Renting, buying, or stealing software

Table of Contents Abstract Introduction Current and future status of software Software theft Stealing software and hardware Conclusion References Abstract The software industry is one of the most lucrative business ventures that make enormous contributions to the global economy. The process of software development involves several steps. Currently, the industry is growing at a very high rate. However, software piracy, risks slowing down the growth unless preventive measures are taken to stop the vice.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Renting, buying, or stealing software specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It affects both users and developers. Renting is one of the future prospects of the industry because of its cost effectiveness and high reliability for use by small businesses. In addition, buying and stealing will also determine the future of the software industry. Other factors that affect the industry inclu de hardware theft, which infringes on the privacy of individuals. The software industry has several opportunities for developers. Therefore, it has a bright and promising future. Introduction The software industry has grown tremendously over the past few years. Several corporate and individual developers have emerged, and changed the industry tremendously. People develop software for three main reasons. These include fulfillment of certain business needs, fulfillment of certain user preferences, as well as for personal use (Commander, 2005). The process of developing software involves aspects such as research, development, prototyping, and maintenance. Software theft is one of the challenges facing software developers. It involves copying and subsequent use of software despite existence of copyright protection measures (Buxmann et al, 2012). Software sale is a lucrative business that has a bright future. Users buy, rent, or steal software. Current and future status of software Curre ntly, software development is a very lucrative venture. However, its future is under threat due to piracy. The software industry has become very competitive with the entry of both individual and corporate developers. Currently, many organizations are changing their businesses in order to embrace technology (Whiting, 2004). Technology plays a critical role in helping businesses improve efficiency, and reduce the cost of operation (Commander, 2005). The information technology industry is providing solutions to businesses and organizations by developing software that caters for their needs. For example, Oracle develops business solutions that help businesses improve excellence, reduce costs, and improve risk compliance. This has created high demand for software and stimulated high competition among software developers (Buxmann et al, 2012). The industry has many opportunities because of increasing demands among various users (Whiting, 2004). Therefore, it has a very bright future. It i s possible to make money from the industry by developing software that fulfills the various individual and business needs. Afterwards, developers can either sell or let their creations to users. For example, Microsoft makes an annual income of about $54,270 million from sale of software licenses, technical support, and maintenance.Advertising Looking for report on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are several advantages of renting software especially for small businesses. It is cost effective compared to buying, and it eliminates the need for in-house technical help form professionals (Pavley, 2013). Finally, software vendors usually provide technical support to individuals and businesses that use them under rental agreements. Software buyers do not enjoy these privileges. They pay for updates and technical support. Software theft Software theft is a common practice that leads to great losses for software developers. R esearch has revealed that 27% of software used in Britain is pirated. Globally, the rate of software piracy stands at 49% (Fitzgerald, 2012). For example, software companies made loses that amounted to $ 18.7 billion in the Asia-Pacific region in 2010. The United States has the lowest level of piracy among all nations. In 2009, its piracy level was 20%. Factors that determine levels of piracy include the strength of piracy protection laws, cultural attitudes, and price of software relative to the income of users (Honick, 2005). Examples of countries with the high levels of piracy include Armenia (93%), Libya (88%), Yemen (89%), Ukraine (83%), Vietnam (85%), Pakistan (84%), Sri Lanka (90%), Zimbabwe (91%), Bangladesh (92%), and China (82%). Examples of countries with low levels include the United States (20%), Germany (27%), the United Kingdom (26%), and Japan (23%). Software theft is both illegal and unethical. Stealing software and hardware Stealing software refers to copying, ille gal use, distribution, or sale of copyright protected software. People steal software because of poor copyright protection legislation, low income, and high software prices (Honick, 2005). Software theft affects both developers and users. Developers lose money and reputation. For example, in 2010, software vendors in Pakistan lost $ 217 million in revenues. On the other hand, users do not get access to technical support from developers. In addition, they do not get access to updates and may buy products with malware agents or viruses (Fitzgerald, 2012). Software theft is preventable by storing license agreements safely and refraining from accessing suspicious websites. Hardware theft involves stealing of computer devices or constituent parts (Honick, 2005). It exposes the privacy of owners because thieves can access private information stored in computers or external devices. Software theft can be prevented by using real time location systems (RTLS) to track the location of computer s, as well as keeping computers in secure rooms and safes (Honick, 2005).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Renting, buying, or stealing software specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion The software industry has experienced numerous changes in the last decade. Users have the choice of either buying or renting software. Currently, the industry has many opportunities and experiences high competition. It has a bright future. However, software theft threatens growth in the industry. Software theft involves reproduction, illegal use, distribution, or sale of copyright protected software. It is common in countries such as Pakistan, Zimbabwe, China, and Libya. The United States has the lowest cases of piracy. On the other hand, hardware theft involves stealing of computer devices or parts. It promotes violation of individual’s privacy because many people store personal information in their computers and assoc iated devices. References Buxmann, P., Diefenbach, H., Hess, T. (2012). The Software Industry: Economic  Principles, Strategies, and Perspectives. New York: Springer. Commander, S. (2005). The Software Industry in Emerging Markets. New York: Edward Elgar Publishing. Fitzgerald, B. (2012). Software Piracy: Study Claims 57b Percent of the World Pirates  Software. Web. Honick, R. (2005). Software Piracy Exposed. New York: Syngress. Pavley, J. (2013). Renting, Buying, and Stealing: the Future of Software Applications. Web.Advertising Looking for report on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Whiting, R. (2004). Industry Leaders Look to Software’s Future. Web. This report on Renting, buying, or stealing software was written and submitted by user Bast10n to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Caecilians, the Snake-Like Amphibians

Caecilians, the Snake-Like Amphibians Caecilians are an obscure family of slender-bodied, limbless amphibians that- at first glance- resemble snakes, eels and even earthworms. Their closest cousins, however, are better-known amphibians like frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. Like all amphibians, caecilians  have primitive lungs that enable them to take in oxygen from the surrounding air, but crucially, these vertebrates also need to absorb additional oxygen through their moist skin. (Two species of caecilians lack lungs entirely, and thus are completely dependent on osmotic respiration.) Some species of caecilians are aquatic and have slender fins running along their backs that enable them to move through water efficiently. Other species are primarily terrestrial and spend much of their time burrowing underground and hunting for insects, worms and other invertebrates using their acute sense of smell. (Since caecilians need to stay moist to stay alive, they not only look but also behave much like earthworms, rarely showing their face to the world unless theyve been uprooted by a spade or a careless foot). Because they mostly live underground, modern caecilians have little use for a sense of sight, and many species have partially or entirely lost their vision. The skulls of these amphibians are pointed and consist of strong, fused bones- adaptations that enable caecilians to bore through mud and soil without doing any damage to themselves. Due to the ring-like folds, or annuli, that encircle their bodies, some caecilians have a very earthworm-like appearance, further confusing people who dont even know that caecilians exist in the first place! Oddly enough, caecilians are the only family of amphibians to reproduce via internal insemination. The male caecilian inserts a penis-like organ into the cloaca of the female and keeps it there for two or three hours. Most caecilians are viviparousthe females give birth to live young, rather than eggsbut one egg-laying species feeds its young by allowing the newborn hatchlings to harvest the outer layer of the mothers skin, which is well-stocked with fat and nutrients and replaces itself every three days. Caecilians are found primarily in the wet tropical regions of South America, Southeast Asia, and Central America. They are most widespread in South America, where they are especially populous in the dense jungles of eastern Brazil and northern Argentina. Caecilian Classification Animalia Chordata Amphibian Caecilian Caecilians are divided into three groups:  beaked caecilians, fish caecilians, and common caecilians. There are about 200 caecilian species overall; some undoubtedly have yet to be identified, lurking in the interiors of impenetrable rain forests. Because they are small and easily degraded after death, caecilians are not well represented in the fossil record and consequently not much is known about the caecilians of the Mesozoic or Cenozoic eras. The earliest known fossil caecilian is Eocaecilia, a primitive vertebrate that lived during the Jurassic  period and (like many early snakes) was equipped with tiny, vestigial limbs.

Dwarf Planet Haumea and the Outer Solar System

Dwarf Planet Haumea and the Outer Solar System Theres an odd little world in the outer solar system called 136108 Haumea, or Haumea (for short). It orbits the Sun as part of the Kuiper Belt, far beyond the orbit of Neptune and in the same general region as Pluto. Planet searchers have been observing that region for years now, looking for other worlds. It turns out there are many of them out there, but none have been found - yet - as weird as Haumea. Its less like a sedately orbiting planet and more like a wildly spinning top. It lopes around the Sun once every 285 years, whirling madly, end over end. That motion tells planetary scientists that Haumea was sent into that propeller-like orbit by a collision with another body sometime in the past. Stats For a tiny world out in the middle of nowhere, Haumea presents some striking statistics. Its not very big and its shape is oblong, like a fat cigar that is 1920 kilometers long, about 1,500 km wide and 990 kilometers thick. It spins on its axis once every four hours. Its mass is about a third of Plutos, and planetary scientists classify it as a dwarf planet - similar to Pluto. Its more properly listed as a plutoid due to its ice-rock composition and its position in the solar system in the same region as Pluto. It has been observed for decades, although not recognized as a world until its official discovery in 2004 and the announcement in 2005. Mike Brown, of CalTech, was set to announce his teams discovery when they were beaten to the punch by a Spanish team who claimed to have seen it first. However, the Spanish team apparently accessed Browns observing logs just before Brown was set to make his announcement, and they claim to have discovered Haumea first.   The IAU credited the observatory in Spain for the discovery, but not the Spanish team. Brown was given the right to name Haumea and its moons (which is team discovered later).   Collision Family   The fast spinning motion that flips Haumea around as it orbits the Sun is the result of a long-ago collision between at least two objects. Its actually a member of whats called a collisional family which contains objects all created in an impact that took place very early in the solar systems history. The impact shattered the colliding objects and might also have removed much of primordial Haumeas ice, leaving it a largely rocky body with a thin layer of ice. Some measurements indicate that theres water ice on the surface. It appears to be fresh ice, meaning it was deposited within the past 100 million years or so. Ices in the outer solar system are darkened by ultraviolet bombardment, so fresh ice on Haumea implies some kind of activity. However, no one is sure what that would be. More studies are needed to understand this spinning world and its bright surface. Moons and Possible Rings Small as Haumea is, its large enough to have moons (satellites that orbit around it). Astronomers spotted two of them, called 136108 Haumea I Hiiaka and 136108 Hamuea II Namaka. They were found in 2005 by Mike Brown and his team using the Keck Observatory on Maunakea in Hawaii. Hiiaka is the outermost of the two moons and is only 310 kilometers across. It appears to have an icy surface and it might be a fragment of the original Haumea. The other moon, Namaka, orbits closer to Haumea. Its only about 170 kilometers across. Hiiaka orbits Haumea in 49 days, while Namaka takes only 18 days to go once around its parent body. In addition to the small moons, Haumea is thought to have at least one ring surrounding it. No observations have conclusively confirmed this, but eventually astronomers should be able to detect traces of it.   Etymology Astronomer who discover objects get the pleasure of naming them, according to guidelines set up by the International Astronomical Union. In the case of these distant worlds, the IAUs rules suggest that objects in the Kuiper Belt and beyond should be named after mythological beings associated with creation. So, the Brown team went to Hawaiian mythology and selected Haumea, who is the goddess of the island of Hawaii (from where the object was discovered using the Keck telescope). The moons are named after Haumeas daughters. Further Exploration   Its not too likely that a spacecraft would be sent to Haumea in the near future, so planetary scientists will continue to study it using ground-based telescopes and space-based observatories such as Hubble Space Telescope. There have been some preliminary studies aimed at developing a mission to this distant world. It would take a mission nearly 15 years to arrive there. One idea is to have it settle into orbit around Haumea and send back high-resolution images and data. So far, there are no concrete plans for a Haumea mission, although it would certainly be an interesting world to study up-close!

Business Ethics Reverse Discrimination Term Paper

Business Ethics Reverse Discrimination - Term Paper Example However, there is a phenomenon referred to as reverse discrimination, which is defined as occurring â€Å"when a person is denied an opportunity because of preferences given to protected-class individuals who may be less qualified† (Mathis & Jackson, 2005, p.103). In this situation, it must be proven that the organization where the individual is employed was denied opportunities or received discriminatory actions because a member of a protected class was given preferential treatment. This paper describes situations in the workplace that involve reverse discrimination, with a focus on the legal structure that forbids this from occurring and the ethical issues potentially involved in workplace reverse discrimination scenarios. The Letter of the Law The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits discrimination related to compensation, working conditions, or certain privileges for individuals over the age of 40 that work for employers with 20 or more employees (Mathis & Jackson). It is a federal law, thus it applies to all businesses across the United States fitting the profile of 20 or more employees. A situation occurred where those individuals who were considered a protected class against the ADEA filed suit alleging reverse discrimination based on benefits provisions and early retirement benefits options. At General Dynamics Land Systems, the company decided it would be in the best interest of the business to alter the retiree health care benefits scheme. Full health care benefits were to be provided upon signing the new General Dynamics contract, but only if the individual was 50 years of age or older (Zink, 2006). Workers who were not yet of 50 years of age, thus not in a protected class under the ADEA, filed suit against General Dynamics citing reverse discrimination since they were not to be afforded the full health care benefits due to their younger age profiles. The ADEA explicitly states the following: â€Å"It shall be unlawful for an employer – (1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, term, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s age† (Zink, 2006, p.2). Ultimately, this case was dismissed by the Circuit Court, citing that reverse discrimination was not allowed under the ADEA. However, the younger workers were allowed to pursue their reverse discrimination suit citing other legal precedents. This particular case was chosen for analysis because many organizations, in fear of receiving liability outcomes, will deny opportunities to younger workers in favor of those in an age-related protected class. Though General Dynamics does not necessarily fit this profile, it was necessary to show how the language of the ADEA and similar legislation can be misinterpreted so that younger workers miss out on many workplace opportunities because of how the language is spelled ou t. Consider the following case that did meet with victory in the court system alleging reverse discrimination, where the business did deny opportunities to a non-protected class in favor of avoiding liability. The New Haven Fire Department had established a proficiency test to determine which firefighter candidates were most qualified to receive promotions. Detailed steps were undertaken to ensure that the tests were unbiased, â€Å"including painstaking analyses to ensure the tests

Scientific paper about reconstructing 3D models of buildings Essay

Scientific paper about reconstructing 3D models of buildings - Essay Example First, most of it is unorganized, uncalibrated, have uncontrolled illumination, image quality and resolution and is widely variable. In essence, coming up with a computer vision technique that can work with most of these images has proved to be a challenge for most researchers. Now how can researchers work with this huge resource; this paper proposes solution such as Image Based Rendering algorithm and Structure from Motion. While a few other researchers such as Brown and Lowe (Lowe 395) have used Structure from Motion to tackle the above problems, the technique used in this paper has several modifications. Structure from Motion is effective in 3D visualization and scene modeling and can operate on hundreds of images obtained from keyword queries (photo tourism). Through photo tourism, it is possible to reconstruct many world sites. In effect, an algorithm that can work effectively on internet photos can enable vital applications such as 3D visualization, communication/media sharing, and localization. Two recent breakthroughs in the field of computer vision namely Structure from Motion and Feature Matching will be the backbone of this paper. Through these techniques, it is possible to reconstruct buildings in 3D to offer virtual and interactive tours for internet users. You can also evaluate the current state of a building and identify degradation and areas that may require renovation or reconstruction. Further, we can come up with creations or display of any building of interest as long as we have its image. Sparse geometry and camera reconstruction The browsing and visualization components of this system requires exact information in regards to the orientation, relative location and inherent parameters like focal lengths for each photo in a collection and sparse three dimension scene geometry. The system also requires a geo-referenced coordinate frame. For the most part, this information can be obtained through electronic components and Global Positioning Sys tem gadgets over the internet. Image files in EXIF tags often have this data though the vast majority of these sources are mostly inaccurate. As such, this system will compute this data via computer vision techniques. First, we will detect feature points in every image after which the system will equate feature points between pairs of images. Finally, the system will run an iterative Structure from Motion procedure to retrieve the camera parameters. Since Structure from Motion procedure will only produce estimates and our system requires absolute values, the system will run iterative procedure to acquire better estimates. How this whole procedure unfolds is detailed below. Detecting feature points will be done using SIFT keypoint detector (Lowe 411). This technique has better invariance to image alteration. The next step is matching keypoint descriptors using the approximate bordering neighbors. For instance, if we want to match two images I and J, first we will create a kd-tree obt ained from element descriptors in J. Next, for each element in I we will locate an adjacent neighbor in J using the kd-tree. For effectiveness, we can use ANN’s priority search algorithm. This technique limits each query to visit a maximum of two hundred bins in the kd-tree. Alternatively, we can use a technique described by Lowe (Lowe 95). In the technique, for each

War in Iraq Essay Example for Free

War in Iraq Essay The name of the Second Gulf War has often been referred with the Iraq War, which has begun from March 20, 2003 and is still deteriorating lives of millions of people in the Iraqi region of the world. In the year 2003, invasion of Iraq was led by the United States of America, and this war is still ongoing, which has affected the world adversely. Development of weapons of mass destruction was one of the main rationales that were presented by the government of the George W. Bush, as well as, his supporters in the form of different Democratic and Republican parties. (Danchev, 2005) According to the Bush government, allies and interests of the United States posed a threat from the development of abovementioned weapons by the Iraq. In the year 2003, it was claimed during the State of the Union Address by the President George W. Bush that there was no time to wait for the imminence of the threat from the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. However, such weapons were not found by the United States after the invasion of the Iraq. In order to support the decision of the Bush’s government, connection was made between the al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein by the citing of their claims. (Murray, 2003) Another reason for the invasion of Iraq that was given by the George W. Bush was the democracy in the Iraq, which was necessary for the development, as well as, stability of the country due to the abuse that was being done by the government of the Saddam Hussein in the Iraq in terms of human rights before the invasion. In addition, it was been claimed that the non-military options were limited, as oil supply of the Iraq possessed economic importance in the region. However, all these claims, citations, and reasons were regarded as a technique for the invasion in the Iraq for the personal interest of the government of the George W. Bush. (Moore, 2004) March 2003 witnessed the beginning of the war in Iraq. In March 2003, Iraq was attacked by a force of American, as well as, British forces. In addition, small Australian, Dutch, and Polish contingents supported this invasion of the Iraq. Subsequently, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was overthrown in this invasion by the abovementioned forces. Iraq was occupied by the coalition that was led by the United States, and a new democratic government was established in terms of attempts by these forces. (Murray, 2003) However, order in the Iraq was not restored by the coalition forces that were led by the United States successfully. Asymmetric warfare resulted in the unrest with the insurgents of the Iraq. In addition, Sunni and Shia of the Iraq began a civil war between themselves. In order to keep in pace, operations of the al-Qaeda were also observed in the Iraq, which are still ongoing in the region and worsening and affecting lives of thousands of Iraqi civilians, as well as, the soldiers of the coalition forces. (Moore, 2004) In the result, Iraq has witnessed withdrawal of an increasing number of nations that have withdrawn their soldiers and troops from the region due to a high rate of growth of mortality of the soldiers due to a number of reasons during the war in Iraq. In addition, extreme and controversial causes, as well as, consequences have been found in remain in this war. (Danchev, 2005) Criticism As we have discussed above, Iraq War that has begun by the Bush government with the support of troops and forces of supportive countries, has been unsuccessful. In the result, a number of losses have deteriorated the United States in different and various ways. In this paper, we will try to discuss and analyze the losses that have been confronted by the United States, due to the Iraq’s invasion in March 2003 until present. Casualties of the War Many forms have been observed in the casualties of the war in Iraq since March 2003 until present. In addition, great variation has been noted in the available information, as well as, its accuracy and validity regarding the occurrence of different types of incidents that have resulted in different types of casualties in the Iraq. Daily and careful updating and tracking of the death toll of the coalition forces that have been led by the United States is done. In this regard, wide publication has been distributed and telecasted for the names and photographs of the wounded, injured, and even dead soldiers and members of the coalition forces. (Moore, 2004) However, less accuracy, reliability, and validity has been observed in the casualties of civilian, as well as, military forces of the Iraq in the war. Bias and partiality has been observed in the recording and updating of the death tolls of these forces in the region. In this regard, a number of reporters on the scene have been able to provide the estimates and other related information regarding the casualty levels of the forces in the region. In addition, organizations that are involved in the incidents and operations have also been contacted for the statistics. (Murray, 2003) Even in the great variation, it is confirmed that the Iraq War has deteriorated and terminated thousands of lives and damaged houses and habitats of many lives in the region, which has resulted in the opposition and criticism of the war by a number of experts, professionals, critics, and even the Americans. On June 28, 2004, interim government of the Iraq was handed over with the official authority over the area; towns across Iraq have shown a number of unending attacks on the coalition forces and troops. The casualty numbers of these soldiers and troops of the coalition forces are still increasing and updated by a number of different resources that shows that the Iraq war is continuing to worsen the lives of thousands of people in different parts of the world. In the result, it has resulted in the opposition for this war. (Murray, 2003) Over nineteen thousand casualties have been suffered by the military of the United States, as the fourth year started on March 19, 2006 during the war in Iraq. The numbers of wounded soldiers in the war came out to be more than seventeen thousand in the Iraq, and approximately two thousand three hundred bodies of the U. S. soldiers were sent to the United States from the Iraq. In April 2003, a number of insurgents in the Iraq performed various operations that resulted in ninety-five percent of the abovementioned casualties of the soldiers. The fall of Baghdad in the Iraq is claimed to be one of the causes of the insurgency in the region. Signs of consistency and ferocity were showed by these Iraqi insurgents, especially during the violent period of September 11 in the same year 2003. (Moore, 2004) (Michael, 2006) In Fallujah, a bridge was used to hang the bodies of four contractors of the United States, who were killed by the Iraqi insurgents and mutilation of their bodies was done by the insurgents’ lethality was dramatically increased by this incident. In the result, the efforts for the Iraq war were escalated by the Bush government, and more costly war was the result of this escalation. In the second year of the war, wounded soldiers were 8,454 and 936 died by the operations of the opposition. (Danchev, 2005) All these casualties included a broken leg, or a broken arm, which created a sense of fear and opposition in the Iraqi, as well as, American civilians. A number of American soldiers were sent to their homes with one leg, or one hand that changed their lives from their scratch. A soldier, who used to protect the country, now can look in the sky and dream of doing the same, while sitting on his wheel chair. This was the condition of many soldiers in the United States. This resulted in the hatred towards the Bush government, and towards the decision of sending American soldiers in the Iraq. (Abrams, 2003) In this regard, the unsuccessful result of the Iraq War has resulted in a number of losses for the United States government, as well as, for the civilians of the Iraq, as well as, United States and other supportive countries that are engaged in the war in Iraq. (Michael, 2006) A range of serious health issues, as well as, mental disorders has been reported by many veterans of the Iraq War in the United States forces. Tumors, migraines, blood in urine, muscle pains, dysfunction of the sex, and a number of issues have been reported by the coalition forces in the Iraq. In this regard, utilization of radioactive depleted uranium has been found to be causing the abovementioned health issues and disorders in the coalition forces, which cannot be stopped during the war. Thus, the Iraq War has provided a number of serious losses to the United States government. (Murray, 2003) In addition, posttraumatic stress disorder has been found in a number of soldiers according to the New England Journal on Medicine that has published a study by the U. S. veterans in the year 2004. Before the deployment of these soldiers, 5 to 10 percent of the soldiers in these troops were already suffering from the abovementioned disorder, as the lethality of the insurgents and the Iraq war has tend the soldiers to face this disorder in them. On December 25, 2006, the total deaths of the 9/11, that is, 2973 deaths were equaled, and even surpassed by the death toll of military deaths of the United States in the Iraq. For instance, it was reported by an article in Newsday that the death toll of September 11 was pushed down by an explosion that occurred on the Christmas Day in the Iraq. The Iraq War has resulted in amputees of approximately five hundred American soldiers, as of January 18, 2007. A 24-year old corporal is considered the 500th victim of the Iraq War according to an article of the Time magazine. On January 12, 2007, a roadside bomb explosion resulted in the amputation of both of his legs. A number of soldiers have gone through the same situation and confrontation due to the war in Iraq, which tends to go for the opposition of this war. Mental illnesses, brain injuries related to the trauma have also been reported and found in the American soldiers due to the war in Iraq. Some level of care has been received by nearly two thousand soldiers that have injury in their brains due to several different reasons and causes related to the war in Iraq. (Abrams, 2003) This shows that the war in Iraq has deteriorated not only the lives of the Iraqi civilians and military, but has also resulted in the deterioration of the American civilians and lives of thousands of military officials and soldiers in the United States.

Zambezi Valley :: essays research papers

Zambezi Valley If the average person was asked about the Zambezi Valley, how many would actually have anything to say? From all the places I have been in the world, the Zambezi Valley stands out most in my mind. The mighty Zambezi River forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia as they lie on the maps in our libraries. Few people have been graced the opportunity to be in the presence of this majestic silver python as it carves away at the crust of our earth. There is no better way to experience this natural wonder than by organizing an expedition and venturing into the unknown wilderness of the "Dark Continent" for memories that will last you a lifetime. Unfortunately these days you have to do it through a Safari company that will charge you an arm and a leg for a week long tour, only skimming the surface and not taking you into the darkest of Africa of which you have read in so many adventure novels. Traveling is a very stimulating hobby, but Africa is part of me. Darkness overcame all as Mother Earth turned her back on the center of our solar system. In the heart of Africa everything is sleeping, or so you are meant to think. The ruler of that kingdom is patrolling his territory in absolute silence. His bushy black mane casts a shadow in the pale moonlight. Eyes like those of an eagle penetrate the darkest shadows of the bush. The soft gray pads of his paws tread along the game path barely leaving any evidence of his presence. The great beast strides graciously along before disappearing into black night. He will soon find either a dense thicket or some tall Buffalo grass swaying back and forth on the rhythm of the early morning breeze where he can lay his giant body down and get some rest. Stars begin to fade as a mysterious yellow glow takes their place in the East. The bush is coming to life. Birds are singing their songs of joy and hippos are snorting out of pure pleasure for a new day has come. This will be a day where the fight for survival takes over like an uncontrollable urge, nevertheless, little is known as to who should be feared. Should it be the predators lurking around, wanting to fill their own stomachs, or will it be the natives searching for food in the land on which they have lived for thousands of years. Remember that this is done in an effort to rise above the ever present poverty.

Anthem 2

Mrs. Gomez English 2CP 4, October, 2011 Were the struggles for individuality that Equality and Harrison had to face, as difficult as they thought it was? In the novella Anthem and the short story â€Å"Harrison Bergeron,† Rand and Vonnegut use the theme of individualism vs. collectivism to show the oppression of each society, the fear used to control its citizens and the characters that rebel. In both stories, oppression is used to make everyone equal. The government in Anthem takes away its citizens’ individuality to make a part of the group. In both stories, oppression is used to make everyone equal. â€Å"For the word ‘We’ must never be spoken, save by one’s choice and as a second thought† This shows that the word â€Å"We† was no longer used to describe people. They were their own person. â€Å"We† was determined as â€Å"I†, the word â€Å"we† took away their individuality. To take away their individuality, they assigned people jobs, like street sweeper or doctor, gave them no choices, because they did not let them choose their names or jobs, and put them into groups so they would not be alone. George is athletic, so he wears weights on him that slow him down, also being extremely intelligent, George wears an ear radio that goes off every 20 seconds, and the ballerinas wear masks in the story because they are beautiful. â€Å"Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was or quicker than anybody else. † Nobody was better than anyone else. Everyone was equal. They used handicaps to make everyone the same. The Handicapper General, Diana Moon Glampers, assigns the characters handicaps to make everyone equal in the short story â€Å"Harrison Bergeron†. Harrison fought for his and everyone else’s individuality. Fear was used to control the characters in both societies. The Uncharted Forrest and The Transgressor were used to scare the society in Anthem. The Transgressor was used as an example for all people who thought they could be an individual. The Uncharted Forrest made the society feel like they were trapped. â€Å"We had not thought of coming here, but our legs had carried our wisdom, and our legs had brought us to the Uncharted Forrest against our will. † Equality did not want to be in the Uncharted Forrest because he did not know what was in there. Since the whole society was afraid of the Uncharted Forrest, Equality did not want to be there when he first entered. Diana Moon Glampers filled the society with fear by assigning people handicaps and shooting Harrison and the ballerina. The punishment for taking out the lead balls on the weights was time in jail and a fine of $2000. â€Å"It was then that Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicapper General, came into the studio with a double-barreled ten-gauge shot gun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and Empress were dead before they hit the floor. Diana Moon Glampers loaded the gun again. She aimed it at the musicians and told them they had ten seconds to get their handicaps back on. †After shooting the Emperor and Empress, she tried to scare the musicians by aiming the gun at them. The fear of being shot like the Emperor and Empress scared the other people. Harrison made an example of what not to do because Diana Moon Glampers shot him for disobeying her authority. In both stories, there were characters that rebelled against their society. In Anthem, Equality rebelled against his society by sneaking away. Equality snuck out of the group meetings and created electricity in a tunnel. So when the oldest of them asked us: ‘Where have you been? ’ we thought of our glass box and of our light, and we forgot all else. And we answered: ‘We will not tell you. ’ The oldest did not question us further. † Equality rebelled against the World Council of Scholars and then refused to tell them where he had been. He was not allowed to be alone bec ause being alone brought you closer to being an individual. Harrison Bergeron rebels against the society by escaping from jail. â€Å"’Harrison Bergeron, age fourteen,’ she said in a grackle squawk, ‘has just escaped from jail. Harrison wants to overthrow the government, and show them how to be free and use their talents. He wants individuality for him and everyone else. He escaped from jail and rebelled against the society. In conclusion, Equality and Harrison both faced obstacles when striving for individuality. They both had the urge to be something more than the same as everybody else. In the novella Anthem and the short story â€Å"Harrison Bergeron,† Rand and Vonnegut use the theme of individualism vs. collectivism to show the oppression of each society, the fear used to control its citizens and the characters that rebel.

The Basis of Economics

Japan has performed a miracle. The country's economic performance following its crushing defeat in World War II is nothing short of astounding. The economic expansion of Japan is second to none. All of the elements are in place for Japan to continue increasing its share of the world's wealth as America's gradually declines. The country is on track to becoming the world's largest economy. How did Japan do it? There are many theories and studies that have traced the Japanese miracle without success. The answer to the mystery can by examining Japan's culture, education, and employment system. Japan's success is not just a case of good technique and technology in business, but a real recognition and development of the necessary human skills. A better understanding of the Japanese society provides the framework to understanding the workings of Japanese business (and possibly the Japanese mind. ) The ayes of the Japanese provide a foundation for their economic adaptability in modern times. Japan is a culture where human relations and preservation of harmony are the most important elements in society. It is their sense of identity and destiny, which gives their industrial, machines its effectiveness. Among the Japanese, there exists an instinctive respect for institutions and government, for the rules of etiquette and service, for social functions and their rituals of business. Japan is a traditionally crowded island; the people are forced to share the limited space with each other and to live in harmony. The Japanese are very protective of their culture. They are very conservative to outside intrusion. Their distinctive ways are a source of pride and national strength. Japan's striving for purity is very different form a North American idea of open doors and diversity as strength. Accordingly, one of the main sources of Japan's strength is its people's willingness to sacrifice, to be regimented and homogenized, and to subordinate personal desires to the harmony of the working group. The Japanese people have had to become a group-oriented society. While in the western world, individuality and independence are highly valued, Japanese society emphasizes group activity and organization. The people accept that they will belong to one social group and work for one company for life. The crowded island conditions have driven society to value conformity. The culture that Japanese people are brought up in causes them to recognize that they have to work together to succeed. Only harmony will provide improvement. This development of the human nature and attitude relates directly to Japan's business practice and provides a basis for good business relations. Japan's education system has grabbed the world's attention as it is specifically designed to teach the children skills and aptitudes to give them an edge in the business world. The educational system, based on the principle of full equality of educational opportunity, is widely recognized as having greatly contributed to the prosperity of Japan by providing a highly qualified work force supplemented by extensive in training programs by many of the major employers. The primary and secondary educational system is probably the most comprehensive and most disciplined in the world. Where North American students attend school 175 days a year, Japanese students attend 240 days. Japanese students attend elementary and secondary school six days a week and for two months longer each year than North American students. In addition, they have long hours of homework. A large majority of Japanese students attend Juki, or preparatory schools, in the evenings and on Sundays. In higher education, while lacking the strong University system which exists in North America, the curriculum is equally rigorous, and Japan is graduating 75 000 engineers per year, 3 000 more than the U. S. , from a University population one fifth the size. The education system itself is a unifying force. It molds children into group oriented beings by demanding uniformity and conformity form the earliest ages. The attainment of excellence within this complex environment, and the importance it holds for one's future is stressed early. This emphasis places a great burden on the young to perform well in school a to earn admittance to high status universities. The public school system not only produces good, obedient citizens, it produces good workers. A willingness to give oneself to the corporation's best interest, to arrive early and stay late, and to produce good work is attributes learned in the Japanese schools. Those who cannot learn these skills do not do well in school or do not rise in the ranks of the corporate world. The education system is an excellent example of how the Japanese recognize and develop the necessary human skills that are needed in society and stressed in the business world.

buy custom Stepping off the Edge essay

buy custom Stepping off the Edge essay Sometimes life experience is very difficult because not everything goes the way we desire. There are some people who are ready to show us clear directions, others are very willing to help, but then we meet the challenge and have to persevere and fight to go on living because life is not that easy. For the Sake of Strangers is a poem which explains the daily hustles of a person who tries to overcome all the obstacles which we encounter in our daily lives. It is very difficult to carry all the weights of grief which always surround us and we have to make a lot of sacrifice. The modern life we live is already a great challenge. It is clear that the author of the poem sympathized with all the people who surrounded her as she stated in the poem that it was extremely difficult to carry the total weight of grief. I have a strong feeling that the author of this poem, Dorianne Laux really tried to use the universal tone throughout the poem. This is because Laux used the word we whichis a universal word, meaning many people. I think she liked the masses of people who inspired her to write the poem. One may see, the description of the young boy who was aimed at giving the speaker some directions clearly showed that the narrator had found the exact person to help her out, since she was courageous enough to ask everything she needed. Sometimes the difficulties that we meet in our life, like loneliness caused by failed relationship and other family problems, can affect our life and make someone lose the hope of living again. It is very true that the dull strength, which is explained in the poem, makes us move on with life despite the difficulties that we may be facing in life. No matter how difficult life may be, it is easy to notice a good deed which is out of generosity, and mellowness in the world of many miseries. The author was able to notice the young boy, who was out to give her the directions and the woman, who also helped her, although, she did something which was very smalll like holding of the door for her empty body to pass. This shows that there are good people in this world who are ready to help though they might not be noticed because of the minor roles they may play in our lives. This is because the pain that we may experience makes us blind to the strangers who are there for us despite the lifes challenges that we are undergoing. Even trees offered their help by giving their blossoms; and the smile of a mentally chalanged child is a clear indication that the world can speak to us in many ways. It shows that not only people can help us to uplift the heavy weight which is glued to our shoulders. This poem is a tribute because it shows that everything and anything that exist in this world really matter in everyones current life; even though, we may not really be aware of their existence. We should be able to immerse fully in our humanity experience by listening to the breathing world, stepping off the edge and bearing the heavy weight of all the pain we undergo, as well as the existence gravity. Buy custom Stepping off the Edge essay

Guinn v. United States

Guinn v. United States Guinn v. United States was a United States Supreme Court case decided in 1915, dealing with the constitutionality of voter qualification provisions in state constitutions. Specifically, the court found residency-based â€Å"grandfather clause† exemptions to voter literacy tests- but not the tests themselves- to be unconstitutional. Literacy tests were used in several Southern states between the 1890s and 1960s as a way of preventing African Americans from voting. The unanimous decision in Guinn v. United States marked the first time the Supreme Court struck down a state law disenfranchising African Americans.   Fast Facts: Guinn v. United States Case Argued: Oct. 17, 1913Decision Issued: June 21, 1915Petitioners: Frank Guinn and J. J. Beal, Oklahoma election officialsRespondent: United StatesKey Questions: Did Oklahoma’s grandfather clause, in singling out black Americans as being required to take a voter literacy test, violate the U.S. Constitution? Did Oklahoma’s literacy test clause- without the grandfather clause- violate the U.S. Constitution?Majority Decision: Justices White, McKenna, Holmes, Day, Hughes, Van Devanter, Lamar, PitneyDissenting: None, but Justice McReynolds took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that residency-based â€Å"grandfather clause† exemptions to voter literacy tests- but not the tests themselves- were unconstitutional. Facts of the Case Shortly after it was admitted into the Union in 1907, the state of Oklahoma passed an amendment to its constitution requiring that citizens pass a literacy test before being allowed to vote. However, the state’s Voter Registration Act of 1910 contained a clause allowing voters whose grandfathers had either been eligible to vote before January 1, 1866, had been residents of â€Å"some foreign nation,† or had been soldiers, to vote without taking the test. Rarely affecting white voters, the clause disenfranchised many black voters because their grandfathers had been slaves before 1866 and were thus ineligible to vote.   As applied in most states, the literacy tests were highly subjective. Questions were confusingly worded and often had several possible correct answers. In addition, the tests were graded by white election officials who had been trained to discriminate against black voters. In one instance, for example, election officials rejected a black college graduate even though there was not â€Å"the slightest room for doubt as to whether† he was entitled to vote, concluded the U.S. Circuit Court. After the 1910 November midterm election, Oklahoma election officials Frank Guinn and J.J. Beal were charged in federal court with conspiring to fraudulently disenfranchise black voters, in violation of the Fifteenth Amendment. In 1911, Guinn and Beal were convicted and appealed to the Supreme Court. Constitutional Issues While the Civil Rights Act of 1866 had guaranteed U.S. citizenship without regard to race, color, or previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude, it did not address the voting rights of former slaves. To bolster the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Reconstruction-era, the Fifteenth Amendment, ratified on February 3, 1870, prohibited the federal government and the states from denying any citizen the right to vote based on their race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The Supreme Court faced two related Constitutional questions. First, did Oklahoma’s grandfather clause, in singling out black Americans as being required to take the literacy test, violate the U.S. Constitution? Second, did Oklahoma’s literacy test clause- without the grandfather clause- violate the U.S. Constitution? The Arguments The state of Oklahoma argued that the 1907 amendment to its state constitution was validly passed and clearly within the powers of the states granted by the Tenth Amendment. The Tenth Amendment reserves all powers not specifically granted to the U.S. government in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution to the states or to the people. Attorneys for the U.S. government chose to argue only against the constitutionality of the â€Å"grandfather clause† itself while conceding that literacy tests, if written and administered to be racially neutral, were acceptable. Majority Opinion In its unanimous opinion, delivered by Chief Justice C.J. White on June 21, 1915, the Supreme Court ruled that Oklahoma’s grandfather clause- having been written in a way to serve â€Å"no rational purpose† other than to deny African American citizens the right to vote- violated the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The convictions of Oklahoma election officials Frank Guinn and J.J. Beal were thus upheld. However, since the government had previously conceded the point, Justice White wrote that, â€Å"No time need be spent on the question of the validity of the literacy test, considered alone, since, as we have seen, its establishment was but the exercise by the State of a lawful power vested in it not subject to our supervision, and, indeed, its validity is admitted.† Dissenting Opinion As the court’s decision was unanimous, with only Justice James Clark McReynolds not taking part in the case, no dissenting opinion was issued. The Impact In overturning Oklahoma’s grandfather clause, but upholding its right to require pre-voting literacy tests, the Supreme Court confirmed the historic rights of the states to establish voter qualifications as long as they did not otherwise violate the U.S. Constitution. While it was a symbolic legal victory for African American voting rights, the Guinn ruling fell far short of immediately enfranchising black Southern citizens. At the time it was issued, the court’s ruling also nullified similar voter qualification provisions in the constitutions of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Virginia. While they could no longer apply grandfather clauses, their state legislatures enacted poll taxes and other means of restricting black voter registration. Even after the Twenty-Fourth Amendment prohibited the use of poll taxes in federal elections, five states continued to impose them in state elections. Not until 1966 did the U.S. Supreme Court declare poll taxes in state elections unconstitutional.   In final analysis, Guinn vs. United States decided in 1915, was a small, but a significant first legal step in the Civil Rights Movement toward racial equality in the United States. It was not until passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that all remaining legal barriers denying black Americans the right to vote under the Fifteenth Amendment- enacted nearly a century earlier- were finally outlawed. Sources and Further Reference Guinn v. United States (238 U.S. 347). Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute.Guinn v. United States (1915). Oklahoma Historical Society.Onion, Rebecca. The Impossible Literacy Test Louisiana Gave Black Voters in the 1960s. Slate (2013).Poll Taxes. Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Factions Leading To The Outbreak Of The Civil War Essay

Factions Leading To The Outbreak Of The Civil War - Essay Example They took advantage of the new lands, railroads and natural resources, and they strengthened their economic and political interest. The Civil War started on April 12, 1861, when the Confederates (Southerners) bombarded Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Initiated by the crisis between 1860 and 1861 which occurred in the autumn of 1859, John Brown and cohorts took the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia under seizure, targeting to summon slaves over to be armed safely at a fortification built on a mountain. Brown encouraged them to put an end to unwanted slavery and forced labor suffered at the hands of their slavedrivers in the South. Through the command of Gen. Robert Lee, one of the finest generals at the time, the Confederates managed to defeat the Yankees (Northerners) on a number of incidents that include the suppression of the band of raiders led by Brown who was himself tried and executed. Paranoia toward malicious intentions was claimed to have transpired betwe en the Northerners and the Southerners due primarily to inequality between the two regions, the issue of slavery, and secession by the south. The various states in the North and in the South had conflicting interests. While the North was industrial, democratic, and progressive, on the other hand, the South remained agricultural, aristocratic, and conservative. A majority of Northerners viewed the inhabitants of the South as indolent, poorly educated, and misbehaved people who would always contradict ideas and possibilities which could enable the United States to achieve its goals with capitalism. Northern Americans opposed black slavery because they did not need slave labor in their factories whereas Southern Americans needed slaves to cultivate their vast plantations of cotton, tobacco, and rice. On a rough estimate, about 80% of the population in the South toiled in agriculture and a significant mass of southern wealth was reported to have been invested slave trade and acquisition of lands to expand territories. Pieces of cotton produced via southern regulations were sold to northern and European textile mills, largely imparting a favorable equilibrium in the country’s potential in the aspect of trade as rich slaveholders obtained extensive commercial, social, and political dominion over their region. Thus, during the 1850s, several white southerners had come to adopt the principle that considers bondage to servility to be a â€Å"positive good† either for the slave or his master. Besides labor control, slavery also functioned as a means for the Southern Americans to settle with the social order in which division of class among the whites in the southern society seemed to have become abolished for having a common stake in the system of slavery. Regardless of economic status, white people of the South were justified as equal among themselves by virtue of or fact with the prevailing black slavery of that period. For this ground and the anxiety to ward dissonant consequences, once black servants were freed, the Confederates all the more agreed to necessitate slavery and defended this position against their northern counterparts. Consequently, the Yankees of the North were established with a stereotypical impression of being indifferent or partaking with negligible concern about family matters, as if all they ever cared for was to sustain personal extravagance whereby economic interests were sought to prioritize luxury in living.