Saturday, August 31, 2019

Opinion on American Gothic Painting

I have seen this image, but don’t know the tittle. I have seen it in movies, cartoons, and parodies of the painting. The painting is a male and female who most likely live on farmland. The male is holding a pitchfork, both of them look very serious but looking in different directions. They may either be just posing for the painting or waiting for intruders to leave their property. The male and female look bothered with something, they are not happy. They are wearing old-fashioned clothes, very traditional American clothes. They look healthy but the male looks older than the female, maybe her father or an older husband at the time. They look like typical suburban American people at the time. The top of their house looks a little like a church but they are definitely farmers. The painting represents the typical American family/folk in a certain time period and area. The painting is famous because it’s the reality of suburban American life at that time, and this may be controversial. No one likes to hear/see the truth. I did not know the name of the painting so I googled, â€Å"famous American paintings†. It was the first photo that came up, so I clicked on it and found out the artist and the painting’s name. I googled the name of the painting and got many websites that have material on it. The artist’s name is Grant Wood native of Chicago. The painting is of a farmer and his daughter posing in posing in front of their house, whose window and tracery had an American gothic style, which inspired the name of the painting, â€Å"American Gothic†. The models were the artist’s sister and dentist. Wood was accused of creating in this work a satire on the intolerance and strictness that the limited nature of rural life can produce. He sold this painting to the Art institute in November of 1930.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Problems faced by the sugar industry Essay

Topic: Problems faced by the Sugar Industry in the British West Indies specifically Jamaica. Research Question: The problems faced by the Sugar Industry affected the British West Indies during the period of 1838-1876. In light of those problems to what extent did this result in the decline of sugar and the economic state of Jamaica. Rationale/ Aim It is believed that the problems faced by the sugar industry were caused due to the fact that the planters had a very negative and spiteful attitude towards the apprentices. Also these problems were caused due to the fact that now that the slaves became newly freed, they did not want to return to the estate work. Due to the abolition of slavery the sugar industry saw a rapid decline in the production of sugar. Reading and researching this topic sparked much interest in the researcher. To see that something so successful become unsuccessfully so quickly showed that anything is possible. The essay being done will hopefully give the researcher and society a better insight to the struggles in which the British Sugar Industry faced during the period of 1838-1876. Introduction Topic: Problems faced by the Sugar Industry in the British West Indies specifically Jamaica. Thesis statement: The problems that the sugar industry faced led to immense problems in the British West Indies. This essay examines the problems in which the sugar industry faced during the period of 1838-1876. The Planter’s in the British West Indies Acquired Large sums of money from the ever rowing and popular sugar industry. Due to the abolition of slavery in 1838; Labour that was needed for the production of  sugar decreased rapidly and so did the profitable income the planter’s once received. Soon because of the lack of labour estates became encumbered. There are specific factors that contributed to the problems that the sugar industry faced. These factors are; Capital, Labour, Technology and Free Trade. Labour:-Now that slavery was abolished, there was an increase in the price of slaves and this caused an uncompetitive rise in the price of sugar. Due to this labour became scarce and expensive. Some planter continued and hired ex-slaves to work for them and they had to pay them wages. These wages accounted for as much as two thirds of the total cost of production. Some slaves did not return back to the estate in which they worked on instead they got land for themselves and cultivated their own crops. This caused a number of territories to experience e a significant decline in the production of sugar in the first thirty (30) years of emancipation. These territories were:- Territories Percentage Reduction St. Vincent 25% British Guiana 40% Grenada 50% Jamaica Decreased three times the pre-emancipation level Capital: – The planters lacked capital in which they needed for wages and labour saving equipments and equipments. Up until the end of this period Majority of estates still used the same old techniques. The wage level was considerably high in territories where land was available and where peasantry was developing well. Two territories associated with this are: Trinidad and British Guiana who were in the expansion and establishment process. By 1854 a number of estates became encumbered due to the fact that the planter’s were filled with debt. The lack of capital forced them out of production because they could not repay their debts. Jamaica and Grenada had the highest amount of abandoned estates. The fact that these estates were encumbered their value fell tremendously. In some cases estates owed their taxes and because of this government workers could not be paid the salaries. Technology: – emancipation gave rise to the use of Machinery. Some of the planters tried items of machinery such as the centrifugal systems the plough, harrow and vacuum pans on their estates. Others introduced the railways. Trinidad, British Guiana and St. Kitts introduced steam mills. Also some planters being in debt could not be able to afford the machinery they needed for production. The enslaved also would abuse and destroy estate equipment which is known as industrial sabotage. Free Trade: – Before equalization there was no help to the West Indian interest. The price of sugar fell almost immediately from 33-25/10d per 50 kg. Due to the fact that the English would not lend money to any companies and banks that specialised in Caribbean issues, by 1847, 13 leading West Indian companies became bankrupt. The Planters Bank in Jamaica and the West Indian Bank both closed for good and because of these planters could not borrow money to cover their losses. Around 474 sugar and coffee plantations went out of business in Jamaica  between the years 1846 and 1852. By the year 1858 Grenada’s sugar production was half that of the last year of slavery and Montserrat, St Vincent and Tobago were two thirds. After the Equalization act was passed, Planters tried to reduce cost by cutting wages by half, to this the labourers did not sit still. Due to the many protests that were occurring on the planters’ estates they tried to compensate the workers for the loss of their earnings. CONCLUSION There were many problems in which the sugar industry faced and they had very negative effects on the Caribbean. These problems made the researcher realise that anything successful can really be unsuccessful and it doesn’t matter what time it is. Although the sugar went through a lot of problems after the year of 1876 and the planter’s were allowed to get immigrants to work for them on their estate, the sugar industry would try to make a comeback through this. BIBLIOGRAPHY www.notesmaster.com Caribbean Revision History for CxC- Peter Ashdown and Francis Humphreys Caribbean History: Foundations Bk1- Claypole, William and Robottom, John Caribbean History Theme Text Adjustments to Emancipation: 1838-1876- Veta Dawson

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Does Pre-education Develops Students Developing Performance In Their Essay

Does Pre-education Develops Students Developing Performance In Their Next Study - Essay Example This essay stresses that Kariuki, Chepchieng, Mbugua and Ngumi (2007) in their study highlight the effectiveness of early childhood education program for the development of social-emotional competencies. The research design focuses on the ex-post facto to understand the interdependency of early childhood education program on the social emotional competency. The samples were obtained to fairly and equally represent schools and respondents of three district. The survey questionnaires of the study focus on the documentation analysis and group discussion of the data collection. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tools were used to analyze the data, as it provides a summary, analytical and empirical analysis about the particular sample. The survey questionnaires of the study focus on the documentation analysis and group discussion of the data collection. This paper makes a conclusion that the persistent attendance of the children of the lower income, middle class families can be effective for the children. No relationship between the social development and the center attendance has been observed through the study. Therefore, the study suggests that the selection factors play the major role for the mothers to enroll their children in the center. The findings of the study also highlights that the center exposure at the age of 7+ can be a source of higher cognitive proficiency.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Race and Ethnicity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Race and Ethnicity - Essay Example f the world to the other in order to get education, employment, engage in business and commercial activities, obtaining therapeutic aid medical treatments, visiting relatives, friends and historical places, attend mega sports and cultural events and others. Moreover, immigration policies launched by the developed nations have also motivated the people to move from pole apart regions to settle down permanently. In addition, colonialism during Europeans scramble for Africa in 18th and 19th centuries accelerated assimilation and acculturation of different races and regions. Constant and continuous interaction among the people of different races and ethnic groups gave birth to amalgamation of new communities and social groups. The term race and racial group signify the group of people containing specific physical features, complexion and traits. Color of skin, shape and form of hair on head, presence of hair on body, height and physical appearance differentiate the people of one race from the other. The examples of different races include African Blacks, Asian, Caucasians, White people, yellow people of Japan, China and Hong Kong and others. "In United States, skin color is an obvious difference. On a cold winter day when one has clothing covering all, but ones head however, skin color may be les obvious than hair color. (Schaefer, 2006:5) Thus, race specifies the origin of the people living as minority in a great country like USA, which cannot lose its identity even after living for many decades in the region other than and outside their own. Ethnic group, on the other hand, refers to the cultural divergence among the people living in the same region or area. Since every group of people maintains its own literature, language, norms, traditions, mores and cult, it looks different from other groups prevailing in the society. As local, and native communities have their own culture and language, which may be different from other groups of people. The same is the case

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Recruitment Case Study Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Recruitment Case Study Analysis - Essay Example In this regard, the public sector human resource department needs to be competitive and responsible prior to service delivery. Talent Seek has successfully taken the role of conducting recruitment for the public service in Australia. Jenny Deakin, Business Analysts and other Business Analysis & Improvement team members in the company have identified statistical and cost concerns that need to be analyzed with regard to proper functioning and realization of the company’s objectives in a bid to put in place in place the most effective and efficient workforce for the public service. In order to do this, the company has to take into account all aspects of its recruitment procedures. This will enhance the undertaking of the improvements required in the recruitment process by Talent Seek. Statistical variables that need to be critically evaluated and assessed with regard to the recruitment process by the company are: optimal number of employees, business aspect of the company, size o f the public service and other clients to the company, knowledge and skill requirements for different job segments and labor force trends surrounding the company’s clientele environment. ... There are client-provider activities coordinating prior to the consideration of workforce profiles. Clients advertise unlimited employment positions but only a number are required. Labor statistics show that a lot of time is wasted in the hiring process (Rampersad 274). The Talent Seek should account for this loophole, and consequently advice their clients appropriately. It is noted that up to 80% of public service permanent positions are dealt with by the Talent Seek Company. The company’s business aspect is primarily based on its service base; recruitment and human resource undertakings. Optimal hiring requires effective time management. The company’s recruitment process can be improved through reducing time used in activity coordination between the company and the clients. Over and above this, the company appreciates the fact that the public service is a major client in its business. This and other clients need to be assessed and evaluated with regard to labor trends in the operating environment in order to put in place recruitment measures that meet the labor market demands. On the same note, job segments, knowledge and skill requirements and the underlying remuneration must be critically matched prior to the recruitment process if any improvements are to be noted. Cost analysis Human resource undertakings are an expensive affair. Hiring and firing of employees provides an added cost to the operations of hiring and firing company. On the same note, the hiring of employees by a company can be undertaken by a separate entity as it is the case with Talent Seek. The company recruits workforces for different clients in the labor market. In so doing, there are costs incurred by both the hiring company and the

Monday, August 26, 2019

Midterm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Midterm - Essay Example a deal and they want to save time, managers are advised to find out more about the export market; which is through the internet and have a look at business journals and various banks of the region. 2. Internationalizing a small business through the incremental stages creates high chances of success for that business and high sustainability is guaranteed. This is quite different from when it is started at once by investing a lot of money, which ends up putting the whole idea at risk in case things don’t go as expected. It should be noted that success is only realized when the business is conducted internationally, in a self-directed manner by simply filling normal orders. It will be the growth of this business that places it in a better position for more orders and therefore gain prosperity in the international business world. There are however barriers to this success, and this is in terms of the export market where if not researched on well, the manager might end up unsuccessful in case the product they want to distribute has no market internationally. Inadequate resources can also be a hindrance, as external support is of great need for one to go through this successf ully. The culture of a particular country too is a barrier, as some countries attach beliefs to some products and ignorance in this case can be quite an issue. China for instance associates watches with death, therefore such products in that country are not welcome. 3. The internet is widely known to be informative in diverse fields that one would want to research on. When it comes to internationalizing businesses, a manager can be able to find out about the export market; in terms of what products are acceptable in that particular country of choice, their demand, and also get to find representatives in the export market that are to be of help in terms of conducting their business. It therefore in this case saves on the time that would have been used in travelling to one’s country of interest

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Does FIFA bring an economic upturn in countries hosting the world cup Essay

Does FIFA bring an economic upturn in countries hosting the world cup - Essay Example world Cup was estimated to have added the GDP to Brazil of at least $ 30 billion, and (Baumann, Engelhardt & Matheson (2012), argues that the world cup results in temporary upsurge in real employment, while Pillay & Bass (2008) point out that perhaps they are motivated by the need to reduce poverty. There is a great debate on the real economic potential for the host nation of the FIFA World Cup; critics of its economic potential argue that the 32-day tournament results in costs that outweigh the real economic benefits (Lee & Taylor, 2005). Conversely, proponents point out that the tournament has an impressive quantifiable real economic plus to the economy (Baade, & Matheson, 2004). Obviously, high number of travelling fans contributes to tourism, which will ead to sufficient infrastructures, security as well as the boost of morale brought by the good feeling of hosting the World Cup (Crnelissen, 2014). At the end of 2010 the organization had generated 4.189 billion dollars and addition 3.6 billion dollars from World cup not directly related to world Cup (Federation Internationale de Football Association, 2007). This paper by concentrating on some of the most significant economic aspects that greatly contributes to the growth of a country (Andreff, 2012). The paper further relates these aspects to the World Cup and the impact it has on them. The paper is divided into three sections; theoretical framework, the methodology and the findings of the study. In this section, the paper proposes four major economic indicators, which are used to determine the upturn or downturn of an economy. Further, FIFA’s impact on the economy will be defined from point of view of these indicators. An intricate discussion on the four indicators shall ensue below in this section. A number of macroeconomic models have been proposed to be effective in the study of the real economic benefits of the FIFA World Cup to the host nation economy. Alhert (2001) used the input-output model to

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Diffused Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Diffused Responsibility - Essay Example Rather than any one individual feeling responsible for reporting what was going on, seeking to stop it, or seeking to ascertain whether the action that appeared to be a car being burglarized was indeed as it appeared, everyone in the group, including those passersby that were not related to me or my group of friends felt that they could merely ignore the situation due to the fact that any number of other people could report what was going on. In retrospect, this type of apathy is precisely what the thieves depended on for this type of brazen crime. Looking back on the situation with the knowledge of what motivating emotion and psychological response helped to make everyone feel that it was not their ultimate responsibility does not help to make me feel any better concerning the given situation; rather, it makes me aware that if such a situation occurs again, the response I should seek to control is that of diffused

The philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke Assignment

The philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke - Assignment Example As a result, formation of a government with total power is necessary for men to coexist peacefully. Such a government is formed by people who transfer their liberty for safety. People obey the laws formed by the government, which stands between them and their state of chaos, and they do not have the right to overthrow the government (Ladenburg, 2007). On the contrary, Locke believes that people are born free with rights to dispose their properties. According to Locke, people form a government to protect their possessions, and they can regain their liberty if the government breaches the law of society. However, following the events that happened in Libya, Locke’s opinion is misguided. After Gaddafi’s fall in Libya, democracy has not yielded much. The country is controlled by armed militias, and the economy is deteriorating. Libya’s state under Gaddafi’s ‘authoritarian’ rule was better than the current ‘democratic’ rule. In conclusion, absolute democracy is unattainable in the presence of many people. Different people pursue different goals, which are likely to be conflicting, and this throws the society into a state of disorder. Human liberty needs to be controlled for a peaceful and progressive

Friday, August 23, 2019

General Questions About Strategic Planning & Marketing Term Paper

General Questions About Strategic Planning & Marketing - Term Paper Example All of these components are absolutely necessary for mission statements because they demonstrate a comprehensive review of why the organization exists and which customer needs it actually aims to address. This further relates to the formulation of organizational goals and objectives while encouraging employees to act in the required direction. Moreover, the components of a mission statement help in analyzing the progress of an organization, the overall efficiency of management and employees and the lifespan of the firm. Q2. Where do organizational missions originate? How do you explain the evolution of organizational missions as the organization grows and matures? What types of changes are likely to take place in the mission statement? Organizational mission statements are originated by the management team that decides the products and services for the organization along with the target market and long term business strategies. Hence it is more appropriate that the CEO or the partners themselves formulate the mission statement as they are the ones who exactly know the reasons behind the firm’s establishment. Although it is highly significant to have a concise and clear mission statement for an organization prior to the beginning of operations but on the other hand it should be noted that mission statements evolve over the period of time. This implies that managers and company heads are extensively required to update the organizational mission statement as the firm grows and matures. Mission statements are highly dynamic in nature since they are needed to be re-affirmed and re-examined over the time. Analysts also suggest maintaining annual check-in with respect to the mission statement (Reder, 2012). Organizations have been developing mission statements since last few decades. This is possibly because of the fact that it facilitates them in defining the core reasons for which the organization exists.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Modelling Leadership Essay Example for Free

Modelling Leadership Essay Many people have potentials of becoming leaders by virtue of their births, for instance, into royal families. Some others cashed in on the naivety and innocence of the people around and, before long, became leaders; not necessarily by achievements but because they are opportunist. I see real leadership emerging when a individual can successfully impact the life of others which in turn makes them willing followers. This is the category my headmaster falls into. My relationship with this man started a couple of years ago. As a teacher and mentor, he sees every opportunity for success in every child. He is by no means a disciplined man, yet he is patient enough for any student. He is the headmaster, coordinating the teachers; yet he is the teacher himself. He takes it as a responsibility to have a one-on-one contact with every students in the school and he has been successful at it in spite of all other official assignment competing for attention. Every student, to him, needs to discover himself his strengths and weaknesses. With my headmaster, the hardworking students still has rooms to do better if only he could discover how and the lazy students needs only to discover his areas of interests and concentrate on it for his success. This is what he seeks to do for each students by spending time with them. An of course, he encourages the teachers to do likewise. In his words ’these little minds are going to become our leaders tomorrow and it is how well we impact them that determines what they do when they become our leaders -whether they lead us well or not. ’ His style has produced great changes in the life of students. Even other teachers are borrowing successfully from his style and they in turn are achieving great results with their students. I hope one of his products eventually rises to become the president of our great nation this will be a rewarding feather added to his cap.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Analysis

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Analysis Thesis: When boundaries like social, cultural physical and separations constrained Bruno’s life, it never prevented him from forming a forbidden friendship Sana Ibrahim -3202 John Boyne is an Irish novelist born in Dublin. He wrote 70 short stories and many novels focused on adults and young readers. The Boy in Striped Pyjamas is a novel focused on a younger audience. Several film adaptations were done to this film and in 2006 film adaptation was an award-winning Miramax. Furthermore, the novel won 2 Irish awards and received positive reviews by many papers. For instance The Guardian reviewed as, â€Å"A small wonder of a book†¦this is what fiction is supposed to do† (Boyne, 2010-2014). The Boy in Striped Pyjamas is a fable which captures a hint of the holocaust but still has a great impact on our emotions. This is a story written from a 9 year old boy’s perspective, who lived during World War II. In this story the 9 year old Bruno along with his family moved from Berlin to Poland due to his father’s job promotion. His father was a Nazi officer who was recently appointed to the commander by the Fuhry. As a result they were sent to an isolated area near the â€Å"Out With† concentration camp. (In reality it is Auschwitz Concentration camp in Poland). In this story Bruno felt the loneliness of the place very much. This is because they were home schooled and he had no friends to play with unlike in Berlin. Bruno being a curious and adventurous explorer started to explore the house he lived paying no heed to boundaries. One day he sneaked from the back door and ran through the forest and ended finding a boy near a fence. He met the Jew boy Shmuel fo r the first time. They shared same birthday and age. Bruno sneaked every day to meet his friend near the fence as their budding relation prospered. One fateful day Bruno being a loyal friend to Shmuel decided to help find his dad trapped in the concentration camp. So he disguised in the striped pajama and crawled down the fence. Unfortunately, they ran into a death marching group leading to a gas chamber. They were naà ¯ve about what was about to happen as they walked into their death. It was their ill-fate that they were among the Jews who became the victims of the incinerators (Boyne, 2006). Despite the fact that Bruno was taught to hate the Jews as mortal enemies and his parents’ constant warnings, he proceeded with his virtues. When boundaries like social, cultural, and physical separations constrained the 9 year old boys’ life, it never prevented him from forming a forbidden friendship. Bruno’s family was portrayed as a rich family in Berlin as well as at Auschwitz. In Berlin they had a 5 story building in a position that entire city can be seen. Bruno says this in the story as he could see right across Berlin if he stood in his tiptoes as he held onto the window frame tightly. When they shifted to Poland they had a three story house with a rich life. There were servants attending to every need. However, in Bruno’s room through the only small window, he sees a farm like place from a distant. The area doesn’t look as lively as he thought it would be. His first impression was, â€Å"I don’t think other children look at all friendly,† (Boyne.p.18) even though his mother taught him not to prejudice others. Furthermore, Bruno is brought up in a place where he couldn’t interrupt his mother in any case. While they were about to leave the Berlin house, when the servant Maria interrupts, Bruno immediately recalls the rule of not inte rrupting his mother. Likewise, he cannot disturb his father unnecessarily. His father pays importance in maintaining disciple and the kids are forbidden to question their parents’ authority in decisions (Boyne, 2006). Judaism is considered as a religion by most scholars but the Germans describe Judaism as ethnicity (Hollingshead.p.4). During the holocaust due to this the two different groups were separated while the Jews behind a barbed fence deprived them from their lives. The Boy in Striped Pajamas reckons vast discrimination of Jews and Germans. For instance when Bruno and his family were travelling to Auschwitz they travelled by a train in which there were plenty of spaces for people to sit. On the one, Jews were tightly packed into the trains with undesirable conditions for a human being to breathe or live. â€Å"†¦transport arrived in Auschwitz on September 5, 1944 with 1,019 Jews on board. Men and women were separated† (United States of Holocaust Memorial, 2013). Jews were treated badly because they belonged to a certain ethnic group even though both groups were headed to same destination. During the time when Shmuel described how they came to the camp Bruno found it hard to bel ieve this since there was nothing like that in the trains they travelled. Moreover, having seen the documentary which shows the conditions and how the people were treated greatly influenced his little mind to believe things with in the camp were good (Boyne, 2006). As the two kids came to know each other more they ultimately believed each other more than the parents. This is the main reason why Bruno in the end with natural reluctance, joined his friend in the concentration camp. While the Nazis separated the two groups of people, they however failed to recognize their own type. This proves that what they actually hate is the religion not the people. While the Jews survived in misery, Germans had the choice to live. In this story Bruno was given all the freedom he wants within the household and beyond that he is deprived from this. For example the back door physically separated him from the surrounding. As he was not allowed to cross the door and the boredom pushed him to explore beyond it. Just like his tutor Herr Liszt encouraged in exploring, Bruno went pass the back door into the forest to discover new and interesting things just like the great explorers Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci (Boyne.p.56). On his first venture he found the boy sitting near the fence and their small talks resulted to build the trust in which each promised to be friends for life (Boyne, 2006). During World War II Jews and Christians were separated by the Germans providing bad conditions within the concentration camps. The Nazi officers removed their clothing and forced them to wear one â€Å"striped pajama† as in the story. In this story Bruno asks Shmuel why do they always wear pajamas and he responds that is the only type of clothing they get to wear unlike Bruno who wears different clothing every day. The Jews barely get to eat and almost every day when Bruno meets Shmuel he is hungry and longing for food. When Shmuel was brought to commanders house to clean the wine glasses Bruno offered Shmuel the fancy foods they eat which ended poor Jew being beaten by the officer (Boyne, 2006). During this time children were subjected to child labor and many were killed just as they arrived the camp. This is because the Officers believed that they are â€Å"useless eaters† (United States Holocaust Memorial, 2013), and immediately killed them in gas chambers.† On ly 6 to 11% of Europes prewar Jewish population of children survived† (United States Holocaust Memorial, 2013). Shmuel, Paul (who comes to peel vegetable) and other Jews in the camp are always sad, whereas the Germans are happy despite their brutality to humans. Bruno however worries and questions Shmuel about these although some answers are hard to believe because of the good conditions they have been subjected to in their lives. â€Å"Holocaust was an event of such consequence and philosophical significance it seems to transcend the boundaries of time† (Hollingshead, p.1).Through the eyes of Bruno the people inside the fence makes him sad. Although his sisters comment that they look â€Å"filthy† he rather says, â€Å"but maybe they don’t have any baths† than agreeing to the fact that they look dirty (Boyne, 2006). In a life where everything of Bruno is controlled by someone to a certain extent he manages to question certain behaviors and things even though he is not allowed to act differently in any circumstances. Bruno is a free spirit and at such a young age he considers his own thoughts over others. He finds his own ways to overcome the boredom at his new house. One day he makes a swing for him although he gets hurt at the end. He formed a strong bond with the dirty Jew boy he said at the beginning making him believe what is important in life is to accept people for who they are. References Boyne, J. (2010-2014) The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas http://www.johnboyne.com/fiction/younger-readers/the-boy-in-the-striped-pyjamas/ Boyne, J. (2006) The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas http://www.anderson5.net/cms/lib02/SC01001931/Centricity/Domain/222/The%20Boy%20in%20the%20Striped%20Pajamas.pdf Hollingshead, A. (2005-2006) G-d was not in Auschwitz http://www.gwu.edu/~uwp/fyw/euonymous/2005-2006/06-hollingsheadfinal.pdf United States Holocaust Memorial. (2013, 6) Plight of Jewish Children http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10006124 United States Holocaust Memorial. (2013, 6) Children during the holocaust http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005142 Word count 1526

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Compliance in International Relations

Compliance in International Relations Abstract This paper seeks to address whether state cooperation via formal international institutions may best be understood as a spectrum of compliance rather than binary states. Prevailing perspectives on state compliance to its international obligations generally presupposes binary state of compliance in which states adhere to its commitments and non-compliance in which states do not adhere to its commitments. This construction proves problematic as it disregards state intention; states may act in good faith to comply with its international commitments, yet fail to meet these commitments do to exogenous variables. While largely ignored by realists, liberal institutionalist and constructivist literature has sought to address this issue and provides a limited descriptive framework to understand non-binary states of compliance. While these frameworks are useful for understanding complexities inherent in defining non-compliance, these do not fulfill the stated objective of this paper: refram ing compliance as a spectrum rather than binary states. Intro, Research Question Chayes, Chayes and Mitchell (1998) illustrate the limitations of a binary compliance definition through a good-faith description of the environment treaty non-complier state. Environmental treaties attempt to impose regulatory requirements, not only on states, but on subsidiary private sector actors. Exogenous factors to environmental treaties may limit a state’s ability to enforce these regulatory requirements on private sector actors, resulting in a state of non-compliance. The binary definition of compliance disregards the good-faith in which a state enters an international agreement and further ignores the exogenous factors that limit state compliance. A binary definition of state compliance provides no relevant information by which one can determine whether non-compliance is a deliberate violation of state commitment or due to exogenous factors to the agreement. In order to provide a more descriptive framework to determine the nature of non-compliance, this paper posits t hat it is necessary to redefine compliance as a spectrum such that the level of compliance (C) can be defined: C∈[0,1], where 0 is perfectly non-compliant, and 1 is perfectly compliant. This definition of compliance may provide greater insight into the nature of a state’s non-compliance by providing information on the extent of non-compliance to treaty obligations. While disregarded by realists, the nature of compliance has been explored in liberal institutionalist, and constructivist literature. This literature has provided some insight into the complexity inherent in defining compliance; yet, it falls short of providing a definition of compliance which allows for further understanding of the nature of state non-compliance. In fact, constructivist literature fails entirely in this endeavor as it proposes that compliance is a social construction impervious to a general analysis. While a compliance spectrum does not fully illuminate exogenous factors to international commitments, within this definitional framework they exist as lurking variables upon which further scrutiny can be given. Furthermore, while not a conclusive determinant of state intention, a spectrum of compliance allows for consideration of good-faith through a quantitative estimate of how compliant states are with their international commitments. This is preferable to the existin g compliance binary which fully disregards good-faith in state action. Furthermore, this research aims to provide increased context and understanding of inter-state cooperation via international institutions. The creation of a compliance spectrum allows for observation of trends both in terms of a state’s tendency towards compliance or non-compliance and in terms of a state’s historical capacity to fulfill its international obligations. This contextual understanding of a state’s compliance may inform how commitments are enforced by institutions on a state-by-state level as well as inform the formulations of new inter-state agreements to take into account trends of compliance. Literature Review For realists, state power is the primary factor that governs interstate relations. Consequently realists find contention in the notion that formal international institutions play substantial role in determining state behavior (Boyle, 1980). Consequently, states are assumed to successfully comply only under conditions of shared interests or hegemonic coercion, and only in so far as compliance is congruent to a state’s foreign policy interests (Morgenthau, 1985). Under this formulation, a state’s international commitments and the formal institutions present to enforce them are indeterminate of state decisions to comply with their commitments (Aron, 1981). The primary grievance realists pose to compliance and enforcement literature is the lack of coercive power of formal international institutions to ensure state compliance. Furthermore since states possess jurisdiction to interpret provisions of international agreements, realists contend that states have no incentive to c omply with burdensome past commitments (Morgenthau, 1985). Realist formulations of international cooperation predominantly focus on state power and interest and generally disregard ideas concerning compliance. Since it is the aim of this paper to propose a redefinition of state compliance, it can be said that realists are pursuing an altogether different project and are consequently of no interest to our current undertaking. Liberal institutionalists formulate international agreements as a means by which states are able address common issues which cannot be addressed through unilateral action (Bilder, 1989). Within this formulation, compliance is largely due to state reputational costs. States expect higher costs in the long term if they are non-compliant with their short term commitments. Consequently, formal international institutions can be understood to amplify the reputational consequences of non-compliance by increasing transparency of state behavior (Keohane, 1984). Greater transparency and the potential for reciprocity in international agreements serve to increase compliance through iterative engagement amongst the same state actors. These conditions stabilize a state’s expectations concerning member state behavior and increase confidence that these states will comply with their international commitments. This in turn incentivizes a state to also comply with its international commitments ( Garrett Weingastt, 1993). Liberal institutionalist literature generally privileges the state as the sole agent of compliance. However the Downs and Rocke (1995) study of General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) rules illustrates how exogenous factors to the agreement, including domestic politics and interest group demands, play a major role in determining the degree of compliance one could expect from GATT signatories. Downs and Rocke illustrated that negotiating states agreed upon weak enforcement mechanisms due to uncertainty of future interest group demands. These uncertainties lead to the adoption short term obligations and less strict enforcement mechanisms thus reducing the cooperation demands for GATT states. In order to achieve compliance, states must address exogenous domestic factors to the agreement. This illustrates the primary failing of Liberal institutionalist literature which generally overemphasizes the roles of formal institutions and states over domestic factors. Further literature examines domestic administrative and technical incapacities as a source for non-compliance. Jacobson Brown Weiss (1995, 1997) illustrated that the determinant variable for successful compliance with environmental accords was administrative capacity. Domestic factors such as a skilled labor force, financial resources, and domestic legal authorization were crucial in order for a state successfully comply with environmental accords. In order to address these administrative incapacities, independent agencies may facilitate compliance by providing necessary resources to reach regulatory standards. Within this formulation state cooperation via international institutions serve not only promote compliance and enumerate state commitments, they also serve to enable states with administrative and technical incapacities to meet compliance standards (Hans et al, 1993). While Liberal institutionalist literature considers the intentions of states engaging in international agreements as well as the exogenous factors that determine a state’s compliance success, Liberal institutionalist literature still adopts a binary definition of compliance that disregards these factors. The complexities Liberal Institutionalists perceive within state compliance do not inform and are not represented in their formulation of compliance. This paper seeks to move beyond the work of liberal institutionalists and redefine compliance such that these complexities are integrated into our understanding of state compliance. Constructivist regime theorists formulate an understanding of state compliance in terms of international rules, norms and agreements. Rather than focusing on conditions of non-compliance constructivists posited that analysis should endeavor to understand how state behavior is interpreted by other states as well as how these behaviors are intended by the state actor. For Constructivists , the most relevant inquiry into state compliance was how states rationalized their actions and whether other states were receptive to its rationale (Kratochwil Ruggie, 1986). By this formulation, seemingly conflicting actions of state actors could be derived from similar principles and norms. Compliance is therefore not an objective fact; rather it is a subjective social construction. The implications of this theory are that 1) normative concepts such as fairness determine a state’s compliance decisions and 2) formal international institutions can be undermined- states become non-compliant- if they lose legitimacy with member states (Kratochwil Ruggie, 1986). The relationship between legitimacy and compliance has been explored multiple constructivist authors. Legro (1997) posited that understanding the attributes of a rule its specificity and durability- is the most effective way to determine the causal effect norms have on compliance outcomes. This theory argues that the clearer, more durable and endorsed a rule or norm is, the greater effect it will have in promoting state compliance. Other constructivists like Fisher (1981) argue that rules will promote compliance when they adhere to shared values and morals. Under this formulation the more widely held the rule the more compliant state actors will be to the rule. Keck Sikkink (1998) attempting to advance compliance in the human rights theatre assert that prohibitions that will successfully engender interstate compliance are those prohibitions that embody cross-cultural norms such as protection of innocent groups nd ensuring bodily integrity. For constructivists formal international institutions play a significant role in legitimating particular rules and fostering a sense of obligation amongst states. Tacsan (1992) exemplifies this through his discussion of the International Court of Justice, which he argues is a location where norms and normative values converge through the ICJ’s multilateral bargaining process. The convergence of norms at the ICJ has resulted in the development of norms concerning self-determination, non-intervention, and collective self-defense were the primary normative expectation that informed Central America’s peace settlements. Constructivist literature utilizes a normative approach in its study of compliance. Constructivists assert that norms of appropriateness, ideas, and values are the determinant factor to state compliance. Furthermore, constructivists assert that international commitments, and consequently compliance, are social construction that can only be understood through an intersubjective framework, and are imperious to a general analysis. By contextualizing compliance in a case-by-case basis, you are effectively left with no standard definition of compliance by which one can determine what constitutes non-compliance. The lack of a satisfactory definition of compliance in constructivist and liberal institutionalist literature that considers both intentions and trends is in need of formulation.

Monday, August 19, 2019

The Queer Prison Abolitionist Movement Essay -- Prison Abolitionist, I

It would be misguided to discuss queer prison abolitionist movements without first thoroughly examining the place of the prison system in the neoliberal imperial project of enemy production (both inside and outside the boundaries of the state). The contemporaneous production of exterior and interior enemies (terrorists and criminals respectively), movement toward and legislation for ostensible (and, importantly, homonormative) queer â€Å"equality,† the criminalization of radical activism through increased surveillance, torture, disappearance, and imprisonment, and the exponential growth in the transnationally funded prison system is symptomatic of what, in the article â€Å"Intimate Investments,† Anna M. Agathangelou, M. Daniel Bassichis, and Tamara L. Spira deem the â€Å"imperial project(s) of promise and nonpromise† (Agathangelou, Bassichis, and Spira 120). Agathangelou, Bassichis, and Spira argue that, inherently a part of empire’s promises to some groups of safety and inclusion in global capitalism is a process of othering by which other groups are constructed as â€Å"enemy others,† and by which yet other groups are rendered â€Å"‘other Others’ whose life and death do not even merit mention or attention† (123). At the heart of this process lies the imperialist drive to establish and protect the new world order via what M. Jacqui Alexander deems the process of â€Å"incorporation and quarantining† (Alexander qtd. in Agathangelou, Bassichis, and Spira 127). This process serves the imperialist ends of militarization by constructing â€Å"enemies† which must be contained and/or killed; it also provides a backdrop against which newly legitimized homonormative queer identities can be conceptualized. In other words, by creating classes of racially sexualized... ...plex. Eric A. Stanley and Nat Smith. 1st ed. Oakland: AK Press, 2011. 267-79. Print. Girshick, Lori. â€Å"Out of Compliance: Masculine-Identified People in Women’s Prisons.† Captive Genders: Trans Embodiment and the Prison industrial Complex. Eric A. Stanley and Nat Smith. 1st ed. Oakland: AK Press, 2011. 189-208. Print. Nair, Yasmin. â€Å"How to Make Prisons Disappear: Queer Immigrants, the Shackles of Love, and the Invisibility of the Prison Industrial Complex.† Captive Genders: Trans Embodiment and the Prison industrial Complex. Eric A. Stanley and Nat Smith. 1st ed. Oakland: AK Press, 2011. 123-39. Print. Nemec, Blake. â€Å"No One Enters Like Them: Health, Gender Variance, and the PIC.† Captive Genders: Trans Embodiment and the Prison industrial Complex. Eric A. Stanley and Nat Smith. 1st ed. Oakland: AK Press, 2011. 217-31. Print.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Group Polarization And Competition In Political Behavior Essay

On Tuesday, November 14, 1995, in what has been perceived as the years biggest non-event, the federal government shut down all "non-essential" services due to what was, for all intents and purposes, a game of national "chicken" between the House Speaker and the President. And, at an estimated cost of 200 million dollars a day, this dubious battle of dueling egos did not come cheap (Bradsher, 1995, p.16). Why do politicians find it almost congenitally impossible to cooperate? What is it about politics and power that seem to always put them at odds with good government? Indeed, is an effective, well run government even possible given the current adversarial relationship between our two main political parties? It would seem that the exercise of power for its own sake, and a competitive situation in which one side must always oppose the other on any issue, is incompatible with the cooperation and compromise necessary for the government to function. As the United States becomes more extreme in its beliefs in general, group polarization and competition, which requires a mutual exclusivity of goal attainment, will lead to more "showdown" situations in which the goal of good government gives way to political posturing and power-mongering. In this paper I will analyze recent political behavior in terms of two factors: Group behavior with an emphasis on polarization, and competition. However, one should keep in mind that these two factors are interrelated. Group polarization tends to exacerbate inter-group competition by driving any two groups who initially disagree farther apart in their respective views. In turn, a competitive situation in which one side must lose in order for the other to win (and political situations are nearly always competitive), will codify the differences between groups - leading to further extremism by those seeking power within the group - and thus, to further group polarization. In the above example, the two main combatants, Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich, were virtually forced to take uncompromising, disparate views because of the very nature of authority within their respective political groups. Group polarization refers to the tendency of groups to gravitate to the extreme of whatever opinion the group shares (Baron & Graziano, 1991, p.498-99). Therefore, if the extreme is seen as a desirable characteri... ...roup of extreme, right wing, "constitutionalists" who were apparently trying to turn frustration with the federal government into open revolution. I do not think these examples are aberrations or flukes, but are, instead, indicative of structural defects in our political system. If we are not aware of the dangers of extremism and competition, we may, in the end, be destroyed by them. References Baron, B.M., & Graziano, W.G. (1991). Social Psychology. Fort Worth, TX. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Bradsher, K. (1995, November 18). Country may be losing money with government closed. The New York Times, pp.16 Kohn, A. (1986). No Contest: The Case Against Competition. Boston, Houghton Mifflin. No Author. (1995, March 24). [internet] What Wilson has said about entering race. San Jose Mercury News Online. Address:http://www.sjmercury.com/wilson/wil324s.htm Thurm, S. (1995, August 29). [internet] Wilson's 'announcement' more of an ad: California governor kicks off drive for GOP presidential nomination. San Jose Mercury News Online. Address:http://www.sjmercury.com/wilson/wil829.htm Turgue, B., & Thomas, E. (1995, November 27). Missing the moment. Newsweek, pp.26-29.

Incarcerated Black Males :: Sociology African American

Black Incarcerated Males For the past two decades, the criminal justice system in the United States has been undergoing a tremendous expansion. There are now more than one million black men in jail and that one out of every four black males will go on prison in there lifetime. Knowing these statistics it put a burden on the black community because many families are left with single family home, the unemployment rate for black male go up, they can not vote and now they make jail seem like it is fun to go to. Black men in Jail are having drastic effects upon the black community. The first and arguably most important effect is that it intensifies the problem of single parent households within the black community. When these men are sentenced to prison, they, many times, leave behind a wife/girlfriend and/or children. If they have already have had children, that child must spend multiple years of his/her early life without a primary father figure. In addition, that male's absence is even more prominently felt when the woman has to handle all of the financial responsibilities on her own. This poses even more problems since women are underpaid relative to men in the workforce, childcare costs must be considered, and many of these women do not have the necessary skills to obtain a job, which would pay a living wage, which could support her and the children. Black male incarceration has done much to ensure that black female-headed households are now equal with poverty. Black male imprisonment also has much to do with rising black male unemployment rates. As these men re-enter the workforce they now likely have less skills than when they first entered prison. There are few, if any, programs, which train these men to effectively re-enter society. As jobs continue to move out further and further into the suburbs, these males, who are from the inner city, are left with few living wage employment options. The rates that convicts go back to jail are so high not because these men want to return to a life of crime but since few employment options are available, they tend to utilize their limited skills to get the money they need to survive. If more efforts do not make additional training available to these males that are realistically designed to help them obtain a living wage job, the rates that convicts go back to jail and black male unemployment will continue to increase.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Legal Drama Movies

Erin Brokovich is a true story of an unemployed single mother of the title name who is desperate to find a job in order to support her three young children. Without any real skills and work experience, borderline inappropriate wardrobe, but armed with charm, wit and beauty, she manages to accomplish what she needs. She finds an unlikely job as a file clerk in a law firm without any qualifications.She talks herself into a job as a compensation for the loss of her personal injury case handled by the owner of the small California firm, Ed Masry. Doing her work, she comes across a file regarding a suspicious real estate case against Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). Fueled by curiosity and passion, she does her own investigation and learned the particulars of the case. She persuades her boss to allow her to research the case further.She fervently pursues the case and discovers the systemic cover-up and that the company is trying to quietly buy the land that was contaminated by hex avalent chromium, a deadly toxic waste that the company is irresponsibly, improperly and illegally dumping in the area thereby poisoning the residents in the town of Hinkley giving them serious health problems. The pursuit of the case against PG&E seemed beyond the capabilities of the small law firm Erin works for, but her infectious passion and established bond with the victims propelled her and her boss to follow through.The case proved very challenging to both Erin and her boss as she finds little time to take care of her children and her boss has to carry the burden of the legal costs. In the end, Erin’s emotional connection with the victims and their families, her dedication and perseverance helped in winning one of the biggest class action lawsuits against a multi-billion dollar company in American history. 12 Angry Men (1957) 12 Angry Men is a story about twelve white, mostly middle-aged and generally of middle-class status men who were chosen jurors to determine the f ate of a Latino teenager who was accused of stabbing his father to death.The movie shows what happens in the deliberation of the jurors behind the closed doors of the jury room. The hot, summer day in New York adds to the tense setting and the irritability of the jury. It shows that jurors are influenced by their personal experiences, situations and biases. They are to decide about the life and death of another human being but the gravity of the situation only becomes apparent when one of the jurors cause a holdout, voting not guilty while everyone is eager for a verdict. The film points to the flaws of the justice system.One of which is having a disinterested appointed court defendant whose meager efforts could very well personally strap the defendant to the electric chair. The importance of reasonable doubt is also highlighted as some tend to take it lightly ignoring the fact that they are making a life and death decision. It also portrays how the unreliability of witnesses and ci rcumstantial evidence can give rise to reasonable doubt. Through the deliberation, the back stories of the jurors were revealed explaining their prejudices and predispositions that lead to disagreements and squabbles among the jurors because of their personal differences.The discussion continued with the built up tension among the jurors but because they carried on, other jurors changed their vote in light of the arguments. The votes kept changing as they made the effort to dissect the case until the tally is reversed to an eleven to one in favor of not guilty from the swift and unscrutinized decision of eleven to one for a guilty verdict during the first vote. The lone juror for the guilty verdict sees that he is the only one with that vote and changed his vote, leading to a unanimous verdict for an acquittal. Civil Action (1998)Based on the real-life water contamination case in Woburn, Massachusetts, Civil Action is about Jan Schlichtmann, a money-driven personal injury lawyer pla yed by John Travolta and the case that changed his life. He pursues an environmental case thinking it would earn him millions of dollars and enhance his and his firm’s reputation. The case was against the two major conglomerates Beatrice Foods and W. R. Grace & Co. as they were suspected of pollution crimes. The drinking wells supplying water to the town were found to be contaminated by industrial solvents caused by the companies’ local factories.There was a high rate of leukemia that led to the deaths of some of the children in the town as a direct result of the pollution and the families, represented by Schlichtmann, filed a class action lawsuit. It was a great challenge in Schlichtmann’s career as the case was against someone with resources enough to impede the case. Later, he finds out that more than the case, a lot more is at stake. He pursues the case against the industrial giants at a great personal and professional expense. A judge rules against him thus not achieving his goal of earning millions and worse, setting his firm back because of the magnitude of the case.He becomes deeply invested in the case and his original goal of monetary gain takes a back seat to pride and stubbornness. He declines some settlement offers deciding that he must win at all cost. After all these, the case is dismissed in favor of one of the defendants and he is forced to accept a settlement from the other defendant that was barely enough for him to break even with his expenses. Because of what transpired, his partners decided to break up the firm and no longer practice with him. On his own, he comes up with an idea to win a settlement for the families while his life remains a mess.He later ends up alone and files for bankruptcy. The Insider (1999) The Insider is a true story of tobacco executive Jeffrey Wigand, played by Russell Crowe, and 60 Minutes producer Lowell Bergman, played by Al Pacino. Their lives converge when Bergman wanted to produce an exp ose against the tobacco industry and Wigand has the inside information that made him perfect for the interview. Wigand is a terminated employee from a tobacco firm, Brown and Williamson, who knew that the CEOs of the seven major tobacco companies perjured themselves to the US Congress about their knowledge of nicotine's addictiveness.He says that Brown and Williamson manipulated nicotine so that it could be more rapidly absorbed in the lungs, thus affecting the brain and central nervous system through impact boosting and that they consciously ignored public health in favor of profit. The interview became a source of grief and personal problems for both Wigand and Bergman. Bergman suggested court deposition to Wigand to protect himself from his former employer’s counterattack on the interview especially with his signed confidentiality agreement.Soon his problems begin with restraining orders and death threats to prevent him from testifying, as well as character assassination t o discredit him and his statements. Bergman on the other hand battles with censorship and with constant fights with the management, he was ordered to go on vacation. After all the turmoil, the Wall Street Journal clears Wigand’s name, reveals his deposition and condemns his employer’s smear campaign against him. The New York Times releases an article about the scandal in 60 Minutes, wherein Wigand’s full interview was finally broadcasted.The movie ends with the title cards showing the $246 billion settlement the tobacco companies made with Mississippi and other states to reimburse Medicaid funds used to treat people with smoking-related illnesses: a result of Wigand’s interview. Runaway Jury (2003) Runaway Jury, based on John Grisham’s novel The Runaway Jury, is a movie about circumventing justice through manipulation of the jury. The story revolves on the case filed by Celeste Wood who sues a gun company who manufactured the gun that killed her hu sband. Representing her is an idealistic lawyer named Wendell Rohr played by Dustin Hoffman.On the defense’s side is jury selection expert Rankin Fitch, played by Gene Hackman, who unlike Rohr, is ruthless and willing to bend the rules to get the results he wants. The conflict intensifies when Nick Easter, played by John Cusack becomes part of the jury who has the same ability to sway and manipulate the other jurors like Fitch. He is helped by his girlfriend Marlee, played by Rachel Weisz in the efforts to outsmart Fitch. With Nick and Marlee’s access to the jurors and their influence on them, they have the power to manipulate the verdict to whichever they wish.They offered to sell this influence for a hefty price to both Rohr and Fitch. As the trial progresses and both the plaintiff and defense become desperate, the two opposing parties agreed to Nick and Marlee’s terms but bothered by his conscience, Rohr backs out. Fitch deposits the millions to Nick and Marl ee’s account only to regret it when the twist of the movie is revealed. Fitch had worked on the case about the death of Marlee’s sister in a school shooting years ago. The town sued the company that manufactured the gun that killed Marlee’s sister but lost and went bankrupt.Nick and Marlee particularly picked the Celeste Wood case to exact their revenge on Fitch. They used the money Fitch deposited as a leverage to force him to retire as the IRS would be interested with the amount of the transfer. As for the money, Nick and Marlee plan to give it to the town that went bankrupt after losing the case with the gun company. Wall Street (1987) Wall Street is a film about the seedy underbelly of the world of stock market as some stockbrokers resort to bending the rules and breaking the law with insider information to get ahead.Bud Fox, played by Charlie Sheen, is a discontented mediocre stockbroker eager to get to the top like Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas. Gekko, whose philosophy in life is â€Å"Greed is Good,† is ruthless, devoid of ethics, and would do anything to earn his millions — a polar opposite to Bud’s father Carl, played by Martin Sheen. Fox, desperate to be mentored by Gekko, tries to impress him and inadvertently reveals insider information about his father’s company Bluestar Airlines. Gekko becomes interested and takes Fox under his wing.Gekko shows Fox the fast and the good life of a successful and rich stockbroker but in exchange for more information about Bluestar. Fox suggests to buy Bluestar and to expand the company’s assets. Even with Carl’s dislike of Gekko, he was convinced by his son to use his influence in the company’s union to push the deal forward. Gekko, however, had a different plan and sells Bluestar’s assets leaving Carl and the other employees of the airline unemployed. Wracked by guilt, Fox finds a way to ruin Gekko’s plans.He manages to a lter Bluestar’s stock value and as Gekko realizes that his stock is plummeting, decides to relinquish his remaining interest in the company. Fox feels triumphant but not for long because Gekko learned his involvement in the scheme and had him arrested by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Towards the end of the film, a heated confrontation ensues between Fox and Gekko, which was Fox’s ploy to record Gekko’s confession of his crimes. Fox hands over the recordings to federal authorities helping them build a case against Gekko, which would help lighten Fox’s sentence.Their fates are left unambiguous but the film delivers a message that crime does not pay and greed is indeed not good. The Firm (1993) The Firm, based on a John Grisham novel, is about a young lawyer’s budding career and the troubles that he encounters when he associates with the wrong people in pursuit of early success. Mitch McDeer, played by Tom Cruise, is one of the top graduates of his class in Harvard Law School despite his poor economic status. He receives many offers from different firms but coming from an unprivileged upbringing, he was enticed by the most lucrative offer from Bendini, Lambert, & Locke law firm in Memphis.Everything is great until the reason for the too-good-to-be-true offer gets revealed. Mitch learns that no one in BL&L ever quits and those who do end up dead shortly after. The firm also takes a very keen interest in its employees’ personal lives. Things become suspicious and he later learns about the firm’s strong ties to the Mafia and that the firm was being used to launder money for organized crime. With the FBI’s interest on the case, they contact Mitch and coerce him into cooperating with their investigation of the firm.The firm suspects of Mitch’s knowledge on their illegal activities and soon, Mitch is blackmailed from both sides and is torn between doing the right thing and his personal and profess ional wellbeing. Doubting the FBI, Mitch gets the help of those he trusts to collect the necessary evidence against the firm at great personal risk, even coming face to face with the mob boss. With their resourcefulness despite the great difficulties of acquiring the important client files and documents, they gathered what they needed and Mitch provides the FBI enough evidence to indict the firm.In the end, everyone gets what they deserve and everything is resolved. Mitch gets a modest job in a small but promising law firm in Boston. Fracture (2007) Fracture is a film about a talented structural engineer Ted Crawford, played by Anthony Hopkins, who manages to escape justice with his skill in finding the fracture or flaw in arguments. He however is hindered by an equally intelligent prosecutor Willy Beachum, played by Ryan Gosling. Ted carefully plans the murder of his unfaithful wife. He executes it but his wife manages to survive but is dependent on life support.Ted confesses to th e crime but retracts it and demands to represent himself in the trial, relying on his skills of spotting the weakness in structures, in this case, the prosecutor’s arguments. Willy, who has a young and successful career and in transition to a more lucrative corporate position, takes Ted’s case thinking it would be an easy victory only to be humiliated by someone untrained for litigation. It was discovered that Ted’s gun acquired at the crime scene was not the gun used to shoot his wife. Baffled and lacking further evidence, the prosecution lost and Ted was acquitted.Engrossed by the case and his career in disarray, Willy visits the only eye witness, Ted’s wife, who Ted later orders to be pulled from life support. With his efforts, Willy uncovers that Ted and the arresting officer’s guns were identical. Ted learns that the police officer was his wife’s lover, switches out the guns and shoots his wife. The officer arrived at his house, surpris ed to see his lover’s predicament, became distracted and Ted was able to switch back the guns. Ted’s gun was admitted into evidence and the officer unknowingly takes the murder weapon.Willy confronts Ted with this new evidence and thinking he is protected by the double jeopardy clause, Ted confesses. Willy reveals that because he took his wife off life support, they can now try him for murder and double jeopardy does not apply as he was previously tried for attempted murder. Ted was arrested and a new trial begins, this time with Ted defended by actual lawyers. Michael Clayton (2007) Michael Clayton, played by George Clooney, is a story about a man who makes a living by cleaning up other people’s messes.He is a former District Attorney who uses his contacts to get the clients of his high-priced law firm out of trouble. Other than his ethically dubious job, he is also troubled by his personal problems of a failed marriage and gambling debt and later finds the add ition of threat to his very life when he encounters the new problem his firm will send him to fix. One of the firm’s partners Arthur Edens, played by Tom Wilkinson, had an outburst in the middle of a deposition involving an agricultural products conglomerate U-North and Michael is sent to remedy the situation.U-North’s general counsel Karen Crowder, played by Tilda Swinton, learns that Edens have evidence about the company’s involvement in manufacturing a cancer-causing product. Learning that Edens is not likely to cooperate, she orders to permanently incapacitate him in a way that will look like a suicide. Michael is saddened by Edens’ death and later becomes suspicious about its connection with U-North. He was able to sneak in to Edens’ apartment and learns about the U-North documents.This puts his life in danger as two men are tailing him informing Crowder of the situation. They later detonate a remote bomb in Michael’s car which luckily exploded when he was out of the vehicle. Later, Michael waits for Crowder to finish a U-North board meeting. He tells her that he is in possession of Edens’ U-North evidence, he knows about her involvement in Edens’ death and that he will keep his silence for a hefty price. When she agrees, he reveals that their conversation is being monitored.He walks away and Crowder and the chairman of U-North get arrested by the police. The Star Chamber (1983) The Star Chamber is a film about the flaws in the judicial system and the boundaries that some people are willing to cross in order to take justice into their own hands to address these flaws. Judge Stephen Hardin, played by Michael Douglas, is a California judge frustrated about being forced to set free suspects that are obviously guilty based on technicalities in paperwork and processing of evidence.He reaches his breaking point when two men accused of raping and killing a ten-year-old boy had to walk free because of the sm all detail in dates of paperwork processing. This is when his friend Judge Ben Caufield, played by Hal Holbrook, introduces him to the secret organization of radical magistrates called the Star Chamber. These judges take the law into their own hands by identifying and assassinating guilty criminals who got away with their crimes. The two men in Hardin’s case become the next target of the Star Chamber.A predicament arises when a detective shows Hardin conclusive evidence that someone else raped and killed the boy. He then appeals the case to the group but it was too late. An assassin has already been ordered and cannot be called off. Also, the group justified that what they do is still for society’s greater good and that those two men are guilty of other crimes, if not for the murder of the boy. Hardin goes on a quest to ironically save the two men he wanted killed. He warns them but they do not believe him, especially because he finds out about the other illegal things that they are involved in.Hardin was attacked by the two men but the Star Chamber’s assassin kills them before they kill him. However, the assassin was also there to kill Hardin since the group ordered his murder as well. In the nick of time, the detective comes to his rescue and he survives. The Star Chamber continues with their work without Hardin, who is merely outside in a car with the detective, recording their meeting. Reference All Media Guide LLC. (n. d). All Movie Guide. Retrieved April 21, 2009, from http://www. starpulse. com/

Friday, August 16, 2019

The business environment. PEST Analysis Essay

Logica is an innovative IT services organization which brings technologies, people and business together. It has clients globally in various industries; automotive, gas, oil and manufacturing. Its aim is to add value for clients via, for instance, reducing waste or improving productivity and efficiency. Political factors                  This refers to the various ways and to what degree does the government intervene in the business economy. Logica has to adhere to all government tax policy; when the government increases the tax levied on a particular product in the business, price adjustment should be done so as to ensure that the business does not run at a loss especially pertaining that certain product. The company will hire personnel and the working terms and conditions must conform to the labor laws. The environmental law should be followed by the company and all the activities must be friendly to the environment. Trade restrictions and quotas are very eminent in most nations. The government will restrict trading of some commodities which are illegal n the country. The company must ensure that it trades with those products which are legal and have minimal negative effects. Political stability influences determines the operations of most businesses. A positive business growth is facil itated by a politically stable environment; while political instability discourages business growth. When the UK government increased university fees, (this affected the education sector) the academic providers had to address the challenges of generating income; Logica noted that this educational landscape alterations could impact on the number of potential employees with the skills and competencies required. The increasing academic cost may restrict the social mobility of talented people hence may consider alternative routes to gaining experience and qualifications. Logica has reviewed its workforce planning to have effectively skilled workers now henceforth. To cater for the changes, it has introduced apprenticeships and enhanced its graduate scheme thus provides the company with a new pool of talents especially IT and Computer Science specialists. About government initiatives on climate change and reducing emissions, Logica responded by being involved in the government’s new Cycle Hire Scheme in London. Logica’s role is central and focuses on the design and build of the simple-to-use payment system which is supported by a back office function (Palmer, & Hartley, 2006, p.18). Environmental factors                  The environment of logical has many elements which are paramount for thrive of the business. The customers of this business are key, and should have their needs met. The company should offer high quality products at reasonable fee. The creditors and suppliers of the business should be paid on time for their supplies. Technology is very critical for all the services offered by the company. The company must acquire the latest technology so as to meet all the needs of the customers. The government is another environment which the company will operate in. it should follow all the government regulations set up for the industry. Last but not least are the competitors. The company will face stiff competition from other firms. The company must come up with strategies that will make it have a competitive edge over the competitors. The company can be more competitive if it provides quality products, offer competitive prices, and respond positively to the needs of t he creditors and suppliers (Cherunilam, 2010, p.38). Conclusion                  Effective knowledge of the aspects that affect the business operations will enable the business to make appropriate decisions that can facilitate its survival in the new environment without undergoing losses. References Cherunilam, F. (2010). Business environment. Mumbai [India: Himalaya Pub. House. Palmer, A., & Hartley, B. (2006). The business environment (5th ed.). Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education. Source document

Thursday, August 15, 2019

India’s Role in the Climate Change Summit Essay

The worlds nation today adopted a package dubbed the cancun Agreements buildings blocks for a future legal treaty to address climate change amid concerns that commitments to avert acceptable level of global warming remain missing. Negotiators from 194 countries agreed on a set of decision that the un climate secretariat said would set all governments â€Å"more firmly on the path towards the low emissions future† and provide support to developing countries on their action on climate change. India played a key role at the climate change summit , proposing a new mechanism to allow international scrutiny of all countries’ including India’ s action to crub emission of greenhouse gases. The invironment minister Jairam Ramesh also signalled that India would eventually consider legally –binding crubs on emission, a shift from its long standing position. Some environmental grouos have criticised these moves by India. But climate change analysts have said India’s proposal for serutiny of the climate climate change exchange actions reflect an acceptance of the principal of transparency. ‘’ And (Rmesh’s) assertions on legaklly binding actions is an indicator that India is willing to shift from the position of doing nothing to joining the global community in fiting climate change ,†an analyst in Cancun said. ‘’This does not mean India will accept legally – bending cuts next year,’’ he said . The Cancun documents of ficially recognise emissions curbs targets set by industrialised and developing countries and once every year by the developing countries. But the target of cutting global emissions by 50 % by the year 2050- part of the draft circulated yesterday – has been replaced by text calling for ‘’ subsantial’’ reductions in blobal emissions by 2050 . The Cancun decision pledge US$30 billion in fast start finance from the industrialised countries to support climate action in developing countries. The goal is to raise this to US$ 100 billion by 2020. Thew agreements also  recognise the need of countries to work towards the keeping the rise in the aversge global temperature below 2 degree c. ‘’ Cancun has done its job ,’’ said chistiana Figueres, head of the UN climate change secretariat after the agreement was adopted today. ‘’ lt is not what is required but it is the essential foundation on which to build greater collective ambition Figueres said. But several environmental group including Indias centre for science and Environment have pointed out thst the emission reduction pledge made by all countries so far are way below the whst is required to keep the rise in the average temperature.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Personal Philosophy of Classroom Management Essay

Classroom Management is an essential element in implementing a successful learning environment for students. A teacher who implements a classroom management plan will control student’s misbehavior so that all students will be focused on the lessons being taught in the classroom. Below is an annotated list of points that I believe in concerning my view of classroom management. 1. How teacher should act: * Enthusiastic- A teacher should show enthusiasm when she is teaching the lessons. The teacher needs to show that she is excited about teaching the lessons so that the students will stay interested in listening and understanding the subject area content. * Respectful- The teacher should treat students with respect and also demand respect. She should never use fowl language, inappropriate behavior, share too much personal information or act in ways that are not ethical. * Role Model- A teacher should act as a role model to her students. The teacher should not do anything that would jeopardize her career as a teacher that would make her students look down upon her. She also must live a life that students look up to so they will remember that teacher forever. * Patiently- A teacher must exhibit patience in class. Every student learns at different paces and at different levels. A teacher must be willing to be patient if the students are not grasping the information. She should explain the information to the students until they finally understand the lesson 2. How students are expected to behave: * Respectful- Students are to be respectful towards the teacher and to each other. Students should show respect to the teacher by not talking when the teacher is instructing the class. The students should show respect to each other by not hitting each other, making fun of another, or taking one’s personal belongings. * On Task-Students should stay on task in class. Students should be focused on the teacher’s lessons and instructions. They should not be wandering off getting off task. If the students are off task, they will not understand the lessons or remember what happened in class. Also the teacher will have to go back and teach the lesson again which can cause the teacher to be off target teaching the curriculum and it will result in student’s receiving poor test scores. * Appropriately Well Behaved- Students should be well behaved in class. It is important for students to understand the importance of good behavior. If students are well behaved in the classroom, the teacher can spend more time instructing the students than time spent on behavioral issues. In a well behaved classroom, students are able to learn effectively. * Academically Prepared- Students are to come to school academically prepared. The students should complete their homework assignment each day in order to make sure they understand the subjects that are being taught. They should always come prepared to listen to the subject matter, offer their opinions, and ask god questions in class. 3. What the classroom might look and feel like: * Engaging- The classroom should look and feel engaging to the student. In the classroom, the teacher can arrange the classroom that promotes student interaction and group collaboration. Students should be seated in a circle or horseshoe shape that maximizes the amount of eye contact students can have with each other. * Clean and Organized Classroom- A teacher’s classroom should be clean and organized. The school supplies should be neatly organized and in a safe place where students can safely access the supplies. * Filled with student’s work- The classroom should be filled with student’s work on projects. The students will feel comfortable and engaged if what they are learning in class will be showcased in the classroom. The student can look around the room and be reminded to always do their best on their assignments. This also sends a message to students that their work and learning is important. * Student Centered – The classroom should be focused on the students. In the student centered classroom, you will find workstations that promote group activities such as puzzles or brainteasers that promote student collaboration. 4. How the teacher helps students conduct themselves properly: * Demonstrating the Rules- The teacher should teach, review, and practice rules form beginning of school till the end of school. The teacher should also let students demonstrate good behaviors and bad behaviors so that students will understand how to follow the rules and to have good behavior in class. * Reinforce positive behavior with Incentives- A teacher can help students conduct themselves properly by providing incentives through positive behavior. A student who exhibits positive behavior weekly will pick a price out of the treasure chest. This will result in students with bad behavior to act better if they see students winning cool prizes. * Student and Parent Contracts- To ensure students are behaving properly, student and parent contracts are sent home for parents and students to sign. This contract outlines what is expected from the student’s behavior, academics, and the parent’s commitment in the child’s education. This will be very helpful in helping the students have good behavior in class. * Character Education Mini Lessons tied to Curriculum- Teachers can tie in the classroom rules and good behavioral skills as mini-lessons. Before teaching the lessons, the teacher can discuss how to treat others, how to walk quietly in the halls, and do not talk while others are talking. By having these mini lessons on how students should behave will remind them of how to have good behavior in class. 5. What the teacher should do about misbehavior: * Cues- Teachers uses a cue or a simple verbal reprimand to redirect a student’s focus which eliminates the inappropriate behavior. A teacher can also praise the efforts of students with good behavior which can reduce the misbehavior among the other students. * Consequences such as loss of recess- If a student keeps misbehaving, the teacher can use the consequence of loss recess. The majority of students like to go to recess. If the student knows their punishment by loss of recess due to their misbehavior, their behavior will improve. * Private conference with student- If the student still misbehaves, the teacher will need to talk with the student. The teacher will inform the student that his or her misbehavior will not be tolerated in class and his or her parents will be contacted if the misbehavior continues. * Contact parent- A teacher should contact the parents if the student keeps misbehaving in class. If the teacher lets the parents know how their child behaves in class, then the parents can also talk to the child and discipline them at home. 6. How students should be taught and what is expected of them: * Post rules in the classroom- Teachers can post rules in the classroom so that students can be reminded each day of how to properly behave in class. Also the teacher can give quizzes to students about the poster rules throughout the year. * Clear articulation and communication in the syllabus- Teachers should communicate clearly about what is expected of student’s assignments and their behavior in class. For example, informing students to always do their best on their work or their handwriting must be neat on all of their assignments should be clearly communicated. Creating a syllabus will also inform students of when their assignments are due.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

International Marketing Plan Part 2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

International Marketing Plan Part 2 - Assignment Example The number of skating companies in the last couple of years has increased and it is expected that there will be new entrants in future as well (Bennett and Blythe, 2002). The biggest competitors in the skating industry are Rollerblade, Roces, Solomon and K2. The market share of each company can be represented as follows as given in SGMA (2011) report: Rollerblade has been enjoying the largest market share in the industry for decades. As of 2005, its market share was 70% and now it has been reduced to 45%. The main reason in such a reduction in the share is the increase in the new entrants in the market. Still, the company enjoys the reputation of providing high quality skates and other accessories. The range of products provided by the company is huge and it is expected to increase more in near future. Likewise, the close competitors are Roces, Solomon and K2 as well and all these brands have been there in the market for quite long. Since the Skating International is targeting an entirely new segment so these competitors do not directly pose any threat to it but if these brands target the market that the company is targeting via its products, then it can lose its market share. Therefore, the company will need to create differentiating factors to maintain its competitive position in the market. The pricing strategy that will be followed by Skating International will be competitive pricing. The company will charge the prices in comparison with those charged by the competitors. One of the primary purposes of the pricing strategy is to encourage the customers to buy the goods on impulse, experiment with the product and make repeat purchases. Initially the company will charge the products as follows: In order to promote the brand initially, the customers will be given skate bags as well so that the skates will remain protected and they will be handled with utmost ease and care. The skate bags’ price will range in between $20-$40

Monday, August 12, 2019

CJ-3 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CJ-3 - Coursework Example The main difference between general and specific deterrence is that, general deterrence focuses on the society while specific deterrence focuses on individuals. In particular, specific deterrence deals with actual offenders while general deterrence discourages would-be offenders from committing a crime. Thus, specific deterrence can be viewed as actual punishment while general deterrence remains a threat from punishment (Siegel, & Worrall, 2011). The impact of punishment on individual offenders diminishes as an offender becomes used to the punishment. Research studies shows that punishment has a diminishing specific deterrent effect. In particular, incapacitation of criminals through imprisonment does not eliminate criminals from the society. Unlike individual offenders, public offenders rely on collective action. Mob psychology theories suggest that, although crowds have extended ability to commit crime, individuals within the crowd are concerned about their own welfare. Thus, punis hment is more effective in general deterrence than in specific deterrence. Finally, specific deterrence cannot be applied on passion crimes or crimes committed under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This is because individuals who commit such crimes anticipate more than just the supposed economic or social

Service facilities - service and process analysis Assignment

Service facilities - service and process analysis - Assignment Example The clinic uses the first come first serve basis to transform incoming patients to into served customers. The clinic is likely to be using the pull systems in its production process to transform incoming patients into served customers. In a typical clinical production process, tasks and operations are linked together into a series of production flow-charts without the patients having to waste time or delay while waiting to receive attention from caregivers. In the value stream indicated above, the clinic seems to be using the first-in-first-out (FIFO) method that links the processes into a pull system. When the patient arrives at the clinic, s/he is given a form to fill personal information and describe the ailment, the form is then time stamped and placed on a tray. After completing the form, the clerk attaches it to the patient file and arranged in a stack of files based on the stamped time. Subsequently, when a nurse finishes with the current patient, the next patient is selected from the stack of files in the order of arrangement. The goal of the FIFO pull system is to ensure that the patients waiting in the queue for services remain in the system and are served in the order in which they arrived the FIFO system. The FIFO system limits the number of patients who use the service based on the time and resources available. In an ideal situation, once the FIFO system is full, the first process of admission is stopped in order to avoid overwhelming the nurse practitioner in the diagnosis and treatment of the patients. However, this is difficult in this scenario, given that the patients walk into the clinics without appointments and reservations. The main factors that patients view as critical-to-quality (CTQ) when they visit the clinic include satisfaction with the treatment they receive from the hospital, high nursing response rate in serving the patient and time spend in the queues while waiting to receive treatment from practicing nurse or on duty MD. These

Sunday, August 11, 2019

The Great Debaters Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Great Debaters - Movie Review Example One possible reason for the story not being well known is the basic character and foundational principles of Wiley College itself. From the historical description of the college the school’s basic character is unpretentious with a quiet demeanor preferring to be sublime and not one to seek the spotlight (cite). From its inception in 1873 emphasis and the primary focus of the school’s mission has been on offering a quality education in a environment in which developing the potential in the students has been the priority (Wiley College). 2. Farmer also says â€Å"We do what we have to do, so that we can do what we want to do.† What do you think that means? What things did the debate team â€Å"have to do"? What things did they gain the right to do? James Farmer, Sr. as a black man living in America during the 1930s had experienced the injustices of racism in his lifetime living in the south. Guessing his age in the movie between 35 and 40 he had lived and seen the plight and fight of black people who had only been removed roughly 70 years from slavery. Because of the short time blacks had freedom to make choices Farmer had come to the realization that in order to improve one’s self and others required continually enduring the ill treatment of society.

Saturday, August 10, 2019

JBuilder Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

JBuilder - Essay Example The JBuilder 2007 Turbo Edition offers a free turnkey developer-focused Java IDE which can easily be upgraded with JBuilders RAD productivity, code performance, and team development features. (CodeGearâ„ ¢ Announces New Developer-focused Release of Award-winning JBuilder ® 2007 Integrated Development Environment) JBuilder 2007 works more easily with Windows XP and Windows 2003 and also it includes a Team Server which can be helpful in the development and management of source code, project planning and also upgrading options are immense with JBuilder 2007. The current version of JBuilder is compatible with the older version and hence the developers can easily switch over to the latest version of JBuilder without many troubles. JBuilder and Microsoft’s Front Page are two HTML editors, but they are following entirely different philosophies in their approaches. Front Page follows the philosophy of WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) whereas the JBuilder going further with their philosophy which can even surprise the java developers with its immense capabilities. Front Page is capable of guiding the website designers who is in their beginning stages of web development; but its capabilities in managing a team of developers across the world are limited. But JBuilder can easily accomplish this mission. As most of the projects entering the business world at present require team involvements from different countries, especially because of the globalization policies, JBuilder is the choice for many developers at present. Web size problems seem to be most critical one when using Front Page. If the web size is too heavy it often cause errors while loading the page. If the internet connection is slow, the problem will be more complex. JBuilder has eliminated all such problems and even websites with heavy graphic files can be opened easily if it is developed using JBuilder because of JBuilder’s increased capabilities in handling

Friday, August 9, 2019

BLOBs in database Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

BLOBs in database - Essay Example The storage and retrieval of these items can be accomplished through a database system using a column type capable of storing binary data (commonly referred to as a "binary large object" or a BLOB). There are many existing database systems capable of storing BLOBs. Such systems' functionality, performance and cost vary greatly among vendors (with some costing as much as $25,000 for a single CPU license). The prohibitive cost often keeps some organizations from conducting full assessments of database systems for possible use in their operations, potentially causing a loss or revenue. Entities with limited resources need an affordable means of assessing or benchmarking their own database utilization. This thesis, first and foremost, provides a database benchmark for storing BLOBs in a database. Secondly, a database benchmark framework is provided with the example implementation being the BLOB database benchmark. By so doing: My research indicates that no research has been done comparing the performance of database systems' ability to store BLOBs. ... The software development community will now have a benchmark for storing BLOBs in a database. This benchmark will fill a void as most database benchmarks focus on OLTP (online transaction processing) that consist of very small records and none focus on the general storage of BLOBs. EXISTING DATABASE BENCHMARKS My research indicates that no research has been done comparing the performance of database systems' ability to store BLOBs. Similar research regarding database performance (for datasets not including binary data) does exist and come from the following sources: the Transaction Processing Counsel (TPC), Storage Performance Council (SPC), Open Source Database Benchmark (OSDB), Engineering Database Benchmark (EDB) and Wisconsin Database (Bitton). In addition to not considering BLOBs, the TPC and SPC benchmarks are implemented by vendors who perform many specialized database and operating system configurations. Thus, they are not pertinent to this discussion. These nonstandard configurations take advantage of the vendors' specialized knowledge of the hardware, database, operating system and benchmark. This thesis provides the first benchmark to assess the storage of BLOBs in relational database systems. The performance results are categorized into three general BLOB sizes: small, medium a nd large. Below is a brief description of the five similar database performance resources. Transaction Processing Council (TPC) Each TPC benchmark consists of a set of functional requirements to be run on any transaction processing system independent of the hardware or operating system. It is then up to the test sponsor to submit proof (in the form of a full disclosure report) that they have met all the requirements. The TPC has four non-obsolete database benchmarks: