cash inflow from operating activities in this year was the lest. It may be there is something can not be reflect in the financial report, the other businesses increasing cause income to increase,so it is not be reflect in the financial report which is about the return on sales. Cash inflow from operating activitie.Cash inflow from operating activities is used to determine the the actual gap between companys operating cash flow and financial reporting operating income or net income. (Hans,2007) . From the table that the operating business cash flow show a downward trend during the five years.That is to say compared with 2004 the cash inflow from operating activities reduced by 10.7% in 2005, 61.1%,in 2006, 8% in 2007, 14.5%, in 2008.The 2008 reduction in operating business cash flow largely reflects utilisation of Saudi Typhoon advances received in 2007 and an agreed repayment to the UK Ministry of Defence in respect of the Astute programme.However, it reflacted there is something wrong with the companys cash flow. Net cash. The cash flow was  ¿Ã‚ ¡700m in 2006,however, in 2007 it reduced by 28% and becomed to  ¿Ã‚ ¡435m,even worse in 2008, it is only  ¿Ã‚ ¡39m. In 2008, 83.43% of the cash flow ratio is too high compared to the same industry. Capital utilization rate is low, so a decline in cash flow to investors is a positive message. And in 2008 29.65 percent of the cash-flow ratio compared to the industry is relatively high. The company Europe Aerospace Defense recorded a net cash of $2.1 billion up 40% in an average . The reduction of the net cash flow shows that there is some problem in the cash inflow of the company,it may have a bad effect on the operating and develpoment of BAE. However overall level still very high for the company . Solvency analysis. Overall there is a very strong solvency.In particular, in year 2005 and 2006, current ratio were more than 2 ¼Ã…’quick ratio exceeds 1.But it is also the performance of the low efficiency of fund utilizationà £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Although the 2007 and 2008, the flow rate and the liquid have declined more .But does not affect the solvency ¼Ã…’and the increased utilization of funds. Assets is responsible for rising rates, leading to long-term solvency has been reduced low ¼Ã…’But the asset-liability ratio does not exceed 50% ,the long-term solvency remains strong. Analysis of share price performance Comments on company management/board of directors and the stock market The Board promotes a common culture and identity through the Operational Framework. It sets out the way we do business and what it means to be part of the Group. It is the Groups framework for a sound system of internal controls. All employees are required to comply with the Operational Framework in their business conduct. The BAE Companys TSR (share price growth plus dividends) ranking relative to a comparator group of 18 other international defence and aerospace companies such as Boein,General Dynamics,Raytheon ,Cobham,Dassault Aviation,EADS,Embraer PN,Finmeccanica and so on.. None of the shares vest if the Companys TSR is outside the top 50% of TSRs achieved by the sectoral comparator group and 100% vest if it is in the top quintile (ie top 20%) as set out below(Herve,2006) Rationale for performance measures: importance to major investors as an indication of both earnings and capital growth relative to other major companies in the same sector and to ensure that awards only vest if there has been a clear improvement in the Companys performance over the relevant period. EBITA . EBITA refers to a companys income before the deduction of interest, tax and amortization expenses. It is also consistent with the profi t measure which is used by BAE to analysis internal performance and as a measure of operating profitability that is comparable over time.à £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Underlying EBITA increased 86.7% in 2008 which reaches to  ¿Ã‚ ¡1,897m compared with 2004,and 31% compared witn 2007.according to the calculation ,compared with 2004, EBITA increased 45.4% in 2007,18.8% in 2006 and 16.3% in 2005. Underlying EBITA during the five years is increasing growth all the time . View of the circumstances from the BAE, there is a very good return on investment .That is very likely to achieve value and hedging to buy its stock. Underlying earnings per share. From the table it can be seen that Underlying EPS is 37.1p in 2008 which increases 23% compared with last year.And there is a 28.1% increase in 2007, 30.6% in 2006,29.3% in 2005.All these increase are compared with the year brfore. Companies and the stock market do not like fluctuating EPSs. In the past BAE EPS growth rate 35.25% ¼Ã…’growth potential is still very good and EPS Stability is very good too.Companies operate is stable and reasonable. The Underlying earnings per share of BAE does not fluctuate badly,so it is good for its sharehooders.And Underlying EPS continue to rise mainly reflecting higher underlying EBITA of the BAE. BAE as an aviation industry leader ¼Ã…’in the 2004-2008 years, the companys revenue and profit growth.From 2006 to 2008 BAEs profitability continued to rise.In particular, rising faster in 2008. Recommendation to investors Based on the above analysis,it can be seen the companys operating capacity is very light, and development prospects is very good,its position in the industry is also high. The company will continue to develop, and will continue to grow. With the recovery in economic development, the companys operations development will gradually resume, which will cause the Companys stock price rebound. Therefore, the long-term investors can look up a little,and continue to hold its shares, to realise the purpose of increasing the value of their money. For short-term investors they will have to stage development according to the company, select the appropriate strategy to achieve their own purposes. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths Weaknesses BAE achieved with many business acquations, and establish friendly and long-term relationship with the United Kingdom and other countries, through the merger, the companys growth has been greatly improved. Diversified business The company has advanced technical level. Strong growth in revenue and profits Relatively low employee productivity Unfunded employee post retirement benefits Sluggish performance in key segments Fixed-price contracts risk The Group is exposed to risks inherent in operating in a global market. The Group is involved in consortia, joint ventures and equity holdings where it does not have control. Opportunities Threats With the intensification of regional conflicts more demand for defense products is also increasing, thus creating a large demand for the companys products, especially the United States, defense products demand is very huge. Huge international market and the demand for defense products offers great opportunities for BAEs development. Growth in global aerospace and defense Intense competition High dependence on government contracts Recommendations Minimize the fixed-price contract and control the initiative rests in its own hands.At the same time to manage contract-related risks andà £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬uncertainties, contracts are managed through theà £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬application of the Lifecycle Management (LCM)à £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬business process mandated by the Groups Operationalà £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€š ¬Framework at the operational level ¼Ã… ½(Flower,1998) The Group has formal systems and policies in place which are mandated under the Groups Operational Framework to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and to identify any restrictions that could adversely impact the Groups future activities. The Group has formal systems and procedures in place to monitor the performance of such business arrangements and identify and manage any adverse scenario arising. In order to protect itself against currency uctuations, the Groups policy is to hedge all materialrm transactional exposures, unless otherwise approved as an exception by the Treasury Review Management Committee, as well as to manage anticipated economic cash ow exposures over the medium term. Conclusion BAE in a leading position in the aviation industry .Both operating profit margin or asset turnover ratio is higher than the level of the same industry.However, compared with other companies in the industry, the use of financial leverage is not very good, capital utilization rate is not high. From the above there is still great room for BAE development.The future development considerations from the following two ¼Ã… ¡One is to raise operating margin ¼Ã…’Second, make full use of financial leverage effect,because of its financial leverage below the level of the same industry. The most important thing for the company is upgrading in innovation and technological.Encourage the development of a new ideology ¼Ã…’new technologies and new ways of working and bring them with a lasting competitive edge. And for the investors, because in the past BAE EPS growth rate 35.25% ¼Ã…’growth potential is still very good and EPS Stability is very good too,so they can buy stocks of the company at present time.( David Tyrrall,2007)Under the financial Crisis, government purchases declined, but as the recovery of the financial environment the companys business will increase, operating profits will increase substantially.Therefore, with the improvement of operating conditions the stock price will be in a good direction.

Big Business and The Robber Barons Essay -- Corporate America Consumer

The decades after the Civil War rapidly changed the face of the United States. The rapid industrialization of the nation changed us from generally agrarian to the top industrial power in the world. Business tycoons thrived during this time, forging great business empires with the use of trusts and pools. Farmers moved to the cities and into the factories, living off wages and changing the face of the workforce. This rapid industrialization created wide gaps in society, and the government, which had originally taken a hands off approach to business, was forced to step in. Many individuals took advantage of the rapid industrialization and high influx of cheap labor in the form of immigrants. Among these entrepreneurs were John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and George Pullman. Each made a name for themselves by forging their own corporate empire. Rockefeller was an industrialist and philanthropist who made his fortune by founding the Standard Oil Company in 1870. Attempting to monopolize the industry and squeeze out the middle man, Rockefeller slowly gained almost complete control of the oil industry. He formed the powerful Standard Oil Trust in 1882, which united all of his companies and secured 95% of oil production in the United States for himself. Rockefeller was an industrialist who stamped out all of his competition with his trust, eventually leading to Congress intervention. Andrew Carnegie found his fortune in steel. Arriving in America in 1848, he quickly made his way up society’s ladder and in 1870 founded the Carnegie Steel Company in Pittsburgh. Carnegie was opposed to monopolistic practices, but succeeded in eliminating the middle man. He pioneered the tactic of â€Å"vertical integration†... ...elped to widen the rift between rich and poor. Farmers, who were once self-employed, were rapidly becoming factory workers. In 1860 half the nation was self-employed, but by 1900 two-thirds were dependent on wages. This trend caused the rapid urbanization of America, which brought out some issues. Wages were rising, so it was good to be working, but with dependent wages the workers we’re susceptible to economic downturns. The workplace also became much less personable as people began to move to factory jobs. New machines would often displace workers, and individual workers had little power to fight for their rights against the industries. There was always a fear of unemployment, and reformers struggled to protect wages and have provisions for temporary unemployment. As more people moved to the cities and the corporations grew, social rifts became larger and larger.

Gender Roles: The Building Blocks of American Society Essay

Ever since I could remember most of what I learned about being a male came from a series of components, majority include my parents, family, television, school, toys, the media, and peers. Gender expectations were embedded within me by society and I had no clue of what was happening. When I was young it was expected of me to play with toys that suited males i.e. batman, spiderman, superman, watch television shows that encompassed male behavior, I even had to perpetuate dominance over my male counterparts as a means of sustaining my masculinity. This was all taught to me by the constructs of masculinity developed by society. I can recall many instances in which my stepfather would punish me if I stayed inside on on Saturday/Sunday mornings because in his time period, boys were expected to be outside performing manual labor while the woman were expected to cook and clean. It is the roles of American society that have plagued the notion of dominant and subordinate gender roles of male a nd female. I learned to perpetuate masculinity without even understanding what masculinity or femininity even meant, it was taught to me as a natural way of being, something that I never questioned because I simply thought it was the correct way of living, and even though it did not quite make sense to act tough or to act male, I still followed everything I was taught. All my life I acted the way I was expected to act, as a Hispanic male, I had to stay within the confines of my ethnicity and gender. Males where not expected to be emotional or to have feelings. Within a family that honors male dominance and power that males can perpetuate, none of my uncles show any signs of weakness or vulnerability, as it is taboo for the men in my family to show any sign of softness. I however, always had problems with living my life in  this order and having to perpetuate male behavior. I can recall one instance where I wrapped my hair in a towel after a shower because I saw my mother always doing it and I wanted to as well, it was not until my mom caught me, when she instantly put me in place and told me to never do that again. She specified that if my dad witnessed what I had done I would never see the light of day. Ever since I could remember, the ways in which I performed my gender role was not necessarily performed the way society constructed it. I never performed what was expected of me, most of the time I would sit on the side of my house crying after being yelled at by my stepfather for not being boyish enough for him. I always had my mind on being who I thought I should be i.e. free and able to explore as I wanted, and not what people told me to be. All my life, I have witnessed male family members and their inability to console or give proper advice to anyone because there was always an ego bias due to their lack of feeling and emotion. My father is a prime example, no matter what he discussed with me as a child it always related to male dominance and woman subordination and the idea of the other. I come from a family with ego gratification issues, most of my uncles including my father suffer from perpetuating masculinity and male dominance, and they thrive off of not showing an ounce of weakness or vulnerability. Within the confines of my family it is actually frowned upon to express feeling or even express care of love towards anyone, it is a sad fact, but it is the learned male dominant/ female subordinate roles that have convoluted American society to act in this specific manner. Nonetheless, it is a sad feat of American life. If I suddenly woke and I was female my life would change dramatically, the result would impact my whole center of being substantially. Not only would the mechanics of my body entirely change, my entire conception of self would as well. I could no longer go to the bathroom the same, use masculinity as a crutch to get ahead in society, my entire notion of self and the makeup of who I am as a person, and as a dramaturgical actor would be in chaos. The building blocks that I was founded upon would completely rearrange, everything I have learned my whole life would be flipped. I would no longer see myself in the same light, as I now have to relearn what it means to begin living a life that I have no real first hand experience within. My entire life revolves around my conception of myself as a male, my  educational level, my acquired dominance in society from just being a male, my role as a man, and my privilege in society. This change would alter my conception of what it means to be a human entirely. As our entire lives are shaped by gender expectations and societies ideas of what it means to be a male and female. It would be a tough change nonetheless. My gender performance would have to be re-built from the ground up. I would have to learn to act like a female, to make my way in the world as a female, I would lose certain privileges that come along with being male such as job opportunities, respect, power, and would have to completely relearn gender roles within a female body. For some, this would be the worst possible outcome that could ever happen to a male, not only because of everything that comes along with being a male, but also everything that comes along with being a female. Females are stigmatized for their femininity, their roles as woman in society, their sexual partners, the clothes that they wear, the way that they look, there are so many things that woman have to deal with that many men simply do not understand. This would be an eye opener, everything I have learned and got away with, as a male such as freely exploring my manhood and eating disgustingly, would be redefined. In society woman are held to the highest degree of observance and are forced to stay within the lines of femininity. Everywhere you look, on billboards, magazine covers, newspapers, and tabloids there is the romanticized version of what it means to be a woman and the standard that they are held up to is simply unreachable. No one can measure up to societies standard of what it means to be a woman, they are constantly broken down and told they are not pretty, they are not desirable, they are not what they should be, they are promiscuous, and if a guy does the same things he is not scrutinized for his actions. My entire life as a woman would be a new understanding, an entire new journey and experience. Learning what it means to be stigmatized and talked down upon if I decided to be who I was as a man, but as a woman. I woul d no longer be able to shove food down my throat, act vulgar, run around with my shirt off, jog around at nighttime because of the fear of being raped, or abducted. It would totally reshape everything I was taught and defined as in society. Even though acting masculine or acting feminine is a social construct, it has consumed me everyday, I have always filled that masculine role that society has brought me up within and even though  everything about myself is wrapped up within my gender specific role as a Hispanic male, becoming a female would totally change my gender experience. I would be reborn, forced to learn everything about myself as a female, and what it means to be a female and act like a female in society. Nonetheless, it would completely reshape my views and ideas about gender.

Garrett Morgan

Seems like the flowers blossom and the skies full of joy, Garrett, oh young Garrett, are you also full of joy? Born in downtown, hated by rotten white neighbors, Who in his young mind would color in corps? He walked in the path of color, Did not taste a new kind of flavor, Wrapped in a slim black coat, Seems like living in a moat. You are like an ant, traveling in many ways, Guided not by the contours of the great minds, But the sting of a many a scorpions’ tongues, Such a scorpion is a man, lying in another man’s arms.He speaks of books, but could not fathom such, He tells of nails and numbers, but hunger enters, How long will his pain matters, So long as the heart beats and beaten. Now comes a group of his mates, Black birds flying in white rotten sky, How long shall they remain in their smile shy? The fruits of mouth are very sharp. Now Garrett is turned into a dove, Putting white color in his black skin hove, He remarks, â€Å"I will be in their hove. † But f rustrated as he is, failed and shoved. Crying and heaving heart feelings, He trembles in distaste hangings,Came a man of fancy bringing, Offers him a bead of woven linen. Alas, I came to save you from the bondages of your own misery! The tunnels are empty and danger woven, I bring light to thee, I act on the premise of my wrath, I tremble on the problems of others’ hat, I smile on the mask’s facade, The gas saves and saving. The roads are jammed and blurry, But I bring order and merry. At last, I’m in the annals of history. This poem is generally about a poor black boy (Garrett Morgan- child of former slaves) who wanted to become a member of the white society.Born into a poor family, he strove hard to be accepted by the society. Because of poverty, he stopped studying. All he could do now was imitate the fashion of the white society. The first step was to become â€Å"white† in the sense of changing the color of her skin. He failed miserably, noting that even if his skin changes, his identity will remain black, his ancestry will remain black. However, his status in society did not prevent him from making accomplishments. He invented the traffic lights and military gas mask: one of the symbols of modern society.

Essay Writing Examples

Essay Writing Examples Essay Writing Examples Essay Writing Examples Here is a basic essay model that you can base your essay on. One of the possible essay writing examples could be on the topic-Dogs as Mans best friend The introduction of such an essay can start by stating that while it is commonly believed that a dog is mans best friend-this is not to say that cats or even squirrels cant make friendly pets. This can lead to your thesis statement in which you agree or disagree with the topic. Notice how some really good essay writing examples that you read always begin with an interesting or captivating sentence or a quote to draw in the attention of the reader-notice how these essay writing examples then lead into thesis statements like Even though many people swear that a dog is mans best friend there have been cases of people taming and living with baby lions that are nearly as affectionate as a dog. The next few sentences can validate this sentence by describing the actual experience of people that have tamed and kept baby lions as pets. Baby lions love to play and snuggle up for a cuddle. Notice how good essay writing examples never make a claim without validating it in the next sentence. This is done by validating what has been said with some solid evidence and examples since these will add credibility to your essay: Contrary to what people believe baby lions can be trained and are every bit as affectionate and loving as dogs. It is really difficult to resist a baby lion when it looks at you with beguiling eyes and wants you to tickle it under the chin Basically, an essay must consist of less fluff and more substance. Never say anything without backing up what you say with solid examples or by quoting from a knowledgeable source. It is always a good idea to highlight a point each per paragraph and to elaborate on this point in a couple of sentences. The opening line of the next paragraph must use a transition word or phrase to maintain a logical flow. Good essay writing examplesshould end with a concluding paragraph that wraps up any loose ends and reinforces your thesis statement by reiterating the main points of your essay. So we find that due to reasons x, y and z it makes sense to say that with the right bonding and affectionate ties even a baby lion can be mans best friend. Read also: How to Write a Thesis History Thesis Hamlet Thesis Dissertation Topics Dissertation Subjects

Letter to the President †Letter about the Education System

Letter to the President – Letter about the Education System Free Online Research Papers Dear President Obama: I am writing to ask you to inform you of some issues in our education system. This is vital for the future of our children; I think we need to address these issues now. First of all I think you really need to sit down and take a look at our education system. There are a lot of problems to many for me to even talk about today, but you need to re-evaluate the way our whole educational system is implemented. The first thing I would like to bring to your attention is being that we need to make sure every school is taught the same way. The second thing that needs to be discussed is that the how much funding a school gets is based on test scores and how well the school scores. Schools are focused on getting better test scores than actually teaching. For starters why should some children be taught one way at one school and then in the next town over the kids are learning in a totally different way. For example in my readings I came across a very good writing about the social classes of schools he writes about four different social classes in the education system. The working class school (most of the families are below federal poverty lines) â€Å"work is following the steps of a procedure. The procedure is usually mechanical, involving rote behavior and very little decision making or choice†. (pg 177) Another thing he mentioned about the lower class school is how they did a science experiment in the class performed, by the teacher then the answer was wrote on the board for the class to copy. Giving the students no chance to come to their own conclusions on what the results of the experiment were. The second class is the middle class (is made up of blue collar workers and higher paid workers). â€Å"The middle-class s chool, work is getting the answer right. If one accumulates enough right answers, one gets a good grade. One must follow directions to get the right answer. (pg 180) In this class the children are basically taught to follow orders because they are thought to grow up and work in a blue collar job and having to follow bosses orders. The third affluent professional school (parents who have a higher income and are mostly professional) â€Å"In the affluent professional school, work is creative activity carried out independently. The students are continually asked to express and apply ideas and concepts. Work involves individual thought and expressiveness, expansion and illustration of ideas and choice of appropriate method and material†. (pg182) This is the best out of all the classes the children learn in an enriching environment and have choices they also get involved in their education. The fourth class is the executive elite school (fathers are executives in major corporation s) â€Å"In the executive elite school, work is developing one’s analytical intellectual powers. Children are continually asked to reason through a problem, to produce intellectual products that are both logically sound and of top academic quality†. (pg185) Looking at this you can see how differently our children are being taught based on were there go to school. This needs to change and I think you are the perfect president to do something about it. President Bush did take one step in the right direction with the no kid left behind act but that barely touched the surface of the problems that we have. The second problem that I think you need to take a look at is the money issues with education. School has become all about test scores, no more about teaching skills required. The main focus in schools now is to make sure all students pass tests such as the SAT. Bushs No Child Left Behind Act doesnt make much of a difference either, students learn how to take a test, not necessarily anything else other than techniques needed to correctly answer questions. You can have a student study every little detail for the SAT. But it doesnt mean anything when you put them in the real world. Students arent evaluating and criticizing what they learn anymore. money is the cause of this problem. Money is the primary cause schools are about testing rather than about learning. More specifically, it is how the government distributes money to the districts that causes this problem. The government distributes money to schools in the district according to their respective students grades on tests. Bette r scores on tests is more money for the district. No it has come to the point where school isnt about learning anymore. Its all about memorization of information and getting good test scores. School didnt intend to be a foundation of testing rather than teaching relevant issues for peoples lives.We need to make them conscious of this, we are being tested for the wrong reason. The test is just telling the teachers what they want to hear. Money has always been one of the biggest issues with the education system but now it has become a fight for who gets more money based on. How are your children supposed to get the best education if they are learning from old texted books? How come we have money for guns and supplies for the war in Iraq but we can’t give our schools money for highly qualified teachers or for new books and supplies. If we don’t care enough to give the children supplies and books why should they care and go to school. Teachers don’t care about teaching because there are not receiving high enough salaries, and also aren’t being given the supplies necessary to deliver a quality education to the students. Also I think we need to have more governmental regulations on were and how the schools spend the money there are given. Well thank you for listening to what I have to say about how to reform our education system in America. I have pointed out that all the children need to be taught in the same manner no matter where they go to school. I also briefly discussed are money problems in the educational system. I hope now that you are aware of the issues at hand you can make a change for the better. Thank you for your support. Research Papers on Letter to the President - Letter about the Education SystemStandardized TestingHip-Hop is ArtResearch Process Part OneTrailblazing by Eric AndersonPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesCapital PunishmentBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm X

How the WWII Battle of Stalingrad Was Fought

How the WWII Battle of Stalingrad Was Fought The Battle of Stalingrad was fought from July 17, 1942 to February 2, 1943, during World War II (1939-1945).  It was a key battle on the Eastern Front. Advancing into the Soviet Union, the Germans opened the battle in July 1942. After over six months of fighting at Stalingrad, the German Sixth Army was encircled and captured. This Soviet victory was a turning point on the Eastern Front. Soviet Union Marshal Georgy ZhukovLieutenant General Vasily ChuikovColonel General Aleksandr Vasilevsky187,000 men, rising to over 1,100,000 men Germany General (later Field Marshal) Friedrich PaulusField Marshal Erich von MansteinColonel General Wolfram von Richthofen270,000 men, rising to over 1,000,000 men Background Having been stopped at the gates of Moscow, Adolf Hitler began contemplating offensive plans for 1942. Lacking the manpower to remain on the offensive all along the Eastern Front, he decided to focus German efforts in the south with the goal of taking the oil fields. Codenamed Operation Blue, this new offensive began on June 28, 1942, and caught the Soviets, who thought the Germans would renew their efforts around Moscow, by surprise. Advancing, the Germans were delayed by heavy fighting in Voronezh, which allowed the Soviets to bring reinforcements south. Angered by a perceived lack of progress, Hitler divided Army Group South into two separate units, Army Group A and Army Group B. Possessing the majority of the armor, Army Group A was tasked with capturing the oil fields, while Army Group B was ordered to take Stalingrad to protect the German flank. A key Soviet transportation hub on the Volga River, Stalingrad also possessed propaganda value as it was named after the Soviet leader  Joseph Stalin. Driving towards Stalingrad, the German advance was led by General Friedrich Paulus 6th Army with General Hermann Hoths 4th Panzer Army supporting to the south. Preparing the Defenses When the German objective became clear, Stalin appointed General Andrey Yeryomenko to command the Southeastern (later Stalingrad) Front. Arriving on the scene, he directed Lieutenant General Vasiliy Chuikovs 62nd Army to defend the city. Stripping the city of supplies, the Soviets prepared for urban fighting by fortifying many of Stalingrads buildings to create strong points. Though some of Stalingrads population left, Stalin directed that civilians remain, as he believed the army would fight harder for a living city. The citys factories continued to operate, including one producing T-34 tanks. The Battle Begins With German ground forces nearing, General Wolfram von Richthofens Luftflotte 4 quickly gained air superiority over Stalingrad and began reducing the city to rubble, inflicting thousands of civilian casualties in the process. Pushing west, Army Group B reached the Volga north of Stalingrad in late August and by September 1 had arrived at the river south of the city. As a result, Soviet forces in Stalingrad could only be reinforced and re-supplied by crossing the Volga, often while enduring German air and artillery attack. Delayed by rough terrain and Soviet resistance, 6th Army did not arrive until early September. On September 13, Paulus and 6th Army began pushing into the city. This was supported by 4th Panzer Army which attacked Stalingrads southern suburbs. Driving forward, they sought to capture the heights of Mamayev Kurgan and reach the main landing area along the river. Engaged in bitter fighting, the Soviets fought desperately for the hill and the No. 1 Railroad Station. Receiving reinforcements from Yeryomenko, Chuikov battled to hold the city. Understanding the German superiority in aircraft and artillery, he ordered his men to stay closely engaged with the enemy to negate this advantage or risk friendly fire. Fighting Among the Ruins Over the next several weeks, German and Soviet forces engaged in savage street fighting in attempts to take control of the city. At one point, the average life expectancy of a Soviet soldier in Stalingrad was less than one day. As fighting raged in the ruins of the city, the Germans met heavy resistance from a variety of fortified buildings and near a large grain silo. In late September, Paulus began a series of attacks against the citys northern factory district. Brutal combat soon engulfed the area around the Red October, Dzerzhinsky Tractor, and Barrikady factories as the Germans sought to reach the river. Despite their dogged defense, the Soviets were slowly pushed back until the Germans controlled 90% of the city by the end of October. In the process, 6th and 4th Panzer Armies sustained massive losses. In order to maintain pressure on the Soviets in Stalingrad, the Germans narrowed the two armies front and brought in Italian and Romanian troops to guard their flanks. In addition, some air assets were transferred from the battle to counter the Operation Torch landings in North Africa. Seeking to end the battle, Paulus launched a final assault against the factory district on November 11 which had some success. Soviets Strike Back While the grinding fighting was taking place in Stalingrad, Stalin dispatched General Georgy Zhukov south to begin building up forces for a counterattack. Working with General Aleksandr Vasilevsky, he massed troops on steppes to the north and south of Stalingrad. On November 19, the Soviets launched Operation Uranus, which saw three armies cross the Don River and crash through the Romanian Third Army. South of Stalingrad, two Soviet armies attacked on November 20, shattering the Romanian Fourth Army. With Axis forces collapsing, Soviet troops raced around Stalingrad in a massive double envelopment. Uniting at Kalach on November 23, the Soviet forces successfully encircled 6th Army trapping around 250,000 Axis troops. To support the offensive, attacks were conducted elsewhere along the Eastern Front to prevent the Germans from sending reinforcements to Stalingrad. Though the German high command wished to order Paulus to conduct a breakout, Hitler refused and was convinced by Luftwaffe chief Hermann Gà ¶ring that 6th Army could be supplied by air. This ultimately proved impossible and conditions for Paulus men began to deteriorate. While Soviet forces pushed east, others began tightening the ring around Paulus in Stalingrad. Heavy fighting began as the Germans were forced into an increasingly smaller area. On December 12, Field Marshall Erich von Manstein launched Operation Winter Storm but was unable to break through to the beleaguered 6th Army. Responding with another counter-offensive on December 16 (Operation Little Saturn), the Soviets began driving the Germans back on a wide front effectively ending German hopes for relieving Stalingrad. In the city, Paulus men resisted tenaciously but soon faced ammunition shortages. With the situation desperate, Paulus asked Hitler for permission to surrender but was refused. On January 30, Hitler promoted Paulus to field marshal. As no German field marshal had ever been captured, he expected him to fight to the end or commit suicide. The next day, Paulus was captured when the Soviets overran his headquarters. On February 2, 1943, the final pocket of German resistance surrendered,  ending over five months of fighting. Aftermath of Stalingrad Soviet losses in the Stalingrad area during the battle numbered around 478,741 killed and 650,878 wounded. In addition, as many as 40,000 civilians were killed. Axis losses are estimated at 650,000-750,000 killed and wounded as well as 91,000 captured. Of those captured, fewer than 6,000 survived to return to Germany. This was a turning point of the war on the Eastern Front. The weeks after Stalingrad saw the Red Army launch eight winter offensives across the Don River basin. These helped further compel Army Group A to withdraw from the Caucasus and ended the threat to the oil fields. Sources Antill, P. (Feb. 4, 2005),  The Caucasus Campaign and the Battle for Stalingrad June 1942–February 1943HistoryNet, Battle of Stalingrad: Operation Winter TempestYoder, M. (Feb. 4, 2003), Battle of Stalingrad

The Liberation Day of Kuwait Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Liberation Day of Kuwait - Essay Example Iraq, under the command of Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait with the aim of annexing Kuwait and taking over her oilfields. Saddam’s argument was that even before independence from Great Britain in1961; Kuwait should have been Iraqis territory; in addition, he claimed Kuwait did not adhere to agreed oil quota (Khadduri and Ghareeb164). Under the instructions of Saddam Hussein, Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait and occupied some areas. The United Nations (UN) called for the withdrawal of these troops, but this failed to take place. UN forces anchored by American forces began an air bombardment on Iraqis capital Baghdad. Later, they followed this up with the ground incursions; this had the effect of forcing the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from neighboring Kuwait. Looting, plundering and damage of Kuwaitis oil infrastructure by the fleeing Iraqi troops took place (Khadduri and Ghareeb 171). This paper looks into the various ways Kuwaitis commemorate this day in 2011. With the above facts i n mind, it becomes necessary to look into the activities of the day held in pomp and color by the citizens and government. The celebrations in Kuwait city on the 20th eve of this day in 2011 were visible everywhere one went. In an interview, with a man in his 40’s, he recounts how as a youth, he helped to load and unload food and other supplies for the soldiers with former friends. As the patriarch of the house, he helped decorate the house in red, green, and white; the colors of the Kuwait flag. Equally, the hoisting of flags was visible across the streets in his neighborhood. As a national holiday, most people are at home the youth also experienced these celebrations in the neighborhoods through organized football tournaments. Surprisingly, the Imam of the local mosque also gathered some youths in the mosque. The attendance was satisfactory despite being a Saturday, he recounted and emphasized the importance of the day and led in praying for peace. The idea that a Sunni pre sident would attack a neighboring Sunni state seemed incomprehensible to the youth. Nevertheless, this remains a historical reminder of the atrocities that can be committed by power hungry leaders. Significance placed on the day by even religious clerics highlights this. The media fraternity equally celebrated; Kuwait national television and the national broadcaster carried stories of triumphs over the invasion. Qatar based Al jazerra TV equally featured the celebration of this day as one of its main stories. The social networking sites were abuzz with best wishes for state of Kuwait, remembrance of the martyrs of this day and the Kuwaitis held captives in Iraqi jails. The military parade was an impressive sight. The invitation included various leaders from countries that helped liberate Kuwait. This parade also included the 50th anniversary of the independence of Kuwait from being a British protectorate. Various armies of Arab states including Saudi Arabia also marched. Fighter jet s provided a beautiful spectacle of white, green and red smoke symbolizing the national flag. The president of Iraq Jalal Talabani a Kurdish leader was also in attendance, showing there was no animosity between the two neighboring countries. As is customary in celebrations, in Kuwait, ‘Machboos’, (commonly being chicken, fish and beef with rice) serving was carried out in large trays. All family members gathered together at lunch time with coffee mainly served to

The Importance of Health as You Age Research Paper

The Importance of Health as You Age - Research Paper Example Scot: anything that gets your body moving is technically a physical activity. The first thing one has to consider while aging is to keep moving. That means that you should not spend long hours sitting down. Scot’s response on the health of the elderly is similar to some of the studies. Adults (50+) spend an average of 10 hours daily either lying or sitting down. The consequences of their inactivity include heart diseases, obesity among others that lead to early death compared to the overall population. As one gets older, it is vital that he remains active if he wants to remain healthy and uphold his independence. Otherwise, everything you have always enjoyed practicing and taken for a ride will start becoming harder. They might struggle pursuing simple pleasures such as playing with their grandchildren, walking it to the mall, meeting up with friends and even leisure activities. Eating right is another of making your health better. As one ages, good nutrition plays a very vital role in how well you age. Eating low-fat, low-salt diet with lots of fruits, fiber and vegetables can diminish your age -related diseases including diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke and other chronic diseases (Martin, 89). Diversifying your diet with a variety of foods can easily help your body get the nutrients it needs. For instance, proteins that is required to rebuild and maintain muscles. One can acquire low fat, protein from fish, soy, low-fat meat, a limited amount of nuts and eggs. Carbohydrate that provides the body with energy is important. There are two major sources of dietary carbohydrates: complex carbohydrates that come from grains and vegetables and simple sugars such as lactose, sucrose and fructose. Unlike refined sugars, fruits have fiber and vitamins; dairy products have nutrients such as vitamin D and calcium, and complex carbohydrates have minerals, vitamins and fiber. One has to get most of the carbohydrate calories from

Reading Respond#3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Reading Respond#3 - Essay Example U.S, and of the armed forces of the numerous states, when given the actual service of America and commission all the service personnel of the United States (The Founders Constitution 1). The separation of war powers within the U.S Constitution does not appear so uncertain. While the President is given some exclusive authorities (Straub 1-2), the immensity of the authority to take the country to war depends on Congress (Kinkopf 2). According to U.S. Constitution, there is separation of powers of war. With Congress having the power to proclaim war, select and sustain the armed forces, and manage war funding (Article I, Section 8). At the time the Constitution was outlined (Kinkopf 2), the framers evaluated the singular willpower of the Executive against the Legislature’s consultative function, whose components would ultimately carry the cost of battle (The Founders Constitution 1). The ultimate responsibility for any military engagement is held by the congress. This is clear as it is supported by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has been fast to remind the people that, where overlaps in the authorities given by the Constitution prevail, reverence goes to Congress. This is a clear declaration of Supreme Court that when Congress, acting in the vast aspects of overlapping authority, tells the President no, the President ought to comply (Kinkopf 2). Straub, Steve. Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Paper #69, On Command of the Army and Navy. On March 21, 2011. Accessed from

Managing new ventures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing new ventures - Essay Example Happy Pet Supplies will participate in social and community development activities with an aim of building its reputation as a socially responsible organization. The organization will engage in rigorous marketing of its products both within and outside London even for the first year of its operation. Marketing campaigns will be carried out at various times depending on the seasons and convenience to potential customers. 12. As earlier stated, the initial capital needed to establish the business is $33, 000. This amount is expected to be enough to support the company fully in its initial stages of establishment. This amount was contributed by various parties as outlined below. 13. It is estimated that on average, the company will sell feeders worth  £ 6,000, feeds worth  £ 2,000, Kennels worth  £ 5,000 and Shampoos worth  £ 3,000. The company also expects to sell accessories worth  £ 4,000 per month its total daily revenue amounting to about $834. The expected monthly revenue is  £ 20,000. The second year is expected to bring a pretax profit plus interest totaling  £ 181,000 and a closing balance of  £ 102,000. The third year is expected to have a pretax profit plus interest of  £ 220,000 and a closing balance of  £

Labor Management and Personnel Work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Labor Management and Personnel Work - Essay Example Behavioral management theory has been modified over time, to incorporate more cognitive and agenetic theories that are inclusive of an individual's socio and physical environment (Stroh, Northcraft, & Neal, 2001). As such, behavioural management theory provides guidance as to management and employee personal and occupational development, and in the identification of employee and target market expectations and needs. This paper will propose a qualitative investigation of job satisfaction among employees at a local bank. Firstly, a literature review will identify current knowledge to justify the design chosen. Secondly, the method will outline the proposed design, variables, materials, ethical considerations and procedure. Finally, a conclusion shall synthesize the main points of the paper and demonstrate the important implications of conducting this study to enhance employee work experiences and to increase workplace efficiency. Behavioral management is a psychological approach to understanding and explaining human behavior; within the organizational setting, the general theory has been used for performance management. Corporations have used the theory to define work behaviors that are considered the most effective to get the job done (Coffs, 1997). Behavioral analysis incorporates a set of concepts and methods that can help to establish efficient and harmonious workplace environments. Behavior analysis concepts help us understand how people function within the realities of the world they live in. Drawing also on general systems concepts, behavioural management theory aids in understanding the reasons why an employee takes a course of action that they do, as well as informing management as to how to determine training needs; and how to communicate positive and negative feedback on employee's performance (Wilson, Lizzio, Whicker, Gallois, & Price, 2003).Importantly, and some say unfounded, job satisfaction h as become the work attitude to be investigated by a majority of researchers seeking to establish a relationship between employee attitudes and workplace efficiency (Wright, 2006). Such study reveals information about the person as an employee, as well as a social entity. "Attitudes," "motives," "values," "perceptions," "personality characteristics," "intelligence," and "performance outcomes," can describe an employee in terms that management can apply to overall business strategies (Kane, 1996).Toyota Ltd takes a critical approach to investigating employee perceptions of work satisfaction. The give each employee a questionnaire for self-evaluation and management feeds back their interpretations, often, the employee might have a different target set as compared to management in terms of performance (Toyota Industries, 2004). Strengths are recognized, and the employee is mentored to work on their weaknesses so as to improve performance. Continuous improvement is always the goal for a company, and in terms of people it is recommended to train and re-train, rather than

Wright Brothers Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Wright Brothers - Research Paper Example While the efforts to design and develop flight can be traced to periods before the 19th century when humans were imitating birds in flight, it is 19th century and early periods of 20th century, which witnessed real and tangible efforts that culminated to controlled and powered flight (Helfand and Banerjee, 2011). Subsequent years have seen rapid advancement in the aviation industry with better and advanced flights being developed. These flights have advanced technological capabilities and comfort. They are more comfortable, fast, and come with more attractive designs. The quest to realize controlled and powered flight began in earnest in 1891 when Otto Lilienthal worked to design a glider that can fly (Dixon-Engel and Jackson, 2007). He was the first person to design a glider that would fly a person, as well as being able to fly relatively long distances. He studied aerodynamics and he wrote a book that was later used by the Wright Brothers in their designs. The year 1891also saw Sam uel Langley building a plane model called aerodrome. Although his efforts to develop a powered flight failed, he made important contributions that would help in developing powered flight in the future particularly by Wright Brothers (Anderson, 2004). In 1894, Octave Chanute undertook the invention of airplanes after being inspired by Otto Lilienthal. He designed several aircraft; the Herring was a particular aircraft that he designed and was the most successful deign and was the basis for the design of Wright biplane (Howard, 1998). He also published a book in 1894 called â€Å"Progress in Flying Machines†. This book contained all the technical knowledge about aviation at that time. The Wright Brothers this book as the basis of their experiments. It is important to note that Chanute was in constant contact with the Wright Brothers and made regular comments on their technical progress. Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright were deliberate in their quest for flight as evidenced by t he fact that they spent many years learning all the early flight developments (Dixon-Engel and Jackson, 2007). They also read all the literature published up to that time about flight. Because of the knowledge that they acquired by reading and learning about flight, they started to test the early theories with kites and balloons. They also spent considerable amounts of time in learning and testing the shapes of gliders and how gliders could be controlled. The year 1903 witnessed a breakthrough in design and development of flight (O'Hern and Mayo, 2006). Wright Brothers were the first to sustain controlled flight, powered flight. Wright Brothers are the two American brothers who are credited as the earliest successful aviation inventors and pioneers. They are credited with inventing and developing the first successful airplane in the world, as well as making the first sustained, controlled, and powered heavier-than-air human flight on 17 December 1903 (Howard, 1998). Historians agree that even though the Wright Brother were not the first in building and flying experimental aircraft, they were the first in inventing aircraft controls that made possible the fixed-wing powered flight. In particular, they achieved a major breakthrough that other inventors had not achieved; they invented a three-axis control that enable the pilot to effectively steer the aircraft and at the same time maintain the aircraft’s equilibrium (O'Hern and Mayo, 2006). The significance of this method became standard in aviation and remains standard mainly on all kinds of fixed-wing aircraft. While the experimenters of the time were emphasizing on developing powerful aircraft engines, the Wright Brothe

Labor Management and Personnel Work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Labor Management and Personnel Work - Essay Example Behavioral management theory has been modified over time, to incorporate more cognitive and agenetic theories that are inclusive of an individual's socio and physical environment (Stroh, Northcraft, & Neal, 2001). As such, behavioural management theory provides guidance as to management and employee personal and occupational development, and in the identification of employee and target market expectations and needs. This paper will propose a qualitative investigation of job satisfaction among employees at a local bank. Firstly, a literature review will identify current knowledge to justify the design chosen. Secondly, the method will outline the proposed design, variables, materials, ethical considerations and procedure. Finally, a conclusion shall synthesize the main points of the paper and demonstrate the important implications of conducting this study to enhance employee work experiences and to increase workplace efficiency. Behavioral management is a psychological approach to understanding and explaining human behavior; within the organizational setting, the general theory has been used for performance management. Corporations have used the theory to define work behaviors that are considered the most effective to get the job done (Coffs, 1997). Behavioral analysis incorporates a set of concepts and methods that can help to establish efficient and harmonious workplace environments. Behavior analysis concepts help us understand how people function within the realities of the world they live in. Drawing also on general systems concepts, behavioural management theory aids in understanding the reasons why an employee takes a course of action that they do, as well as informing management as to how to determine training needs; and how to communicate positive and negative feedback on employee's performance (Wilson, Lizzio, Whicker, Gallois, & Price, 2003).Importantly, and some say unfounded, job satisfaction h as become the work attitude to be investigated by a majority of researchers seeking to establish a relationship between employee attitudes and workplace efficiency (Wright, 2006). Such study reveals information about the person as an employee, as well as a social entity. "Attitudes," "motives," "values," "perceptions," "personality characteristics," "intelligence," and "performance outcomes," can describe an employee in terms that management can apply to overall business strategies (Kane, 1996).Toyota Ltd takes a critical approach to investigating employee perceptions of work satisfaction. The give each employee a questionnaire for self-evaluation and management feeds back their interpretations, often, the employee might have a different target set as compared to management in terms of performance (Toyota Industries, 2004). Strengths are recognized, and the employee is mentored to work on their weaknesses so as to improve performance. Continuous improvement is always the goal for a company, and in terms of people it is recommended to train and re-train, rather than

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY, Leadership Styles of coaching Term Paper

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY, Leadership Styles of coaching - Term Paper Example Coaches are expected to be able to take a long view, observe, and make constructive criticism that allows the person to be the best they can be. â€Å"A coach usually sits on the sidelines and provides encouragement and advice to the players on the field. During time outs the coach helps the players to see the big picture of what is happening†¦ in a similar way, mentors can coach beginning teachers to connect theory with practice† (Boreen et al, 35). Mentoring and coaching can be very enlightening and positive ways for experienced leaders to reach those new to the team, but there are also risks to these strategies, as well as pros and cons to different leadership styles. Coaches may follow authoritative leadership roles, or be more confrontational to authority. Understanding leadership is very important to coaching professionals because they have to be able to differentiate between different leadership styles, use them appropriately, and find which is best for the situation. For example, the official leader in team development is different from the emergent leader in that there is more likelihood that the official leader will represent traditional organizational forces and the status quo. The emergent leader, on the other hand, may represent a challenge to this sense of tradition and status quo, and thus may present old issues in a new way or seek to change the basic organizational structure. It is likely that the coaching professional will therefore be more attracted to the emergent type of leadership than the traditional, but they should know the styles and characteristics of both. It is also likely that the emergent leader is going to have less of a solid bureaucratic support-structure than the official leader, and may not have the trad itional, conservative authority within a school or organization that an official leader has. The coach acting in an official leadership role may be less willing to take as many risks. Many also think

Why Is Glacier Equilibrium Line Altitude Important Environmental Sciences Essay

Why Is Glacier Equilibrium Line Altitude Important Environmental Sciences Essay Explain With Examples Why the Glacier Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) Is Of Such Key Importance for the Glacier-Climate Relationship. Palaeoclimatic reconstructions based on the limits of former glaciers use estimates of the associated equilibrium line altitudes (Benn and Gemmell 1997). The equilibrium line altitude is defined as the elevation at which mass balance is equal, where accumulation of snow is exactly balanced by ablation over a period of a year (Hoinkes, 1970) meaning that mass balance and the equilibrium line altitude for individual glaciers are usually strongly correlated (Braithwaite and Raper 2010). Therefore there is a very close connection between the Equilibrium Line Altitude and local climate, providing an important indicator of glacier response to climate change and hence allowing for reconstructions of former climates and the prediction of future glacier behaviour (Benn and Lehmkuhl, 2000). In order to truly understand the, often complicated, relationship between a glaciers equilibrium line altitude and the corresponding climate of the local area, definitions of mass balance, accumulation and ablation area and the equilibrium line altitude, must be initially discussed. The ablation area is the lower region of a glacier where snow loss (ablation) exceeds snowfall. The melting of the glacier and the calving of icebergs is the major form of ablation, expressed quantitatively as units of water equivalent, given in meters (Braithwaite 2002). The accumulation area is the upper region of a glacier where snow accumulation exceeds melting. A simplified description in the identification of a cirque depicts the area being an arm chair-shaped bowl (Flint 1971) with the headwall exceeding 35 degrees and the arcuate floor underachieving 20 degrees (Evans 1977). Accumulation occurs mostly through snowfall whether it is direct or blown from neighbouring plateaus and summits. The equilibrium line altitude (ELA) is the boundary between the ablation area and the accumulation area, the elevation at which mass balance is equal, where accumulation of snow is exactly balanced by ablation over a period of a year (Hoinkes 1970). Glacier mass balance is the total difference between the gains and losses over a given period of time, for example a calculation of positive mass, explains that the glacier is gaining mass overall and a negative calculation when the glacier is being seen as losing mass (Benn and Evans 1997). On many glaciers, the amount of annual ablation and accumulation varies systematically with altitude, although this simple pattern is often complicated by local influences. Glacier mass balance reflects the climate of the region in which the glacier is situated together with site specific glacier morphology and local topographic setting. The idea of mass balance is therefore an important link between climatic inputs and glacier behaviour allowing the advance and retreat of many glaciers to be understood in terms of region or global climatic change. Because the equilibrium line is the place where annual accumulation totals exactly balance ablation totals, the ELA is closely connected with local climate, particularly precipitation and air temperatures, being highly sensitive to perturbations in either of these 2 variables, with rises in response to decreasing snowfall and/or increasing frequency of positive air temperatures and vice versa (Benn and Evans 1997). Perhaps the best illustration of glacier-climate interaction is the relationship between the net balance and the ELA. When the annual mass balance of the glacier as a whole is negative the ELA rises, and when the balance is positive, the ELA falls. Variations in the altitude of the equilibrium line on a particular glacier, therefore, can be used as an indicator of climatic fluctuations (Kuhn, 1981). It is useful to specify the climate at the ELA as some unique combination of precipitation and temperature. (Benn and Evans) If a climate change occurs that increases the mass balance the glacier will advance, in an attempt to reach a new equilibrium position. The surplus of accumulation that exists must be balanced by an increase in ablation, which is accomplished by expanding the low-elevation terminus zone of the ablation area. If a climate change occurs that overall reduces the mass balance, the glacier will retreat in an attempt to achieve equilibrium. The retreat will reduce the area of the glacier in the lowest elevation terminus area where ablation is highest. If by retreat mass balance equilibrium is reached the glacier will cease retreating. However, the definition of the ELA initially does not imply that the glacier is in equilibrium and therefore the glacier may be gaining or losing mass on an annual basis. The ELA value associated with zero annual mass balance for the whole glacier is known as the steady-state ELA. When the annual ELA coincides with the steady-state ELA, ice mass and geometry are in equilibrium with climate, and the glacier will neither grow nor shrink. (Benn and Lehmkuhl 2000) However, majority of individual glacier ELAs deviate significantly from local climate ideals due, for example, to patterns of shading and snow redistribution by wind and avalanching. The main variables affecting mass balance at the ELA are winter precipitation (accumulation) and summer temperatures (ablation). A strong relationship exists between summer temperature and precipitation at the ELA of modern glaciers and this has been shown empirically by Ohmura et al. (1992) for 70 glaciers worldwide. Ohmura et al. found that winter accumulation plus summer precipitation (= annual precipitation) had a close relationship with summer temperature (Jun/July/Aug) However, Hughes and Braithwaite (2008) showed that the relationship between accumulation and summer temperature at the glacier ELA was more complicated with annual temperature range playing an important role. They continued to show that because of the role of annual temperature range, there must be a relationship between annual mean temperature and accumulation on a glacier Within the following pages the focus develops upon tropical glaciers in the Andes range, due to their particular degree of variance along latitude in relation to the zero degree isotherm. The difference between the ELA and 0 °C isotherm is a good indicator of the sensitivity of tropical glaciers to climatic global warming. It rises significantly from below zero meters in the inner tropics to several hundred metres in the outer tropics. From below zero degrees: the 0 °C isotherm is above the ELA (Kaser and George 1997). Thus, glaciers in the outer tropics may be more easily affected by changes in precipitation as it governs the albedo and radiation balance. The outer tropics and inner tropics vary significantly regarding this, illustrating the extent of variability of glacier-climate relationships. Within the Peruvian Andes, mass accumulation takes place only during the wet season and predominately in the upper parts of the glaciers, whereas ablation occurs throughout the whole ye ar. Thus, the vertical budget gradient is much stronger on tropical tongues than on those in mid latitudes (Lliboutry, morales and Schneider, 1997). Consequently under equilibrium conditions, tropical ablation areas are markedly smaller and the accumulation area ratio (AAR) has to be considered larger than in mid latitudes (Kaser and George 1997). (Benn et al 2005) Glaciers of the tropics and subtropics inhabit high altitudes and differ in important ways from mid-and high-latitude glaciers in lower topographic settings. Consequently the methods used to reconstruct and interpret former glacier equilibrium line altitudes in low altitude regions need to be tailored to local conditions, as methods and protocols developed for other settings may not be appropriate. Annual variations in mean daily temperatures are smaller than diurnal temperatures ranges. This constancy in the mean daily temperatures in the topics means that the 0 degree Celsius atmospheric isotherm maintains a fairly constant altitude and ablation occurs on the lower parts of glaciers all year. Vertical mass balance profiles are also influenced by climatic setting. In the humid tropics ablation gradients tend to be steeper than in drier environments, due to altitudinal variations in the amount of snow, sleet and rain falling on the ablation zone during the wet months. Thus the mass balance profiles of tropical glaciers tend to exhibit a sharper inflection at the equilibrium line than those of mid latitudes glaciers. The accurate reconstruction of past ELAs requires that the extent and morphology of the former glaciers can be accurately determined. Furthermore the age of the reconstructed glacier needs to be determined to enable researchers to use the ELAs as proxies for past climatic conditions (Benn 2005). The simplest assumption is that all ELA can be attributed to changes in temperature, which can be estimated by using an assumed average environmental lapse rate in the atmosphere. However, if there were associated changes in precipitation, the estimated temperature change would be different. The point applies even in humid tropics. For example, Kaser and Osmaston 2002 found that 20th century changes in the ELAs of glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca cannot be determined by temperature changes alone, but were also influenced by changes in humidity. However, the difficulty of separating out the temperature and precipitation signals need not negate the usefulness of ELA in providing palaeoclimatic information. Glaciers of the Peruvian Cordillera Blanca region represent more than 25% of all tropical glaciers with the 260 glaciers stretching for 130km, reaching 6000m level at several summits. The climate is characterised by small seasonal but large daily temperature variations and the alteration of a pronounced dry season and wet season bringing 70-80% of the annual precipitation. ELA recordings were taken for the 1930s and 1950s on the massif of Santa Cruz, Alpamayo, Pucahirca, in the northern part of the cordillera Blanca by Kaser and George in 1997. The Accumulation Area method was utilised to determine the mean ELA, results highlighting a general reduction of precipitation amounts, mainly during the wet season and therefore a reduction in accumulation. A vertical shift of 35 to 58 meters was also observed a significant rise showing glacier shrinkage and tongue retreat. It is suggested that a reduction in air humidity and its effect on the above mentioned atmospheric circulation system i s the main reason for this determined retreat of the glaciers between 1930 and 1950 as it influences the mass balance in various respects. Furthermore, the rise of the ELA shows different values across the Santa Cruz Pucahirca massif. Concluding, Kaser and George (1997) notify the reader that a combination of spatially uniform rising in air temperature and a decrease in air humidity with spatially different effects has to be taken into account as a cause for the glacier retreat between 1930 and 1950. A second case study, located between 8.5 and 9 °N, the Cordillera de Merida within the Venezuelan Andes, a region within the tropics, which possesses evidence suggesting glacial ice coverage was abundant in the past. Three geographic sub-regions were studied by Schubert (1984) with the view to reconstruct 9 palaeoglaciers. Two methods to determine ELA were used to develop paleoclimatic assumptions: Accumulation Area Ratio method and the Accumulation Area Balance Ratio. The above methods enabled the approximation of ELA during the LGM (last glacial maximum). Results acquired from the study were that the ELA of the individual glaciers lowered in response to decreased air temperatures and increased snow during the LGM. The in depth Investigation revealed the ELA of the 9 observed glaciers would have experienced a lowering of roughly 850-1420m throughout the LGM, coinciding with decreased air temperatures. The palaeoglacier reconstruction demonstrated the spatial extent to which the eq uilibrium line altitude is susceptible to change in response to climatic changes within the Cordillera de Merida. Conclusions implied a support towards a later proposition that a glaciers ELA is closely connected with the surrounding local climate (Benn and Lehmkuhl 2000). The following final case study locates within the Cordillera Real and Cordillera de Quimsa Cruz, in the Bolivian Andes, due to the low latitude, glaciation within the area is reduced and glaciers are small (80% cover less than 0.5  km ²). Within the study Rabatel et al (2008) 15 proglacial margins were investigated, leading to a further reduction of 10 principle moraines being identified that mark the successive positions of glaciers over the last four centuries. The ELA was determined on each glacier using the Accumulation Area Ratio method. The reconstruction of the glacier ELA and observations of any changes in mass balance, Rabatel et al (2998) expressed that glacier maximum may be due to a 20 to 30% increase in precipitation and a 1.1 to 1.2 degrees Celsius decrease in temperature compared with present conditions. Increasing accumulation of snow above the ELA suggests snowfalls have a strong influence on the net radiative balance in the ablation zone via the albedo. The rese archers continue to explain that within the early 18th century, glaciers began to retreat at varying rates until the late 19th to early 20th century; this trend was generally associated with decreasing accumulation rates. By contrast, glacier recession in the 20th century was mainly the consequence of an increase in temperature and humidity. Although the ELA of a glacier, past or present can be a first-rate proxy for the glacier-climate relationship, the methodology chosen can greatly effect the interpretation of the results. Different reconstruction methods of changes in ELA may produce a range of results for the same glacier and therefore inconsistent and unreliable conclusions will be inferred. Ramage et al (2005) compared ELA reconstruction methods within the Junà ­n Plain in the central Peruvian Andes. Descriptions of each method were given and limitations were highlighted. The Toe-to-Headwall Altitude Ration method, a commonly used method due to its relative ease of determining ELAs using map data, expressed that low errors were still evident. The Accumulation Area Ratio method: based on the empirically derived ratio of accumulation area to total area of glacier, however, AARs are likely to be highly variable between glaciers even within small regions, depending on the extent and distribution of debris cover in th e ablation area, and the relative importance of direct snowfall and avalanching as mechanisms of accumulation (Benn and Lehmkuhl 2000) A more accurate method of palaeo ELA calculation is the Furbish and Andrews (1984) Accumulation Area Balance Ratio a method developed due to the inconsistencies within the AAR not accounting for altitudinal distribution of a glaciers surface area. Therefore, this method can be used to derive ELA under assumed steady-state conditions and uses an idealised linear mass balance curve to calculate ELA. Ramage et al (2005) concluded that the methods did not greatly differ for this region and morphology, yet each method possessed different correlation values. The relationships between climate, glaciers and topography are, however, not those of simple cause and effect but are characterized by interdependence. They are also scale and time-dependent in that as a glacier grows it increasingly modifies its climate and the topography (Sutherland 1984). In addition Hodge et al (1998) suggests that although the ELA is a phenomenal proxy for determining glacier climate relationships, it can unfortunately be influenced by other non-climatic factors; for example avalanche, topographic variances and debris fall (Hodge et al 1998). Avalanche can equal increased accumulation, thus a positive mass balance equating to an ELA fall. This can occur regardless of climatic influence; therefore the resulting ELA may not give a 100% accurate representation of the glacier-climate relationship. Smith et al (2005) argues further, that reconstructed tropical LGM ELA lowering may be due to local enhancing factors not solely climate. Additionally, glacier melting, co upled with avalanches, climate and local geographic topography may distort the observed ELA with reference to climatic impact therefore not 100% accurate for indicating glacier-climate relationship. In addition to the ELA other variables have been measured that allow inferences to be made about the relationship between glaciers and the associated past climate. Radiation is a major component in the ablation of ice from glaciers and the effectiveness of radiation on a glacier is a function of the aspect, slope and nature of the snow or ice cover of the glacier surface as well as latitude, date and time of day (Sutherland 1984). Various energy-balance models (Williams, 1975; 1979; Kuhn, 1981) have been devised to model these factors and explain the distribution of present-day and former glaciers as well as investigate general glacier/climate relationships. In the South East Grampians, Sissons and Sutherland (1976) established that the deviation of one unit of the isolation factor from the local value for a horizontal glacier was equivalent to raising or lowering the ELA by 25 m, thus providing a physical link between the two variables. Studies of modern glaciers, particularly of the relationships between their mass balance and the local climate, have provided a sound physical basis on which past climates can be inferred from former glaciers. Studies of the mass balance of modern glaciers have indicated that the equilibrium line altitude is the most critical parameter in the link between glaciers and climate (Sutherland 1984). In relation to tropical glacier regions, sharp changes in the area of the 0 °C isotherm level, highlights the sensitivity of the ELA to climatic changes, posing the notion that to truly understand the complex association between the ELA and the glacier-climate relationship, knowledge on its relative position to the 0 °c level is required. Furthermore, it is safe to assume that the ELA to some extent is a good indicator of climatic change especially in relation to tropical glaciers which have a greater degree of sensitivity to climate. However, it must be noted that there are non-climatic i nfluences upon the calculated ELA for any glacier, past or present and therefore the glacier-climate relationship is a far more complex issue to observe and understand.

The Abominable Pig by Marvin Harris Essay -- Abominable Pig Marvin Har

The Abominable Pig by Marvin Harris Is it possible that the almighty God is wrong? The bible explicitly states, in no questionable terms that whatever is of the hoof and is cloven footed and chews the cud among animals, you may eat. Obviously, the pig has fallen short of the statement’s requirements, hence the reason why, Marvin Harris author of the article â€Å"The Abominable Pig,† has opted to explore the reasons why this is the case as his central argument. Harris does not seek to completely refute this theory; in fact, even though he pinpoints certain flaws in the biblical proclamation, he scrutinizes the reasons why God has chosen to isolate this particular animal, for it is no more a carrier of disease than any other. Harris contends that if the statement is reworded to state, â€Å"Flesh of swine thou shalt not eat until the pink has been cooked from,† and then that would have sufficed as opposed to eradicating its use completely. Firstly, Harris looks at the Old Testament’s characterization of the pig and then compares it to a trichinosis perspective (which is a di...

Theory of Evolution :: essays research papers

1809 February 12 - Charles Robert Darwin born at The Mount, Shrewsbury. 1818 - Darwin entered Shrewsbury School. 1825-27 - 22 October Darwin matriculated at Edinburgh University where he studied medicine but operations (without anesthetics) and the sight of blood turned him from that profession. 1827-31 - 15 October Darwin was admitted to Christ's Colledge, Cambridge University, to prepare for a career in the Church. He accepted the Articles of Faith. 1829 Summer - Darwin made an entomological tour of North Wales with Professor F. W. Hope. Darwin's interest in 'bugs and beetles' was longstanding. 1831 - 26 April Darwin received his BA degree. In Spring he began planning a scientific voyage to Canary Islands. 1831 August 29/30 - Darwin received an invitation to serve as unpaid naturalist on the survey ship H.M.S. Beagle, which was to travel around the world. At this point Darwin had no formal training in science. 1831 December 27 - The H.M.S. Beagle sailed from Devonport, England 1832 September 23 - Darwin made his first important fossil find, notably various extinct mammals. 1832 December 16 - Darwin had his first sight of 'Indians' of Tierra de Fuego. 1835 March 26 - Darwin is bittn by Triatoma infestans. 1835 September - Darwin studied geology and the fauna, and flora of Galapagos Islands. Here he made detailed observations, eventually noting of the now-famous 'Darwin's finches' as well as the Galapagos tortoises. 1835 December - Darwin wrote his first known draft of his paper on theory of formation of coral reefs. 1836 October 2 - The H.M.S. Beagle finally returned to England and docked at Falmouth, England. 1837 March 13 - Darwin lives at 36 Great Marlborough Street, London. 1837 May 31 - Darwin read his paper on coral reefs to the London Geological Society 1837 July - Darwin 'Opened first notebook on Transmutation of Species.' 1837 October - Darwin began work leading to Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, edited and superintended by Charles Darwin, published 1840-1843, 5 volumes. 1838 September 28 - Darwin started to read Malthus, and later claimed to have formulated his theory of evolution by natural selection. 1838 November 11 - Darwin propooses marriage to Emma Wedgwood. 1839 January 1 - Darwin moves to 12 Upper Gower Street, London. 1839 January 24 - Darwin elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. 1839 January 29 - Charles Robert Darwin married Emma Wedgwood - Marry, Marry, Marry.