A More Punitive Justice System - 1092 Words

Lastly, a more punitive justice system would cause overcrowding within our justice system, making a more detrimental environment for the offenders to live in. The purpose of prisons should be to rehabilitate offenders and prepare them to reenter society. Rather, what prions are doing is locking inmates away in atrocious environments, making them live with less resources and less space to function. This is not a suitable environment for any human being. Cook Roesh (2012) contend that, â€Å"double-bunking inmates increased because of overcrowding, and there are more segregation-like units which have limited offenders’ access to rehabilitation programs† (p. 220). By limiting offenders rehabilitation programs, prisons are not offering their inmates a chance at improving themselves, when the inmates are released, there is still a chance of recidivism. Furthermore, overcrowding showed signs of poor mental and physical health (Cook Roesh, 2012, p. 220). If a more punitive justice system were to come into place, mass incarceration would develop putting prisons at a higher risk of overcrowding. Through overcrowding there are health issues pertaining to the inmates and leaves them with a higher risk of recidivism when leaving prison. The job of prisons should be to turn offenders into productive members of society, not subject them to inhumane living conditions. Although offenders are incarcerated as a punishment to their crimes, it does not show progressive results when theShow MoreRelatedDefining Punitive, Punishment, and Significant in the Justice System903 Words   |  4 Pageswhat we mean by â€Å"punish† and â€Å"punitive† and â€Å"significant.† These terms are subjective and Justices from different political persuasions may have differing opinions. Whether I agree with the outcome or not, it is my opinion that the dissenting Justices, Ginsberg, Breyer (both appointed by Pres. Clinton), and Stevens (appointed by Pres. Fo rd but known to have joined the more liberal Justices on issues) are correct, that is, the act was ambiguous in intent and punitive in effect and that its â€Å"retroactiveRead MoreBad Kids Race And The Transformation Of Juvenile Court1649 Words   |  7 Pagescurrently have a grapple hold on our juvenile justice system. Barry Feld is one of the nations most respected scholars of juvenile justice and currently teaches the subject, amongst other things, at the University of Minnesota. Feld himself graduated from law school at the University of Minnesota and later received his Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard. This book’s main proposal is that there is a blatant contradiction in the way that the juvenile justice system is carried out. Throughout the book, FeldRead MorePunitive Model Of Incarceration During The United States1321 Words   |  6 Pages Examining the Punitive Model of Incarceration in the United States and the Changes that Brought It About Collin S. Lahr Ball State University Abstract This paper explores several different sources that cover some aspect of how the United States Penal System went from the Rehabilitative Model to a punitive system. Bryan Stevenson and Betsy Matthews have written about how drug enforcement and the â€Å"War on Drugs† are responsible. Yeoman Lowbrow’s analysis of the crime rate and statistics willRead MoreCentral Approaches Underpinning The Youth Justice System1101 Words   |  5 Pagesyouth justice system in England and Wales, it is worth drawing attention to the system itself. Originally, the categories of adult and young offenders did not exist in the justice system, which prompted their uniform disposal and retribution. The nineteenth century witnessed a significant development in the area of the English criminal justice system with the realisation that juveniles could not accept full criminal responsibility for their deeds, resulting in a further reformation of the system. OneRead MoreCorrections: From Rehabilitati on to a More Punitive Model Essay1594 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Sameer Noori 24 November 2014 Corrections Paper What changes led corrections away from rehabilitation and toward a more punitive model? Since World War II through the 1970s, many changes occurred in the United States correctional systems. Rehabilitation Model is a treatment program that was designed to reform the inmates. According to www.copower.org, â€Å"This model is similar to the medical model; it regards the person with a disability as in need of services from a rehabilitation professional whoRead MoreIncarceration And High Disproportionality Of Aboriginal Offenders1347 Words   |  6 PagesBy incarcerating offenders the state based justice system ignores offenders needs and histories (Elliott, 2011, p. 72). The state assumes offenders are rational. This rationality is tied to the system looking at the individual level or the â€Å"bad apples† of responsibility (Zimbardo, 2008; Elliot, 2011, p. 72). However, a rational decision maker is unable to always predict potential alternatives and consequences (Zsolnai, 1997). Therefore, the individual level of responsibly ignores other systematicRead MoreEssay about Analysis of Discipline and Punish1609 Words   |  7 PagesMichel Foucault’s Discipline and Punish, although verbose, contains important dialogue concerning the concept of power in the penal systems of late 18th century France with public execution, and the gradual transformation of power in subsequent disciplinary systems up to modern times. Power is closely related to the concepts of violence or force, but they are not the same. Throughout this work, Foucault establishes the trend of using power as a sort of political technology over the human body. Read MoreJury Awards Should Be Restricted1648 Words   |  7 Pagesaward policy has been under a scathing attack from various quotas. The tort liability system is perceived by many people to be out of control, unpredictable, and capricious. Some of the people who have voiced their frustration and disapproval of the system are judges, legislators, and executives from the pharmaceutical, medical, and insurance industries (Greene, Coon and Bornstein, 2001). The critics of the system argue that jury damage awards are highly unpredictable and often excessive on the partRead More Tort Reform Essay979 Words   |  4 Pageswithout defense. From the defendant’s perspective, tort reform provides a defense from extremely large punitive damage awards. There seems to be no median between the two. Neither side will be satisfied. With the help of affiliations such as the American Tort Reform Association and Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, many businesses and corporations are working t o change the current tort system to stop these high cash awards. Various organizations working in favor of tort reform include the AmericanRead MoreEveryday Students Of Color Are Denied Their Right To A1640 Words   |  7 Pagesdisciplined learning environment. There is no argument against this, however the methods utilized to provide a safe climate defy this common sense. More specifically, zero tolerance policies, which require students to be punished consistently and severely in a punitive nature. Zero tolerance policies arose in school systems during the 1990s when the justice system was â€Å"getting tough† on crime as a tactic to control drug abuse. According the Public Agenda removing students from school is supposed to create

Active Experimentation And Its Effects On Reality And The...

ACTIVE EXPERIMENTATION The active experimentation implies the starting of the process again; it is the phase of applying what has been learned from the experience (Kolb, 1984). To plan changes, learners need to have made conclusions from the abstract conceptualization step and put them into practice, renewing actions and assessing the effectiveness of those changes. This phase in simulation is the transformation of realism into reality and the starting of the cycle again. For Rudolph et al, (2006) this is the result of resolving previous behavioural dilemmas. For me, it is a question of incorporating the discovered knowledge in to our frames of reference, to allow the missing link to sink in. Once again, I consider that the degree of learning experience of the learner is important to achieve this. I have not been able to map this last step of Kolb’s cycle with a simulation experience as it happens post-simulation. Active experimentation is the testing of the new knowledge acquired during simulation against a real life experience. I personally see simulation like the platform for a rehearsed reality, like giving learners the opportunity to walk before they can run. For me, simulation is an opportunity to learn how to learn, to train one’s brain to stretch to new knowledge. Kolb raised the issue of educators’ difficulty not on implanting new ideas but on disposing or changing old ones. This difficulty could affect learning by simulation as we are talking about andragogy,Show MoreRelatedProject management approaches for dynamic environments Essay7304 Words   |  30 Pagesinvestigate the nature of projects conducted in fast changing environments. Examples and theory are used to illustrate the nature and challenges of this category. Suitable management approaches are identiï ¬ ed under the following headings: Planning, Experimentation, Lifecycle, Controls, Culture, Communication, and Leadership style. 2. The dynamic project category The paper closes with recommendations for further research. In this paper, control is taken to mean the mechanisms through which resourcesRead MoreWork Based Learning2798 Words   |  12 Pagesfor school children to obtain experience from work (â€Å"Work-based Learning Guide 2002†). According to (Kathleen A. Paris and Sarah A. Mason) it gives a chance to young people to be prepared for the changeover from school to work and, to learn the realities of work and be prepared to make the right choice of work. In Europe (particularly in England, Scotland, Ireland) and in Australia available commendation is more focused on on-the-job preparation and on academic learning linked to work situationsRead MoreThe Fifth Discipline7838 Words   |  32 Pagesclearer and to help us see how to change them effectively. Personal Mastery Mastery means a special level of proficiency. People with a high level of personal mastery are able to consistently realize the results that matter most deeply to them in effect. They approach their life as an artist would approach a work of art, by becoming committed to their own lifelong learning. The discipline of personal mastery, starts with clarifying the things that really matter to us, of living our lives in lineRead MoreAssessment of Credit Management System7096 Words   |  29 Pagesforce in the poverty reduction struggle. ACSI believes that, with the support of its stakeholders, it can successfully dispose the heavy responsibilities it is being charged with in this struggle. ACSI is currently reaching 8-10% of the economically active poor that is looking for microfinance service in the region, and with good repayment rates over the years. Some rightly argue how microfinance can be successfully run in regions like ours, serving very poor people, with little education, limited marketableRead MoreProblem Solving12254 Words   |  50 Pagesusing what you have learnt. One way of understanding how this works is the Experiential Learning Cycle, developed by US psychologist David Kolb. He suggests that the most effective learning occurs if people work their way through a cycle from learning about the theory (which Kolb called Abstract Conceptualisation), through planning how to apply what you have learnt (Active Experimentation), trying it out (Experience) and then thinking about the experience and what you have learnt from it (CriticalRead MoreOn the Interface between Operations and Human Resources Management16889 Words   |  68 Pagesscholars publishing in disjoint sets of journals, drawing on mostly separate disciplinary foundations. Yet, operations and human resources are intimately related at a fundamental level. Operations are the context that often explains or moderates the effects of human resource activities such as pay, training, communications, and stafï ¬ ng. Human responses to OM systems often explain variations or anomalies that would otherwise be treated as randomness or error variance in traditional operations researchRead MoreChallenges and Current Trends of Crm in Pc Industry: a Case Study at Dell Asia Pacific5686 Words   |  23 Pagescompetitions. Categories and Subject Descriptors [Transaction Processing and Enterprise Resources Planning System]: Traditional Transaction Processing Application General Terms Management, Measurement, Documentation, Performance, Economics, Experimentation, Human Factors, Theory Keywords Customer Relationship Management (CRM), PC industry, Information Technology (IT), Web-based customer interaction (WCI) 1. INTRODUCTION Breakthroughs in Information Technology (IT) have changed the fundamentalRead MoreThe Role of Gender in Consumer Behavior4442 Words   |  18 Pagesthat prenatal testosterone likely plays a role in establishing the sex difference in using landmarks for navigation.† A major drawback regarding most research on this subject is that is it conducted primarily on non-human subjects (hormonal experimentation can require large amounts of blood samples). The difficulty lies in determining what is relevant for our species. For example, a recent experiment determined that male roundworms preferred the smell of green vegetables, as opposed to hermaphroditicRead MoreMarketing Management Sample Exam14972 Words   |  60 Pagesin Amsterdam, has 24 employees. Most are | | |hired to do the printing work for the company s clients. Karen herself and the account manager are primarily occupied with | | |sales. Which of the descriptions below best covers the reality of the situation? | |[pic] |The administrative employee is primarily involved with commercial economics, and the entrepreneur is primarily involved | | |with business economics. Read MoreDesigning Intervention9340 Words   |  38 PagesUnfortunately, and in contrast to other applied disciplines such as medicine and engineering, knowledge of intervention effects is in a rudimentary stage of development in OD. Much of the evaluation research lacks sufficient rigor to make strong causal inferences about the success or failure of change programs. Moreover, few attempts have been made to examine the comparative effects of different OD techniques. All of these factors make it difficult to know whether one method is more effective than another

The Enduring Vision (vol. 5)Chapter 12 Outline Free Essays

Deyon Keaton Sotnick Chapter 13: Immigration, Expansion, and Sectional Conflict, 1840-1848 l. Introduction: After the murder of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young led the main body of Mormons from Illinois to a new homeland in the Great Salt Lake valley. In part, Youngs aim was to flee persecution by Gentiles (non-Mormons). We will write a custom essay sample on The Enduring Vision (vol. 5)Chapter 12 Outline or any similar topic only for you Order Now Reasons for Mormons to head west: (1) Deseret lay outside the United States; and Smith’s murder had led many Mormons to conclude that they could no longer live along the Gentiles. 2)Gentiles were also on the move west; the very remoteness and aridity of Deseret made it unlikely that ny permanent settlement of Gentiles would take place. Mormons earned money in their new city by trade with Gentile wayfarers in less than a thousand days into James K. Polk’s presidency, the US had increased its land area by at least 50 percent. Most immigrants gravitated to the expansionist Democratic party, and the immigrant vote help to tip the vote to Polk, an ardent expansionist. Democrats saw expansion as a way to reduce strife between the sections. Oregon would go to the North, Texas the South and California to everyone. II. Newcomers and Natives A. Expectations and Realities A desire for religious freedom drew some emigrants to the United States. Their hope was fed by a continuous stream of travelers’ accounts and letters from relatives describing America as a utopia for poor people. But many emigrants faced difficulties. Many spent savings on tickets to boats that were delayed for months and many others were sold meaningless tickets. They encountered six weeks or longer on the sea, packed almost as tightly as what slaves encountered, and travelling on cargo ships. When they landed, they soon found that farming in American farms was very solated, unlike in Europe where social and cultural lives revolved around communities. The Irish, who usually arrived in New England, found little land or capital for farming, and crowded into urban areas. Likewise, Germans, who arrived in New Orleans, found little opportunity with slave labor, and moved upriver and into urban areas where there was a community. By 1860. these two groups formed more than 60 percent of the population of several major cities. B. The Germans In 1860, Germany was not a national-state but, a collection of small kingdoms. German immigrants came from a wide range of social classes and occupations. For all their differences, a common language kept them together, and German neighborhoods developed and prospered, much to the enw of Anglo-Americans who disdained their clannishness. In response, Germans became even more clannish. C. The Irish Between 181 5 and 1860, the Irish immigration into the United States passed through starving as many as a million people to death. To escape this, 1. 8 million Irish people migrated to the US between 1845 and 1854. Overwhelmingly poor and Catholic, the Irish usually entered the workforce near or at the bottom. Irish men dug cellars and lived in them, or made canal and railroad beds. Women became domestic servants and entered the workforce at an early age. Irish usually married late, which makes natural the large number of single Irish women in America. Yet some struggled up the social ladder, becoming foremen and supervisors. Others rose into the middle class by opening grocery and liquor stores. The two groups both brought conflict. The poorer Irish competed directly with free blacks, stirring up negative emotions towards blacks and abolitionists. Meanwhile, the middle class clashed with native- born white workers. D. Anti-Catholicism, Nativism and Labor Protest The hostility of native-born whites towards the Irish often took the form of anti- Catholicism. Even from Puritan times, there were high anti-catholic sentiments. Catholics made doctrine the province of pope and bishops. Conspiracies were rife. Future telegraph inventor, Samuel Morse, warned in 1835 that despotic Europe goverNew Mexicoent were flooding US with Catholic immigrants to destroy republican institutions. A protestant mob turned to ash a convent suspected to contain torture chambers the same year, while Lyman Beecher warned Protestants that Catholic immigrants to the West was a conspiracy to dominate the region. Maria Monks The Awful Disclosure of the Hotel Dieu Nunnery in Montreal brought back anti-Catholic feelings. The Order of the Star-spangled Banner would evolve into the ‘Know Nothing’, or the American Party and would become a major political force in the 1850’s. Protestants feared for their Jobs and feared that Catholic immigrants were a threat to their Jobs, in reaction many Protestants Joined nativist societies. E. Labor Protest and Immigrant Politics America cherished the notion that a nation with abundant land would never give way toa permanent class of wage slaves. Another of laborers’ response to wage cuts in he panic was supporting land reforms. Land reformers argued that labor for wages ended any hope of economic independence. Labor unions appealed to workers who did not see eye to eye with land reformers. In an important decision, the Supreme Court ruled in Commonwealth vs. Hunt, that labor unions were not illegal monopolies that restrained trade. Many immigrants quickly became politically active as they found labor organizations could help them find employment and lodging. Immigrants usually supported the Democratic party for they felt that Jackson gave a non- aristocratic feel. In addition, Whigs supported anti slavery which would create more competition for immigrants By the same token, the Democratic party persuaded immigrants that national issues such as banking and tariffs were vital to them. In the 1840s, Democrats tried to convince immigrants that national expansion likewise advanced their interests. II. The West and Beyond A. The Far West Obstructed by The Great Plains, many Americans began moving past the Rocky Mountains to the Far West. The Adams-Onis (Transcontinental) Treaty had left Spain in undisputed possession of Texas as well as California and the New Mexico territory. In 1821, Mexico gained independence and took over all Spanish North American Oregon Country. Collectively, the territories Texas, New Mexico, California, and Oregon was an extremely vast land, but during the 1820s, these lands were viewed by US, I-JK, and Mexico as a remote frontier. B. Far Western Frontier The earliest American and British on the West Coast were fur traders who had reached California by sailing around South America. In the otherwise undeveloped CA economy, hides were called â€Å"California bank notes. † The trade in CA caused little friction with Mexico because Mexico produced virtually no manufactured goods. Hispanic people born in California (called Californios) were as eager to buy as the traders were to sell†so eager that they sometimes rowed out to the vessels laden with goods, thus sparing the traders the trip ashore. Trading links also developed in the 1820s between St. Louis and Santa Fe along the Santa Fe Trail. The Panic of 1819 left many midwest Americans with a lot of unsold goods. They loaded wagons with goods and rumbled westward along the trail. To a far greater extent than Spain, Mexico welcomed this, as more than half the goods entering through Santa Fe trickled into internal Mexico. So popular was this trade that the Mexican silver peso traders brought back became the principal medium of exchange in Missouri. C. The American Settlement of Texas to 1835 During the 1820s, Americans began to settle the eastern part of Mexican state, Coahuila-Texas. Meanwhile, with Mexico’s independence came the end of Spanish missions, and many Natives returned to nomadic ways. In 1824, the Mexican govt. , wanting protection from Natives by American settlement, began bestowing generous land grants on agents known as empresarios. Initially, most Americans, like the empresario Stephen F. Austin, were content to live in Texas as naturalized Mexican citizens. But trouble brewed quickly as American settlers brought slaves. Mexico closed American immigration in 1830, but Americans continued to flood in with their slaves, and in 1834, Austin secured repeal of the 1830 prohibition. How to cite The Enduring Vision (vol. 5)Chapter 12 Outline, Papers

Case Study on Fetal Abnormality

Question: Which theory or theories are being used by Jessica, Marco, Maria, and Dr. Wilson to determine the moral status of the fetus? Explain. How does the theory determine or influence each of their recommendation for action? What theory do you agree with? How would the theory determine or influence the recommendation for action? Answer: Theories of moral status: The most influential theory of moral status is the notion of personhood where it is seen that certain human beings posses not only a capacity for making a decision but also for more complex mental activities like self-awareness, a sense of responsibility and reasoning and they also have the possession of the features and capacities like the ability to reason, self-motivated activity and consciousness. Here the doctor goes through a conflict theory where it is difficult for the doctor to explain the facts to the father as well as to the aunt (Manninen et al (2007). The father is unable to make a decision as he is becoming a father for the first time and is not be able to reason out the cause of the doctors decision. The aunt is thinking from a religious point of view where she fears God and wants the couple to leave it the way God wants it to be. Finally the mother goes through fear and coping theory were she is torn between the world and the feeling of motherhood. This weakens her me ntal strength and capacity to cope up with this situation. Therefore the entire situation goes against the birth of the fetus in this case study. The influence of actions: Every individual thinks in different ways and act as per the condition. Here the doctor tries to convey the facts about the health condition of the fetus and finds it necessary to terminate or end the pregnancy as the later results will be very drastic for the child to cope up with in future. Whereas the father thinks that it is better to keep the deformity news of the fetus a secret from the mother as he thinks it would affect her mentally as well as physically if she got to know the truth about the fetuss abnormality. Hence he tries to convince the doctor not to mention it to the mother and hide the truth from her as the main aim of the doctor is to convey the message of the condition of the fetus to the mother. The aunt here is praying to god and crying her heart out to Him as she thinks that God would be able to listen to her prayers and change the condition of the fetus and make things better. Finally the mother after hearing about the abnormal condition of the fetus is unable t o decide what the best thing she can do as she is emotional and not strong enough to cope up with the situation and take a decision (Saunders et al (2006). She also feels the sense of being torn between the world and her heart. Therefore all these situations of conflict, anxiety and coping factor are the causes of the influence of actions. Conclusion: To conclude the statement of the theories it can be said that different individuals deal with different situations in a varied manner. Here the doctor has diagnosed the condition of Down syndrome of the fetus and is concerned about the health factor of the fetus and also feels it is a genetic problem and can lead to carrying over from one generation to the other. The doctor is also considering the financial aspects as the treatment process of the fetus in future would be very expensive as proper medication has to be done and also once the baby is born he would constantly require medical treatment. Here the conflict of decision making is seen where the doctor has to convince the father to follow his instructions and inform the mother about the present situation and condition of the fetus. The doctor must also have the patience in doing this and not lose his temperament. Next the parents experience the coping theory where they have to be aware of all the consequences of the situation a nd health condition of the fetus and also be ready to accept the termination of the pregnancy which is very tough for the mother. The mother faces a challenge of coping up with the situation as she has to keep her mind open to agree with the doctor as the financial and economic conditions of the parents are not that good so as to give birth to a child who is faced with various abnormalities. The mother also feels that she would be killing a child and his identity by going through the process of abortion and feels its not ethically right to do it. Therefore the mother has to have a matured mind and needs to cope up with the situation in a positive way. References Manninen, Bertha. "Revisiting the Argument from Fetal Potential." Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine 2, no. 1 (2007). Saunders, Peter. "The Moral Status of the Embryo." Nucleus (2006).

Mexican Economy free essay sample

Overview of Mexico as the Big Emerging Market (BEM) in the globalization process for purpose of exporting banking software from U.S.

How does Robert Louis Stevenson in Jekyll and Hyde negotiate the leap between mystery and paranormal Essay Example

How does Robert Louis Stevenson in Jekyll and Hyde negotiate the leap between mystery and paranormal Essay Example How does Robert Louis Stevenson in Jekyll and Hyde negotiate the leap between mystery and paranormal Paper How does Robert Louis Stevenson in Jekyll and Hyde negotiate the leap between mystery and paranormal Paper they might think. If the novel were set in a far away area, like Dracula is, the reader would feel safe and calm. Being in London the reader feels in danger and cautious. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was first published in 1886, a time at when people were judged by their looks. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde there is constant reference to the way Hyde looks, and every description talk of how awful and strange he looks. For example on pg 15, there is description of Hydes appearance according to Mr Enfield. The description is fairly long, but it uses words like something wrong with his appearance displeasing deformed downright detestable In other descriptions words like this or of that nature are used to describe Hydes looks, and it is repeated often. Due to the repeats, it is engraved in the readers brains, and so they remember how he looks whenever they read his name and therefore it makes the descriptions seem more realistic. Throughout the novel, Stevenson just adds little bits of realism into the descriptions of objects. For example, at the start of The last Night chapter, Poole wipes himself with a red handkerchief. Why do we need to know its red? Thats irrelevant, you might think. But knowing the colour of it gives us a sense of knowledge of what is happening and makes the novel more realistic. Also, red is associated with blood. It is little things like that, and other bigger uses of realism, that allow Stevenson to negotiate the jump between mystery and paranormal.

Personal Retirement Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal Retirement - Assignment Example The personal retirement planning is a disciplined and step-by step procedure that ensures a secured future retirement life. Problem Formulation and Determination of Objectives The first step in planning personal retirement is to determine the current and future objectives. For instance, among many options that are available, the most preferable option is the growth in income. On the contrary, others might consider the safety of principal investment and they prefer investment in less risky assets. Sometimes situations might require fixed periodical earnings. There is another option left for personal retirement and that is adapted by many smart individuals who prefer to invest in a basket of securities in order to diversify investment rather than concentrating the entire investable fund in single option (Goetzmann & Kumar, 2008, pp.1-10). Some individuals with higher risk appetite might also prefer investment in relatively risky securities in order to earn higher returns in future (Sta tman, 2004, pp.50-51). Hence, it is possible that the requirement on one individual will not be the same as other thus the requirement objectives are likely to vary from one individual to another (Grinold & Kahn, No Date, p.2). So, if I prefer higher current consumption assuming that the future is uncertain, others might like to create a safer future for their family and children (Montana State University, 2010) and the reverse scenario is also applicable. For my personal retirement problem I plan to efficiently balance and allocate current consumption and future consumption by vesting the available investible fund in various retirement options and thus bring certainty in future earnings. Determination of Investible Funds My post retirement income may come from sources such as pensions, social security, trusts, or annuities. The remaining required amount that I might fall short of (for purchasing assets or sudden contingent requirements etc.) may be covered by accumulated savings be fore retirement or through investment. In order to formulate my personal retirement plan I need to make two important assumptions as follows: Assuming that I have a fixed investible amount of $50,000 and my current earnings are $2000; Assuming that I would not require consuming any part of fixed investible fund unless there is an emergency requirement. Hence, according to this basic framework it can be said that I would like to carry out my daily activities financed by my current income and for any other purpose such as asset purchase, medical treatment, education fee payment, etc. will be funded through investment or owed funds. Determination of Retirement Age and Expected Future Earnings According to the RES (Retirement Eligibility and Services) and Federal Employee Retirement System that assesses the eligibility criteria for the annuity benefits for individual, the social security administration (SSA) benefits will be available to an individual as and on the day he or she retires . So, from the above discussion and eligibility criteria I would prefer my minimum age of retirement to be 60 years in the personal retireme

The Role of Religion in the Formation of America Essay

The Role of Religion in the Formation of America - Essay Example â€Å"Religion was an important issue for many Americans in their personal lives at the time of the American Revolution and the ratification of the Constitution†¦ Religion played a formative role in many of the colonies at the time of their founding.† (Merriman, 68) Plymouth Plantation was founded by a group including separatists, who are known as the Pilgrims, and it was one of the earliest colonies to be founded by the English in North America which provided the first sizable stable English settlement in the region. Plymouth Plantation was an important settlement for the people were fleeing religious persecution and searching for an appropriate place to worship their God. Thus, the people of the Plymouth Plantation were very religious and its social and legal systems were intimately linked to the religious beliefs of the settlers. The influence of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation on the formation of our country is indisputable and the people and events of this colony have formed part of our folklore. Similarly, the works of Roger Williams, the controversial young Puritan minister and the founder of Rhode Island, have greatly influenced the formation of our country.

Public Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Public Law - Essay Example Therefore, section 4 attains its aims via political and not legal means through section 10 that allows the government to undertake amendment of legislation sans full approval of the legislature. In this case, a remedial order can be made only following a declaration of compatibility or similar European court findings with every appeal being completed or renounced expressly. Section 4 will allow a declaration of incompatibility by the court if, by chance, it is satisfied that its provisions do not match well to the rights convention (Clements, 2008: p21). Section 3 makes a requirement that courts should interpret the legislation as being compatible with the rights convention when and where possible. While the declaration of incompatibility is a last resort measure, there are cases where the court’s interpretation may assume administrative powers that, ordinarily, it would not possess with consequences that the court is not best placed to make a consideration (Barnett, 2009: p61 ). This meaning departs significantly from an Act of Parliament’s fundamental feature that it is likely to have broken the boundary between amendment and interpretation. The statute’s thrust is essential, especially since going against this thrust needs legislative power that courts of law do not possess. In the case of A v. Ministry of Justice, a declaration of incompatibility following under the 4th Section is the appropriate remedy. The power of a judge to issue a declaration of incompatibility can allow a judge to avoid becoming involved in issues of sensitive public interests (Mwalimu, 2010: p13). Declarations of incompatibility are optional and, in this case, the court needs to choose whether to use it or not according to their discretion. The judge can use the declaration of incompatibility if a point has been identified, as well as fully argued, at a hearing that was appointed for the purpose. The judge can also choose not to use the declaration of incompatibil ity unless it becomes appropriate for the incompatibility to be formally recorded via a declaration. Finally, the judges can also issue a declaration that serves a legislative purpose. It should also provide for a basis, for a crown minister, to consider whether compelling reasons exist to amend the legislation (Mwalimu, 2010: p14). In the case of A v. Justice Ministry, the judge may also find it unnecessary to give a declaration of incompatibility since the Secretary of State had already accepted the domestic law as being incompatible with the rights convention. In this case, making another declaration of incompatibility would exert unnecessary pressure to amend legislation on the parliament. The power to make a declaration of incompatibility with regards to human rights is only likely to be available to judges of the High Court. Judges must ensure that any declaration does not make any difference to the case at hand as the High Court will still have to use the legislation (Elliott & Thomas, 2011: p72). The declaration of incompatibility must also not make differences to any cases, which will occur in the future since the legislation will have to remain valid. Finally, the judg

Design Of The Rear Spoiler For Road Vehicles Engineering Essay

Design Of The Rear Spoiler For Road Vehicles Engineering Essay ABSTRACT When objects move through air, forces are generated by the relative motion between the air and surfaces of the object. Aerodynamics is the study of these forces, generated by the motion of air, usually aerodynamics are categorized according to the type of flow as subsonic, hypersonic, supersonic The spoiler is also a part of the aerodynamics. The function of the spoiler is to spoil the unfavourable flow of air flowing through the car and generate a proportional downforce. This work describes the design and the performance of the rear spoiler. Content 1. Introduction6 2. Literature Review7 2.1 Principle7 2.2 Working of Rear wing8 2.3Criteria for efficiency of the spoiler..9 3. Material..12 3.1 Material Types12 3.2 ABS Material12 4. Design calculation..13 5. Applications15 6. Conclusion..16 Figures Fig. 2.1.8 Fig. 2.2.9 Fig. 2.3..10 Tables Table 1..13 Table 1..14 Chapter 1 Introduction A spoiler is an aerodynamic device which is used to spoil the unfavourable air (unwanted movement of air like turbulence) of a car which is in motion. Basically this device fitted to the front and rear of the vehicle. The front spoiler also called as front wing or air dam, and the rear spoiler is also called as rear wing. From historical point of view, post-world-war 11 automobile racing was initially dominated by developments related to engine technology, and later to tire advancements. During the 1960s, race car aerodynamics evolved as an important and relatively inexpensive technology that could place less well-funded teams. Over time, the cars aerodynamics on vehicles has become more refined as cars are now tested in expensive wind tunnels as part of continued development process. The biggest jump in speed occurred in the 1972 with the first efficient use of front and rear wings. It has even nearly become one of the only aspects of performance gain due to the very marginal gains that can currently be made by engine changes or other mechanic component development. Chapter 2 Literature review 2.1 Principle: The main principle of the spoiler is to reduce the rear end lift that means to increase the downforce and to spoil unfavourable air movement across a body. Lift is one of the main aerodynamic forces imposed on a vehicle, but unlike drag, lift can be manipulated to enhance the performance of a car. Lift is the force that acts on a vehicle normal to the road surface that the vehicle rides on. Lift usually has the effect of pulling or lifting the vehicle away from the surface it drives on. However, by manipulating the car geometry it is possible to create negative lift, or down-force. Down-force enhances vehicle performance by increasing the normal load on the tires. This increases the potential cornering force which results in the ability of the vehicle to corner faster. This down force can be compared to a virtual increase in weight, there by pressing the car down onto the road and increasing the available frictional force between the car tyres and the road, which in effect enables higher cornering speeds. Drag is the aerodynamics force that resists the vehicles motion through a fluid and points backwards. Drag is detrimental to vehicle performance as it can limit the top speed of a vehicle and increase the fuel consumption, both of which are negative consequences for vehicles. Its size is proportional to the speed differential between the air and the solid object. What this wings or spoilers does is it prevents the separation of flow and thereby preventing the formation of vortices or helps to fill the vacuum in the rear end more effectively thus reducing drag. So what actually this wings does is that, The wing works by differentiating pressure on the top and bottom surface of the wing. As mentioned previously, the higher the speed of a given volume of air, the lower the pressure of that air, and vice-versa. What a wing does is make the air passing under it travel a larger distance than the air passing over it (in race car applications). Because air molecules approaching the leading edge of the wing are forced to separate, some going over the top of the wing, and some going under the bottom, they are forced to travel differing distances in order to Meet up again at the trailing edge of the wing. This is part of Bernoullis theory. What happens is that the lower pressure area under the wing allows the higher pressure area above the wing to push down on the wing, and hence the car its mounted to. The way a real, shaped wing works is essentially the same as an airplane wing, but its inverted. An airplane wing produces lift, a car wing produces negative lift or in other words what we call us, downforce. That lift is generated by a difference in pressure on both sides of the wing.    Well, if you look closely at the drawings, youll see that the upper side of the wing is relatively straight, but the bottom side is curved. This means that the air that goes above the wing travels a relatively straight path, which is short. The air under the wing has to follow the curve, and hence travel a greater distance. Now theres Bernoullis law, which basically states that the total amount of energy in a volume of fluid has to remain constant. (Unless you heat it or expose an enclosed volume of it to some form of mechanical work) If you assume the air doesnt move up and down too much, it boils down to this: if air (or any fluid, for that matter) speeds up, its pressure drops. From an energetic point of view, this makes sense: if more energy is needed to maintain the speed of the particles, theres less energy left do do work by applying pressure to the surfaces. In short: on the underside, air has to travel further in the same amount of time, which means it has to speed up, which means its pressure drops. More pressure on top of the wing and less on the underside results in a net downward force called downforce. 2.2 How the rear wing works: The rear wing assists the front wing and rear diffuser in the overall downforce setup of the car. The angle of the wing is adjusted according to each specific Grand Prix circuit, depending on the amount of downforce required, the weather and the amount of mechanical grip available. The end plates located at the sides of the wing are designed to smooth the meeting of two different airflows the high pressure air above the car tries to switch places with the low pressure air below the car and it is this that causes the spinning flow of air behind the car. When these two forces meet they form a vortex, a spinning flow of air which is very turbulent. 2.3 The efficiency of the wings is based on following criteria: Aspect Ratio The amount of downforce produced by a wing is determined by its size. The length to width ratio is called the aspect ratio; the larger the wing the greater the downforce. As the higher the Aspect ratio more efficient the wing will be. The higher the aspect ratio, the less air resistance created by the vortex at the wing tips. The aspect ratio is the span of the air foil (the long dimension perpendicular to the air flow) divided by its dimension parallel to the airflow. The angle of attack Fig 2.1 The efficiency of the wing is the downforce to drag ratio. The amount of downforce generated depends upon the angle or tilt of the wing. The greater the angle of attack the more the downforce will be created. While increasing downforce a wing also increases unwanted drag. Drag increases with the angle of attack as already stated. The downforce generated by the wing acts in vertical downward direction, while drag acts in the opposite direction to the air flow. Fig 2.2 From the above two graphs of coefficient of drag VS angle of attack the coefficient of drag can be assumed, if the angle of attack is 80 then the coefficient of drag will be 0.07. The height of the wing: The third thing is the height of the spoiler. The height also affects the performance of the spoiler. The gap between the trunk lid and the wing can make air to pass easily. The fig shows the effect of the height of the wing on the car. So the height is taken as 130 mm. Fig 2.3 Chapter 3 Material 3.1 Material types Spoilers are usually made of: ABS plastic Most original equipment manufacturers create spoilers produced by casting ABS plastic with various admixtures, which bring in plasticity to this inexpensive but fragile material. Frailness is a main disadvantage of plastic, which increases with product age and is caused by the evaporation of volatile phenols. Fibreglass Used in car parts production due to the low cost of the manufacturing process. Fibreglass spoilers consist of fibreglass filler fastened with synthetic tar. Fibreglass is sufficiently durable and workable, but has become unprofitable for large scale production. Silicon more recently, many auto accessory manufacturers are using silicon-organic polymers. The main benefit of this material is its phenomenal plasticity. Silicon possesses extra high thermal characteristics and provides a longer product lifetime. Carbon fibreglass based on carbon fibre is the youngest material on the automotive aftermarket. Carbon is light weight, durable, but also a very expensive material. Unlike ordinary fibreglass, solidification of the connecting tar takes place in a pressure chamber using high temperatures. Due to the very large amount of waste during the manufacturing process, large scale producers cannot widely use carbon fiber in automobile parts production currently. 3.2 ABS Material ABS  Resistance: Excellent resistance (no attack) to Glycerine, Inorganic Salts, Alkalis, Many Acids, Most Alcohols and Hydrocarbons Limited resistance (moderate attack and suitable for short term use only) to Weak Acids Poor resistance (not recommended for use with) Strong Acids and Solvents, Ketones, Aldehydes, Esters, and some Chlorinated Hydrocarbons ABS  Quick Facts: Maximum Temperature: 80 °C Minimum Temperature: -40 °C Autoclavable:  No Melting Point: 221 °F 105 °C Tensile Strength: 4,300 psi Hardness: R110 UV Resistance:  Poor Translucent Rigid Specific Gravity: 1.04 ABS Fabrication: It can be thermo-formed, pressure formed, blow moulded, sheared, sawed, drilled, or even cold stamped Joints can be ultrasonic welded, thermo-welded, and chemically bonded Impact resistant Commonly used for telephone bodies, safety helmets, piping, furniture, car components, TV casings, radios, control panels, and similar Chapter 4 Design Calculations The design of the rear wing or spoiler of the car is totally dependent on the coefficient of the drag. Higher the coefficient of drag, greater the performance of that spoiler. The coefficient of drag is directly proportional to the angle of the spoiler where the air attacks. As the angle increases the drag coefficient increases. To design the spoiler the width of the car should be necessary to consider the wing span that means the total length of the spoiler. The following table shows the most common width of the cars: Table 1 Honda City Toyota Corolla Kia Forte Mitsubishi Lancer Width 1715 1710 1775 1770 By considering the common width in the range of 1700 1780 mm, the length of the spoiler 1700mm can be acceptable to create the max drag force. The formula for downforce of a wing is given by: Where: D  is downforce in  Newton WS  is  wingspan  in metres H  is height in metres AoA  is  angle of attack F  is drag coefficient à Ã‚ Ã‚  is  air density  in kg/m ³ V  is  velocity  in m/s The data for the calculation of the spoiler is as follows: Table 2 WS/ Length 1700mm 1.7 m Height 100mm 0.1 m Angle of attack 150 (15 x à Ã¢â€š ¬/180) 0.26 radians Coefficient of drag (according to AOA) 0.015 0.015 Density of air (à °Ã‚ Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ ) 1.2 1.2 Max. Velocity (V) 200 km/hr (200/3.6) 55.55 m/s The angle of attack is taken as 150, because the car should have some downforce but in some limit. So if the angle of attack increased the drag will increase which can affect the performance of the vehicle like less fuel economy. Therefore the angle 150 is the perfect angle for the road vehicle spoiler. Also to design spoiler the second thing is the speed of the vehicle. To achieve the best performance max speed required that is 200km/hr for a normal road vehicle. The third thing is the height of the spoiler. The height also affects the performance of the spoiler. The gap between the trunk lid and the wing can make air to pass easily. So the height is taken as 100 mm. Therefore by substituting the above values in the formula, D = x (1.7 x 0.13 x 0.26) x 0.015 x 1.2 x (55.55)2 D = 1.595 N Therefore the downforce created by the spoiler is 1.2275 N. This could be acceptable for a normal road vehicle. Chapter 5 Applications Cars have spoilers to increase their grip on the road. Normally the weight of a car is the only thing that forces the tires down onto the pavement. Without spoilers, the only way to increase the grip would be to increase the weight, or to change the compound the tire was made out of. The only problem with increasing the weight is that it doesnt help in turns, where you really want to grip. All that extra weight has inertia, which you have to overcome to turn, so increasing the weight doesnt help at all. The way the spoiler works is like an airplane wing, but upside down. The spoiler actually generates whats called down force on the body of the car.   Chapter 6 Conclusion The design of spoiler described in this project can be used for any road vehicle having width at least 1700mm. The main aim to design this type of spoiler is to improve the overall performance of the car with respect to dragforce. The designed spoiler could be give the best result if it will be in use.

Delegation Essay -- essays research papers

What is Delegation? Delegation is, the assignment of authority and responsibility to a subordinate at a lower level. (https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/resource/resource.asp) Basically what this definition means is if you are a Manager in your company, Delegation is the process in which you assign important task to other employees. In doing this process as a manager you must 1) Identify the task that is to be accomplished, 2) Choose the right employee to complete the assignment, 3) give complete and concise directions, 4) The next step is to monitor the progress of the assignment, check back with your employees to see how things are going and to make sure deadlines are being kept. 5) Provide feedback in order for your employees to complete the task. Effective Delegation Managing people effectively is one of the major challenges facing organizations today. Effective managers should be able to clearly define his/her role within an organization. Managers need to make appropriate decisions, delegate tasks, empower people, manage conflict well and LISTEN. Managers need to identify specific skills for being effective within the organization. In this paper I will cover what skills are necessary for effective delegation as a manager and how a manger can effectively delegate tasks. Delegation will always be one of the most important management skills - and one of the easiest to get wrong. Good delegation saves you time, develops you people, grooms a successor, and motivates. Too ...

Reservation Blues Essay

Sherman Alexie, author of the novel Reservation Blues, explains that at the start of an Indian’s life on a reservation, he or she is destined to be hopeless. First, parental guidance is infrequent leaving many infant Indians with an insufficient childhood. After that, Indian children experience poor education revolved around heaps of stereotyping and bullying from their white classmates and teachers. Next, any sort of entertainment such as television, music, and books are extremely rare. Then leaving their life with a lack of stability and sustainability, an Indian grows up on a reservation with little to no job opportunity. On top of that, reservations are subjected to commodity food; food hardly sufficient and plentiful enough to satisfy a human’s basic needs. All of these factors fill the lives on the reservation with despair, causing most Indians to indulge in alcohol, violence, and suicide. And so, hopelessness within modern Native Americans ultimately leads to sel f destructive behavior. Hopelessness eludes few Indians on the Spokanes Reservations, and Samuel Build-The-Fire profoundly exemplifies lost hope. Alexie asserts that when Builds-The-Fires was young, he was named Player of the Year and was interviewed by Walter Cronkite because of his significant basketball talent. Samuel became a hero because of his success, and his fellow tribe members wanted him to become more than just an average Indian on the reservation. Until, that is, Alexie describes that after a crooked basketball game with the Reservation’s white policeman, Samuel’s basketball ability was lost. This loss in Samuel’s life created a void, leaving him empty. After dragging his old, drunken, helpless father in from the lawn outside, Builds-The-Fire’s son, Thomas expresses that â€Å"His basketball days [are] over, he [doesn’t] have much else.† Finally, Samuel’s destructive behavior of being an alcoholic and a constant public disturbance articulates that he has no hope in life. Victor’s life reveals a life without family, education and income. Alexie explains that Victor watching his dead mother being stuffed into a trunk by his step-father invokes the start of Victor’s hopeless life. This depicts the sort of troubled life Victor has lived. The only spawn of hope Victor formulates is within his friendship with Junior; however, that hope soon dies as Alexie reveals that Junior committed suicide. In being too inept to  obtain a job due to his lack of education, Victor maintains a full-time career in being a hopeless drunk just like Samuel Builds-The-Fire. Alexie suggests nothing else is left for Victor to do in life except to be destructive. Alexie elucidates that Junior failed at being successful at life outside of the reservation and could not handle living with his failure so he committed suicide. In being one of the intelligent Indians on the Reservation, Junior sought a college education. Junior had hope that he could escape life on the Reservation. Nevertheless, he dropped out of college and fell in love with a white-woman named Lynn. Alexie discloses that Junior got Lynn pregnant and she rejected Junior as a suitable life partner and father to her child because Junior was Indian. These series of events made Junior feel not only very forlorn in general, but also ashamed to be an Indian. Alexie then conveys that Liz’s abortion of the baby evokes suicidal thoughts within Junior. In the end, Junior becomes so distraught with what has become of his life that he kills himself. The modern Native American has a life where there is no hope and a great amount of self destruction. Samuel, Victor, and Junior all had things that supplied them with some sort of hope. Samuel had basketball, Victor had Junior, and Junior had his own intelligence, but in the end each individual lost their source of hope. Alexie’s writing is a rare and honest interpretation of the many different factors and issues the modern Indian comes to terms with during the course of their life. The lack of hope within Native American Reservations is just one of many tribulations faced, but it produces some of the most self-destructive results.

Teddy Roosevelt essays

Teddy Roosevelt essays Theodore Roosevelt, the second of four children, was born in New York, New York on October 27, 1858. He was part Dutch, English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, French, and German. Because of Roosevelts poor health, he suffered from asthma and defective vision. He had great energy, curiosity, and determination like his father. Teedie as his family would call him, loved books and the outdoors. He combined these interests into nature study. When he was ten and again when he was fourteen, Teedie went with his family on yearlong trips to Europe and the Middle East. His father built a gymnasium in his house so he could exercise regularly. His father said that he would need a strong body to give his mind a chance to develop fully. Over time, Roosevelt overcame his asthma and built up unusual physical strength. On October 27, 1880, Roosevelt married Alice Hathaway. They were a happily married couple for about 3 years until she died on February 13, 1884, following a baby girl the next day named, Alice Roosevelts mother died on the same day as Theodores wife. Baby Alice survived, and was subsequently married in a lavish White House ceremony to Nicholas Longworth. Meanwhile, Roosevelt married his childhood sweetheart, Edith Kermit Carow, in London. She was an intelligent, sensitive and cultivated woman. Resignedly, she accepted many of her husbands most disruptive decisions, such as his break with the Republican Party in 1912. She gave four sons-Theodore, Jr.; Archibals; Quentin; and a daughrt Ethel. The energetic kids in the Roosevelt family were the liveliest group of children to live in the White House. September 14, 1901 Roosevelt took the oath of office at Buffalo and became the twenty-sixth President of the United States. At age 42, he was the youngest man to hold that office. In May of 1902, Crater Lake National Park was established. Other National Parks established by Roosevelt are Windy Cave National Pa...

International trade in Nigeria

International trade in Nigeria Introduction Globalization refers to â€Å"the growing interdependence of countries resulting from the increasing integration of trade, finance, people, and ideas in one global marketplace† (Bigman 2002, p. 7).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International trade in Nigeria specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper examines the effect of globalization on Nigeria’s participation in international trade. In particular, it will focus on how trade liberalization, protectionism, BWIs, and MNEs have influenced Nigeria’s imports and exports. The paper will argue that globalization has had more negative than positive effects on international trade in Nigeria. Impact of Global Governance Agencies The World Trade Organization (WTO) is one of the agencies that regulate international trade. WTO’s most-favored-nation policy aims at reducing discrimination among trading partners in the international mar ket (Muhammad 2007, pp. 173-182). Similarly, its national treatment policy encourages countries to treat locally produced goods and imports equally (WTO 2013). Nonetheless, these policies do not always benefit developing countries because they are often manipulated to favor developed countries (Action Aid 2004). Consequently, the WTO provides special considerations to some developing countries to enable them to improve their competitiveness (Raghavan 2013). These include â€Å"longer time to implement agreements, support to build infrastructure, and measures to increase trading opportunities† (Frieden Lake 2000, p. 2110. For instance, the Cotonou Agreement that was adopted in 2003 allowed Nigeria to export its commodities to the EU without paying any tariff for five years (Michael 2005, pp. 1-200). The resulting increase in exportation enabled Nigeria to maintain an average GDP growth rate of 6.82% in the last seven years. The structural adjustment programs introduced by the World Bank in Nigeria’s agricultural sector have partly contributed to the reduction in production in the industry. For instance, the removal of subsidies to farmers has increased the cost of production in Nigeria (Dayo, Nkonya and Pender 2009, pp. 1-48). By contrast, the WTO has failed to eliminate or even reduce the subsidies paid to farmers in developed countries (Walker 2011). These subsidies lower the cost of production in the agricultural sectors of developed countries (UNDP 2005). As a result, developed countries overproduce agricultural commodities such as rice, which they sell at low prices in overseas markets. This reduces the demand for Nigeria’s agricultural commodities such as cotton, which are relatively expensive due to high production costs (CID Harvard University 2013).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Liberalization of exchange rate has led to a systematic reduction of the value of Nigeria’s currency against the dollar. This has led to increased prices of imported machines that Nigerian farmers and industrialists need in order to add value to their products. In this regard, the BWIs should be reformed so that they can benefit developing countries such as Nigeria. In particular, the IMF and the World Bank should control volatility of exchange rates in international markets (Nayyar 2001, pp. 1-2). A stable exchange rate will enable Nigeria to import machinery at competitive prices in order to increase production in its agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Access to Foreign Markets and Barriers to Free Trade In 1970s, Nigeria focused on implementing protectionist policies in order to protect its nascent industries and to improve its balance of payment. This included a general ban on the importation of non-essential goods, high import tariffs, and import quotas (Dappa Otuya 2012, pp. 23-45). However, sim ilar trade barriers imposed on Nigeria by Britain limited Nigeria’s ability to access several European markets (Dappa Otuya 2012, pp. 23-45). Nonetheless, Nigeria had a trade surplus with most western countries due to the increase in its oil exports. Nigeria’s oil exports increased because most western countries had reduced their import duties on imported crude oil (Akinlo 2012, pp. 165-174). Nigeria began to liberalize its economy in 1986 by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. During the liberalization period, Nigeria’s agricultural exports such as cocoa and palm kernel grew by between 20 and 30 percent (Ogwumike Olukayode, pp. 89-95). This is because the depreciation of Nigeria’s currency after the adoption of a flexible exchange rate improved the competitiveness of its commodities in overseas market. Additionally, the country’s GDP increased from -2 percent in 1985 (before trade liberalization) to 5.5 percent during the SAP perio d (1986-1993). The increase in economic growth was attributed to the raise in Nigeria’s agricultural exports to Europe and Asian countries. Moreover, Nigeria had a comparative advantage in oil production in 1980s and early 1990s (Miller 2008, p. 71). In this regard, trade liberalization enabled the country to export its oil to developed countries such as the USA at a more competitive price. However, the improvement in international trade in Nigeria was just a temporary occurrence. In 1990s, Nigeria lacked the technology that it needed in order to add value to its agricultural products and to reduce the costs of its exports (Akinbobola 2001, p. 12). Consequently, its commodities could not compete with those from Asian countries such as India. Additionally, importation of cheap agricultural products such as rice increased tremendously.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International trade in Nigeria specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More During the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, most Asian countries banned textile imports from Nigeria, thereby reducing the country’s cotton production by nearly 40% (Dappa Otuya 2012, pp. 23-45). The decline in production in the cotton sector led to increased poverty and unemployment in the country. Nigeria’s earnings from agricultural exports have been declining steadily over the years due to high competition in overseas markets. Though exports for some crops such as cocoa have increased since 1990, their earnings have reduced significantly. This is because major export markets such as the European Union have consistently set high import duties (IMF 2001). Following the discovery of oil in countries such as Mexico and fluctuations in international oil prices, Nigeria lost its comparative advantage in oil production. Moreover, persistent decline in oil prices has significantly reduced the country’s earnings from oil exports. Consequently, N igeria’s balance of payment has been declining steadily since 1990. Additionally, unemployment rate has increased considerably, thereby forcing its citizens to search for jobs in European and Asian countries. In this regard, an international economic council should be established to oversee globalization (Nayyar 2001, pp. 1-2). In particular, the council should focus on removing tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, as well as, providing financial and technical assistance to developing countries such as Nigeria to improve their competitiveness in production. Impact of Bilateral and Regional Agreements on International Trade Bilateral and regional agreements improve the export positions of their member countries by providing a large market for their products. The agreements usually promote free movement of goods through removal or reduction of import taxes. Additionally, they promote free movement of persons through removal of migration permits (Phillips Weaver 2011, p. 67 ). It is against this backdrop that Nigeria joined ECOWAS in 1975. ECOWAS is an economic bloc that consists of 15 West African countries. Joining ECOWAS has enabled Nigeria to increase its export of raw materials such as rubber. This is because such products are subject to a low import duty of only 5 percent (ECOWAS Commission 2010). However, final consumption goods are subject to a 20 percent import duty in the region. This has limited Nigeria’s ability to export its final goods to most ECOWAS member countries. Bilateral and regional trade agreements usually tend to undermine the goals of multilateral agreements. This is because some of their principles are not consistent with those of multilateral agreements (Reuvid Sherlock 2011, p. 324). For example, the tariffs proposed in a particular regional trade bloc can be different from those proposed by GATT.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, interest groups usually develop within bilateral and regional trade agreements, thereby discouraging their members from conforming to multilateral agreements (Reuvid Sherlock 2011, p. 325). In Nigeria, the revision of the common external tariff for the ECOWAS trading bloc led to the adoption of special taxes, which were as high as 50 percent to protect the members from extreme competition from other trading blocs (ECOWAS Commission 2010). Nonetheless, the high taxes undermined Nigeria’s commitment to ensure free trade as required by the WTO. The high tax increased the prices of imported consumer goods in Nigeria, thereby lowering consumption of imports. Countries that enter bilateral agreements should align their principles to those of the WTO in order to avoid breaching multilateral trade agreements (Reuvid Sherlock 2011, p. 327). Powerful Multinational Enterprises Multinational enterprises promote international trade and export positions of developing countries through technological transfers and provision of ready market for their raw materials (Oghenerobaro Robaro 2008, pp. 12-16). MNEs such as Shell dominate the exploration and distribution of oil in Nigeria. These companies introduced advanced technologies for drilling oil, thereby increasing Nigeria’s oil exports (Akinlo 2012, pp. 165-174). Multinational enterprises in Nigeria’s oil industry have also contributed to environmental degradation through oil spillage. Most of the spillage accidents occur due to the negligence of oil companies such as Shell (Steiner 2008, pp. 131-141). Oil spillage has led to the contamination of over 50,000 square kilometers of farmland in Niger Delta (Kadafa, Zakaria Othman 2012, pp. 10-30). Consequently, over 20 million Nigerian famers have been rendered jobless. Furthermore, oil spillage has led to the destruction of mangrove forests in the delta, thereby reducing Nigeria’s timber exports (Zabbey 2005, pp. 7-10). In this regard, t he government of Nigeria should strengthen regulation in the oil industry so that MNEs can engage in ethical behaviors. Conclusion The aim of this paper was to examine the extent to which globalization has enhanced international trade in Nigeria. Initially, globalization led to increased exportation and balance of payment surplus in Nigeria. However, globalization also exposed Nigeria’s products to high competition in the international market. Additionally, fluctuation of commodity prices and Nigeria’s inability to add value to its products led to the loss of the competitiveness of its exports. Consequently, Nigeria’s exports have declined and its balance of payment has worsened. Additionally, poverty and unemployment continue to rise in the country. Thus, globalization has had more negative than positive effects on international trade in Nigeria. References Action Aid 2004, WTO Unfair to Developing Countries, actionaid.org.uk/1323/the-wto-delivers-an-unfair-dea l-for-poor-countries.html. Akinbobola, A 2001, Globalization and its Impact on the Emergent States, Zedek, Lagos. Akinlo, A 2012, ‘How Important is Oil in Nigeria’s Economic Growth’, Journal of Sustainable Development, vol. 5 no. 4, pp. 165-174. Bigman, D 2002, Globalization and the Developing Countries, Oxford University Press, London. CID Harvard University 2013, Textiles and Clothing Summary, cid.harvard.edu/cidtrade/issues/textiles.html. Dappa, T Otuya, B 2012, ‘The Effects of Globalization on Developing Economies: The Nigerian Experience’, African Journal of Philosophy, vol. 3 no. 1, pp. 23-45. Dayo, P, Nkonya, E Pender, J 2009, Constraints to Increasing Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria, International Food Policy Research Institute, Abuja. ECOWAS Commission 2010, The ECOWAS Common External Tariff and Regional Integration, viewed on interreseaux.org/img/pdf. Frieden, J Lake, D 2000, International Political Economy, Palgrave, London. IMF 20 01, Global Trade Liberalization and the Developing Countries, imf.org/external/np/exr/ib/2001/110801.html. Kadafa, A, Zakaria, M Othman, F 2012, ‘Oil Spillage and Pollution in Nigeria: Organizational Management and Institutional Framework’, Journal of Environmental and Earth Science, vol. 12 no. 4, pp. 10-30. Michael, L 2005, Partnership Agreement ACP-EU, European Commission, Luxembourg. Miller, R 2008, International Political Economy, McGraw-Hill, New York. Muhammad, N 2007, ‘Multilateral Trade Regime: Conflicts between Developed and Developing Nations’, International Review of Business Research Papers, vol. 3 no. 4, pp. 173-182. Nayyar, D 2001, Reform the UN and the Bretton Woods Institutions, WIDER, Helsinki. Oghenerobaro, M Robaro, A 2008, ‘The Impact of Globalization of Entrepreneurship Development in Developing Economies’, Journal of African Economies, vol. 4 no. 2, pp. 12-16. Ogwumike, F Olukayode, E 2012, ‘Globalization and Eco nomic Growth in Nigeria: A Multidimensional Analysis’, Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 9 no. 2, pp. 89-95. Phillips, N Weaver, C 2011, International Political Economy, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Raghavan, C 2013, Globalization Needs International Regulations, twnside.org.sg/title/regu-cn.html. Reuvid, J Sherlock, J 2011, International Trade, Routledge, New York. Steiner, R 2008, ‘Double Standards? International Standards to Prevent and Control Pipeline Oil Spills, Compared with Shell Practices in Nigeria’, Journal of Environmental and Earth Science, vol. 8 no. 2, pp. 131-141. UNDP 2005, High Trade Policies Damaging Growth Prospects in Developing Countries, undp.bg/uploads/documents/1196642en.pdf. Walker, A 2011, The WTO Has Failed Developing Nations, guardian.co.ke/development/wto-fails-developing-countries. WTO 2013, Special and Preferential Treatment for Developing Countries, wto.org/english/tratop-edevel-especial-differential-provisions-e.html. Zabbey, N 2005, ‘Impacts of Extractive Industries on the Biodiversity of the Niger Delta Region’, Journal of Environmental and Earth Science, vol. 3 no. 1, pp. 7-10.

The Death Penalty is not an Effective Punishment Essay - 9

The Death Penalty is not an Effective Punishment - Essay Example Counterargument to refute the first argument: the claim that death penalty deters crime is a mere presumption, with no scientific proof. A number of studies have shown that death penalty does not deter crime. Hence, the first argument is incorrect. Counterargument in refutation of the second argument: death penalty does not ensure justice for the offended party because by killing the offender, the offended party does not get back what they were deprived of. Again, death penalty may be not the gravest form of punishment. Third argument by the proponents of my view: death penalty is an effective form of punishment because it prevents overpopulation of prisons; death penalty also prevents the criminals of grave crimes from committing crimes while in prison, or breaking from the prison to commit crimes outside the prison. Counterargument to refute the third argument: although jailing of criminals guilty of grave crimes may provide the criminals with some possibilities of committing more crimes in future, with proper preventive measures in place, however, the possibilities of committing more crimes by the prisoners will be quite minimal. Death penalty is undoubtedly one of the oldest and most common forms of punishment meted out against heinous and grave crimes in many cultures and world civilizations. In USA, for instance, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the year 2009 alone, 52 inmates were executed. The advocates of death punishment also contend that death punishment is the most effective form.

Data Backup and Life Cycle Restore in the Enterprises and Companies Research Proposal

Data Backup and Life Cycle Restore in the Enterprises and Companies - Research Proposal Example w data base management systems (DBMS) perform the backup/restore operations, How about the automatic and manual backup, what's the data will been restored regarding the network limitation of bandwidth and work time and How we can construct a strong Disaster recovery plan. All these point will be discussed and covered in my research. This dissertation has not made possible without the help of some key persons who in one way or the other help succeed in the completion of this paper. To Mr./Ms. (insert name of adviser or instructor), who served as my adviser and instructor with this paper. He had not just thought me to do the technical part but also encouraged and gave me challenge in the field of study I practised. Thank you for being a mentor all the way. With this, I would like to take the opportunity to thank as well to my parents and friends who are always there to lend a helping hand. And, to my classmates who shared time and experiences along the duration of school years, thank you all. March 4, 2007 Table of Contents Data Backup System Over Networks 1 Sam 1 Abstract 1 Abstract 1 Acknowledgements 2 Acknowledgements 2 Table of Contents 3 Table of Contents 3 List of Figures 4 List of Figures 4 1 Introduction 5 2 Backup and Recovery 8 3 Backups and Tape Storage 14 4 Network Disaster Recovery 20 5 Conclusion 21 References 23 References 23 Appendix 1: Dissertation Proposal 25 Appendix 1: Dissertation Proposal 25 List of Figures Figure 1. Information Security Policy and Procedure Hierarchy 13 Figure 2.Prototype Set-up of Data Backup Over Network 17 1 Introduction In this e-centric day and age of organisations have come to rely on IT infrastructures not just and aid to business, but for some, as the core of their business. Safe, secure, and reliable computing and telecommunications are essential to these organisations. As these organisations begin to understand the importance of information security and data backup, they are developing security programs that are often under the direction of the CIO. This program includes more than just people and technology 1.1 Background and Context In the field of information technology, backup refers to the replication of data so that these supplementary copies may be restored after a data loss event. Backups are useful above all for two purposes: to restore a computer to an operational state subsequent a catastrophe (called disaster recovery) and to restore small numbers of files after they have been accidentally deleted or corrupted. Backups are at variance from archives in the sense that archives are the primary copy of data and backups are a secondary copy of data. Backup systems differ from fault-tolerant systems in the sense that

Cybersecurity Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

Cybersecurity - Coursework Example This is because it is distinctive to a message, small changes to a message causes a different has, therefore, warning of interference. Symmetric methods may be the most suitable for securing movie videos from unlawful viewing while kept on servers in the cloud. A sender may use a key to program a message into cipher text. The receiver may employ the identical key to decipher it. This will permit only individuals who have authorization to the movie videos to view them. (Delfs & Knebl, 2007). Yes. The American government can employ a cloud-based model to enhance its operations. This is because applications of cloud technology do not rely on on-site staff or agency servers. A cloud-based computing model is beneficial in several ways. One, it will reduce governmental cost. Payments are made incrementally. Two, the government can save more information than on private systems. Third, government officials can access data from any place. Fourth, government agencies can collaborate and communicate efficiently (Rabkin & Zaharia, 2010). Community cloud model should be utilized for inter-agency connections. This is because this model shares resource among a number of organizations from an area with mutual interests, for example, jurisdiction, compliance, and security, whether managed by a third-party or internally and hosted outwardly or inwardly. The expenses are shared among less people than a public cloud (Zittrain, 2008). Meaning, only certain cost savings ability of cloud computing are fulfilled. Hybrid Cloud should be utilized for the public-private partnership critical infrastructure. A hybrid cloud entails a blend of a private and public cloud that work together, but remain sole units. This provides the advantage of numerous deployment models. Public-private partnerships are able to get levels of locally immediate usability and fault tolerance without depending on the connectivity of the internet when they use hybrid cloud for its critical

Dietary Supplement Essay Example for Free

Dietary Supplement Essay Taking any kind of supplements can also be a type of complementary or alternative medicine. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not regulate dietary supplements in the same way that it regulates medicine. A dietary supplement can be sold without research on how well it works. The benefit of taking dietary supplements is that they are designed to augment your daily intake of nutrients. Normally, you should be able to get all the nutrients you need from a well balanced diet. However, taking supplements can provide additional nutrients when your diet is lacking or when certain health conditions cause you to develop an insufficiency or deficiency. Multiple-vitamin supplements provide all the basic vitamins and minerals your body needs. These vitamins are generally safe because they only contain small amounts of each nutrient. Individual nutrients can also be sold as a dietary supplement, but in larger amounts than what’s found in a typical multiple-vitamin. These supplements may be used to treat a simple deficiency, such as an iron deficiency, but sometimes they’re used therapeutically to treat specific health conditions or risk factors. For example, large doses of niacin may be used to raise good cholesterol, and folic acid has been used to reduce the risk of a birth defect called spina bifida. The risk of taking dietary supplements is that some contain active ingredients that have strong biological effects in the body. This could make them unsafe in some situations and hurt or even complicate your health. Using dietary supplements could lead to harmful and even life-threatening consequences such as using supplements with medications whether prescription or over the counter and substituting them for prescriptions medicines. Taking too much of some of these supplements, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, and iron. Some supplements can also have unwanted effects before, during, and after surgery. Always inform your health care provider, including your pharmacist about any supplements your taking especially before surgery. The FDA regulates both finished dietary supplement products and dietary ingredients under a different set of regulation than those covering â€Å"conventional† foods and drug products (prescription and Over-the-counter). Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the dietary supplement or dietary ingredient manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement or ingredient is safe before it is marketed. FDA is responsible for taking action against any unsafe dietary supplement product after it reaches the market. Manufacturers are required to produce dietary supplements to minimum quality standards and ensure that they do not contain any contaminants or impurities, and are accurately labeled. Generally, manufacturers do not need to register their products with FDA nor get approval before producing or selling dietary supplements. Manufacturers must make sure that product label information is truthful and not misleading. The manufacturers are required to report all serious dietary supplement related adverse events or illnesses to the FDA as of December 2007. The FDA can take dietary supplements off the market if they are found to be unsafe, adulterated, or if the claims on the products are false and misleading. Folic acid is a type of B vitamin that is normally found in foods such as dried beans, peas, lentils, oranges, whole-wheat products, liver, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and spinach. Folic acid is used for preventing and treating low blood levels of folic acid as well as its complications, including â€Å"tired blood’ (anemia) and the inability of the bowel to absorb nutrients properly. Folic acid is also used for other conditions commonly associated with folic acid deficiency, including ulcerative colitis, liver disease, alcoholism, and kidney dialysis. Women who are pregnant or might become pregnant take folic acid to prevent miscarriage and birth defects such as spina bifida that occur when the fetus’s spine and back don’t close during development. Folic acid is likely safe for most people. Most adults do not experience an aide effects when consuming the recommended amount each day, which is 400 mcg. High doses of folic acid might cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, rash, sleep disorders, irritability, confusion, nausea, stomach upset, behaviors changes, skin reactions, seizures, gas, and excitability. There is some concern that taking too much folic acid for a long period of time might cause serious side effects. Some research suggests that taking folic acid in doses of 800-1200 mcg might increase the risk of heart attack in people who have heart problems. Other research suggests that taking these high doses might also increase the risk of cancer such as lung or prostate cancer. For folic acid deficiency: the typical dose is 250-1000 mcg per day. For preventing neural tube defects: at least 400 mcg of folic acid per day from supplements or fortified food should be taken by women capable of becoming pregnant and continued through the first month of pregnancy. Women with a history of previous pregnancy complicated by neural tude defects usually take 4 mg per day beginning one month before and continuing for three months after conception. References: www. nih. gov/medlineplus/dietarysupplements www. wedmd. com/dietarysupplements www. fda. gov/food/dietarysupplements

Comparing Power and Control in A Raisin In The Sun and Juno and the Pay

Power and Control in A Raisin In The Sun and Juno and the Paycock In the two plays, A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and Juno and the Paycock by Sean O'Casey, the reader is presented with a definite struggle for power among its main characters and society's ideals. These plays also serve as functions of drama, where the reader or viewer can also perceive much more in the way they are portrayed by the actors and the director as well, as the overall thematic plot and significance. In A Raisin In The Sun, the reader is faced with the struggle between Walter and his wife, Ruth, and his mother, Mama, for power and head of the household. In the first Act of the play Walter deliberately oversteps Ruth's authority just to spite her and show his power as head of the family. Travis, their son requests fifty cents for school, and Ruth denies his request because they don't have the money. Walter enters and gives his son more than enough money with his eyes completely transfixed on his wife, who looks at him with utmost scorn and disapproval: Travis-she won't gimme the fifty cents... Walter-(To his wife only) Why not? Ruth-(Simply, and with flavor) 'Cause we don't have it. Walter-(To Ruth only) What you tell the boy things like that for? (Reaching down into his pants with a rather important gesture) Here son-(He hands the boy the coin, but his eyes are directed to his wife's. Travis takes the money happily) Travis-Thanks, Daddy. (He starts out. Ruth watches both of them with murder in her eyes. Walter stands and stares back at her with defiance...(Hansberry 30-31) It is obvious that this scene was meant to be performed, with all its subtle actions and expressed grievances. Here one confrontation of... ...ter to the house he retreats back to his former attempts of deception by lying to her about supposed jobs and leg pains. Like in Raisin, Jack falls into a fortune which he squanders away and then later realizes he never possessed, getting into a great debt. He uses the money however to make himself head of the family, or man of the house, which ultimately falls apart. At the end of the play though, unlike Raisin, he never acquires any real authority as the play ends in disarray, and he goes off to drown his sorrows at the local saloon. These two plays show dramatically the struggle for authoritative power over the characters lives, families, and societies pressures. The overall tragedy that befalls them as they are swept up in these conflicts distinctly portrays the thematic plot of their common misconception for power and control over their lives.

The Sun Essay -- Sun Solar Power Solar System Essays

The Sun   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The sun is the largest object in the solar system. It is a middle-sized star and there are many other stars out in the universe just like it. Even though it is only a middle-sized star it is large enough to hold over 1 million Earth’s inside if it were hollow. The temperature on the sun is far too much for any living thing to bear. On the surface it is 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit and the core is a stunning 27,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit. But don’t worry we are over 90,000 million miles away, the sun could never reach us, at least not yet. The sun is a still a middle aged star and later in its life it will become a Red Giant. In this stage it will get bigger, and closer to us causing a temperature increase and most likely the end of the world as we know it, but this will not take place for quite some time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  But the sun is not our enemy, if it weren’t for that big ball of burning gas there would be no life on this planet at all. We need its heat, its light, and its energy. Without these our planet would be frozen over like a big ice cube and there would be no signs or traces of life ever. In total amount the sun provides about 2 pounds of energy to us every day. Yes, that’s right only 2 pounds. The sun evaporates water from the earth’s lakes, streams, and rivers. It also heats the earth and cools the earth at the same time. Without the Earth’s atmosphere to protect us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays we would be toast. This is kind of how the greenhouse effect takes place. The greenhouse effect is when the atmosphere of the earth traps heat from the sun and lets sunlight heat plants, yet prevents much of the heat from getting out. In a similar way, the atmosphere lets sunlight through to the surface of the earth. The sunlight warms th e earth, but the heat that created cannot easily pass back through the atmosphere into space.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now what is going on in the sun? When we look up we just see a bright object that makes us warm, sometimes gives us sunburn and gives us light, on the contrary. The sun is a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace where hydrogen is built into helium at a temperature of millions of degrees. The sun is so hot that everything on it is a gas. About 75% of the sun is made up of hydrogen, about 23% is helium and the remaining percent consist of iron, copper, aluminum, and about 70 more elements that are comm... ... as Stonehenge, to see the suns shadow and tell the time of day. Ancient people also used the sun to tell directions, they knew that it rose in the east and set in the west everyday, and that one whole day was the time it took the sun to get from one edge of the horizon to the other. Ancient calendars were based on the phases of the moon. The phases occur because sunlight reflected by the moon is seen from different angles as the moon circles the earth. Even today the sun has an important role in surveying and navigating people. Surveyors can use the sun to calculate their own position and other positions on the earth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Well, that about does it as a summary for the sun. Even though this essay may have brought out some true facts about the sun there is still much more to know about the sun. Some stuff we don’t even know about the sun and may never know, but what we do know is good. We know that it is the largest object in the solar system, it is the size of 1 million earth’s and it hotter than 27,000,000 in the core, now that’s cooking.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bibliography 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The World Book Encyclopedia, â€Å"sun† Robert W. Noyes 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Why the sun shines 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Science Book

Missionary Farewell Talk

If you’d have told me a year ago that I’d be standing here in front of you talking about going on a mission, I’d have laughed at you. Well, here I am. It has been a long and interesting journey in getting me here today, but, as a popular Kenny Chesney song professes â€Å"The laughs, the smiles, the trials, the tears, it’s hard to hate what got me here. † Well, I’m here and am very excited to move on to this next chapter in my life. I’d be a fool to think that the coming years, though filled with joy and enlightenment, won’t bring with them my fair share of hard times and adversity.I think the most frightening part of everything leading up to my mission lies in the fact that I’m not exactly sure when those hard times will present themselves, nor how they will present themselves. Joseph B. Wirthlin once compared life to running a marathon. At some point in the marathon of life, we will all â€Å"hit the wall,† which Elder Wirthlin defined as â€Å"feeling a sudden urge to quit, encountering an almost tangible barrier that requires a tremendous effort to overcome. Farewell to Manzanar, written by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, Japanese American, and James D. Houston. The harsh reality of life is that we will all hit at least one of these walls at some point in our lives. So what will each of us do when we stand at the base of our own personal walls? Will we rise to the occasion and break through? Or will we crumble in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds? What we do when we get to these proverbial walls is what will ultimately define us as people. Being one who enjoys the study of history, I have often looked to those who have come before me to find the strength I need to press on. I think about those who have been disowned by their own families because of personal beliefs, the pioneers that crossed the plains despite the harshest of conditions, those families who have ever sent a loved one overseas in support of the freedom we all hold so dear, and the horrible persecutions suffered by those early members of the church. After remembering them I think to myself, â€Å"Do I really have it all that bad? † In sections 121, 122, and 123 of the Doctrine and Covenants, it highlights the revelations given to Joseph Smith as he was incarcerated at Liberty Jail. It was one of the coldest winters on record in Missouri and they weren’t given blankets sufficient enough to keep them warm. Their food was often dirty and unclean, sometimes even poisoned. Even Joseph himself spoke of the jail as a â€Å"hell surrounded by demons. † I doubt most of us here will ever have to endure something as extreme as those suffered by the Prophet Joseph and his companions during the winter of 1838-1839. The best example we should all look to when faced with trying times, however, is that of our Savior Jesus Christ. So great was his suffering that he bled from every pore in Gethsemane. Later, a crown of thorns was placed upon his head and he was severely scourged. So extreme were the events leading up to the actual crucifixion that he couldn’t even carry his own cross to Calgary, as was customary. In my studies, I’ve come across literature that discusses in detail the medical aspect associated with crucifixion. Crucifixion was arguably the cruelest form of punishment ever devised by man. To sum it all up, those who were crucified suffered through an unequivocal amount of pain. Where do you think the word excruciating comes from? So, I ask again, is it really that bad? The answer is NO. â€Å"The Son of Man hath descended below them all,† (D&C 122: 8) and nobody that has ever lived or ever will live has suffered as much as He did. No matter what this life throws at us, we can all find comfort in knowing that there is always someone who knows exactly how we feel, because Christ suffered for all of that so that we could one day stand before God and live with Him again. Some will always ask â€Å"Why me? † when troubling times come upon them. It is important to remember that just because trials and tribulations are heaped upon us, it doesn’t mean we have somehow strayed from the straight and narrow path. All of the prophets have faced some sort of persecution in their lives. Jesus Christ suffered more than any other being that has ever lived, even though he was the most worthy individual to have ever walked upon the face of this earth. All of the troubles are simply trials of our faith, and God will never, ever, put a trial before us that he knows we cannot overcome. He will always provide a way for us to rise above any trial or temptation that may come our way. A true test of our faith can only be measured if we use that faith during the times when things aren’t going according to plan. Back in Liberty Jail, the Lord tells Joseph that all of these trials are for our own benefit, saying â€Å"If thou art called to pass through tribulation†¦know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. † (D&C 122: 5, 7). In Jackson County, Missouri, the Lord tells Joseph that glory follows these trials, â€Å"For after much tribulation come the blessings†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (D&C 58: 3-4). Adversity exists in the world today to provide the much needed contrast that helps us to discern right from wrong, after all, â€Å"†¦it must be needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. † (2 Nephi 2: 11). If it weren’t for pain, we would feel no pleasure. If not for sadness, we could have no joy. We’ve all felt the great sense of accomplishment that accompanies the completion of a large project, even though these projects can be very stressful at times. If life weren’t hard from time to time, then the fruits of our labors would cease to be sweet. Elder Neal A. Maxwell once counseled that â€Å"Rather than passing through trials, we must allow trials to pass through us in ways that sanctify us. † It isn’t enough to merely experience trials, but we must go through them in such a way that we can learn from each individual experience so that we can grow closer to our Father in Heaven. I think it is most unfortunate when someone is going through an extended trial and the idea starts to creep into their mind that God no longer rests with them and has ceased to answer their prayers because He doesn’t love them anymore. We must always remember that God loves each of us unconditionally and will never abandon any of us. To reassure those who may have doubts, Jeffrey R. Holland provided these inspiring words, (Quote—Chariots of Fire). He will answer your prayers in His own due time. It truly pains Him to put each of us through our own trials, but we must remember that He doesn’t put us through them to punish us, He does it because He loves us and knows that this is the only way which we can grow to become like Him. When it is all said and done, God just wants us to be happy, for â€Å"†¦men are, that they might have joy. (2 Nephi 2: 25). President Monson once counseled that we must â€Å"†¦find joy in the journey†¦Ã¢â‚¬  of life. The Lord even counseled Joseph Smith of this as he was imprisoned in Liberty Jail, saying â€Å"Therefore†¦let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed. † (D&C 123: 17). Even during the darkest of times, the Lord still wants all of us to ultimately find happiness. The Lord promises everyone that if we will endure to the end, He will give us eternal life. A common misconception, though, is that enduring to the end means to simply â€Å"hang in there† when trials come our way. Elder Wirthlin sees it as being much more than that. Rather than simply suffering through life’s challenges, he sees it as a process in which we use these challenges to come unto Christ and become perfected in Him. If we remain faithful during our own dire circumstances and use them as learning experiences to become more Christ-like, God cannot deny you a spot with Him in the Celestial Kingdom.