Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Swot Analysis Business Analyst Essay - 826 Words

Midterm: Business Analyst Business Analyst is someone who analyzes an organization or business domain (real or hypothetical) and documents its business or processes or systems, assessing the business model or its integration with technology. Job titles for business analysis practitioners include not only business analyst, but also business systems analyst, systems analyst, requirements engineer, process analyst, product manager, product owner, enterprise analyst, business architect, management consultant, business intelligence analyst, data scientist, and more. Many other jobs, such as management, project management, product management, software development, quality assurance and interaction design rely heavily on business analysis skills for success (What is a Business Analyst? 2016, para. 2). There are several reasons why a Business Analyst normally work for Information Technology Departments and companies. The responsibilities of the Business Analyst are for them to act as a communications conduit between the stakeholders and their team. The Business Analyst has to scope the system at the outset of a project to formulate and communicate the business of the project. Next, the Business Analyst interpret the business needs. This task includes significant negotiation and political maneuvering. They will then translate and break down all technical issues and architectural complexities. In conclusion to the Business Analyst duties they have meeting to provide anShow MoreRelatedQuantitative Methods for Business Paper1652 Words   |  7 Pagesreproducible. Regression analysis is an example of one such technique. Statistical analysis is also an example of a quantitative technique. Quantitative techniques are applied for business analysis to optimize decision making IE profit maximization and cost minimization. It covers linear programming models and other special algorithms, inventory and production models. Albert Humphrey, a management consultant who specialized in organizational management, devised the SWOT analysis technique at StanfordRead MoreSwot Analysis Of Smokey Hearted Pit Stop Bbq Restaurant952 Words   |  4 PagesJeffrey Ray Jackson Sr. OL-BA298 Assignments Week 2 Assignment SWOT Smokey-Hearted Pit-Stop BBQ Restaurant A swot analysis, is used for identification, environmental opportunities, threats, and the firm’s strengths, and also show weaknesses, etc. First, create a situation analysis, this will be able to determine what the outcome of the situation analysis will be as identification of a firm’s strengths and weaknesses and with its environmental threats and as opportunities. The second step willRead MoreEvaluation Of A Sdlc, System Development Life Cycle1329 Words   |  6 Pagesand evaluate the necessity of this new system. The principal part of this investigation is called feasibility study and it is responsible for showing anticipated reviews of the costs, benefits and course of action. The second step is called Systems Analysis and it purpose is to build a document with the system requirements, showing details as management and user requirements, benefits, development strategies and costs. The third step is the System Design, happens when is necessary to create a physicalRead MoreEssay Review Questions, Chapter 2767 Words   |  4 PagesReview Questions Chapter 2: What is a business case? How does a business case affect an IT project? A business plan that forecasts costs and revenues for a particular project over several years, especially to attract financing. It affects because it would say whether the IT project is good enough to go or should it be abandoned. So for any company can save money. What is a SWOT analysis and why is it important? A SWOT analysis is to study any factor affecting any company andRead MoreBusiness Analysis Project Management Consulting1029 Words   |  5 PagesHigh versatile and solutions focused analyst with the skills and expertise needed to enhance workflow management, operational processes, improve reporting services, and to deliver on new IT systems and application deployments. Benefits from having gained extensive experience in performance driven business environments whilst working within a PMO setting Experienced in the full SDLC process from requirements through to production using Agile Scrum. Thorough understanding the wider picture, earnedRead MoreSwot Analysis : The Modern Enterprise Management And Planning1458 Words   |  6 Pagesand planning, SWOT analysis is a widely known diagnostic tool. Generally SWOT analysis is used to identify the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats of the enterprise itself, and then combine the company s strategy with the internal resource s and external environment. In fact, it is a systematic framework which helps managers to build organization strategies and market planning. However, Some findings from Menon (1999) and Hill and Westbrook (1997) have suggested that SWOT may harm performanceRead MoreAnalysis Of The Porter s Five Forces Analysis953 Words   |  4 Pageswill assist in ensuring right tools are selected for industry analysis, much information were obtained, suggestions were made as many tools are available for the analysis (Winters, 2015). The easy will explain the reasons the already recommended tool will work best for global strategy, provide evidence to support the decision, refute the people who chose an additional tool rather than one of the tool selected, and provide a brief analysis of the market using those tools (Winters, 2015). Read MoreThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) - Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review961 Words   |  4 PagesGoldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) - Financial and Strategic SWOT Analysis Review On 05TH DEC.2013 The report provides you an in-depth strategic SWOT analysis of the companies businesses and operations. The profile has been compiled by Global Data to bring to you a clear and an unbiased view of the companies key strengths and weaknesses and the potential opportunities and threats. The profile helps you formulate strategies that augment your business by enabling you to understand your partners, customersRead MoreInternal Analysis and Swot Analysis Essay1166 Words   |  5 PagesLeiker MGT599 Module 3 Case: Internal Analysis and SWOT Analysis Dr. Kenneth McGee    Introduction Strategic planners analyze Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) to determine internal and external threats to a company. â€Å"The SWOT analysis is a business tool available in the tool box of any small business owner† (Zahorsky, 2009). An internal analysis specifically covers the Strengths and Weaknesses portion of the SWOT analysis. The intent of this paper is to performRead MoreCase Study : Jack Conways Current State1441 Words   |  6 PagesCLIENT DETAILS This client evaluation gives a brief overview of Jack Conway’s current state and its relevant market in which it performs. Afterwards, an analysis will have a SWOT analysis. This analysis with take into consideration company’s current state in relation to the real estate industry, and other relevant notes. All relevant research and analysis will be framed with future growth and acquisition in mind. Information available for this client is very limited due to its standing as a privately

Monday, December 16, 2019

Haditha †descriptive writing Free Essays

Haditha is a large, peaceful farming town situated in western Iraq. It is saturated with primitive, concrete buildings that lace the sandy, debris-ridden roads. They are all painted a sickly shade of yellow which has flaked away from their exteriors over time and now reveals a depressing grey colour. We will write a custom essay sample on Haditha – descriptive writing or any similar topic only for you Order Now The gigantic palm trees dwarf the grimy, one-floored houses. Most of the shops display smashed or boarded windows. The interiors are eminently dark. The wallpaper is badly torn and peeling away from the walls where it meets the ceiling. Scorch marks from grenades heavily stained the floor and deep bullet holes scarred the walls. No furniture is present – just small, sharp pieces of broken glass and devastated shrapnel. Corrugated iron awnings hang over the pavement at the front of the shops, dismally shadowing the people that walk beneath them. There is a small, crumbling petrol station at the end of the long road that looks like it hasn’t operated for years. The attached shop also has smashed windows and vacant interiors. The sign on the roof of the building is badly corroded and rusting; some of the red, Arabic letters have fallen off completely. The pumps are severely damaged and submerged in litter and other large pieces of wreckage; the charred remains of a hatch-back lay next to them. Narrow, gloomy back alleys weave between the buildings of the town like a snake, creating a huge maze separated from the hustle and bustle of the streets. An M1 Abrams tank and a Stryker lie dormant on the road. They are both surrounded by a group of intimidating soldiers, with one of them lazily manning the mounted turrets. They wear baggy, yellow and green camouflage clothes; their chests buried in bags of ammunition and various other items. The rucksacks on their backs look huge in comparison to their bodies. A powerfully built soldier leans against the tank. He sweats under the intense sun and numerous layers of clothing he is wearing. He looks extremely athletic; his huge muscles stretch the fibres of his clothes to their limits. His head seems miniscule in comparison to his enormous, broad shoulders. He has a rugged, pasty complexion; his appearance seems paler still compared to the dark skin tones of the Arabs that nervously rush past. Rough stubble covers his jaw – it looks like he hasn’t shaved in weeks! A small boom microphone is swung down the side of his face and hovers before his colourless lips. He is wearing dark sport shades, leaving the concealed part of his face to the imagination. His helmet isn’t clipped together under his chin; it is slumped on the top of his head. The badly stitched insignia of the United States Marine Corps (a golden eagle, globe and anchor) on his left sleeve is ripped and torn, due to fall off at any minute. In his hands, he grips a scratched, matt black M16A4 assault rifle that is covered with attachments: a small sight, a cylinder-shaped laser distance finder and a grenade launcher. He is far from under-protected; he wears thick, deep grey padded gloves that look ten sizes too small for the soldier’s shovel-like hands; along with camouflage pads that are loosely fastened to his bulging knee and elbow joints. The sun drearily hangs on the horizon, casting large, oblong shadows across the town. It slowly creeps down and out of sight, allowing the town to descend into darkness. The distant sound of repetitive gun fire that rattles through the air is rather soothing. The noise of large metal rotors from several Apache helicopters fills the air as they fly overhead, deafening everyone for miles around. Their chiselled, futuristic exteriors reflect something from a sci-fi movie. In a back alley, a dark-skinned insurgent stands facing a feeble-looking man, who anxiously holds a large, black leather briefcase. The insurgent’s head is covered with a red, patterned table-cloth type material that falls below his neck; with only one small gap across his face that reveals his hard, piercing eyes. The rest of his body is draped in a brilliant white, silk robe. A grubby AK-47 with no stock is loosely strapped to his back. The man holding the briefcase has scars running across his face, the most prominent stretching from his ear right down to his lips; it looks like he has tried shaving with a cheese grater. Standing next to each other, the insurgent is almost a head taller than the man. Sweat pours down the man’s face as he nervously hands the briefcase over to the insurgent, who eagerly stands awaiting the delivery. Their meeting is interrupted by two soldiers shouting loudly and running towards them. The insurgent and the man quickly scurry off into the embracing darkness of the back-alley. The town sinks in to darkness for another night. The cool, crisp air replaces the sweltering heat. A light breeze whistles over the empty town as people start heading for their homes; eventually the density of people in the streets declines into nothing. The few street lamps that braid the road faintly flicker. Bright green tracer from the direction of the distant gun-fire spontaneously shoots off into the night sky at various angles and then disappears from view. The lonesome soldiers huddle together around the grumbling vehicles, desperately trying to share the little body heat they have. In place of dark sports shades, they now wear huge, black bulky night vision goggles. All the lights are off, except for the moon that dimly lights up the night sky. The town is asleep. How to cite Haditha – descriptive writing, Essays

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Vietnam war

Question: During the Cold War, American citizens were taught to prepare themselves and their families for the possibility of nuclear attack. Locate an example of a preparedness film or other document from the 1960s that offers advice on how to prepare for such an attack. Briefly describe the suggested preparation methods in the materials you found and post the link to the document. Even though the Cold War has ended, the media and some politicians suggest that the United States is still at risk of nuclear or biochemical attack. Locate a video or document stressing preparedness today, post the link, and then describe how you prepare your family for whatever dangers (perceived or otherwise) exist now. Answer: Introduction Vietnam is a country with a natural harbour and vast natural resources and had been the target of colonial powers. The U.S. took interest in Vietnam to keep communist power out of Vietnam but miserably failed in late 1960s thanks to the determination of the local leaders who made the U.S. withdraw its troops from Vietnam in due course. The resistance from the Vietnamese had been so strong that the U.S. has been on the alert against any nuclear or biochemical attack on it by Vietnam ever since. Vietnam War As the fallout of Vietnam War and terrorists attacks, the U.S. has been advising its citizens how to protect themselves from possible nuclear attacks. The link https://www.dhs.gov/nuclear-attack-what-do, informs three fundamental steps by which people can try to mitigate exposure to radiation by spending less time at the areas subjected to radiation, keeping long distance from the radiation areas and shielding by creating shelters constructed with bricks that have the potential of reducing the risk of radiation by 50 %. (HomelandSecurity, 2012). The History Channel reports that nuclear threat had the greatest impact on the daily routine of Americans who had to build bomb shelters at their home backyards and attend practice drills at schools and public places against possible attacks during the War in Vietnam. The 1950s and 1960s witnessed several popular movies depicting the nuclear attacks resulting in devastations. This state of affairs called Cold War between countries had been a constant feature in Americans daily lives(History.com, n.d.). This link shows videos of Vietnam War impacts https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cold-war-history/videos. Conclusion The Vietnam War which started after the bombing of Japanese cities by the U.S. had been the cause of nightmares in the U.S. about the possible nuclear attacks from Vietnam. References History.com. (n.d.). Cold War History. Retrieved March 7, 2015, from History.com: https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cold-war-history HomelandSecurity. (2012, August 9). Nuclear Attack: What to Do. Retrieved March 7, 2015, from Homeland Security : https://www.dhs.gov/nuclear-attack-what-do

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Malcolm Baldrige

Table of Contents From Omaha to Washington, D.C. Legacy Conclusion Works Cited Malcolm Baldrige was a native of Nebraska. He did not come from a poor family but he was born and raised in Omaha. It means that he grew up far away from the major urban centers of the United States and yet he became the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. However, being a part of the Reagan cabinet was not the most important achievement of his life. His legacy also includes the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award (â€Å"MBQA†), a prize named in his honor.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Malcolm Baldrige specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The MBQA is considered the most prestigious award-giving body when it comes to excellence in the marketplace. The fact that it was named in honor of Malcolm Baldrige is not only a testament to his character but also to his passion to see an America that is great once again and maintain its status as an ec onomic powerhouse. The following is an overview of Malcolm Baldrige life in Omaha, his stint in the U.S. Army, and then his contributions to the world of business and politics. From Omaha to Washington, D.C. Malcolm Baldrige was born in Omaha, Nebraska on October 4, 1922 (Sobel, p.16). It is important to understand his personal background to appreciate his success story. He grew up far-away from the commercial noise of New York and the intense political dealings that characterized Washington, D.C. It was in the slow-paced lifestyle of Omaha wherein Malcolm developed the leadership qualities that would serve him well in World War II and beyond. He was the son of a lawyer named Howard Malcolm Baldgridge and Regina Conell Baldrige. On March 31, 1951 he married Margaret Trowbridge Murray. She bore him two daughters named Megan Brewster and Mary Trowbridge. But before all that, Malcolm decided to finish his studies first. He prepared for college studying at Hotchkiss School in Connecticu t. Afterwards he graduated from Yale University in 1944 with a degree in B.A. in English. However, before he graduated he had to take time-off from college because he volunteered to go join the U.S. Army in 1943 and as a private he was sent to the Pacific theater of war (Sobel, p.16). When he finally gave up his army life in favor of civilian life 1946, he was honorably discharged with the rank of captain. In 1947 he entered the corporate world and started near the bottom. He joned the Eastern Malleable Iron Company in Naugatuck, Connecticut and his first job was to be the foundry foreman in the said company. But a little over four years later, he became the managing director of the Frazer and Jones division of the company. In 1957, ten years after joining Eastern Malleable Iron Company, Malcolm was the newly appointed executive vice president. Three years later he would assume the position of president. He did not get to enjoy the top leadership position for a very long time becaus e in 1962 he was recruited to work at Scovill Manufacturing Company in Waterbury, Connecticut . He became their new executive vice-president. A year later he was promoted once again and became the CEO of the said company.Advertising Looking for essay on biography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In 1969 he became the Chairman of the Board. He turned the company around. In the ten years time that he worked at Scovill, he was able to quadruple the company’s earnings by successfully creating an international market for this brass-manufacturing firm (Levy, p.30). Malcolm Baldrige’s reputation as an excellent leader was evident to everyone who knew him and the offers began to come in. While he was still Chairman of the Board at Scovill, Malcolm also held directorships in the following organizations: AMF, Inc.; White Plains, N.Y.; Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company of Hartford; Bendix Corporation; IBM, Inc.; Eas tern Company; and Uniroyal Inc. (Sobel, p.16). He was also a trustee for the Swiss reinsurance Company and member of the Business Council and the Council on Foreign relations. He did not always work for profit though, in 1968 he was the chairman and director of the Red Cross fund drive and he was also the trustee of the Waterbury Hospital and even found a way to help establish the Waterbury Non-Profit Development Corporation, an organization responsible for â€Å"promoting low-income housing and developing employment and recreational facilities for blacks† (Sobel, p.16). He was not only good at running profitable companies he was also interested in politics. It can be argued that Baldrige always wanted to be business and politics at the same time. His father was not only a lawyer but also served in the Nebraska state legislature. His father also served as a Congressman from 1930 to 1932 (Levy, p.30). When Malcolm Baldrige was in his early forties he started to become active i n the Republican Party and from 1964 to 1980 he served as a delegate to the Republican convention. He began to get noticed in the Republican circle and so at one point he â€Å"headed President Richard Nixon’s Connecticut campaign in 1968 and George Bush’s unsuccessful campaign in 1980† (Levy, p.31). He may have suffered a setback with George Bush’s campaign but he was able to bounce back when he raised funds for the Ronald Reagan campaign (Levy, p.31). After Reagan took the White House the new president remembered the people who helped him get elected as president. One month after Reagan assumed the presidency in 1981, he chose Baldrige to become the 26th secretary of Commerce of the United States of America and he also easily won the confirmation for the said cabinet post (Levy, p.31). When he was the secretary of commerce he â€Å"advocated free trade and deregulation† and he also understood the need for America to maintain superiority when it c omes to excellence in producing products and services (Levy, p.31). He sat on the Council on Commerce and Trade, Council on Economic Affairs as well as the Council on Natural Resources (Sobel, p.17). He succeeded in convincing Japan to accept â€Å"voluntary restraints on its exports† because he saw that the aggressive Japanese businesses were hurting the U.S. economy (Sobel, p.17). Later on his passion to improve the the level of competence of business leaders and their organizations was the main reason why his name is well-remembered even to this day.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Malcolm Baldrige specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Aside from his business and political dealings, Baldrige was also interested in a host of different things and one of which is the rodeo. In his private life, away from the spotlight, Baldrige was a professional steer roper. On July 25, 1987 while practicing for a rodeo compe tition, in Walnut Creek, California, he fell from a horse and died a tragic death (Sobel, p.17). But this was not the end of his story. Legacy In the mid-1980s it was apparent to many U.S. leaders that American companies were no longer at par with their foreign counterparts in the international market. One of them was Malcolm Baldrige and when he was the Secretary of Commerce he was the â€Å"advocate of quality management as a key to U.S. prosperity and sustainability† (Spechler, p.1). Less than a month after his death â€Å"the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 100-107, the National Quality Improvement Act, which established the Malcolm Baldgridge Quality Award (MBQA) for quality achievements in American manufacturing and services† (Milakovich, p.112). The main purpose of this law is to encourage American businesses, educational institutions and health care organizations to aim for excellence in the creation of goods and in the provision of services. Behind this need f or an award is the growing alarm that foreign competition was slowly overtaking the United States. The quality of foreign imports is slowly eclipsing American products. The award was an incentive to push US companies to increase their capability to become a global leader in their chosen industry by improving their manufacturing systems and quality control (Sallis, p.54). It easily became a much-coveted prize in the business world. The former President Ronald Reagan was the first to hand out the award in 1988 (Milakovich, p. 112). In the first decade here the following were a few of the winners: Motorola, 1988 (Large manufacturing); Cadillac, 1990 (Large manufacturing); Texas Instruments, 1992 (Large manufacturing); ATT, 1994 (Service); Wainwright Industries, Inc., 1994 (Small business). These are trusted brands. The products and services that these companies offer are well-known and well-respected in their respective industries. The MBQA is a measuring rod that organizations and bus iness leaders can use to gauge their performance. The MBQA is govern by strict standards. There was a year, for instance,when the no one from the manufacturing sector won the award. This was explained by one commentator who wrote, â€Å"The Malcolm Baldrige Award is the highest honor any business can receive, and after 18 years has remained very difficult to win. As the criteria have changed over the years, the Baldrige has become an award for overall effectiveness of an organization, as opposed to an organization that simply has high quality products/services† (Brown, p. 2).Advertising Looking for essay on biography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More He also added that aside from a high-quality product and excellent service the MBQA examiners take a closer look at the quality of the business leaders, strategic planning; customer and market focus; human resources focus; process management; and results. It is difficult to win this award. An organization must be able to take a long hard look at their current system and them improve in accordance to the standards of the MBQA. This is a good thing because they will be able to gauge where they are at and can further develop their capabilities. If not for the MBQA then the quality of products and services in the United States will continue to decline because there is no incentive that can encourage businessmen to go on to the next level. Conclusion Malcolm Baldrige demonstrated his passion for excellent service. It all started when he was a student, soldier and employee. His character and leadership skills became evident early on and so he was promoted several times until he became the CEO and then Chairman of the Board for a large corporation. He could have easily rested on his laurels. However, he went on to test the political waters. He was successful as a member of the Republican Party until finally he became the 26th U.S. Secretary of Commerce. It was a tremendous achievement for him but it was not after his tragic death in 1987 that his name was immortalized in the business world. The Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award is a symbol of excellence and it was just fitting that it was named after a man of noble character and great work ethic. Works Cited Brown, Mark. Baldrige Award Winning Quality: How to Interpret the baldrige  Critieria for Performance Excellence. 5th ed. New York: Productivity Press, 2006. Levy, Peter. Encyclopedia of the Reagan-Bush Years. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1996. Milakovich, Michael. Improving Service Quality: Achieving High Performance  in the Public and Private Sectors. Florida: CRC Press, 1995. Sallis, Edward. Total Quality M anagement in Education. 3rd ed.Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing Inc., 2002. Sobel, Robert. Biographical Directory of the United States Executive Branch,  1774-1989. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1990. Spechler, Jay. Managing Quality in America’s Most Admired Companies. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 1993. This essay on Malcolm Baldrige was written and submitted by user MistyKnight to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Top Opportunities in the Online Retail Revolution

Top Opportunities in the Online Retail Revolution Working in the retail industry used to be pretty straightforward. Customers would shop in brick-and-mortar storefronts, helped by sales associates or customer service reps. Then, anything they couldn’t get in person was purchased from a printed catalog. Now, things have changed almost completely- virtually anything you need or want can be delivered right to your door, within a few days (or even hours) of making a purchase on your preferred device. You don’t even have to leave home if you don’t want to. We still have traditional stores, of course, but the economics and priorities behind retail have totally shifted. And if you’re looking at a career in the retail field, your options have changed as well. Being an in-store associate used to be the stepping stone to a retail career path, but now that companies like Amazon and Walmart have moved so many of their resources toward online sales and offsite fulfillment, your retail career might start in a more behi nd-the-scenes role, with an entirely different set of skills and opportunities.How the Retail Landscape is ChangingRight now, there are a few overarching trends that are changing how retail works- and therefore what a career in retail looks like as well.Online DominationAccording to Forbes, the retail industry is in a bit of a personality crisis right now. Companies are coming to an unavoidable point where they will either embrace the changes of the internet era or fall far behind. Online retailers like Amazon, along with traditional department stores like Kohl’s or Target, are building a more robust online shopping platform. These companies are at the forefront of these changes, emphasizing the ability to shop from anywhere. Stores and chains that are not adapting as quickly are at risk of falling behind in sales and growth.Companies like Walmart are also looking to beef up their online game by acquiring existing retailers that can provide the sales infrastructure and mercha ndising know-how to bring the parent companies into the next phase of retail.Traditional Stores ClosingThink about your local mall. Chances are, at least one of the big â€Å"anchor† stores has closed recently, or may be at risk of closing soon- chains like Macy’s, Sears, Kmart, and others have all recently announced that underperforming brick-and-mortar stores will be shuttered for streamlining.Embracing the TechIt’s impossible to underestimate how technology has changed the shopping experience- and therefore the strategies used by retailers. First came shopping via computers, then smartphones, then tablets, causing retailers to develop online retail plans and platforms to support these new ways of browsing and shopping. And now â€Å"virtual assistants† like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home have made it so that consumers don’t even need to go online to browse- they can merely ask the virtual assistant to search and buy for them, based on pre -set account and payment settings. According to RetailDive, Amazon customers spent 10% more in the months after buying the Amazon Echo device, suggesting that more retailers will get in on the voice-activated shopping train.And it’s not just the usual devices you’d expect to do the shopping for you- smart appliances like LG’s â€Å"smart† refrigerator can tell you what you have inside, and what you might need to add to your shopping list. (No word on whether these fridges can judge us yet for those late-night pints of ice cream, or farmer’s market produce that goes untouched in favor of takeout containers.)Many stores are also using tech to enhance the in-store shopping experience, using location functions on smartphones and push notifications to alert shoppers to sales and promotions in-store.Summer Black Friday SalesIf you’ve ever been at a large chain store on Black Friday (or seen the endless news coverage of cringe-inducing behavior eve ry year), you know it can be a bloodsport, with people literally pushing each other out of the way to get big-ticket products at a discount. And while Black Friday may not be the best trend in terms of humanity, for retail it can be a major asset- it brings in customers and boosts sales during the critical holiday period.Online-only retailers like Amazon have started featuring similar sales around July, at a traditionally quiet retail period of the year, taking advantage of the idea that you don’t need to be present in a store to score a deal on a new TV. So while customers may be taking time away from the beach instead of the Thanksgiving table to shop, the idea is quickly catching on that a summer counterpart to Black Friday can help boost retail bottom lines during a traditionally dead time. As other retailers begin to incorporate these steep summer sales, it has the potential to change how retail stores and fulfillment centers are staffed, year-round.â€Å"Need It Nowâ⠂¬  ShippingIf you’ve seen your mailman making the rounds on previously unheard-of Sundays, dropping Amazon-logo-stamped boxes on doorsteps, then you’ve seen how the increased demand for fast shipping has begun to take hold in the retail industry. Amazon Prime was one of the pioneers in this field, and other major retailers have followed suit, offering insta-shipping as part of their online shopping experience. Accommodating these shipping needs means having strategically located warehouses and fulfillment centers around the country, so products have a shorter way to go when customers want that video game in less than two days’ time.Retail Warehouse JobsSo what do these trends changes mean for a career in retail? For starters, it means that your starting point may not be working on a sales floor, handling direct transactions. Many of the best retail opportunities will be coming from warehouses and fulfillment centers, as retailers try to find the sweet spot bet ween retail and logistics to meet customer needs.Let’s look at some of the entry-level jobs and career paths that are growing due to the new retail economy. We’ve included some sample links for each that you can use as a starting point for your own search.Sorting AssociateSorting associates are responsible for (as you might have guessed) sorting outgoing packages by size, shape, destination, or other criteria. They’re responsible for making sure that shipments are organized and packed efficiently- kind of like box Tetris.Skills needed: Attention to detail, ability to lift heavy packages, customer service focus, physical stamina, flexible work schedulePantry AssociateAs online grocery delivery companies like Fresh Direct and Amazon Fresh expand and make quality and speed essential for shipping food products, pantry associates are responsible for sorting and packing shipments of groceries to make sure everything goes out quickly and as fresh as possible.Skills nee ded: Attention to detail, ability to lift heavy packages, customer service focus, physical stamina, flexible work scheduleWarehouse/Fulfillment AssociateAs more and more importance is placed on online shopping and order fulfillment, warehouse staff are essential. Warehouse associates are responsible for loading and unloading shipments, as well as tracking, scanning, and monitoring shipments. These associates may also operate heavy equipment to move products and shipments.Skills needed: Attention to detail, ability to lift heavy packages, customer service focus, physical stamina, flexible work scheduleSeasonal Fulfillment AssociatesRetail has its busy seasons and its not-so-busy seasons. During the busiest parts of the year, like back-to-school and the winter holidays, almost every retailer needs as many hands on deck as they can find. If you’re looking for seasonal employment in a warehouse, this is a flexible option for you that can build experience or help you fill a gap be tween jobs. Seasonal warehouse and fulfillment associates perform the same tasks as full-time warehouse associates, but during a set period of time (for example, November through December).Skills needed: Attention to detail, ability to lift heavy packages, customer service focus, physical stamina, flexible work scheduleOperations AssociateOnce orders are collected, assembled, and readied for shipping, operations professionals take over to make sure that everything goes where it’s supposed to go, and when it’s supposed to go out. The job may involve analyzing the best way to ship merchandise (shipping routes, timelines, costs, etc.) as well as coordinating with fulfillment and logistics teams to ensure smooth delivery and a good customer experience.Skills needed: Attention to detail, great organization, data analysis, project management, customer service focus, ability to work as part of a team with many moving partsBenefits of a Warehouse CareerThese warehouse and ship ping jobs typically don’t require a college degree to get started, and usually include on-the-job training once you’re in the door. They’re also geographically flexible: because retailers are setting up satellite warehouses and fulfillment centers around the country to make shipping faster and cheaper, you won’t necessarily need to concentrate your job search in a limited number of â€Å"hubs.†As retail itself continues to evolve, so to do the opportunities to work in the field. And no matter how people are shopping these days (or how they’ll shop five years from now), companies will always need qualified professionals behind the scenes to make sure customers get what they want, and that they keep coming back. If you have a passion for logistics and customer service, the fulfillment path can be a great option for your retail career.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Cómo llenar la planilla I-130 para pedir a cónyuge

Cà ³mo llenar la planilla I-130 para pedir a cà ³nyuge  ¿Eres un ciudadano que quieres reclamar una tarjeta de residencia para tu esposo/a que se encuentra en otro paà ­s? Explicacià ³n paso a paso de la planilla (forma)  I-130 para estos casos.   Pedir la residencia para un cà ³nyuge extranjero de un ciudadano americano es un proceso con mà ºltiples pasos. Todo se inicia presentando una peticià ³n al Servicio de Ciudadanà ­a e Inmigracià ³n (USCIS, por sus siglas en ingles). Esta peticià ³n implica llenar varias planillas y enviar copias de documentos. Pero el papel fundamental es el I-130. A continuacià ³n sigue una explicacià ³n detallada de quà © debes responder en cada pregunta del formulario, adaptado para el caso de que se trate de un ciudadano americano que reclama una tarjeta de residencia para su esposo/a y à ©ste est en el extranjero. Explicacià ³n paso a paso de cà ³mo llenar la planilla I-130 cuando un ciudadano reclama a un cà ³nyuge que se encuentra en el extranjero.   (En el à ºltimo prrafo podrs encontrar un enlace directo a la planilla I-130, que podrs descargarte gratuitamente - nunca pagues por un formulario del USCIS, son siempre gratis). Esta planilla tiene dos hojas.   Primera hoja: No escribas nada en la parte superior donde pone: DO NOT WRITE IN THIS BLOCK Baja el cursor hasta donde veas la letra A en mayà ºscula seguido de la palabra Relationship. Aquà ­ tà º, el ciudadano americano, debes contestar a tres preguntas. En la 1 marca con una x la opcià ³n husband/wife, ya que ests reclamando a  tu cà ³nyugeEn la 2 pregunta si tu cà ³nyuge y tà º ests emparentados por adopcià ³n. Marca No, a menos que eso no sea el caso.En la 3 pregunta si te hiciste residente por adopcià ³n. Marca Sà ­ o No, segà ºn sea tu caso. A continuacià ³n vers que el la pgina se divide  (de un modo no muy claro) en dos columnas. La primera, bajo la letra B, en la que debes completar informacià ³n sobre ti, que eres el ciudadano. En la columna de enfrente, que comienza con la letra C en mayà ºscula, sobre tu esposo/a extranjero. Vers que las preguntas de la 1 a la 12 para ambos y simplemente hay que contestar lo que corresponda a cada uno. Pregunta 1. Nombre, empezando por el apellido (en mayà ºsculas), seguido por el primer nombre y el segundo, si lo hubiera. Por ejemplo: RODRIGUEZ   Marà ­a Luz. Escribir el del ciudadano y en la columna de enfrente el del  cà ³nyuge Pregunta 2. La direccià ³n de cada uno en el momento actual.   Pregunta 3. Lugar de nacimiento, colocando primero la ciudad y luego el paà ­s. Por ejemplo: si Madrid, Spain y lo que corresponda  para tu esposo/a. Pregunta 4: Fecha de nacimiento. Escribirla poniendo dos dà ­gitos para el mes seguido del dà ­a y cuatro dà ­gitos para el aà ±o. Por ejemplo, para escribir el 24 de septiembre de 1967 hay que poner 09/24/1967. Pregunta 5: Gà ©nero, marcando male si se es hombre y female si se es mujer. Nota: desde junio de 2013 los matrimonios homosexuales y de lesbianas tienen beneficios migratorios como los de las parejas heterosexuales, con lo que es posible marcar en las dos columnas la opcià ³n de varà ³n o la de mujer.   Pregunta 6: Marcar married, ya que à ©sta se trata de una peticià ³n que americano realiza para su esposo/a extranjero. Pregunta 7: Otros nombres. Por ejemplo, si se han utilizado legalmente otros apellidos, como puede ser en el caso de mujeres que han estado casadas previamente utilizando el apellidos de sus anteriores maridos, o casos en los que ha habido una adopcià ³n y se usado dos nombres, etc. Si siempre se han utilizado los mismos y jams ha habido un cambio entonces hay que escribir None (no dejar en blanco). Pregunta 8: Fecha y lugar del matrimonio actual. Por ejemplo, si te casaste en Lima el 27 de julio de 2013 escribir 07/27/2013   Lima, Peru. Pregunta 9: escribe en tu columna tu  Nà ºmero del Seguro Social. En la columna de tu  esposo/a escribir None, salvo en casos muy concretos en que tuviera uno (de los de verdad) porque en el pasado estuvo viviendo en EEUU y obtuvo uno legalmente, ponerlo.   Pregunta 10: Escribir None tanto en tu columna como en la de tu cà ³nyuge. Puede que en el pasado tuvieras uno alien registration number, si en el pasado fuiste un residente permanente legal. Pero ahora eres un ciudadano, asà ­ que debes contestar None. En el caso de tu esposo/a, en la mayorà ­a de los casos la respuesta es None. Pero puede suceder que en el pasado hubiera tenido uno, por la razà ³n que fuera. En ese caso, anotarlo. Pregunta 11: Si has estado casado previamente, escribir el nombre de la persona que fue tu marido o tu mujer. Y lo mismo en la columna de tu cà ³nyuge. Si uno de ustedes o los dos nunca han estado casados escribir None (sà ³lo  matrimonios legales, vivir juntos no cuenta). Pregunta 12: Poner la fecha en la que el anterior matrimonio/s acabaron. Por ejemplo, si te divorciaste el 3 de agosto de 2007 escribir 08/03/2007. El matrimonio pudo finalizar por divorcio, nulidad o viudedad. Fà ­jate que hay espacio para poner ms de un matrimonio anterior, si ese fuera el caso. A partir de aquà ­ ya no contestas por ti y por tu cà ³nyuge a las mismas preguntas, sino que son diferentes. Pregunta 13: En la columna del ciudadano, te preguntan cà ³mo te convertiste en  estadounidense. Marca una x en birth in the US si naciste en Estados Unidos o uno de sus territorios, como Puerto Rico. Marca Naturalizacià ³n si fuiste residente permanente y te convertirse en ciudadano por naturalizacià ³n. En este caso necesitas tener a mano el certificado de ciudadanà ­a que te dieron en la ceremonia y anotar el nà ºmero y la fecha y el lugar en el que te lo dieron.    Por à ºltimo, marca la opcià ³n parents si eres ciudadano por  ser hijo de estadounidense, aunque naciste en otro paà ­s o si te convertirse en uno cuando tu pap o tu mam se naturalizaron y tà º ya eras residente permanente, vivà ­as con ellos y eras menor de edad. Si marcas parents no te olvides de especificar si tienes certificado de ciudadanà ­a, marcando la casilla correspondiente y anotando su nà ºmero y fecha y lugar en el que fue emitido.   Pregunta 13: pregunta sobre el cà ³nyuge para el que se pide la residencia: Hay que seà ±alar con un sà ­ o un no si la persona ha estado alguna vez en Estados Unidos, como por ejemplo, de turista, de estudiante, etc.   Pregunta 14: La parte del ciudadano consta de dos subpreguntas, la primera hay que contestar N/A, es decir, no aplicable, ya que sà ³lo tendrà ­as que contestarla si fueses residente permanente. Y no lo eres, ya que ests rellenando una aplicacià ³n como ciudadano americano.  Justo debajo de esa pregunta, donde pone 14b, debes contestar sà ­ o no a si obtuviste la residencia por matrimonio con un ciudadano o un residente. La respuesta es no: Si has nacido en Estados Unidos o Puerto RicoSi eres americano por tus padresSi eres americano por naturalizacià ³n, pero la tarjeta de residencia que tuviste anteriormente la obtuviste por trabajo, por ser hermano, hijo, padre o madre de un ciudadano o por ser hijo de un residente permanente legal Por el contrario, debes marcar la  respuesta de sà ­ (donde pone Yes), en el caso de ser ciudadano por naturalizacià ³n siempre y cuando  antes sacaste tu greencard por matrimonio. Pregunta 14 para el esposo para el que se pide la tarjeta. Como à ©sta es una aplicacià ³n para pedir a un esposo que est fuera de Estados Unidos, esta pregunta no aplica y por lo tanto hay que contestar N/A donde pone He or she arrived as a: Adems, hay que dejar sin escribir nada en las dos là ­neas siguientes y pasar directamente a la pregunta siguiente. Pregunta 15: sà ³lo aplica al esposo extranjero. Pregunta nombre de la empresa para la que trabaja en la actualidad. Poner el nombre o responder N/A si no est trabajando. Y en la là ­nea siguiente poner la fecha en la que se empezà ³ a trabajar en esa compaà ±Ãƒ ­a. Pregunta 16: es muy importante contestar correctamente y la verdad a esta pregunta. Si el esposo extranjero para el que se pide el permiso de residencia ha estado previamente en Estados Unidos es posible que haya tenido un procedimiento de  inmigracià ³n. Contestar honestamente no o sà ­, segà ºn sea la respuesta correcta. Y si la contestacià ³n es afirmativa, entonces poner dà ³nde (where) y cundo (when) y justo debajo con un aspa en forma de cruz (x) marcar la casilla correspondiente.    ¿Cundo marcar Removal? Cuando con posterioridad al abril de 1997 la persona fue deportada o se le prohibià ³ la entrada en Estados Unidos y se la expulsà ³. Por ejemplo, llegà ³ a la aduana con una visa y se la envià ³ de vuelta al paà ­s del que venà ­a porque el oficial de inmigracià ³n considerà ³ que era inadmisible. O cuando un juez ordenà ³ una deportacià ³n. O cuando cruzà ³ ilegalmente la frontera, fue agarrada y se la expulsà ³.  ¿Cundo marcar Exclusion/deportation? En los mismos casos seà ±alados en el prrafo anterior sobre removal, pero cuando tuvieron lugar antes de abril de 1997.  ¿Cundo marcar rescission?  Cuando se ha tenido una tarjeta de residencia (greencard) y un juez de inmigracià ³n decidià ³ quitrsela.  ¿Cundo marcar judicial proceedings? Cuando se ha tenido un trmite de cualquier tipo ante una corte de inmigracià ³n.   Si la persona para la que se pide la tarjeta ha sido deportada, expulsada o ha tenido un caso ante un juez de inmigracià ³n entonces es muy conveniente consultar con un abogado antes de seguir y enviar la aplicacià ³n, para analizar con detenimiento las circunstancias del caso. Recordar que estos casos de deportacià ³n tienen una penalidad. Pasar a la pgina siguiente, que es la nà ºmero dos y à ºltima Desde la parte superior hasta aproximadamente la mitad de pgina se desarrolla la seccià ³n C, donde se pide informacià ³n sobre el cà ³nyuge extranjero. Pregunta 17: Hay que enumerar el nombre del esposo/a americano  y el de todos los hijos que tenga el  esposo/a extranjero para el que se pide la tarjeta de residencia,  tanto biolà ³gicos como adoptados, tanto nacidos en matrimonio o fuera de à ©l. No importa ni la edad de los hijos, ni si estn casados o solteros y si se piensa pedirlos para que emigren a Estados Unidos o no. Lo à ºnico que hay que hacer es poner el nombre de TODOS los hijos que tiene el esposo extranjero.  Adems, hay que especificar el tipo de parentesco, la fecha y paà ­s de nacimiento. Ejemplo, eres una mujer ciudadana y pides a tu esposo, que tienes dos hijos de una relacià ³n anterior y un hijastro fruto de un matrimonio anterior. Habrà ­a que rellenar este apartado asà ­: Marà ­a Luz Rodrà ­guez (es decir, tu nombre), wife (o husband, si eres un hombre)   09/24/1967 Spain (este serà ­a el nombre y los datos del ciudadano americano que hace la peticià ³n)Isabel Fernndez Iglesias daughter   04/18/2009 (hija del esposo extranjero)Diego Fernndez Iglesias son   07/27/2010 (hijo del esposo extranjero)Fernando Snchez Iglesias stepson 12/12/2004 (hijastro del esposo extranjero) Pregunta 18: La direccià ³n en Estados Unidos donde vivirà ­a tu esposo/a, una vez que saque la tarjeta de residencia. Obviamente, al tratarse de un matrimonio, tienes que poner tu direccià ³n. Pregunta 19: La direccià ³n de tu esposo/a en el paà ­s en el que reside actualmente. Tambià ©n escribir el nà ºmero de telà ©fono. Pregunta 20: responder N/A, ya que sà ³lo aplica a personas que utilizan un alfabeto distinto al nuestro, como por ejemplo los chinos, los griegos o los rabes. Pregunta 21: Si has compartido casa con tu esposo/a, escribe la direccià ³n y la fecha de inicio y de fin de esa convivencia. Posiblemente tengas que contestar N/A, si es que nunca habà ©is vivido juntos. Pregunta 22: La respuesta es N/A porque ests pidiendo los papeles para tu cà ³nyuge que est en el extranjero. Y esta pregunta sà ³lo aplica si es que tu esposo/a est ya en Estados Unidos y va a aplicar por un ajuste de estatus. Las siguientes dos preguntas corresponden al apartado D y son las siguientes Pregunta 1: si adems de por tu esposo/a ests enviando ms peticiones para hijos o hijastros, debes decir a quià ©n ms pides (que necesariamente tiene que ser en otra peticià ³n separada) y cul es la relacià ³n. Por ejemplo, si tambià ©n pides a la hija de tu marido, poner su nombre y aà ±adir la palabra stepdaughter, que es hijastra, que es la relacià ³n que tiene contigo. Pregunta 2: Tienes que contestar sà ­ o no si has realizado una peticià ³n de tarjeta de residencia con anterioridad, para tu cà ³nyuge o para otra persona. Si contestas sà ­ debes poner su nombre, el lugar y la fecha en la que realizaste la peticià ³n y el resultado. Por ejemplo, pediste a tu hermano hace dos aà ±os. Entonces marca la casilla de yes y en la là ­nea siguiente escribe los datos que te piden. Por ejemplo, si yo hubiera pedido a mi hermano hace diez aà ±os y la peticià ³n fue aprobada escribirà ­a: Carlos Rodrà ­guez, Vermont, 03/05/2003 Approved Apartado E. del I-130 Debes firmar a mano (por lo que despuà ©s de acabar de llenar todo el formulario procede a imprimir y acuà ©rdate de firmar en ese momento) Antes de imprimir,  poner la fecha en la que has cumplimentado la planilla y  tu nà ºmero de telà ©fono. Finalmente el apartado F sà ³lo aplica en los casos en los que otra persona haya rellenado por ti esta planilla, como una agencia o un abogado.  ¿Cà ³mo saber si el USCIS ha recibido la solicitud y si la ha aprobado? Para estos efectos, el USCIS se comunica enviando al solicitante unos documentos conocidos como NOA1 y NOA2.  ¿quà © son y quà © informacià ³n comunican? Planilla que necesitas Descarga gratis el I-130.  Adems, enviar toda la documentacià ³n necesaria de apoyo y si est en un idioma distinto al inglà ©s, se debe certificar la traduccià ³n. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

How does the courts interpretation of due process affect police Essay

How does the courts interpretation of due process affect police practices related to search, arrest and interrogation - Essay Example Court plays an integral role in criminal trials and paving way for the course of justice, however, a court’s interpretation is not only restricted till punishing the perpetrator of the delinquent act but also pays an important in other facets of the trial.These facets involve police practices such as issuing search and arrest warrants, and even the process interrogation is contingent upon the interpretations made during the proceedings. (Scheb, 2008, P.p 10-15) It should be further noted that by initiating the process of prosecution the court has undertaken their responsibility to punish the criminal on behalf of the entire society. There are basic procedural steps that follow respective searches, seizures, interrogation and arrests. Law enforcement agencies are directly under court orders. It vastly depends on the circumstance under which complaint is filed and the defendant is being tried. (Scheb, 2008, P.p 10-15) It is the truth-finding process; a search warrant may be issu ed in order to gather evidence and if the evidences produced in the court may cause the legal professionals to assume that a further search can help search out more incriminating evidences or something that can prove the defendant’s innocence then in such a circumstance a search warrant may be issued. Seizures are the result of â€Å"Reasonable suspicion† that is the high probability that the property in question, may be altered that can distort or destroy a significant piece of evidence. Analogous to the facets of the US criminal justice system discussed above, arrests are made following a â€Å"Grand Jury Indictment† and is only performed when evidence point towards the fact that a crime has been committed and there is ample reason to believe that a crime has been committed. Basically, it is because of the jurisdiction that is produced during the trial which is responsible for the law enforcement activities and it is their interpretation that affects these the most. It is fundamental step in determining guilt or innocence of the defendant. (Scheb, 2008, P.p 10-15) 2. Why do state courts have to follow the same due process rights as the federal courts regarding search and seizure rights?   Courtroom proceedings are initiated by the law being broken and then it is followed by the process of trying the accused, analyzing the evidences and then eventually handing out the sentence accordingly. The criminal justice system in the United States of America is characterized by an absence of a single criminal or civil court. Instead the American judicial system is fragmented into the federal or national judicial system and then each American state or territory is governed by their set of rules and regulations. (Emmanuel, 2009, P.p 5-6) Courts that function on a state and federal level may operate as separate entities but they have countless similarities. The constitutional doctrines that is used to govern the entire nation is also used as the fou ndation of drafting out a state constitution hence, there is immense amount of correspondence in the way they function. As a matter of fact the framework, upon which both of these entities function, is largely the same and when it comes to issuing search, arrest and seizure warrants both courts follow the same due process. (Weiss, 2003) The only difference is in the types of crimes that are tried by each of the legal entities and the way they are tried; for instance federal courts hears cases pertaining to offences that affect the country as a whole whereas, state courts hear offences that are slightly lower in gravity than the ones being handled in federal levels. Therefore, for the most part of the trial process the same procedure is followed. That is relevant interpretation of the trial by the court causes magistrates to issue search and seizure

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Roe -vs- Wade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Roe -vs- Wade - Essay Example Is it ethical to allow the taking of a life, especially in those instances where there is no pressing medical reason that mandates a termination of a pregnancy? Is abortion wrong from a moral point of view? According to the religious beliefs, especially of Catholics, life is God given and therefore a woman who chooses to terminate the life of a fetus is in effect, taking into her own hands, a decision that only God can make. Abortion is equated to murder of the fetus and the woman who engages in it held liable for the act of killing another human being. Similarly, doctors who perform abortions were also held accountable, which is part of the reason why in some states, public opinion against abortion has reduced the number of clinical outlets and medical establishments where abortion can be safely performed by qualified medical personnel (Joffe, 2003). In pointing out the importance of the Roe v Wade decision, Joffe (2003) has described how, prior to the legalization of abortion, physicians performing therapeutic abortions were placed in an untenable position because of the fierce public opposition to abortion on religious grounds. But the decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v Wade has proved to be a boon for those women who are victims of rape or illness that interferes with their ability to successfully carry a pregnancy through to term. While earlier, it was difficult for them to terminate a pregnancy due to the public opposition to abortion, the decision in Roe v Wade has made abortion legal, thereby ensuring that woman seeking abortions can now have the procedure performed by qualified medical personnel. But Roe v Wade has gone beyond merely allowing abortions to proceed when there are extenuating circumstances; it makes the decision on whether or not to have an abortion solely the woman’s prerogative. Irrespective of the woman’s reasons for choosing to have an abortion, the decision in Roe v Wade

Saturday, November 16, 2019

The Naked Ape Essay Example for Free

The Naked Ape Essay My question is â€Å"After all we’ve evolved from, why can we still not control some of our animal-like instincts?†Ã‚  One possible answer is that no matter how much we evolve, we will always just be fancy apes. Desmond Morris said himself â€Å"Homo Sapiens have remained a naked ape nevertheless.† (The Naked Ape, page 9). To me, this is quite sad. However, I’m far from disagreeing with him. Apes can be extremely vicious and very easy to anger. Don’t we all know humans like that? And while not all people are like that, deep down, I’m pretty sure we all have a dark, ape-like side. I know that if people could read my mind, I would have been arrested a long time ago. The fact that most people can contain the violent thoughts they have is a sign that we have evolved from the apes, at least a little bit. However, there are still some people that act on these violent thoughts. How could some humans evolve from apes more than others? My thought is that maybe the humans that try to contain their violent instincts are attempting to hide who they truly are: fancy apes. Maybe the people that we call sick, crazy monstrosities are the only true human beings. The quote â€Å"His old impulses have been with him for millions of years, his new ones only a few thousand at the most and there is no hope of quickly shrugging off the accumulated genetic legacy of his whole revolutionary past.† (The Naked Ape, page 9) supports this thought. I often wonder why we try so hard to pretend like we’re this great, superior species, when in all actuality we’re really not that different from other animals at all. Sigmund Freud said â€Å"It is a general principle, then, that conflicts of interest between men are settled by the use of violence. This is true of the whole animal kingdom, from which men have no business to exclude themselves.† (Why War?, page 8) I completely agree, and frankly, I think it’s kind of pathetic that so many people try to pretend that they aren’t as savage as their fellow animals. Another possible answer is that deep down, maybe we don’t want to evolve. One of my favorite things to do is to play the role of a villain in a play. I get to be bad, and I don’t get in trouble for it. And really, who enjoys being good all the time? I know I don’t. Is that my ape-like nature showing? Morris said â€Å"It is a fact that the most level-headed intellectuals  frequently become violently aggressive when discussing the urgent need to suppress aggression.† (The Naked Ape, page 146) I’m not a very violent person, but one time I caught this kid picking on my baby brother, and I punched him as hard as I could right in the gut. I didn’t regret it then, I don’t now, and I never will. That’s pretty ape-like, isn’t it? It is, and I couldn’t care less. It seems like I don’t really want to change my ape-like behaviors. It’s the same thing with parents. If someone’s child is threatened, what are they going to do? They’re going to protect them at all cost. I once had a teacher look at my whole entire class and say with a straight face â€Å"If anyone ever hurt my son, I would put him in a meat grinder feet-first. I would go to jail for the rest of my life, and I would wake up smiling every morning.† That’s horrible, right? Or is it just who we are? Morris said â€Å"The prolonged dependency of the young, forcing us to adopt pair-bonded family units, demanded yet another form of self-assertion. Each male, as the head of a family, became involved in defending his own individual home base inside the general colony base.† (The Naked Ape, page 148) Morris claims that loving and protecting your family was evolved from self-preservation. Self-preservation is an animal instinct, is it not? So it’s ape-like, but do we want to change that? Of course not! Freud said â€Å"In union there is strength.† (Why War?, page 9) That means the only reason I love my family and I want them to be safe is because deep down, I know that I wouldn’t be as safe without them. I hate to think that that might be true, because that makes me feel like a terrible person. But then again, aren’t all humans just a big ball of selfishness? A third possible answer is that maybe we just don’t have the capacity to change. This differs from my first answer because my first answer suggests that we haven’t really evolved as much as we think we have. This third answer suggests that some animals might be able to become â€Å"greater† than they are now, but humans can’t. Maybe this is as good as it gets for our species. It almost makes me angry, thinking that a chimpanzee might eventually be able to accomplish more than me. I mean, I’m a human. I’m part of the smartest species in the world, right? If that’s true, why am I not able to suppress the urge to hit someone in the gut as hard as I can? Morris said â€Å"Basically, they (apes) either switch off the signals that have been  arousing the aggression, or they switch on other, positively non-aggressive signals.† (The Naked Ape, page 157) An ape can calm itself down, and I can’t? Not just me, either. There are to ns of people in the world with anger issues. We’re actually almost more ape-like than apes themselves. Now, that’s pretty pathetic. When I get mad at someone, all I want to do is hit them. I usually choose not to act on it (maybe because I’m subconsciously in denial of my ape-like nature as well), but that still doesn’t hide the fact that attacking said person is my natural animal instinct. Morris said that when apes are threatened, they â€Å"simply calm the dominant animal down†¦send out signals that stimulate a non-aggressive response†¦ (and) involve the arousal of the mood to groom or be groomed.† (The Naked Ape, pages 157-158) When you’re mad at someone, do you try to groom them? No, you most likely don’t. Apes are smart enough to realize that violence isn’t a good thing, and we aren’t. That’s very sad, in my opinion. We should be able to control our instinct to fight and kill, like the apes can. We should, in theory, be more like the apes. So maybe my question shouldn’t be â€Å"After all we’ve evolved from, why can we still not control some of our ape-like instincts?† Maybe my question should be â€Å"After all we’ve supposedly evolved from, why can we still not be more like the apes?† Freud said â€Å"Domination by whoever had the greater might – domination by brute violence or by violence supported by intellect.† (Why War?, page 9) Is that really what we live by? Is brute violence all we know? If so, then I’d much rather be an ape. In conclusion, human beings just flat-out aren’t the best species in the world. I’m not sure what species is, and I’m not sure I will never know. Some people might think that I’m cynical for thinking this. Maybe I am, but do you not have doubts about our species as well?

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Robinson Crusoe :: essays research papers

By definition, a savage is an uncivilized person. Friday would not fit this description because he was civilized. He was a product of the civilization that surrounded him where he came from. His appearance, behaviors, and beliefs were that of all the others in what might be called his tribe. The simple fact that he had religious beliefs is evidence of him being somewhat civilized. A savage can also be thought of as anyone or anything not European. Clearly Friday was not European, yet his features were not consistent with what would normally be considered "savage". He is described as having "a very good Countenance, not a fierce and surly Aspect†¦", "he had all the Sweetness and Softness of an European in his Countenance too†¦", "His Hair was long and black, not curl’d like Wool†¦", "The Colour of his Skin was not quite black, but very tawny; and yet not of an ugly yellow nauseous tawny, as the Brasilians, and Virginians, and other Natives of America are†¦", and "his Nose small, not flat like the Negroes, a very good mouth, thin Lips, and his fine Teeth well set, and white as Ivory" (Defoe 205). When the two characters meet, Friday approaches Robinson Crusoe in a very sedate manner, Friday is terrified yet he does not lash out at Robinson Crusoe. He does not seem wild, ferocious or barbaric in any way. He uses sign language at first to communicate, which indicates knowledge of some sort of primitive language. He is quick to learn Robinson Crusoe’s language and is eager to learn more while Robinson Crusoe stays clear of learning Friday’s language. It is apparent that Friday has religious or spiritual beliefs right from the beginning. When Robinson Crusoe saves Friday from the savages that brought him to the island to devour him, Friday is extremely grateful and he offers himself as an eternal servant to Robinson Crusoe. "At last he lays his Head flat upon the Ground, close to my Foot, and sets my other Foot upon hi shead, as he had done before; after this made all the Signs to me of Subjection, Servitude, and Submission imaginable, to let me know, how he would serve me as long as he liv’d†¦" (Defoe 206). After it became evident that Friday was not a threat of any sort, Robinson Crusoe was grateful for his presence. Friday would become a valuable asset for the daily activities of Robinson Crusoe’s habitation.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Critique of “Being Logical”

Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking by D. Q. McInerny is an introduction to the science and art of thinking and living logically. The 129-page guide was published in 2005 by Random House Trade Paperbacks and can be purchased for around ten dollars. The author D. Q. McInerny is currently a professor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Lincoln, Nebraska and has written a variety of pieces on religious philosophy to include Philosophical Psychology, and an article on the use of contraception. In the words of McInerny, â€Å"Logic is the very backbone of true education† (McInerny, 2005, p. x). Yet in the Preface, he goes on to say â€Å"To my mind, logic is the missing piece of the American educational system, the subject that informs every other subject from English to history to science and math† (McInerny, 2005, p. ix). In his book McInerny attempts to guide his readers through the process of seeing the world and evaluating their circumstances in an objective and cr itical manner. Ultimately he aims to instill an intrinsic need for truth gained through logic that his readers will utilize in everyday life.Being logical consists of five sections, the first three serve as a foundation for logical thinking. They consist of Preparing the Mind for Logic, The Basic Principles of logic and Argument – the Language of Logic. The last two sections, The Sources of Illogical Thinking and The Principal Forms of Illogical Thinking put the foundations of logic into action by pointing out errors that one may make while attempting sound logic. The last two sections, specifically section five synthesizes the material previously covered in the book by defining the ways in which reasoning can go awry.McInerny wrote of 28 principal forms of illogical thinking. The eleven most notable forms of illogical thinking can be grouped by their basic causes: a basic misinterpretation of language and arrival at a conclusion through illogical processes, a lack of critica l thinking or attention to the matter at hand, and finally, purposefully misleading and manipulative argumentation. Undistributed middle, begging the question and inability to disprove does not prove all occur when one misinterprets the language of an argument or comes to a conclusion through an illogical process.According to McInerny Undistributed middle occurs when one falsely attributes traits to the conclusion based on a term or statement in the premise that is not universal or always true. For example, many elite marathon runners are Kenyan. Aallyah is Kenyan therefore she is an elite marathoner. Similar to undistributed middle, begging the question is when a statement seams like an argument that proves the conclusion when in truth the assertion is simply stated twice in different words. There is not actually any supporting evidence to prove the assertion.For example, because Jimmy goes to the gym on a regular basis, Jimmy has good physical fitness. Another form of illogical th inking is the assertion that the inability to disprove something in effect proves it. For example, just because one cannot disprove the existence of a higher power or God, does not prove that God exists. It is a matter that has not been proven or disproven therefore it is simply a matter of faith or opinion not at all based in logical fact. Abusing tradition, democratic fallacy and abuses of expertise all stem from lack of critical thinking, attention to the matter at hand or weak-minded group think.Sometimes tradition is followed simply because it is the way things have always been regardless of its logical merit or usefulness. Conversely, a sound tradition is often abandoned simply for the sake of innovation. Both of these failures in logic are forms of using and abusing tradition. The quality of a tradition should be judged on its merit and effectiveness not simply its longevity. The Democratic Fallacy occurs when a conclusion or opinion is held as true simply because the majorit y believes it. For example, society used to believe that the world was flat and the sun revolved around the earth, which is obviously a false assertion.The use of an expert opinion can be very powerful in an argument as long as the expert backs up his or her opinion with fact and concrete rational. If one asserts that a specific conclusion is true simply based on the fact that an expert says so, they are not in essence proving their assertion at all because they aren’t making an argument, they are simply making a statement. If a lawyer in a murder trial placed an expert whiteness on the stand, and simply asked them â€Å" in your expert opinion, did the defendant committed the offence† they would be abusing expertise and not actually presenting any argument at all.If the lawyer asked the expert to explain the evidence and why it leads to the conclusion, then he or she would be presenting a good argument. In section five McInerny points out that it is essential to be aw are of purposefully misleading and manipulative argumentation when attempting to logically analyze a situation. Ad hominem, red herring, straw man, false dilemma and simplistic reasoning are all ways in which one can manipulate an audience incorrectly. Ad hominem and red herring are both forms of false reasoning in which one plays on the emotions of the audience to manipulate them.The ad hominem fallacy is when one responds to the individual making an argument, using information irrelevant to the argument to gain emotional control over the audience and sway them against the opponent. If one is discussing a topic with someone they dislike and rather than analyzing the others argument, they simply attack the other personally, the attacking individual is guilty of the Ad Hominem Fallacy. The opinion of the audience can be changed solely on their emotional response to the individual making the argument not on the logic of their position.The red herring fallacy is much like the ad homine m fallacy in that they both divert the audience’s attention from the actual issue being argued. In this fallacy, one interjects inflammatory information aimed at distracting and swaying a specific audience base solely on their emotions. This ploy is seen constantly in debates for political office. The paradox between public approval of the death penalty and disapproval of abortion is one that is seen frequently in political debate. In this example the opinion of specific majorities seem to be swayed more by emotional and religious appeals than consistent logic.One may play to the emotional image of an innocent baby being murdered, saying that humans cannot play God per say and that it isn’t our right to choose. While in the latter instance they can play on the image of an evil murderous criminal needing to be punished for his or her actions, and completely disregard the original assertion that it is not right for humans to play God. Straw man, false dilemma and simplis tic reasoning are all ways in which one can manipulate their audience not by emotional appeals but by somehow falsifying a specific aspect of the situation being analyzed.Straw Man Fallacy is when one purposefully misinterprets another’s argument in order to weaken it. If one realized that they were wrong, yet pretended to misinterpret the other persons argument to evade admitting that their argument is inferior they would be committing the Straw Man Fallacy. A false dilemma occurs when one analyzes a question or situation on the false pretext that there are only two options when, in fact, there are many possibilities. A historic example of a false dilemma can be seen in the political and social drama surrounding the United States decision to invade Iraq in 2003.According to a Pew Research Center poll in 2003 over 71 percent of Americans were proponents of Operation Iraqi Freedom (Keeter, 2007). This sentiment was furthered by emotional patriotism brought on by September 11th , which led to the attitude of â€Å"you are either for us or against us†. Although many Americans viewed the situation as a dilemma, there were many other options at the government’s disposal that could have utilized other forms of national power and influence. Simplistic reasoning is the act of simplifying a complex situation or reality so much that its true meaning is altered and the truth is lost.Parents often use simplistic reasoning when answering their children’s complex questions about life. Often when a child asks where they came from, a parent will respond with a myriad of simplistic stories. These responses are completely untrue but the parent wants to protect the child from the truth that they feel is inappropriate and may also think the child wont understand the complexities of procreation. Simplistic reasoning in this instance my be justified, however when it is used to manipulate or shelter adult audiences it is a gross misrepresentation of the tr uth.In section five, McInerny succeeds at highlighting the many ways in which attempted logic can fail. He defines each form of illogical thinking with brevity and in terms any reader can understand. Awareness of these possible mistakes will assuredly help readers follow more logical thought processes and avoid illogical thinking. The first three chapters of the book however, are not as helpful or pertinent. McInerny starts out by explaining the close relationship between language and logic, stating that they are in fact â€Å"inseparable† (McInerny, 2005, p. 3).Conscious thought is indeed dictated by language. One can have feelings and emotions without language but when one realizes an actual cognitive thought, they think it in words. McInerny states that the â€Å"concrete expression of logical reasoning is the argument† (McInerny, 2005, p. 47). Thus he spends a great deal of time detailing and defining the basic structure and function of the English language and the language of an argument. He caveats these first three sections by saying that â€Å"readers might be put off by what they perceive to be an emphasis upon the obvious.I do, in fact, place a good deal of stress on the obvious in this book, and that is quite deliberate. In logic, as in life, it is the obvious that most often bears emphasizing, because it so easily escapes our notice† (McInerny, 2005, p. x). Although language and our use of it holds a symbiotic relationship with logic, McInerny spends 88 uninspired pages defining and over complicating aspects of language that are, as he says, obvious. Instead of putting his readers to sleep by dissecting and defining the rudimentary construct of the English language, he could have emphasized the importance of paying attention to obvious details.Using interesting historical examples of either sound logic or attempted logic gone awry would make a much more memorable impact. Instead, readers feel as though they are wading through t he sludge of an SAT or ACT preparatory guide. Ultimately, McInerny succeeds in writing a basic guide to the science of logic however; Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking does not inspire readers to internalize a desire for truth gained through the art of logical thinking.The book is a dry and simplistic analysis of logic that lacks any inspiring or memorable real world examples that a reader could call upon while logically navigating their everyday life. References Keeter, S. (2007). Trends in Public Opinion About the War in Iraq, 2003-2007. Retrieved October 3, 2011 from Pew Research Center Publications: http://pewresearch. org/pubs/431/trends-in-public-opinion-about-the-war-in-iraq-2003-2007. MCInerny, D. Q. (2005). Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

The Hobbit

‘The Hobbit’ is a beautiful story written by J. R. R Tolkien, and is full of happy, emotional quotes and lovely characters. Tolkien gives detailed descriptions of his characters using humour and often captures his young readers’ attention with short poems. For example, he begins his story with the sentence ‘In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and continues it, which then becomes a legend! Tolkien has spun a fascinating tale with adventure involving dragons, magicians, hobbits, dwarves and skin-changers etc. The protagonist, Bilbo Baggins with his heroism, self-esteem, courage and quirks like stealing skills, is an adorable character. Although he is a figment of the author’s imagination, his kindness and poignant insights infuse him with qualities akin to the best of humans. The author had started this story as a way of entertaining his own grandchild, and true to this, the book adheres to a conversational style of story-telling. For example, he writes ‘The mother of our particular hobbit- what is a hobbit? and starts describing the hobbit before describing Belladonna Took, the hobbit’s mother. The poetic quotes throughout the course of the story also reveal the writer’s style, which tells it apart from other legends, for example – ‘Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old We must away, ere break of day, To find our long-forgotten gold’ The author’s use of foreshadowing makes the plot very interesting and keep the reader’s interest alive. For example, Thorin’s key and map are revealed to be an important part of the story towards the end. Readers love these unexpected turn of events and surprises in the story! Another example of foreshadowing is when Bilbo gets the power and courage to overcome hurdles and fear in the battle of the five armies, which he could only access after he got the ring. The author has used a novel way of capturing his young readers’ attention by introducing a chapter full of riddles between Gollum, the goblin and Bilbo, in the Misty Mountains. Using riddles, Tolkien has not only successfully heightened the interest of his readers, but also given glimpses of all aspects of the story! The interesting twists in the story and Bilbo’s good luck at narrowly escaping death or loss at crucial times in the story also have a gripping effect on the readers. Children love to see the arrival of Gandalf, the magician, when Bilbo is in need, as they also delight in his escape from the clutches of the goblins and the elves in barrels after he steals the ring, and his courage and skill in getting out of the giant spider’s trap. I also like the Greek term exemplified in Gandalf’s rescue in the Misty Mountains, which is ‘deux ex machina’, which means a God given man for help. Again, due to sheer luck, Bilbo is able to get away from the dragon’s lair. But a sad part of the story is the destruction of Laketown by Smaug, the dragon. The readers are relieved when Bard slays Smaug. Bilbo and his group get a further taste of adversity when the goblins and wargs, who have also heard about Smaug’s death, come looking for their share and cause the battle of the five armies. Thorin becomes a martyr for their group, while Bilbo is struck with a rock and loses consciousness. The author reveals Bilbo’s wise and compassionate side when Bilbo gives the Arkenstone to Bard in an attempt to stop conflict between Bard and Thorin before the battle. I liked the last part when Bilbo returns back with Gandalf and Beorn, who help their group win the battle of the five armies as well as many skirmishes in Mirkwood before that. The enjoyable part here is that Bilbo gets amused by seeing an auction going on at his place! I love the story and also its moral that we should not let our fears get in the way of what we want to do or be in life. The cheerful quotes and poems provide a lot of fun to the readers as well! The Hobbit This summer I read the book, â€Å"The Hobbit†, by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was a really interesting book with ups and downs just like any other. It was an adventure about a little hobbit named Bilbo who slowly discovers how brave and courageous he is. He is accompanied by 13 dwarves and occasionally a wizard named Gandalf. Together they face Goblins, Trolls, giant Spiders, Elves and even a dragon. There were things that I really enjoyed watching lay out and things that I felt brought the story line down. Throughout the book, I noticed that Gandalf had great confidence in Bilbo. I love the way that he knew Bilbo had potential and wouldn’t let anyone say differently. Bilbo was a weak and timid little hobbit who had no idea what the world was like and what dangers were ahead of him. Gandalf could see the adventurous heart in Bilbo when no one else could. He had chosen him to be the fourteenth member of the team and was not going to be moved by any creature. In the beginning of the book, Bilbo is flabbergasted when Gandalf tells him that he will give him what he asked for. â€Å"I beg your pardon, I haven’t asked for anything! † (Tolkien 7) He was so scared to think that he would have to go on such a perilous journey. He had never been past the safe comfort of his hobbit-hole and was not ready to cross that line. Gandalf somehow knew that deep down Bilbo was longing for adventure. â€Å"In fact I will go so far as to send you in this adventure,† (Tolkien 7) He had an incredible faith for him that showed up quite a few times. Even though Bilbo did mess up, he would still stand up for him â€Å"Let’s have no more argument. I have chosen Mr. Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you† (Tolkien 19) â€Å"I brought him, and I don’t bring things that are of no use. †(Tolkien 85) Bilbo was extremely unsure of himself and didn’t know how he could be of help. Because of this, the dwarves assumed that he had no significance on their expedition and that he was even a weigh down. â€Å"You! You! You miserable hobbit! You undersized burglar! † (Tolkien 247) They would persistently put him down, but Gandalf always took little Bilbo’s side. It was so fun to see Bilbo become the courageous, sneaky and cunning conqueror that he really was inside. He thought that he would never be able to do the things that he did. Every now and then he would start to warm up to the idea of danger but then catch himself and hide once again. It took quite a while for him to see how brave he was, but he got it in the end. Sorry! I don’t want any adventures, thank you. † (Tolkien 7) Later he fights giant spiders and out-talks Gollum. He turns out to be the bravest one on the expedition! He was the most valuable person and they would not have completed their quest without him. One thing that I really didn’t like was when the dragon came along. The whole book they talked about how the dragon would be the most difficult to handle. When they finally get to the mountain, all the dwarves can think about is the dragon. They have to hide by the secret door and be totally silent so that they don’t wake it. Bilbo sneaks into the mountain to spy around. He finds the dragon and makes it so upset that it tries to destroy everything in its path. The dragon is the only thing holding them back. The thought of the battle they were going to have was exciting. They left you in the suspense of who was going to fight it and who would get hurt and still give everything. As the dragon is rampaging through Esgaroth, Bard shoots it with one arrow. The dragon falls dead. That’s it? I was definitely hoping for something more than that. I felt like they led up to it really well and then didn’t even have anything happen. The way that the characters spoke really reflected who they were. Gollum, for example, called himself â€Å"my precious† and never spoke to anyone but himself. It was almost like his trademark. Gandalf was ‘the wise one’. His word choice made him seem mysterious like an old wizard should be. â€Å"Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on? † (Tolkien 5) On page 41, however, I feel like he ‘lost his cool’ when he yelled at Bilbo for asking an acceptable question. It seemed to make him less wise and more†¦ cranky. Bilbo of course talked of his hobbit-hole and how he wished for food and warmth. The dialogue of the character seemed as if it was their own. I think that they made Bilbo too old for the way he acts. He is always curious to know about things but so scared. He is never ‘just there’. Like a younger person, he is always alert and ready to see what is happening next. He is good at sneaking around and is very clever and active. T he book was very interesting, and I enjoyed reading it, but the speeds changed too much. You couldn’t feel the suspense as much because the same thing happened over and over, and they didn’t go on very long: they would get captured and then they would escape. It was all very creative but I would have liked to be able to get into the moments more. After they get their share of money and fight the Goblins, nothing happens. That should be extremely close to the last page of the book. The story line is over, which leads to the conclusion. When Bilbo and Gandalf go back to the Hills, it is excruciatingly laid out. The next whole chapter was on their slow journey back. The overall theme was that you can think that there is nothing to you, like Bilbo thought about himself, and think that you are small, weak, and afraid, but that is all in your head. When you set your mind to it, you can ‘get it done’, no matter how big or strong you are. â€Å"This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected,† (Tolkien 4) â€Å"He suddenly felt he would go without bed and breakfast to be thought fierce,† (Tolkien 18) All of his fear was conquered and then came the confidence. â€Å"He soon realized that if anything was to be done, it would have to be done by Mr. Baggins, alone and unaided,† (Tolkien 158).

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Investigation Into the Death of Jill Dando Essays

The Investigation Into the Death of Jill Dando Essays The Investigation Into the Death of Jill Dando Essay The Investigation Into the Death of Jill Dando Essay On 26th of April 1999, TV presenter Jill Dando was shot in the side of her head with a modified gun at close range, on the doorstep in front of her house on Gowen Avenue. A neighbour, Helen Doble, who originally thought Dando had been stabbed, found her body, who subsequently called the emergency services. Jill Dando was taken to Charing Cross Hospital nearby, yet was declared dead on arrival. Operation Oxborough was established, a two year long investigation. Police were initially bombarded with information that bore no evidence or leads for the investigation, for which extra staff and resources were needed. While nobody appeared to have witnessed the crime, many came forward with sightings of men near the scene around the time of the crime. The first suspect was a man who had waited at the bus stop on Fulham Palace road, boarded a bus, yet got off before his supposed destination. Witnesses say that this man was sweating and looked agitated. Police learned that Jill Dando had been shot around 15 minutes previously, and therefore the sweating man became their first suspect. The man was described as 59 to 510, medium build in his late 30s, having a round face, dark complexion and being clean shaven. However, after producing the following E-fit, police began to realise that perhaps this man was not their murderer, but may have been a witness. 1 The E-fit of the sweating man The sweating man never came forward. After this line of enquiry fell through, the police began to interview anyone associated with Jill Dando. This was an extensive line of enquiry as the police searched through and contacted almost 500 people listed in her filofax, examined around 14,000 emails sent to the BBC and examined all her letters and phone messages. Following this, a Range Rover had been singled out as it failed to stop at a red light shortly after the murder, in Fulham. In the process of tracking this car down, police also investigated the details of 1200 vehicles. The case had barely progressed for 6 months, counting a list of 2000 suspects. Police then contacted profiling experts in the United States, who suggested that the crime was more likely to have been committed by an obsessive stalker. This helped to narrow down the list of suspects from 2000 to 140, those of whom had an unwholesome interest in Jill Dando. They began to concentrate on a man who they had received messages about in the days after the murder, called Barry George, who lived 800 yards away from Jills home, and was described as an oddball. Following a surveillance operation, his flat was searched three times where they found circumstantial evidence such as newspaper clippings, and what may have possibly been gunshot residue, linking him to the murder. By May 2000, Barry George was arrested and charged with the murder of Jill Dando, despite his alibi. The police then began to prepare witnesses for trial, conduct identity parades and continued to gather information to counter his alibi. However, Barry George has always protested his innocence, and many appeals have been turned down. Barry George originally came under suspicion as he was acting agitated during appointments with his housing association and GP, the day of the murder. Two days later, he began asking if people could verify what he was doing the day Jill was shot. The police involved in the investigation had been told hat he was odd and owned air rifles. Much of the evidence obtained during investigation was circumstantial, and in this review the evidence will be looked at critically. * Books and magazines on firearms were found in stacks during searches of Barry Georges flat. The prosecution used this as evidence to base the claim that Barry George was a loner who was obsessed with firearms. This was also supported by the finding of a single particle of gunshot residue in his coat pocket. However, these magazines dated back to the 1980s, during the time which he had joined the TA in 1981, but left after he failed his training. After leaving he attempted to join a firearms club but was turned down. On two separate occasions he had shown a friend a gun, and fired a blank from a gun. However, there is no evidence that this interest had continued into the 90s, especially not over a period of 20 years when Jill Dando was shot. Furthermore, controversy surrounds the sole particle of GSR. The forensic scientist called as an expert witness during the trial said that after using SEM (scanning electron microscope), he was able to compare the particle with particles from a test fire using a similar bullet which was used in the murder, and he concluded that the particle found could have come from the cartridge case which was found at the scene, as they were both made up of barium, aluminium and lead. Particles found in Jill Dandos hair and on her coat were also made up of the same compounds. However, these particles may have been the same type but there was no way of distinguishing whether the particle had come from the murder weapon, as this was never found for comparison. Furthermore, the police said that when they entered the property, they had not gone in with guns. New witnesses have come forward; a retired church minister and an airport worker say that the officers were armed when they went in. They would themselves have had gunshot residue on their hands and could have easily contaminated the coat. Furthermore, these searches did not occur until a year after the murder, and therefore, it may not necessarily be gunshot residue from the murder.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Birth Control Pills - Why Theyre Free

Birth Control Pills - Why Theyre Free American insurance companies are required to provide birth control pills and other forms of contraception at no cost to women under guidelines announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in August 2011. The insurance rules calling for free birth control pills take effect on Aug. 1, 2012, and expand medical coverage under the health care reform law signed by President Barack Obama, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act helps stop health problems before they start, said then Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. These historic guidelines are based on science and existing literature and will help ensure women get the preventive health benefits they need. At the time the rules were announced 28 states required health insurance companies to pay for birth control pills and other forms of contraception. Reaction to Free Birth Control Pills The rule requiring insurers to provide birth control for women at no cost was met with praise from family-planning organizations, and criticism from the health care industry and conservative activists. Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, described the Obama administration rule as being a historic victory for womens health and women across the country. Covering birth control without co-pays is one of the most important steps we can take to prevent unintended pregnancy and keep women and children healthy, Richards said in a prepared statement. Conservative activists argued that taxpayer money should not be used to pay for contraception, and the healthcare industry said the move would force them to raise premiums and increase the cost of coverage to consumers. How Insurers Will Provide Birth Control Pills The rules give women access to all Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling. The measure does not include abortifacient drugs or emergency contraception. The coverage rules allow insurers to use reasonable medical management to help define their coverage and keep costs down. For example, they will still be allowed to charge copayments for brand-name drugs if a generic version is available and is just as effective and safe for the patient. Copayments, or copays, are paid by consumers when they purchase prescriptions or go to their doctors. Birth control pills cost as much as $50 a month under many insurance plans. Religious institutions that offer insurance to their employees have the choice of whether to cover birth control pills and other contraception services. Reason for Free Birth Control Pills The Department of Health and Human Services considers the provision of birth control pills as necessary preventive health care. Before health reform, too many Americans didnt get the preventive health care they need to stay healthy, avoid or delay the onset of disease, lead productive lives, and reduce health care costs, the agency said. Often because of cost, Americans used preventive services at about half the recommended rate. The government described family planning services as being an essential preventive service for women and critical to appropriately spacing and ensuring intended pregnancies, which results in improved maternal health and better birth outcomes. Other Preventative Measures Covered Under the rules announced in 2011, insurers are also required to provide, at no cost to consumers: well-woman visits;screening for gestational diabetes;human papillomavirus DNA testing for women 30 years and older;sexually-transmitted infection counseling;human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening and counseling;breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling;and domestic violence screening and counseling. 2018: Trump Weakens Birth Control Coverage Mandate On November 7, 2018, the Trump administration issued two final regulations allowing employers to deny women insurance coverage for birth control measures as a preventative health service. The first of the two rules issued by the Department of Health and Human Services allows exemptions to the Obamacare contraceptive coverage mandate for entities that object to such coverage based on religious beliefs. The second final rule allows coverage exemptions to nonprofit organizations and small businesses that have moral, non-religious objections to contraception. â€Å"The Departments estimate the exemptions may affect the coverage of approximately 6,400 women, and state that in no case will they impact more than 127,000 women, which the Departments suggest is far more than will actually be impacted,† said the Department in a press release. The religious and moral exemptions provided by the rules apply to institutions of education, issuers, and individuals. However, the exemption for moral beliefs does not extend to publicly traded businesses, and neither the moral nor the religious exemption apply to federal government agencies or entities, according to the Department. â€Å"These rules affect a small fraction of the 165 million women in the U.S.† Stated the Department. â€Å"The rules leave in place contraceptive coverage guidelines where no religious or moral objection exists, and they do not change the Health Resources and Services Administration’s authority to decide whether to include contraceptives in the women’s preventive services guidelines for other entities.† Issued in the form of federal regulations at the direction of a presidential executive order, rather than an act of Congress, the rules may be amended or repealed at any time by the current or future presidential administrations. Updated by Robert Longley