The True Meaning of Debate free essay sample

â€Å"Flight crew prepare for takeoff,† the captain of the plane announces over the loudspeaker. Here I am with my seat in the upright position. I am on a four hour flight to Dallas, Texas, en route to the national debate tournament. The Dallas Ten. That’s what they call us. After months of tryouts and practices, I am one of the elite ten debaters representing my school. Our megalomaniacal coach (his words, not mine), stands in front of me, screaming at my debate partner. As his words resonate through the cabin and saliva spatters everywhere, the flight attendant runs over and tries to calm him down. All I hope is that I am not the next target of my coach’s explosive temper. We land just as soon as I finish reviewing Michigan’s â€Å"Gates Counter-Plan.† The topic of the debate is: the U.S. federal government should substantially increase public health assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa. We will write a custom essay sample on The True Meaning of Debate or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mr. Miles, who has not smiled since he was twelve years-old, has publicly embarrassed every debater on the plane, except for me. We are in the shuttle, on the way to the hotel, when my time comes. â€Å"MEDIOCRITY IS NOT AN OPTION!† he yells, when I don’t have the answer to his question. A wave of spit drenches those sitting in the rows behind me. I am embarrassed and defeated, as Mr. Miles singles me out in front of the team; I am also determined, now more than ever, to win this tournament. There are twenty minutes until our first round of debate. After the required handshakes and coin flip, it’s time to start the show. I whip out my perpetually-rehearsed 1AC speech and begin. â€Å"Contention 1 with regards to harms, Contention 2 with regards to inherency, Contention 3 with regards to topicality, Contention 4 with regards to solvency, and finally the affirmative plan.† One look at the expressions on my opponents’ faces and I know I have this in the bag. It’s an easy win, and I breeze through the next three rounds. Quarter final time. I present the affirmative case, and I’m on fire. However, upon cross examination, the negative team goes for a sneak-attack: the malficeian theory. The debate rages on and finally the decision is made—my winning streak is over. I sully out of the room with consternation on my face and knot in my stomach. I let down my school, my team, and above all—the coach. During the award ceremony, I receive a trophy for being in the top eight teams of the tournament. Mr. Miles approaches and beckons me into the hallway. I brace myself for the wave of ridicule and saliva. He takes the trophy out of my hand and takes a good, long look. Then he does something that he had never done before. He gives me a smile. â€Å"I’m pleased David,† he says. â€Å"I’m very pleased.† As the words come out of his mouth, a plethora of thoughts rush through me. And I have a moment of realization, an epiphany, if you will. I realize that I am not a debater for anyone or anything else. Not for Mr. Miles and not for a shiny statue. I debate because of all that I receive from the sport. I relish a chance to research a topic and all of its views. I embrace the teamwork that is essential for success. And I embrace the fact that the debate has done more for me than I have for it. The team has made me a proficient speaker and writer, one who can get his point across clearly, with just the right amount of words. Like in this case: 615 words, to be utterly exact.

Photography essays

Photography essays Photography is an art that took many years, and the efforts of many individuals to perfect. Many different people in many different fields contributed to this light writing. Chemists, artists, inventors, and engineers all lending a crafting hand to the art. Photography can be defined as the art of producing images of objects on photosensitive surfaces (Websters Dictionary, 364). It is both an art and a science. As an art it expresses personal vision, and as a science it relies on technology. A camera is a device that produces a two dimensional copy of a three dimensional scene. Throughout history, photography has greatly changed, as technology has revolutionized. The first camera, the Camera Obscura, was produced in Milan and Humaburg, Germany. It was produced by a mathematics professor in Milan and perfected by two inventors situated in Germany. An inventor born in Waterville, New York, introduced the first every esay to use camera, the Kodak Camera. He was living in Rochester when he created i Photography is an art that took many years, and the efforts of many individuals to perfect. Many different people in many different fields Photography is an art that took many years, and the efforts of many individuals to perfect. Many different people in many different fields contributed to this light writing. Chemists, artists, inventors, and engineers all lending a crafting hand to the art. Photography can be defined as the art of producing images of objects on photosensitive surfaces (Websters Dictionary, 364). It is both an art and a science. As an art it expresses personal vision, and as a science it relies on technology. A camera is a device that produces a two dimensional copy of a three dimensional scene. Throughout history, photography has greatly changed, as technology has revolutionized. The first camera, the Camera Obscura, was produced in Milan and Humaburg, Germany. ...

Natasha David Bezmozgis on Dysfunctional Relationships Essays

Natasha David Bezmozgis on Dysfunctional Relationships Essays Natasha David Bezmozgis on Dysfunctional Relationships Natasha, a short story by David Bezmozgis, provides prime examples of dysfunctional relationships. The dysfunction could be seen in the very first deal that Berman and Rufus made together. Berman offered to run drug related errands for Rufus in exchange for free drugs and some money (88). When Berman introduced Natasha to Rufus as his little sister, it seemed to Berman that Rufus was paying extra attention to Natasha and disrespected Berman by saying that, With all due respect, Berman, you and her arent even the same species (91). This lead to the final betrayal, where Rufus takes Natasha into his service even though he knew the status of Natasha and Bermans relationship (100). This betrayal in their relationship marked the most significant twist in the story plot. Another one of the clearest examples of a dysfunctional relationship is the one between Fima and Zina. While living together, Zina made Fima sleep in the living room couch (98), a clear sign of a dysfunctional marriage. Zina also tries to suck the life out of Fima. This was foretold in the first few conversations between Berman and Natasha, I feel sorry for him. Shell ruin his life he groans like hes being killed and she screams like shes killing him (88) and prediction came true later on, You saw how she tried to ruin my life and your life and how she was killing your uncle (98). Furthermore, Zina took advantage of Fima by stealing his money, embarrassing and insulting him. No matter what she did, Fima never took up the courage to leave her (98). This relationship helped in enlarging the dysfunctionability between Zina and Natasha. The basis of the dysfunctional relationship between Zina and Natasha stemmed from early age where since the age of eight, [Natasha] had been on her own (Bezmozgis 93). Zina neglected her while she messed around with other men (93). This turned Natasha towards the porn industry at age twelve (93-94). Furthermore, Zina also actively hurts her daughter. When Natasha finds out that Zina is cheating on her husband, Zina does not admit it but instead lashes out at ther daughters involvement with Berman (95). Natasha retaliates by calling her mother, whom she avoids, a whore (88) and is so agitated that she attacks Zina with a break knife (94). One cannot imagine a more dysfunctional relationship than this.

Cemetery Research for Family History and Genealogy

Cemetery Research for Family History and Genealogy The practice of marking the final resting place of a loved one goes back thousands of years. The ancient pyramids are conceivably the greatest example, standing today as a reminder of the ancient Egyptian glorification of life after death. Roman catacombs, a subterranean burial place for early Christians, contained niches where the fully clothed bodies were placed and which were then sealed with a slab inscribed with the name of the deceased, date of death and a religious symbol. Many of the elaborate grave markers erected in the 19th and early 20th centuries were styled after the memorials of the ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian civilizations. Following the first World War, grave markers started to become smaller and less elaborate - plain crosses and simple, upright stone slabs decorated with carvings, symbols and epitaphs. Cemeteries are living lessons in history. People who buried their dead said much about themselves and the ones who had died. While not considered a primary information source, gravestones are an excellent source of dates, birthplaces, maiden names, spouses names and parents names. They can also provide evidence of military service, membership in a fraternal organization and religious affiliations. Why Visit Cemeteries? Why should you visit the cemetery if you already have a birth and death date for your ancestor? Because you never know what you may find. Nearby gravestones can lead you to other family members. Little grave markers can tell the story of children who died in infancy for whom no other records exist. Flowers left on a grave may lead you to living descendants. Other than a few records and documents and, perhaps, some family jewelry or heirlooms, your ancestors tombstone is the only physical evidence of the life they lived. There is nothing in your genealogical research that will connect you to your ancestor more than to stand in the one place on earth which contains their mortal remains and to see important pieces of their life carved into stone. It is an amazing, awe-inspiring experience. Next How to Locate a Cemetery The first step in cemetery research is the obvious one- to learn where your ancestor is buried. Death records will often contain this information, as will obituaries. Published cemetery surveys may list your ancestors. Check with family members and other relatives as well. They will often know of family burial locations or may be able to track down a mention on a mass or prayer card or in the family Bible. Funeral Home Religious Records Funeral homes and morticians can be great allies in helping you to locate cemetery records. Funeral home records may still exist which can contain a wealth of information, including the burial location. Funeral directors will have knowledge of most cemeteries in their area, and may also be able to point you to family members. If a funeral home is no longer in business, then check with other area funeral homes as they may know where the old records are located. If you know your ancestors religious affiliation you may want to try contacting the church in the area where your ancestor lived. Churches often maintain attached cemeteries and also keep records for their members who are buried elsewhere. Turn to the Locals The local genealogical or family history society is a good source for information on local cemeteries. These groups are continually working to preserve valuable cemetery information and may have compiled cemetery indexes or be able to provide clues to little known burial locations, especially family cemeteries. Old local histories can also prove useful in identifying former names and locations for cemeteries which have been moved. Cemeteries Online The Internet is fast becoming a valuable source for cemetery records as well. Many cemetery sites such as FindAGrave and BillionGraves, have online cemetery records, photos, or transcriptions, or use your favorite search engine to search for a specific cemetery. Special geographic place name search engines can also help to locate a cemetery, though the information available on the Internet varies widely by country. The U.S. Geographic Names Information Server, for example, allows you to narrow down your search by selecting cemetery as the feature type. Map Your Way to the Cemetery If you have narrowed down the area, but arent sure which cemetery may contain your ancestor, then maps, especially historical maps, can be of great assistance. Use land, tax or census records to help you pinpoint your ancestors land on a map. You will often find them buried in a nearby cemetery, or even in a family cemetery on their own property. Topographic maps or locality maps may show cemeteries, roads, houses and farms. Even little details such as elevation features can be useful as cemeteries were often erected on high ground. Next What to Take When You Visit the Cemetery When heading out to the cemetery for some tombstone research, a little advance planning can really help to make your visit a success. Best Time to Visit the Cemetery The best time to visit a cemetery is in the spring or fall - especially if it is one which is neglected and overgrown. Brush and grass will not be as high in the spring, which will help you to discern holes, rocks, snakes and other obstacles before you trip over them. Sometimes the season can have an impact on whether you even find the cemetery at all. I have located several family cemeteries in the southeastern U.S. which are situated in the middle of cornfields. Needless to say, it is nearly impossible to find such cemeteries when the corn is taller than you are! What to Bring to the Cemetery The well-dressed cemetery researcher wears long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and gloves to help ward off critters such as snakes, gnats, ticks and mosquitoes. If the cemetery is in a wooded or rural location you may also want to bring along a hoe to help cut down brush and a friend or fellow researcher for safety. Even if it is broiling hot when you visit the cemetery, the long pants and sturdy, comfortable shoes are a good idea.   Clues Beyond the Tombstones Whether the cemetery is public or private, you should do a search for existing records. Most commonly known as sextons records (a sexton is a caretaker responsible for the cemetery), these records can include burial registers, plat maps and plot records. These records will vary greatly by country and time period and may not exist, but never assume! A sign outside of the cemetery may be able to point you to its caretaker. Turn to the local phone book to contact area funeral directors or churches. Check with the area library or historical/genealogical society for tips on possible record locations. You may be surprised by what you can find. One last thing - before you visit a private cemetery, be sure to get permission from the land owner!   Plan Ahead for a Successful Cemetery Visit Dress appropriatelyBring paper, several pencils, a camera and plenty of filmConsider bringing optional items such as a digital camera, video camera, tape recorder or handheld computer.Extra batteries for anything that may need them!If you plan to do any tombstone rubbings, then be sure to bring the appropriate suppliesWater, rags and a soft nylon bristle brush for cleaning stones, plus clippers for clearing away grass and brushIf you are looking for unmarked cemeteries, you may want to bring a map so that you can mark their locations as you locate them Next Stories in Stone The highlight of any trip to the cemetery is reading the stones. Once you have taken that irresistible quick peek for your ancestors headstone, however, you should stop and plan out your route around the cemetery. Methodical might be boring, but it greatly decreases your chances of missing something important when youre searching a cemetery for clues. If the cemetery is not too large, and you have enough time, it can be very helpful to make a complete transcription of the cemetery. Even if you only make note of the names and dates on each tombstone, along with their location in the cemetery, this can save you a trip back in the future as well as help other researchers. There is a lot of information and advice available on the proper methods for transcribing tombstones. While these can serve as great reference guides, there is really no need to worry about formality. The important thing is to make a note of everything that you see. Make Your Visit Count Write down names, dates and inscriptions exactly as they appear on the stone. It is very easy to make assumptions in the excitement of the moment, and it will be very beneficial to have an accurate record as you move forward (or backward as the case may be) with your research. Be sure to sketch any symbols that you are unfamiliar with so that you can look them up later. These symbols or emblems may be valuable clues to membership in an organization which may have records about your ancestor. Make a note of the physical relationship between tombstones as well. Family members will often be buried together in the same plot. Nearby graves may belong to parents. Small unmarked stones may indicate children that died in their infancy. Neighbors and relatives may also be buried in adjoining sections. As you make your way around, be sure not to miss the back of the stones as they can also contain important information. Another good way to record cemetery information is to use a cassette recorder or video camera as you move around the cemetery. You can read off names, dates and inscriptions easily and make note of important information, such as when you start a new row. It also provides you with a backup for any written transcriptions that you have made. Pictures are worth a thousand words and are much better for tombstones than chalk or shaving cream. Use hand-held clippers to clear brush away from the stone and then use a nylon (never wire) bristle brush and plain water to clean the stone from bottom to top, rinsing well as you go. A bright sunny day and a mirror to help reflect the sunlight on the stone can really help to bring out the carvings.More: Tips for Taking Great Tombstone Photos Most important for your cemetery visit is to enjoy yourself! Visiting cemeteries is one of the most rewarding parts of genealogy research, so stop and take the time to commune with your ancestors.

The compromised Neonate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The compromised Neonate - Essay Example Results also showed that the time needed for stabilisation of bilirubin levels increases along with the gestational age of the neonate. In addition, despite the various methods employed for the treatment of neonatal jaundice and the wide ranges in the treatment levels used, there has been an overall median plateau of around 72 hours for the stabilisation of bilirubin levels in most of the neonates. However, because the date of the release of the NICE guidelines was in proximity with the release of this article, it can be inferred that the national guidelines were not yet fully disseminated in most hospitals and other neonatal units during the time the participating units were contacted, as suggested by the conclusion of the article in the high variability and wide variations in the threshold levels used among the 72 units contacted by the researchers. ... r this paper since it discusses both the use of phototherapy to treat neonatal jaundice, as well as in discussing the importance of using guidelines in managing bilirubin levels for improving the symptoms of neonatal jaundice. Physiological Jaundice in the Neonate Jaundice is a condition which is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin or broken down red blood cells in various parts of the body, and is most visible as a yellow discolouration in the sclera of the eyes and on the skin starting from the head and moving down to the lower regions of the body (Robertson & South, 2007). The yellow colour is attributed to the inability of the infants’ bodies to rapidly catabolise foetal red blood cells through the liver and to expel these through bowel movement. While there are two forms of bilirubin circulating in the neonate’s blood: the unconjugated bilirubin (fat-soluble) and the conjugated bilirubin (water soluble), it is the unconjugated bilirubin which causes the yellow discolouration due to its fat-soluble nature earning its capacity to enter cellular membranes and becoming deposited in tissues such as the skin, gums, and eyes (Percival, 2002). As a result the bilirubin that builds up in the bloodstream due to the slow breakdown of red blood cell catabolism can reach to about 5-7mg/dL or 85.5-119.7?mol, binding to fatty deposits within the neonatal body and causing the yellow discolouration (Varney, et al., 2004). This amount of bilirubin build-up in the infant’s bloodstream is enough to give off the typical yellow discolouration of the skin among those affected, with the intensity of the colour associated with an increase in bilirubin accumulation. Up to 50% of neonates are typically affected by this condition and usually does not pose grave problems unless

Michel Vinaver Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Michel Vinaver - Essay Example When he left Gillette in 1986, he was an acclaimed playwright and writer. The story comes across as a contemporary, issue-based relationship between a mother and her 17-year old son. However, the relationship goes through testing times as a result of the son, 1Philippe's tryst with drugs and his arrest in this connection. His mother, Helena wishes to communicate reason to her son. The stark difference in the attitude of the characters does not need reason. The reasons exist, but they are not tackled in the play. Vinaver takes the scene right across the audience and uncannily tests their power of imagination. Strangely enough the audience comfortably lap up the reason. The scene is right out of the normal home where there is a teenaged son. The catch is in the way the scenes are presented in bits and pieces. The audience is at the edge grappling with the pieces in the jigsaw puzzle when all of a sudden there is a move, a particular scene that provides a breakthrough. The reaction is almost the thrilling climax of a long and difficult journey (Factors Unforeseen). Helena is concerned about her son's misbehavior. However, she is not keen on losing her son and so does everything possible to make him understand without rocking the boat. She does not want to lose him. On the other hand, Philippe is not too keen on snapping the relationship either. His behavior and attitude may show signs of the coming moment when he is all ready to break out of his mother's confining influence. However, he does not do it. What he does is, however, criminal. The disjoint in the big picture is very clear. The audience wants this breach to be cleared. The happy ending is elusive. Vinaver is master stroke player in the realm of presentations. He may not be the ideal narrator. He does not provide a commentary. However, he makes his world by fitting in the pieces rather than do it one-step-at-a-time. He is adept at keeping the audience in humor although he does not allow them to ease down on the suspense. The glass pieces in the kaleidoscope may change in form and colo r. But he uses the time element to project the solutions in sharp, almost quixotic variations. Philippe may do all that Helena does

Formal legal brief Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Formal legal brief - Essay Example Their demand was that the statute should be declared unconstitutional as it makes impossible to exercise the liberty interest protected under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution. Both the District Court and then the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit expressed the view that the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution encompasses a due process liberty interest in controlling the time and manner of one’s death, and that the Washington statute is unconstitutional when it applies to terminally ill competent adults who want to hasten their deaths. Whether the Washington state statute which holds that a person who assists in hastening the death of terminally ill people is unconstitutional as it violates the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment? The Washing state statute which holds that a person who knowingly causes or aids another person to attempt suicide is guilty of felony of promoting suicide attempt is not unconstitutional as it does not violate the Fourteenth Amendment due process clause. The first point is that the due process clause does not protect the right to commit suicide and hence the same does not allow the right to assist in committing suicide. Secondly, from the legal traditions of the nation and its history, it is evident that the due process clause does not consider the right to assistance in committing suicide as a fundamental liberty interest. First of all, a patient who is suffering from such a terminal illness with extreme pain has no legal barriers to getting such medications which will even cause unconsciousness and hasten death if the main purpose is to help reduce pain. In such a situation, it is unnecessary to answer the question whether a mentally competent person with great suffering and pain has a constitutionally cognizable interest to control his or her own death. Secondly, the liberty as protected under the due process clause does not include

Supply Chain in Netflix Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Supply Chain in Netflix - Essay Example Here, the idea came of starting a similar business and bring more diversity and customer friendly policies (New Word City, 2010). The organization’s website was launched in April 1998. The new online version came with a more traditional pay-per-rental model. Customers were charged $4 dollars as rental fee and $2 as postage fee. At the end of 1999, Netflix introduced a monthly subscription concept. The single rental model was dropped in early 2000. Since then, the company has established a reputation on the flat-fee unlimited rentals business model. The model does not have late fees, due dates, per title rental fees or handling fees. The company maintained its extensive, personalized video recommendation system based on reviews and ratings by its customers. Netflix has played a vital role in enhancement of independent film distribution. The organization announced its billionth delivery at the beginning of 2007. By 2009, Netflix was offering more than 100,000 collections on DVD. During this time, the company had more than 10 million subscribers. In 2011, Netflix announced that it had reached more than 23 million subscribers in United States and 26 million all over the world. Revenues had gone in excess of $1.5 billion (Laseter and Elliot, 2012). The video entertainment industry is very competitive. Competition is increasing as new realizations are being established. Numerous companies are joining the industry based on the returns involved. The markets involved include hotels, airlines and theater video entertainment. The market is segmented into several strategic groups. This include sales, brick and mortar rentals, online rentals, DVD vending kiosks, video on demand services and mail-delivery services. Technological advancement is bringing various changes in the industry. The rental portion available from physical rentals is transforming to digital rentals (Sehgal, 2011). This is being provided via streaming channels that are connected through game consol es, set-top boxes and computers. All these applications work to bring the steaming aspect on consumers’ televisions. As a result, viewing is made easier, interactive and enhances availability at all times. Consumers have been divided into two segments. These include convenience consumers and needy consumers. Convenience consumers are young, watch videos when they can and use technology to access various titles. One the other hand, needy consumers are older and less prone to using new technologies. Needy consumers are subject to watching specific programming. Traditional home video entertainment is reaching stasis. For this reason, companies involved in the industry should concentrate on the streaming aspect. This will help in immersing substantial profits, in this competitive industry (Minis, 2011). Netflix is facing stiff competition from other players in the industry. New entrants are coming with new ideologies that are taking the industry with a storm. They are building on the loopholes that exist in at Netflix. The company needs to review its business models so as to operate profitably for as long as possible. Supply Chain Description Netflix has a varied supply chain. This is based on the nature of operations being conducted. Various ways have been diversified to help reach the consumers. Among the supply chain used by the company, is the internet and postal system. The company has instituted online DVD rentals. Members only need to chose their desired collections

Strategic management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Strategic management - Essay Example By using the SWOT analysis (Yelken, et al., 2012, p.267) that was carried out by the Global Data company over the company, we are able to understand the company’s strengths, opportunities, weaknesses as well as threats. The analysis reveals its strengths as extensive operating network and branding offerings. The company however has the major pull back to her operations being the enormous losses it has continuously suffered though it has opportunities to expand in her operations and increase the market share. Moreover, it has other threats, which include high competitive pressures as well as over-stringent regulations. However, there is the need to evaluate the strategic plans that the company has in place in regulating and propelling its operations (Global Data company, 2013, para 1). The company has a well-written strategy concerning the way of developing and exploiting a further competitive front within its pub as well as brewing sector. This strategic vision is based on the already existing positions in the market, its employee’s capabilities as well as skills together with its traditionally designed model of business, which is vertically integrated. Moreover, the company has a business target drive to continuously outperform other players within the market in the different segments of her operations. The company has a well established investment program, which champions its way in selecting business sites, and thus developing newer restaurants. The company claims to undertake thorough analysis before establishing new pub buildings which are modern and appropriate in terms of trading and which offer the customers convenience and value for the services. The company establishes fair, long-lasting and transparent kind of agreements with its licensees which rent their leased and tenanted pubs. It also enjoys long life expertise and experience in operating leases premises. Moreover, this company offers provisions for long-term lease agreements to th e licensees and offers pricing mechanisms on free trade as well as free-of-tie options. In order to underpin the operational development within her managed facilities, Marston company operates under a plan called the ‘F-plan’, which refers to food, females, forty/fifty some things and families. The plan was developed and adopted back in 2006, and was meant to have long-term effects. The company also enjoys designing differentiated brew brands purely designed to increase the consumers demand as well as providing greater range of choices to consumers. The company has exploited the niche in the country through well-organized distribution of her products across the entire country from the running five breweries. In financial terms, the company has huge debts, which comprises 90% long-term debts which are secured through its wide distribution of free hold assets in terms of pubs and which fetches low interest rates. However, the current strategy and target is to reduce the n et debt by a ratio stipulated by EBITDA to see off at least a five times reduction capacity is realized within three years. This is postulated to be aided by raising return to capital across the entire group’s operations (Marston’s, nd, para 1-5) Strategic management refers to the analysis of major initiatives and programs undertaken by the management of a company on behalf of the entrepreneurs revolving the effective use of resources as well as general performance

Proving Establish Liability For Each Offence Essay Example for Free

Proving Establish Liability For Each Offence Essay Archie is employed to protect the pheasants on Lord Melchetts estate from poachers. On day, from a distance he sees Liam and Craig on the estate and, knowing them to be poachers, he decides to rid himself of the problem for all time and fires his shotgun at them. Both Liam and Craig are only wounded, however, but do need to be taken to hospital for treatment. On the way to the hospital, the brakes on the ambulance fail, it leaves the road and overturns on a bend and Liam dies in the accident. With reference to the case situation above, discuss, using decided cases to support you arguments: a) The offences, if any, with which Archie could be charged and what the prosecution would need to prove to establish liability for each offence; (20) b) And whether you think Archie would be convicted of any offence. (5) a. In relation to the death of Liam, there is the possibility that Archie would be charged under homicide. Archie carried out the apt actus reus of homicide, whereby he has committed an unlawful killing in the Queens peace in the county of the realm and death occurs within 1 year and 1 day. Although Liam died only in the accident, the main cause for his death was Archie shooting at him. As such, Archie has provided for the cause in fact, according to the but-for test, where if but-for Archie, Liam would not have died. Contrary to R v. White, where the defendants mother died not from his poisoned drink but from a heart attack, Archie caused Liams death. Furthermore, Archie also undertakes the cause in law, as Liams wound is both substantive and operative. This is because it was Archies action that caused the injury (substantive) and this injury was still present at the time of Liams death (operative), as in R v. Malcherek Steel, where it was held that original injuries were still an operative cause of victims death. However, it may be argued that a Novus Actus Intervenis, an intervening event, caused Liams death and that Archie is not the main cause. This is only partially true, as the ambulances break failure was the last event of the chain of causation and causing Liams death. Yet, Archie can still be held liable if it can be established that there was a break in the chain of causation, however, there is none. Thus, the ambulance accident was merely a negligent contribution, as in R v. Benge, and Archies act is the cause of Liams death. According to the mens rea of murder, proof of intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm must be shown, as established in R v. Moloney, holding that intention may be inferred from the defendants foresight of consequences. Here, the charge will depend on Archies intention, which might be deduced from the words that he muttered: rid himself of the problem for all time. As such, Archie knew the consequences of his actions, and had an intention to carry it out. Yet if this is the case, it must also be considered why Archie didnt actually carry out his apparent intention, to rid himself of the problem for all time, as he did not actually get rid of (ie. kill) them. However, if this is not the case, it can be said that Archies intention can be found if he foresaw death or GBH as a virtually certain consequence, as in R v. Woollin. It is also not known where and the number of times Archie shot at Liam and Craig, as this would confer an indication of any considerable intention. If Archies shooting was limited, perhaps one or two in the leg, then it can be said he had no intention to kill, but just an intention to frighten. If he only had an intention to frighten, then his act is already an unlawful act in itself, as it is dangerous and is foreseeable to cause harm. This is true with Archie, and he also had the intention to commit the unlawful act, as in R v. Lamb, where the defendant did not have the mens rea to kill, but only to shoot the gun. Archies act was also dangerous, likewise in R v. Church where it was held that dangerous would mean a reasonable man realizing the risk of creating some harm. In DPP v. Newbury Jones, it is said that if the accused intentionally commits a dangerous and unlawful act, causing harm or incidentally, the death, of another, he is then guilty of constructive murder. Therefore, in relation to Liams death, Archie can be liable for constructive manslaughter. In relation to the injuries sustained by Craig, there is the possibility that Archie will be charged under Section 20 of the Offences Against Persons Act 1861. The actus reus required here is merely wounding, as defined in JJC v. Eisenhower as breaking of the skin(skin here meaning any surface of the human body) or inflicting grievous bodily harm. The mens rea necessary includes a malicious intention and a foresight of physical harm. This foresight must involve the possibility of some physical harm to a person, as in R v. Mowatt. Archie, thus fulfills both the actus reus and mens rea for S20 of the OAPA. However, Archie may also be charged under Section 47 and Section 42. Under S47, Craig has to be seen to have sustained actual bodily harm, defined in R v. Miller as any harm calculated to interfere with persons health and comfort. Under S42, Archie has to be seen to put another person in fear of immediate personal violence and has touched another without their consent. If this can be established, Archie would be liable for Section 20 (Offence involving wounding/GBH), Section 47 (Common assault, battery GBH) and Section 42 (Assault battery) of the Offences Against Persons Act 1861. b. In the case of Liams death, Archie would be charged for murder. However, this is rather difficult to prove, as the mens rea required for murder involves proof of intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm as established in R v. Moloney. Thus, he would not be convicted of murder, but rather involuntary manslaughter, with constructive liability. As for Craigs injuries, Archie would be charged under Section 20 of the OAPA. Further charges might include Sections 47 and 42. The conviction under Section 20 is undeniable, but for Section 47 and 42, it is only highly plausible.

Potential Problems In Raising Brand Awareness

Potential Problems In Raising Brand Awareness Product Branding Using relevant examples from the public, non-profit and private sectors, discuss the reasons why different types of organizations might consider branding to be the most important aspect of their product or service. What are the potential problems with building brands? One thing in common between Coca-Cola, McDonald, Disney, Nike, Sony, and Microsoft is that they all have powerful brands that are recognised all over the world. The well-established brand names have helped these companies generate enormous fortune. There is little doubt that brand names are the most valuable assets for many companies. For this reason, there are still many companies that are struggling to build their brand names and the majority of today’s large companies have taken the legacy of existing brands in order to make them more competitive. For example, although mineral water is an undifferentiated product, Nestle acquired Perrier for $2.5 billion because of the Perrier’s long established brand name that carried a charm invaluable to Nestle. There has been a growing interest in the value of brand names. As of 1993, the most valuable brand name was Coca-Cola with an estimated worth of $36 billion (Owen 1993). The world’s10 most valuable brands in 2006 we re (in rank order): Coca-Cola, Microsoft, IBM, General Electric, Intel, Nokia, Toyota, Disney, McDonald, and Mercedes-Benz. Coca-Cola’s brand value was $67 billion, Microsoft’s $57 billion, and IBM’s $56 billion. With these well-known companies, brand value is typically over one-half of the total company market capitalization (Business Week 2006). The reasons for such high worth of brand names include: (1) the costs of new product launch reaching approximately $100 million and high failure rates; (2) the reluctance of consumers to buy unfamiliar new products; and (3) high returns successful brands yield (Aaker 1991). Today’s successful companies have launched brands that create a wealth of perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, and experiences to turn a product and name into something to which the consumer relates. Their branding strategy has been developed to meet the needs and desires of consumers (Stobart 1994; Kochan 1996). The focus of this essay is to look the reasons why most organizations considered branding as the most the important aspect of their products or services as well as looking at the potential problems when building a brand. What is a Brand? There is little doubt that brands are at the heat of marketing and business strategy. Strong brands can make companies win in today’s highly competitive marketplace. One may question, â€Å"How did a brand originate?† and â€Å"What does a brand mean?† The aim of this part is to answer these two questions and to examine the implications for branding. The Origin of a Brand According to Nilson (1998), the term â€Å"brand† originated from the Scandinavian word for â€Å"branna’,† meaning â€Å"to burn a mark on something.† The Swedish word for fire is â€Å"brand.† In the earliest days of farming, farmers or ranchers put their symbols on the cattle with the help of a hot iron in order to assert their right to ownership (Kochan 1996; Nilson 1998). Since then, branding has been used in order to claim someone’s ownership of a good or service. Literatures show that the first example of branding is the manufacture of oil lamps in the Greek islands. During this time, people bought a primitive form of oil lamp, but the quality of the lamp varied. People could not tell between a good and bad lamp when they made purchase. For this reason, craftsmen in one Greek island started to put a special symbol on their long-lasting lamp so that people can distinguish their products from less-lasting lamps produced by others. They branded their goods so that they could differentiate their product and, presumably, charge a premium price (Nilson 1998). Similarly, today many companies seek to build brands so that consumers can pick their products not those of others. The Definition of a Brand According to Brassigton and Pettitt a brand is the â€Å"creation of a three-dimensional character for product, defined in terms of name, packaging. Colours, symbols etc., that helps to differentiate it from its competitors, and helps the customer to develop a relationship with the product† (Brassigton and Pettitt 2003, p. 1099). Some experts have, however, argued that it is dangerous to adopt one single definition of a brand because there are many other things to be taken into account. They insist that brand definitions should be categorised under six headings: (1) visual; (2) perceptual; (3) positioning; (4) added value; (5) image; and (6) personality (Nilson 1998). In addition, we need to look at other meanings in order to have a better understanding of a brand. There are two representative models – brand image and brand identity that are different from each other. Brand image refers to the image of a brand that exists in the minds of consumers as a result of all the information they have received about the brand, from experience, word of mouth, advertising, packaging, service and so on; the information is modified by selective perception, previous beliefs, social norms, forgetting (Randall 1997). Companies can control their brand images as long as they understand the essence and expression of their brand. The four dimensions form the essence at the centre. The brand identity, such as the brand’s name, logo, colours, tagline, and symbol (Kotler 2003), becomes strong only when the four dimensions support each other constantly. If any quadrant is weak, or sending conflicting messages, then resulting image in consumers’ minds will be confused (Randall 1997). Reasons why most organizations consider branding to be the most important aspect of their products or service: A brand is a necessity for a business and – whether the manager likes it or not – a business will have a brand profile. Working closely with the brand, rather than in the classical business sense of leaving it to the customers to work out what to think about the company, will give the organization some distinct advantages. The importance of branding in a private organization can be summarized in two categories: first it is financially beneficial for the company, and second it gives the employees a sense of purpose. For the purpose of boosting morale, a brand that the employees can be proud of, and feel a sense of belonging to, can have considerable positive effect on the morale in a company (Nilsoon 1998). One example is the Virgin group where founder Richard Branson’s very high profile and clear statements about company purpose serve as morale booster for the whole group. Similar effects appear to be at play at Microsoft, where a strong sense of identity with the company – and consequently with the brand – pushes employees to high levels of productivity and, not least, loyalty (Nilson 1998). For profit making purposes, a strong brand in a private sector creates barriers to entry. The stronger the brand values of the leading brands in a sector, the stronger the reputation of the main competitors and the more difficult it is for other players to enter the market. Brands also often represent continuity which is important in the sense of keeping customer relations. Having a strong brand does create economies of scale, not least in communication. A well-established and correctly built brand will in an instant communicate a distinct set of values (such as trustworthy, reliable and leading-edge) much quicker and more effectively than any expensive commercial (Nilson 1998). Branding helps a firm to introduce a new product that carries the name of one or more of its existing products, because buyers are already familiar with the firm’s existing brands. For example, Heinz regularly introduces new tinned products. Since consumers are used to buying the brand and have a high regard for its quality, they are likely to try the new offerings. Branding also facilitates promotional efforts because the promotion of each branded product indirectly promotes all other products that are similarly branded (Dibb et al 1997). Branding also helps seller by fostering brand loyalty. Brand loyalty is a strongly motivated and long decision to purchase a product or service. To the extent that buyers become loyal to a specific brand, the company’s market share for that product achieve a certain level of stability, allowing the firm to use its resources more efficiently. When a firm succeeds in fostering some degree of customer loyalty to a brand, it can charge a premium price for the product (Dibb et al 1997). For example, Consumers are loyal to buy Armani because they appreciate its status and fashionable values, and Apple computers because they appreciate their creative and human values. These values reflect and enhance the consumer’s sense of him/himself and provide a key source of brand differentiation (Kochan 1996). Similarly, the importance of branding in the public sector cannot be under-estimated. While it remains an essential part in the day to day running of private sectors for the purpose of maximising profits, the profit making purpose is however less significant with public sectors. A distinct example of branding in the public sector is the NHS. Rather than being portrayed as a brand for profit making, the aim of the NHS is provide adequate health care service for the nation. Due to the virtual non-existence of an aim of making profits, there is little or no competition for the NHS, therefore there ought to be other reasons for their various forms of branding. A significant example of the essence of branding for the NHS is their association with life saving ventures such as safe sex practices and â€Å"quit smoking† campaigns (Lecturer’s Note 2006),. The various steps taken by the NHS to encourage safe sex practices through the television and newspaper adverts ensure that t hey are easily associated with any life saying adverts and their â€Å"NHS† brand once seen on TV means a life saving advert is coming on. Even though, this is not fore the sake of making profits but people start taking them more seriously, likewise what they preach, thereby achieving the ultimate goal of saving lives (Lecturer’s Note 2006). Like the private companies, they spend some money on adverts and branding but more emphasis is on profit making by the private companies than the public companies. Essentially, branding is a way of getting attention and developing a relationship with target audiences and this is especially important for public organizations with little or no aim of profit making. The competitiveness brought about by branding in the public sector is therefore targeted at getting audiences rather than making more profits than private companies (Colyer 2006). Furthermore, branding for non-profit making organizations is as important as those for private and public organizations albeit with a slightly different aim and approach. The aim of competition is as important for non-profit making organizations as it is important for private organizations. Branding here is therefore aimed at building a better relationship with supporters, thereby establishing greater trust in the organization. Interestingly, it may be surprising to find out that competition among non profit making organizations such as various charities may be as fierce as private organizations. This competition is however aimed at making one’s charity the most important in the minds of the people than other charities. For example, the impact of branding by the NSPCC may be the outstanding factor that determines if to donate money to them rather than the heart foundation. Similarly, the charities we choose to support may be borne out of the fact that a significant aspect of i ts branding appeals to us more than other types (Lecturer’s Note 2006). While most charities aim to save lives, the branding may be geared towards making the life saving purpose more urgent than others. The different Tsunami charities set up in 2004 after the Tsunami tragedy as part of their branding gave vivid views of devastating events in Asia as they set out to outdo one another in donations, even though they were for the same course. In this case, the competitive nature of branding may be said to be, to generate as much funds as possible for a similar course rather than for making profits (Mitchell 2005). Potential problems in raising brand awareness The power of a well-known brand name, supported by strong advertising, is so great (and long lasting) that 20 of the top 25 leading brands in 2005 were also among the top 25 in 2006. But companies are finding it increasingly difficult to attract the customer’s attention and create brand awareness because of the clutter of new products, brands, and advertising in the environment. Thus, approximately 90% of new products are pulled from the market within two or three years of their introduction. Most of them failed for lack of name recognition – consumers were just not aware of them (Morgan 1999; Bulkeley 1991). The risks of creating a new brand are so great that many companies are developing so-called line extensions. Rather than developing a new brand name, marketers are applying their existing, well-known brand name to new products. Red Bounty (with dark chocolate), Coca-Cola Light, and Ariel Colour are but a few well-known examples. Building name recognition can be very difficult and very expensive, especially for small companies. Market leaders often command budget upon 10 times greater than smaller companies. For instance, Nike and Reebok spend about $100 million. Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola can afford to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on extensive advertising campaigns (Pereira 1991). Get help with your essay from our expert essay writers Customer Factors Some customers like to seek variety in their experience; they get bored with the same product or life experience. Other customers like change and variety and are happy with old. The variety-seeking customers may switch from one brand to another, not because they are dissatisfied with the first brand’s performance and other values, but rather simply for the sake of change and variety. The more variety seeking a customer is, the less brand loyal he is likely to be (Sheth et al 1999). Conclusion In conclusion, the key to developing a brand vision is to assess the values of the organization, distil them into a vision and not tamper or interfere with the vision’s simplicity and power. Consistency and clarity are all-important. Coke forgot the strength and simplicity of its existing product values when it tried re-launching its much loved product under the banner of ‘New Formula’ (Coca cola Seminar Video 2006). Conversely, Mars understood perfectly its existing product values when it launched Mars ice cream on the back of the Mars bar. Design and presentation of the product flows from the values. Coherence is once again the name of the game. The presentation of the packaging, the use of the logo, the typeface all need to accord with the brand values and be internally consistent with Cost effectiveness (Nilson 1998; Kochan 1996). Nevertheless, it is clear that branding plays an important role in the private; public as well as non-profit sector. However, a com pany raise profit if it builds a strong brand name. The company can benefit if consumers buy its brand in preference to other brands, and it gains more benefits if this preference maintains for long periods. If customers perceive one brand as superior, then they become less sensitive to price. Rather, they will be willing to pay more for the brand they like. Such brand loyalty allows the company to charge more and thus generate healthy cash flows. It also makes it harder for competitors to enter the market. Building a brand has become concern for every business. Brands are, therefore, at the heart of marketing and business strategy. References Aaker, D. A., (1991), Managing Brand Equity: Capitalising on the Value of a Brand Name, New York: The Free Press Business Week, (2006), ‘The Worlds 10 Most Valuable Brands’, http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/01_32/b3744003.htm Colyer, E., (2006), ‘Branding in public’, http://brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=310#more Kochan, N., (1996), ‘The World’s Greatest Brands’ London: McMillan Business, 1996, pp. x-xi Kotler, P., (2003), Marketing Management, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Lecturer (2006), ‘Lecturer’s handout and Coca cola Seminar video’ Birkbeck College Mitchell, B. (2005), ‘Make Poverty History – passion statement’, http://brandchannel.com/features_profile.asp?pr_id=249 Morgan, A., (1999), Eating the Big Fish, New York: John Wiley Sons, Inc Nilson, T. H., et al., (1998), Competitive Branding: Winning in the Marketplace with Value-Added Brands. Chichester: John Wiley Sons Nissim, B., (2004), ‘Nonprofit Branding: Unveiling the Essentials’, http://www.guidestar.org/DisplayArticle.do?articleId=833 Ourosoff, A., (1994), ‘Brands: What’s Hot? What’s Not?’, Financial World, Aug. 1994, pp. 240-55 Owen, S., (1993), ‘The Landor Image Power Survey: a Global Assessment of Brand Strength’, in Brand Equity and Advertising, ed. Aaker, D. A., et a. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Pereira, J., (1991), ‘Name of the Game: Brand Awareness’, The Wall Street Journal, 14 Feb. 1991, pp. B1, B4 Randall. G., (1997), Branding, London: Kogan Page Sheth, J. N., et al, (1999), Customer Behaviour: Customer Behaviour and Beyond. Fort Worth: The Dryden Press Stobart, P., (1994), Brand Power, London: The Macmillan Press Ltd

The High Price of Education Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Essays

The High Price of Education Once again, students at State University will pay more in tuition during the 2005-2006 academic year, by a 4.5 percent increase. The State Board of Regents was presented with a proposed 5.2 percent increase at its September 23-24 meeting in Capital City, but decided this month that a 4.5 percent increase in tuition was more reasonable. Even with the additional services that could be made available by the tuition hike, the students should not have to pay this increase. According to the memorandum, the tuition proceeds at State University will go toward student financial aid, inflation, library acquisitions and services, learning communities, the four-year graduation plan, study-abroad programs, graduate assistantships and computing and information technology. The extra funds acquired from the raise in tuition are meant to improve the quality of education, however, the proposed increase impedes State University's commitment of affordability and access for its students. As a tuition-paying freshman at State University, this raise will directly effect my already currently suffering bank account and me. I applaud the board for its efforts to improve the quality of higher education for students, and for seeking to help State University in its goal to become the best institution in the nation. Although I don't approve of a 4.5 percent tuition hike for students to increase the funding of various programs at the university, or as a means to help achieve State University's goal. Each time the tuition goes up, it makes it harder for aspiring college-bound students to come to school here. What kind of impact will a higher tuition have on students? If the cost of living plus tuition pushes students to w... ...this increase are not tuition-paying students, but administrators overseeing the institutions from a distance. This raise may have no effect on their bank account, or may even provide the funds for their salary increases. If we as students don't agree with these allocations, we need to speak out and let our views be known. Our opinions will be considered, but only if we take them to someone other than our roommates, such as the Board members themselves. A few years ago, the Regents actually changed the tuition rate during the process due to student feedback, so we shouldn't assume the decision is out of our hands. It may seem as though our bills each September and January are much lower in comparison to other universities, however, we can't just sit back and accept tuition increases that come our way. After all, it is our money and financial future that is at stake.

Life Is So Good by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman Essay examples --

Life Is So Good by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman Good Afternoon Ms. McCafferty, I made this appointment because I passionately believe that the book, Life is so good written by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman should be on the Carey booklist for Year 9 students. Life is so good is a magnificent part biography, part autobiography of a 103 year old black man named George Dawson who went to school to learn to read and write when he was 98 years old. George Dawson may be 103 but he can still walk without a cane and can remember his life with an uncanny ability. That is why there is so much detail in this book. Life is so good tells of his hard life from when he was only 6 years old and living on a farm in the outer region of a town called Marshall in Southern Texas. In an early c...

Liberal Reforms and its Impact on the Lives of the People

â€Å"To what extent did the liberal reforms in 1906-1914 improve the lives of people? † The Liberal government introduced a series of reforms aimed at moving away from the Laissez-faire ideology and toward a more self help scheme aiming to move people away from poverty and to make Britain a better country both in health and prosperity; Churchill said â€Å"If we see a drowning man we do not drag him to the shore, instead we provide help to allow him to swim ashore†. To do this the Liberals aimed at giving aid to the young, the old, the sick, the unemployed and the workers; these groups will be discussed throughout the essay.These reforms were later regarded as the foundations for the welfare state. Children were one of the most critical groups for the government to help because they were unable to help themselves. They were also the next generation of workers and soldiers and knowing that war was looming meant that the government were very eager to improve their health . In 1906 an act was passed called â€Å"Provisions of Meals Act† which meant local authorities were allowed to provide free school meals for destitute children; however this was not made compulsory until 1914 and so only a few councils took it on board right from the start.These free school meals were effective in two ways; they were found to have vastly improved children’s diet and growth and also improved the children’s concentration during school. Parliamentary papers quoted â€Å"Children are unable by reason of lack of food to take full advantage of their education† this proves the point that children were so hungry they could not concentrate and benefit from a proper education.In 1907 the â€Å"Administrative Provisions Act† was passed which introduced free medical inspections in schools checking the children’s weight, height, eye sight and general health but it was not until 1912 that free medical treatment was provided before any il lnesses were observed, but little could be done by poor families who could not afford treatment also some parents believed it what their duty to look after their children and keep them healthy a historian Pugh said â€Å"much of the states activity in connection with children – vaccination, medical inspection, school meals, arrangements for taking them into care was represented by parents as an infringement of their role. †. Both of these acts did not improve the overall lives of the young in Britain and showed that not enough was truly being done to effectively make change and that the illusion of change was not enough.Arguably the most important of reforms for children was the â€Å"Children’s Charter† which was introduced in 1908. The general idea of it was to protect children from cruelty and corruption: juvenile courts were set up, imprisonment would occur in borstals, identity was protected, neglecting parents could be fined and age restrictions wer e placed on products such as alcohol and tobacco. The minimum age restrictions to products had limited success to start off with but it did make a difference. Overall, these acts together were believed to guarantee better lives for children. The elderly were helped by being given an old age pension. In 1908 the government paid up to 5 shillings a week to people over 70.The pension received depended on income and was set on a sliding scale so those with the highest income received for the least (or none) in pension money. The idea of pensions was admirable but there were many unfair features of it when first introduced. Not all elderly British citizens could qualify for it; those who had avoided work, had a criminal record, or were habitually drunk were excluded. Also, the fact that it was provided for the over 70’s meant that not many people lived long enough to receive their pension and also those who did had not received it early enough as monetary aid since it would have b een required many years before it was provided.Finally, the pension given did not raise the elderly income above the poverty line; Seebohm Rowntree’s minimum income for comfortable survival was over 35 shillings a week, Taylor stated the government â€Å"provided a meagre pension for the needy over the age of 70† which shows many people believed that the amount paid for the pension was not nearly enough to live on. Therefore, despite the idea and intensions being good they did not go far enough to improve the lives and ensure security for the elderly. The sick were another group the government tried to help. A contributory scheme was introduced for workers in case of illness. At the time there was no free national health service and the poor usually could not afford medical help. The â€Å"National Insurance Act† of 1911 gave some medical benefits for the worker who, when working, had paid into the scheme which their employer and the government would then add to o.One of the main causes of poverty was the sickness and subsequent absence from work so any amount of income during absence from work would benefit the worker and their family greatly. However there were many problems with the scheme. For a start the workers did not like the idea that 4 pence of their money every week would be taken from them despite the possibility they may not claim on their insurance and they may have need the 4 pence for their own survival at the time. Also, it was only the workers themselves who were able to claim from the insurance despite the difficulties another illness in the family may put upon the other family members.Thus, to be of greater use and to have been viewed in greater favour by many this scheme would need to cover a broader spectrum of difficulties within the family unit and appear more obviously beneficial to the majority rather than just the worker. Unemployment was another important factor of society which the Liberal reforms attempted to t ackle. They did this by introducing â€Å"Labour Exchanges Act† in 1909 where workers could find out where work could be found. Part of the National Insurance Act dealt with unemployment; it was a contributory scheme like that from illness from both the worker and the government for which they would receive a payout when unable to find work. However, this payment only lasted for up to fifteen weeks so if they were unemployed any longer no help was given. The scheme also only applied to seven particular jobs.Churchill explained â€Å"there are trades in which seasonal unemployment is not only high, but chronic; marked by seasonal fluctuations†. It was not designed to deal with long term unemployment and the labour exchanges act was slow and inefficient. The workers were helped by the government by introducing a â€Å"Workman’s Compensation Act† in 1906 that covered 6 million workers who could claim compensation for disease or injury that was a result of po or working conditions. However, in many trades and industries the government failed to establish a minimum wage level or a limit to working hours therefore did little to improve the lives of people during this period of change.On the other hand there were many positive reforms passed to help this category. In 1908 miners secured an eight hour working day. In 1909 the â€Å"Trade Borders Act† tried to protect workers from the sweated industries by setting up trade boards to fix minimum wage in jobs where workers were liable to exploitation and where trade unions could not protect them. Finally, in 1911 a â€Å"Shop Act† limited working hours for shop assistants and guaranteed a half day when the shop is closed. The government did make changes to this group but did not solve all their problems. To conclude, it is certainly true to say that the Liberal reforms marked a change away from Laissez-faire† to a more interventionist approach which meant that the government took some responsibility for the welfare of everyone in the country. It is wrong to say the Liberals created a welfare state . They did however mark a transition point between the old attitudes and the new attitudes towards poverty. The reforms did help to improve the lives of many people living in Britain during this time but did not solve all problems faced by the government and by the citizens of Britain; poverty was not solved and many people still lived under the poverty line, housing was not improved and there was still no free health care and so until these issues were dealt with overcoming these major problems would be difficult to do.

Horse Colic

The term colic refers to pain in the abdomen of horses. It is not a single disease, but is the manifestation of a considerable number of diseases: all of which produce pain, and some of which are potentially deadly. Making a specific diagnosis to determine the actual cause of the colic can be extremely difficult for veterinarians at times. Because of the multitude of possible causes, it is of value to examine several excellent recent research reviews which looked closely at the classification of colics, and at the causative factors, incidence and mortality associated with these diseases. The majority of cases of colic occur due to unknown causes, but are primarily presumed to be associated with intestinal muscle spasm or the accumulation of abnormal amounts of gas in a portion of the intestine. In general, colic results due to the distension of the bowel by ingesta, fluid, gas, or due to a functional impairment of the normal intestinal motility. In more severe cases, abdominal pain may be the result of damage to the intestinal wall by reduced blood supply (ischaemia), inflammation, death of tissue (infarction) or oedema (swelling and increased fluid). The causes of colic can be classified by well recognised pathological categories, including obstruction, strangulation, enteritis/colitis, peritonitis, as well as by the site involved – stomach, small intestine, caecum, large colon, small colon, peritoneum, and other organs including liver, spleen and kidney Rather than simply listing the types of colic which can occur, it is now of value to look at what we do actually know about causes, prevalence and risk factors, as well as strategies to prevent colics. Nathaniel White, DVM, of the Marion Dupont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia, reviewed the risk factors in the USA in 2002, in his publication â€Å"Prevalence, demographics and Risk Factors for Colic, www. ivis. org, with the following comments and observations; Out of 100 horses in the general population, 4-10 cases of colic are expected in one year. About 10-15% of the colics are repeat cases, with some horses having 2-4 colic episodes yearly. Horses that have had a previous colic are three times as likely to have a second colic compared to a horse that has never had colic. Most colic signs were simple colic or ileus (no contractions of the gut) with no specific diagnosis entered in 80-85% of cases. In one study, 30% of horses with colic were identified by owners but never seen by vets because the colic was short lived or resolved by the owner. Studies of colic cases seen by vets reported a predominance of simple obstruction or spasmodic colic. Impaction colics made up about 10% of cases, and obstruction or strangulating diseases requiring surgery made up from 2-4% of cases. Universities report that simple colic and impaction colics are the most commonly reported. When a specific gut location can be identified by veterinarians, the large colon is the most commonly affected, followed by small intestine, caecum and small colon respectively. Diseases which cause strangulation (twisted bowel) have the highest fatality rate- with the large colon torsions being more common than small intestine torsions. Colic is responsible for more deaths in horses than any other disease except old age. In normal farm horse populations, horse mortality from all types of colic was 0. 7 deaths per 100 horse-years, with a colic case fatality rate of 6. 7%. Risk Factors For Colic In some colic cases the cause may be evident, such as in grain overload, but even in these cases, the exact mechanism which initiates the problem is often unknown. By looking at known risk factors we can begin to reduce the incidence by eliminating possible risk factors. There are internal and external risk factors for colic: Breed While no breed is immune to colic, several studies suggest that Arabian horses have more colic episodes, while some other studies suggest that Thoroughbreds have more. Standardbreds and Warmbloods tend to have more inguinal hernias due to the increased size of their inguinal ring. Age Young and older horses appear to be less at risk of simple colic, so middle aged horses are most at risk. Weanlings and yearlings are most likely to suffer ileocaecal intussusceptions. Diet Diet has long been blamed for colic. Course roughage with low digestibility or particularly coarse fibre is observed to cause impaction colic. Grain overload significantly increases the risk of colic and laminitis. Feeds such as lush clover and lush pasture have been implicated in causing bloat. Information on feeding here When investigated by controlled studies, increased amounts of grain, and changes in the type of hay and grain fed during the year both increased the odds of colic compared to horses without grain or changes in feed. One study also reported that daily feeding of concentrate from 2. to 5kg/day and >5kg/day to adult horses increased the risk of colic by 4. 8 and 6. 3 times respectively, compared to horses fed no concentrate. Interestingly, controlled studies confirm that pellet feeds and sweet feeds were associated with an increased risk of colic compared to no grain fed or single grain diets. Grain diets are also known to decrease the water content in the colon contents due to a decrease in fibre which binds to water in the colon. Grain diets are also known to travel through the stomach much more rapidly than fibrous diets. Grain in the diet increases gas production, and is much more likely to produce an environment needed for bloat and intestinal displacements. The horse stomach is relatively small, and is designed to take in small quantities of food often. Horses are herbivores, and naturally spend a large part of the day grazing, continually taking in small quantities of food. When more intensive management, including work and training programs, stabling, and feeding 2-3 times daily, occurs, the normal feeding habits of horses are disrupted to varying degrees. Intensive stabling and work often require higher energy levels in feedstuffs to allow the horse to cope with increased work requirements. The higher energy levels are provided by high grain and concentrate components in the ration, often at the risk of reducing roughage and fibre levels to inadequate volumes. The horse digestive system is designed to utilise roughage and fibre, and any deficiency of fibre will result in digestive disturbances, including colics. It is highly important to continue regular feeding habits of horses, maintaining regular feed volumes and feeding intervals. Do not work horses hard after a full feed. Never give large quantities of food to a horse not accustomed to it. Make feeding changes gradually. Do not allow an overheated horse to drink cold water until it has cooled off sufficiently, or the cold water will almost certainly predispose the horse to colic. Water horses before feeding. Allow access to water again immediately after feeding. Horses prefer clean, fresh water available at all times. A horse will drink anywhere from 22 to 68 litres of water daily, depending on weather conditions, diet and workload. Do not feed horses directly off the ground, especially in sandy or fine gravel regions, as the uptake of sand will predispose horses to sand colics and impactions. Avoid sudden feed changes. These will rapidly induce colic in most horses. Mouldy feeds, such as hay, are potentially deadly to horses, and regularly cause colic. Check hay thoroughly, especially any lush, moist hay which may have been baled while too wet. Never feed mouldy hay to horses. Environment & Management Housing and confinement on farms in the Virginia study were not risk factors for colic. It does however seem logical that changes in diet or feeding routine are associated with risk of colic. Certainly large horse properties report that the routine of feeding grain after being brought in from pasture to stables increases the colic risk – specifically for bloat and displacements. Altering this routine by keeping horses turned out after feeding grain decreases the rate of colic. Similarly, when hay is available to horses on lush pasture, the hay will be consumed as part of the diet and colic rate is decreased. Sand colic and impactions are seen where horses graze on pastures grown on sandy soils, or where horses are forced to eat off the ground with predominantly sand or fine gravel. Previous colic Horses with a history of colic are at higher risk for more colic episodes Parasites Internal parasites are related to increased colic risks in many studies. Gut obstructions due to ascarids in foals, tapeworm related colic and strongyle infections have all been reported as causing colics. Many reports confirm a decrease in colic after controlling small strongyle infections on properties with previously high colic incidences. Tapeworm infestations have been related to increased colic, specifically with colic associated with diseases of the ileum and caecum including increasing the rate of serious intussusception at the ileocaecal region. The general use of ivermectin over the last 20 years has seen a reduction in reports of colic associated with thrombosis of the cranial mesenteric artery due to Strongylus vulgaris larvae. Pregnancy Mares are reported to have a higher risk of colic by colon displacement during late pregnancy and lactation, particularly from 60 to 150 days after foaling. The actual reasons for this are not known, but calcium levels and alterations in diet including increases in energy due to the higher levels of concentrates in the diet to support lactation may be related to the increased risk. Exercise Racehorses, event horses and endurance horses all have an increased risk of gastric ulceration which can be linked to some colic episodes. These horses are often on high grain/low roughage diets which tend to produce gut acidosis and predispose to colics. Transport and Traveling Transport increases the risk of colic in several studies. Many vets commonly administer a laxative to horses prior to transport to prevent colic from impactions. These colics may be due to variations in feeding routine, fluid intake, dehydration, etc. Weather Many veterinarians frequently associate weather changes with increased frequency of colic, but many studies can find no confirmation of this. Prognosis and Strategies to Prevent Colic In a second paper, â€Å"Prognosis and Strategies to Prevent Colic†, Nathaniel White discussed the survival issues with colic cases, stating that predicting survival in horses with colic is often challenging. Any horse which does not respond to initial therapy may be regarded as having a much more serious prognosis. In an effort to assist veterinary practitioners and owners, White attempted to apply previous knowledge of outcomes for specific diseases. Case fatality for specific colic diseases varies from a few deaths in cases of simple colic to as much as 75% in some forms of strangulated intestine. Simple obstructions of the large colon such as displacements and impactions have low fatality rates (

Aegis Case Analysis Essay

The main question posed in this case is whether Aegis management should continue the relationships with their partners ProPack and POMS, and if they decided to continue with the relationships, how to structure them more effectively. Operating in a slumping economy, Aegis was worried about their level of sales resulting from the partnerships they had entered into. The main goal for Aegis when entering into both partnerships was to bolster sales, and neither company had accomplished that. With the possibility of terminating either relationship, Aegis would have to find another strategy for improved sales. With the absence of this strategy, it will be more productive for the company to restructure their existing relationships. Looking at this case through the concept of strategic alliances will help to find a strategy that will pull Aegis out of its downhill slide. For both relationships, Aegis has entered into licensing and distribution agreements. POMS and ProPack have combined their name with Aegis for separate products, as well as working together to distribute each other’s products. Unfortunately, in this situation economies of scale will not work to lower costs because of the nature of the product and the industry Aegis is competing in. Aegis and its partners have developed a product that is the technological standard for its category, but can continue to add value to the product, making it desirable and useful in the future. In my opinion, the best way to increase the benefits of these relationships is to foster an environment of trust and communication to operate in. This may mean revisiting the contracts that are in place to redefine what each entity wants out of the agreement, and the best way to go about creating sales. If they can do this effectively I believe the companies will work better together, creating more value for potential customers. This will result in an increase in sales for their products.

Top 10 Best Non Marvel or DC Comics

Top 10 Best Non Marvel or DC Comics List of Top 10 Non-DC Comics You Should Not Miss Out At times, one may get an impression that Marvel and DC Comics have control over the whole comic book industry. Although it is far from being true, the comic book media is on the rise now with the most popular adaptations coming from the Big Two. Still, the world of comics is not limited only to the Big Two and there is a great number of other publishers with brilliant adaptations, which we will cover in this article. 10. SAGA This series, created by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples, has been much raved about. It tells a story about two refugees who face a bizarre, modernized fantasy world. Saga is a must-read for everyone, so if you have not done it yet, now is the perfect time to do it. Enthralling and intriguing, SAGA is well worth every minute you spend reading it. 9. CURSE WORDS The Image Comics book Curse Words is Soule-written magical drama, which tells the story of a modern-day evil wizard and challenges he has to tackle. If you are a keen admirer of Harry Potter or Rick and Morty, you surely should not miss out on this gripping comics book. The ironic portrayal of the arcane arts is absolutely unique. However, mind that wielding magic portrayed in the book is not always that magical. 8. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER If you are not overly keen on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you should know that the comic book version of it has undergone some major alterations. Studios Buffy decided to create a complete remake of the story. A brand-new Buffy universe will surely keep even the most long-standing fans on the edge of their seats. However, if you do not belong to this category, just try to enjoy the folks behind the comic who are truly worth observing. 7. ARCHIE 1941 Although the TV show Riverdale has become a household name, you will be astounded by the fact that Archie Comics, on which the TV series is based, is in fact over 75 years old. The nowadays setting of Riverdale does not mirror the place in Archie 1941 where Archie Andrews is a young man enlisted into military service. If you admire Archie Comics, World War II history or just want to see familiar characters in the new light, put this book on your reading list. 6. B.P.R.D. The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense has not appeared on TV for 11 years. However, with a brand-new movie Hellboy releasing this year, it finally stages a comeback in the cinema. Interestingly enough,  B.P.R.D.  stories did not stall completely in the gap between films. Dark Horse has been incessantly bringing out splendid stories set in Mike Mignola-creates universe, which has not become any worse. With the movies debut in April, now it is high time to get back into the world of the  B.P.R.D.  At any rate, you should not let this engrossing fantastic detective series pass over your attention. 5. ANIMOSITY Aftershock Comics is a newcomer in the world of comics. Nevertheless, it managed to bring out some brilliant adaptations. One of them is Animosity,  which tells a story of a weird world where animals decided that the planet would do way better without humans. Animosity is a tough human story, which tells about survival and sacrifice and touches upon one of the biggest fears of the human race. It puts across a tricky question What would happen with the planet if humanity were no longer in the control of the whole universe? 4. BITTER ROOT If you are absolutely indifferent to the mentioned above magic trend, we have some pretty bad news to deliver. You still need to take a look at Bitter Root. In fact, Bitter Root is not nearly as brand-new as Saga  or  Curse Words. It takes place in the 1920s Harlem, where voodoo and the Jazz Age are combined to create a story, which strikes the right balance between noir and Occult drama. This book will certainly hit the spot if you are a fan of historical fiction, particularly of that which revolves around New York City. Additionally, if you are drawn to gruesome adventures in flapper costumes, Bitter Root is definitely up your street. 3. BLACK HAMMER Although this list was intended to be without the Big Two, it does not mean we have not included some unknown superheroes in this list. Basically, a lot of characters in Black Hammer were created under the influence of either Marvel or DC Characters. Still, the world, in which the story takes place, has nothing to do with both. Black Hammer’s surreal, David Lynch-esque universe is strongly reminiscent of superhero comics and scrambles them, transforming them into an unreal, existential mystery series. Although DC and Marvel are wholly in charge of an umpteen number of superhero stories, Black Hammer testifies to the fact that they clearly do not own all of them. 2. THE WICKED + THE DIVINE The following book is based on mythology, which means you will surely take to it. The Wicked + the Divine is a well-earned odd-on favorite in our top 10 comic books even without the mythological plot. Due to the tight storytelling, unique artwork, and the perfect cohesive combination of two classical myths, this book is a genuine masterpiece of its own. If  Black Hammer  proved that Marvel DC are not dominant in the superhero market,  The Wicked + the Divine  is a testament that they have not yet taken the control of mythology either. We do not imply that there is something wrong with the Wonder Woman  or  Thor  story. At the same time, there are some close similarities with WicDiv. It just that it resonates with some cultural memory that is deeply rooted in humans, a memory of the times when gods and monsters were not just fiction and the magic was anything but make-believe. 1. MONSTRESS This story is an example of a simple but truly masterful comic book. With the touching storyline and sensitive art, Monstress  is a rarity in the comic book market since it brings the medium up as a whole. Marjorie Liu obtained two Eisners just because of that, and if you have not had the opportunity to come to know why, now it is the perfect time to do it. Choose any of the above stated books to experience what the present-day comics world has to offer but do not miss out on Monstress  to find out how the comic book history is being made.

Spanish Short-Form Possessive Determiners or Adjectives

Spanish Short-Form Possessive Determiners or Adjectives Possessive adjectives of Spanish, like those of English, are a way of indicating who owns or is in possession of something. Their use is straightforward, although they (like other adjectives) must match the nouns they modify in both number and gender. Basics About the Short-Form Possessives Unlike English, Spanish has two forms of possessive adjectives, a short form that is used before nouns, and a long-form possessive adjective that is used after nouns. They are often known as the possessive determiners. Here are the short-form possessive adjectives (sometimes known as possessive determiners): mi, mis - my - Compra mi piano. (She is buying my piano.)tu, tus - your (singular familiar) - Quiero comprar tu coche. (I want to buy your car.)su, sus - your (singular or plural formal), its, his, her, their - Voy a su oficina. (I am going to his/her/your/their office.)nuestro, nuestra, nuestros, nuestras - our - Es nuestra casa. (It is our house.)vuestro, vuestra, vuestros, vuestras - your (plural familiar) -  ¿Dà ³nde estn vuestros hijos? (Where are your children?) Note that the possessive adjectives vary by number and gender. The change is with the nouns they modify, not with the person(s) who own or possess the object. Thus you would say his book and her book in the same way: su libro. Some examples: Es nuestro coche. (It is our car.)Es nuestra casa. (It is our house.)Son nuestros coches. (They are our cars.)Son nuestras casas. (They are our houses.) As you might imagine, su and sus can be ambiguous, since they can mean his, her, its, your, or their. If the use of su or sus doesnt make the sentence clear, you can use de followed by a prepositional pronoun instead: Quiero comprar su casa. (I want to buy his/her/your/their house.)Quiero comprar la casa de à ©l. (I want to buy his house.)Quiero comprar la casa de ella. (I want to buy her house.)Quiero comprar la casa de usted. (I want to buy your house.)Quiero comprar la casa de ellos. (I want to buy their house.) In some areas, de à ©l, de ella, and de ellos are preferred over su and sus for saying his, her, and their, even where no ambiguity is present. Different Forms of ‘Your’ One source of confusion for Spanish students is that there are eight words that can be translated as your, and they arent interchangeable. The come in only three groups, however, because of the distinctions Spanish makes for number and gender: tu/tus, su/sus, and vuestro/vuestra/vuestros/vuestras. The main rule here is that possessives can be classified as either familiar or formal in the same way the pronouns for you are. So tu and tus correspond in usage to tà º (not the written accent on the pronoun), vuestro and its numbered and gendered forms correspond with vosotros, and su corresponds with usted and ustedes. So if you were talking with someone about her car, you might use tu coche if she is a friend or relative but su coche if she is a stranger. Grammar Involving the Possessive Forms There are two common problems that English speakers often encounter with these adjectives: Overuse of the Possessive Adjectives The possessive adjectives are used in most cases in the same way as they are used in English. However, you should be aware that in many instances- especially when speaking of body parts, clothing and items intimately associated with an individual- Spanish uses the definite article (el, la, los or las), the equivalent of the, instead of possessive adjectives. Sam arregla el pelo. (Sam is combing his hair.)Ella juntà ³ las manos para orar. (She joined her hands to pray.)Ricardo rompià ³ los anteojos. (Ricardo broke his glasses.) Repetition of Possessive Adjectives: In English, it is common to use a single possessive adjective to refer to more than one noun. In Spanish, a single possessive adjective can refer to only one noun, unless the multiple nouns refer to the same persons or objects. For example, son mis amigos y hermanos would mean they are my friends and siblings (with the friends and the siblings being identical persons), while son mis amigos y mis hermanos would mean they are my friends and siblings (the friends not being the same people as the siblings). Similarly, my cats and dogs would be translated as mis gatos y mis perros. Key Takeaways The possessive adjectives (also known as possessive determiners) are used to indicate who owns or is in possession of something.The possessive adjectives are distinguished in number and sometimes gender of what is possessed.The possessive forms su and sus can mean his, hers, its, or your, so you must rely on context when translating.

The Feathered Dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era

The Feathered Dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era Part of the reason so many ordinary people doubt the evolutionary link between feathered dinosaurs and birds is because when they think of the word dinosaur, they picture enormous beasts like Brachiosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex, and when they think of the word bird, they picture harmless, rodent-sized pigeons and hummingbirds, or perhaps the occasional eagle or penguin. (See a gallery of feathered dinosaur pictures and profiles and an article explaining why birds arent dinosaur-sized.) Closer to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, though, the visual referents are a lot different. For decades, paleontologists have been digging up small, birdlike theropods (the same family of two-legged, meat-eating dinosaurs that includes tyrannosaurs and raptors) bearing unmistakable evidence of feathers, wishbones, and other bits of avian anatomy. Unlike larger dinosaurs, these smaller theropods tend to be unusually well-preserved, and many such fossils have been discovered completely intact (which is more than can be said for the average sauropod). Types of Feathered Dinosaurs So many dinosaurs of the later Mesozoic Era sported feathers that its virtually impossible to pin down the exact definition of a true dino-bird. These include: Raptors. Despite what you saw in Jurassic Park, Velociraptor was almost certainly covered with feathers, as was the dinosaur it was modeled on, Deinonychus. At this point, the discovery of a provably non-feathered raptor would be major news! Ornithomimids. Bird mimic dinosaurs like Ornithomimus and Struthiomimus probably looked like giant ostriches, complete with feathersif not all over their bodies, at least on certain regions. Therizinosaurs. All of the dozen or so genera of this small family of bizarre, long-clawed, plant-eating theropods likely had feathers, though this has yet to be conclusively proven. Troodonts and oviraptorosaurs. Typified by, you guessed it, the North American Troodon and the central Asian Oviraptor, virtually all of the members of this theropod family seem to have been covered with feathers. Tyrannosaurs. Believe it or not, we have conclusive evidence that least some tyrannosaurs (like the recently discovered Yutyrannus) were featheredand the same may hold for the juveniles of Tyrannosaurus Rex. Avialan dinosaurs. Heres where paleontologists classify the feathered dinosaurs that dont fit in the above categories; the most famous avialan is Archaeopteryx. Further complicating matters, we now have evidence that at least some genera of ornithopods, plant-eating dinosaurs unrelated to modern birds, had primitive feathers as well! (For more on this subject, see Why Did Dinosaurs Have Feathers?) Which Feathered Dinosaurs Evolved Into Birds? What do all of these genera tell us about the evolution of prehistoric birds from dinosaurs? Well, for starters, its impossible to pin down a single missing link between these two types of animals. For a while, scientists believed the 150-million-year-old Archaeopteryx was the indisputable transitional form, but its still not clear if this was a true bird (as some experts claim) or a very small, and not very aerodynamic, theropod dinosaur. (In fact, a new study claims that the feathers of Archaeopteryx werent strong enough to sustain extended bursts of flight.) For more, see Was Archaeopteryx a Bird or a Dinosaur? The problem is, the subsequent discovery of other small, feathered dinosaurs that lived around the same time as Archaeopteryxsuch as Epidendrosaurus, Pedopenna and Xiaotingiahas muddied the picture considerably, and theres no ruling out the possibility that future paleontologists will unearth dino-birds dating to as far back as the Triassic period. In addition, its far from clear that all of these feathered theropods were closely related: evolution has a way of repeating its jokes, and feathers (and wishbones) may well have evolved multiple times. (For more on this subject, see How Did Feathered Dinosaurs Learn to Fly?) The Feathered Dinosaurs of Liaoning Every now and then, a treasure trove of fossils forever changes the publics perception of dinosaurs. Such was the case in the early 1990s, when researchers uncovered the rich deposits in Liaoning, a northeastern province of China. All of the fossils discovered hereincluding exceptionally well-preserved feathered theropods, accounting for over a dozen separate generadate from about 130 million years ago, making Liaoning a spectacular window into the early Cretaceous period. (You can recognize a Liaoning dino-bird from its name; witness the sino, meaning Chinese, in Sinornithosaurus, Sinosauropteryx and Sinovenator.) Since Liaonings fossil deposits represent a mere snapshot in the 165-million-year-old rule of the dinosaurs, their discovery raises the possibility that more dinosaurs were feathered than scientists have ever dreamedand that the evolution of dinosaurs into birds was not a one-time, non-repeatable, linear process. In fact, its very possible that dinosaurs evolved into what we would recognize as birds numerous times over the course of the Mesozoic Erawith only one branch surviving into the modern age and producing those pigeons, sparrows, penguins and eagles we all know and love.

Biography of Nobel Prize Winner Chief Albert Luthuli

Biography of Nobel Prize Winner Chief Albert Luthuli Date of birth:  c.1898, near Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)Date of death:  21 July 1967, railway track near home at Stanger, Natal, South Africa. Early Life Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli was born sometime around 1898 near Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, the son of a Seventh Day Adventist missionary. In 1908 he was sent to his ancestral home at Groutville, Natal where he went to the mission school. Having first trained as a teacher at Edendale, near Pietermaritzburg, Luthuli attended additional courses at Adams College (in 1920), and went on to become part of the college staff. He remained at the college until 1935. Life as a Preacher Albert Luthuli was deeply religious, and during his time at Adams College, he became a lay preacher. His Christian beliefs acted as a foundation for his approach to political life in South Africa at a time when many of his contemporaries were calling for a more militant response to Apartheid. Chieftancy In 1935 Luthuli accepted the chieftaincy of the Groutville reserve (this was not a hereditary position, but awarded as the result of an election) and was suddenly immersed in the realities of South Africas racial politics. The following year JBM Hertzogs United Party government introduced the Representation of Natives Act (Act No 16 of 1936) which removed Black Africans from the common voters role in the Cape (the only part of the Union to allow Black people the franchise). That year also saw the introduction of the Development Trust and Land Act (Act No 18 of 1936) which limited Black African land holding to an area of native reserves - increased under the act to 13.6%, although this percentage was not in fact achieved in practice. Chief Albert Luthuli joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1945 and was elected Natal provincial president in 1951. In 1946 he joined the Natives Representative Council. (This had been set up in 1936 to act in an advisory basis to four white senators who provided parliamentary representation for the entire Black African population.) However, as a result of a mine workers strike on the Witwatersrand gold field and the police response to protesters, relations between the Natives Representative Council and the government became strained. The Council met for the last time in 1946 and was later abolished by the government. In 1952, Chief Luthuli was one of the leading lights behind the Defiance Campaign - a non-violent protest against the pass laws. The Apartheid government was, unsurprisingly, annoyed and he was summoned to Pretoria to answer for his actions. Luthuli was given the choice of renouncing his membership of the ANC or being removed from his position as tribal chief (the post was supported and paid for by the government). Albert Luthuli refused to resign from the ANC, issued a statement to the press (The Road to Freedom is via the Cross) which reaffirmed his support for passive resistance to Apartheid  and was subsequently dismissed from his chieftaincy in November. I have joined my people in the new spirit that moves them today, the spirit that revolts openly and broadly against injustice. At the end of 1952, Albert Luthuli was elected president-general of the ANC. The previous president, Dr. James Moroka, lost support when he pleaded not-guilty to criminal charges laid as a result of his involvement in the Defiance Campaign, rather than accepting the campaigns aim of imprisonment and the tying up of government resources. (Nelson Mandela, provincial president for the ANC in Transvaal, automatically became deputy-president of the ANC.) The government responded by  banning  Luthuli, Mandela, and nearly 100 others. Luthulis Ban Luthulis ban was renewed in 1954, and in 1956 he was arrested - one of 156 people accused of high treason. Luthuli was released shortly after for lack of evidence. Repeated banning caused difficulties for the leadership of the ANC, but Luthuli was re-elected as president-general in 1955 and again 1958. In 1960, following the  Sharpeville Massacre, Luthuli led the call for protest. Once again summoned to a governmental hearing (this time in Johannesburg) Luthuli was horrified when a supporting demonstration turned violent and 72 Black Africans were shot (and another 200 injured). Luthuli responded by publicly burning his pass book. He was detained on 30 March under the State of Emergency declared by the South African government - one of 18,000 arrested in a series of police raids. On release he was confined to his home in Stanger, Natal. Later Years In 1961 Chief Albert Luthuli was awarded the 1960 Nobel Prize for Peace (it had been held over that year) for his part in the anti-Apartheid struggle. In 1962, he was elected Rector of Glasgow University (an honorary position), and the following year published his autobiography, Let My People Go. Although suffering from ill health and failing eyesight, and still restricted to his home in Stanger, Albert Luthuli remained president-general of the ANC. On 21 July 1967, whilst out walking near his home, Luthuli was hit by a train and died. He was supposedly crossing the line at the time -   an explanation dismissed by many of his followers who believed more sinister forces were at work.