The Failures Of Affirmative Action Essays (1217 words) -

The Failures of Affirmative Action Audience: US Congress Once upon a time, there were two people who went to an interview for only one job position at the same company. The first person attended a prestigious and highly academic university, had years of work experience in the field and, in the mind of the employer, had the potential to make a positive impact on the companies performance. The second person was just starting out in the field and seemed to lack the ambition that was visible in his opponent. Who was chosen for the job?, you ask. Well, if the story took place before the mid-sixties, the answer would be obvious. However, with the adoption of the social policy known as affirmative action, the answer becomes unclear. After the United States passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it became apparent that certain business traditions, such as seniority status and aptitude tests, prevented total equality in employment. Therefore, president Lyndon Johnson decided to do something to remedy these flaws. In 1965 he issued an ex! ecutive order that required federal contractors to take "affirmative action" to ensure that applicants are employed?without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin. When LBJ signed that order, he enacted one of the most discriminating pieces of legislature in the history of the United States. Affirmative action was created in an effort to help minorities leap the discriminative barriers that were prevalent when the bill was first enacted, in 1965. At this time the country was in the wake of nation wide civil-rights demonstrations, and racial tensions was at its peak. White males, who controlled the hiring and firing of employees, occupied most of the corporate and managerial positions. The US government believed that these employers were discriminating against minorities and believed that there was no better time than the present to bring about change. When the civil rights law passed, minorities, especially African-Americans believed they should receive retribution for the years of discrimination they had endured. The government responded by passing laws to aid them in attaining better employment as reprieve for the previous two-hundred years of suffering their race endured at the hands of the white man. To many, this made sense. Supporters of affirmative action asked, "Why not let the government help them get better jobs, after all the white man was responsible for their suffering". While all this may be true, there is another question to be asked. Are we truly responsible for the years of persecution that African-Americans were submitted to? The answer is yes and no. It is true that the white man is partly responsible for the suppression of the African-American race. However, the individual white male is not. It is just as unfair and suppressive to hold many white males responsible for past persecution now as it was to discriminate against many African-Americans in the generations before. Why should an honest, hard working, open minded, white male be suppressed, today, for past injustice? Affirmative action accepts the idea of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Do two wrongs make a right? Affirmative action supporters make one large assumption when defending the policy. They assume that minority groups want help. This, however, may not always be the case. It is my belief that they fought to attain equality, not special treatment. To them, the acceptance of special treatment is an admittance of inferiority. They ask," Why can't I become successful on my own? Why do I need laws to help me get a job?" African-Americans want to be treated as equals, not incompetents. Thousands of white males, who do not discriminate, are being punished because of those who do. The Northern Natural Gas Company of Omaha, Nebraska was forced by the government to release sixty-five white male workers to make room for minority employees in 1977. Five major Omaha corporations reported that the number of white managers fell 25% in 1969 due to restrictions put on them when affirmative action was adopted. You ask," What did these white males do to bring about their termination?" The only crime that they were guilty of was being white. It hardly seems fair to punish so many innocent men for the crimes

Okonkwo Essay Example

Okonkwo Essay Example Okonkwo Essay Okonkwo Essay Definition of hero: a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Things Fall Apart takes place in the sass where Ginkgos life was very violent, always surrounded with fire. One could argue his major actions were heroic because he was in fact a hero; he was admired by his tribe, who also had outstanding achievements, qualities of a hero. Ever since his early life, Awoken was driven to such an violent person because of he wanted to be everything opposite of his father was. He couldnt stand being lazy poor and in debt like his father. Ever since Awoken was young he had a mind set to be as successful as possible and has done some memorable things for his tribe starting early, His fame rested on solid personal achievements. Brought honor to his village by throwing Emailing the Cat. (Pl) That was the main part to his success as a hero was his war-like characteristic. But there are many other things that make an impact to him heroism Other than his action of throwing the Cat, Awoken had big family, and lots of aims to support them with which made his family look up to him as a hero. Ginkgos fierce actions makes him a hero also because for the kids to not end up like their grandfather Awoken had to constantly make them work and scold them harshly for any laziness. Aside from his war side of things, killing five men during wars, he was a leader to his tribe. He wanted the best for the tribe when things were going wrong He mourned for the clan. He mourned for the warlike men of Comfit who had unaccountably become soft like women. (Pl 83) His major action to want to ill the white men was heroic but was brought down upon his tribe. Before the destruction of the church, they had listened to him with respect. It was like the good old days again, when a warrior was a warrior (IPPP) Awoken was happy for the first time in a while with the decision to destruct the church and he brought pride to his clan again. But all heroes fall in the end, Schnooks fall as a hero was sad, he had spent all his life wanting to be a leader with lots of titles but near the end he knew it wouldnt happen when he sighed Worth men are no more (IPPP).

Avoiding the Passive Voice in Spanish

Avoiding the Passive Voice in Spanish One of the most common mistakes made by beginning Spanish students who have English as a first language is to overuse passive verb forms. Sentences with passive verbs are very common in English, but in Spanish they arent used very much- especially in everyday speech. Key Takeaways: Spanish Passive Voice Although Spanish has a passive voice, it isnt used as much in Spanish as it is in English.One alternative to the passive voice is to turn it into the active voice. Either explicitly state the subject or use a verb that allows the subject to be implied rather than stated.Another common alternative is to use reflexive verbs. What Is the Passive Voice? The passive voice involves a sentence construction in which the performer of the action isnt stated, and in which the action is indicated by a form of to be (ser in Spanish) followed by a past participle, and in which the subject of the sentence is the one acted upon. If that isnt clear, look at a simple example in English: Katrina was arrested. In this case, it isnt specified who performed the arrest, and the person arrested is the subject of the sentence. The same sentence could be expressed in Spanish using the passive voice: Katrina fue arrestada. But not all English sentences using the passive voice can be translated into Spanish the same way. Take, for example, Jose was sent a package. Putting that sentence in a passive form in Spanish doesnt work. Josà © fue enviado un paquete just doesnt make sense in Spanish; the listener might think at first that Jose was sent somewhere. Also, Spanish has quite a few verbs that simply arent used in the passive form. And still others arent used passively in speech, although you may see them in journalistic writing or in items translated from English. In other words, if you want to translate an English sentence using a passive verb to Spanish, youre usually best off coming up with a different way. Alternatives to the Passive Voice How, then, should such sentences be expressed in Spanish? There are two common ways: recasting the sentence in the active voice and using a reflexive verb. Recasting in the passive voice: Probably the easiest way to translate most passive sentences in Spanish is to change them to the active voice. In other words, make the subject of the passive sentence the object of a verb. One reason for using a passive voice is to avoid saying who is performing the action. Fortunately, in Spanish, verbs can stand alone without a subject, so you dont necessarily have to figure out who is performing the action to revise the sentence. Some examples: Passive English: Roberto was arrested.Active Spanish: Arrestaron a Roberto. (They arrested Roberto.)Passive English: The book was bought by Ken.Active Spanish: Ken comprà ³ el libro. (Ken bought the book.)Passive English: The box office was closed at 9.Active Spanish: Cerrà ³ la taquilla a las nueve. Or, cerraron la taquilla a las nueve. (He/she closed the box office at 9, or they closed the box office at 9.) Using reflexive verbs:  The second common way in which you can avoid the passive voice in Spanish is to use a reflexive verb. A reflexive verb is one in which the verb acts on the subject. An example in English: I saw myself in the mirror. (Me vi en el espejo.) In Spanish, where the context doesnt indicate otherwise, such sentences are often understood in the same way as are passive sentences in English. And like passive forms, such sentences dont clearly indicate who is doing the action. Some examples: Passive English: Apples (are) sold here.Reflexive Spanish:  Aquà ­ se venden las manzanas. (Literally, apples sell themselves here.)Passive English: The box office was closed at 9.Reflexive Spanish: Se cerrà ³ la taquilla a las nueve. (Literally, the box office closed itself at 9.)Passive English: A cough isnt treated with antibiotics.Reflexive Spanish: La tos no se trata con antibià ³ticos. (Literally, the cough doesnt treat itself with antibiotics.) Some of the sample sentences in this lesson could be understandably translated to Spanish in the passive form. But native Spanish speakers dont normally speak that way, so the translations on this page would usually sound more natural. Obviously, you wouldnt use the literal translations above in translating such Spanish sentences to English! But such sentence constructions are very common in Spanish, so you shouldnt shy away from using them.

Company Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Company Analysis - Research Paper Example In U.S., diversity was not seen as an integral part of planning previously. Diversity initiatives in most businesses processes lacked specificity, were poorly conceptualized and had no link to the business strategic plans. However, in the U.S business operations today, managers and leaders have realized that diversity planning must be aligned with the business operational decisions. This is to ensure that the businesses become successful (Richard SaÃŒ nchez, SaÃŒ nchez-Runde, and Luciara Nardon, Pg.18). Some of the U.S owned business organizations, most particularly the Macy’s company, have adopted a number of planning diversity practices in the business world. Such practices are illustratively discussed as follows. Diversity strategic plan is generally referred to as A-One Strategic Plan. The business builds and manages a workforce which is truly diverse. This is done by strategic planning of diversity through its core values of respect to the individual’s dignity, trust, integrity, credibility, personal renewal and continuous improvement. The business organizations use BWF (Balanced Workforce Force) strategy which is a strategy that all-encompassing. The strategy guides the organization in various situations and also covers the all the populations of employees. The strategy sets a 10-year annual target on goal plans for the business. Through the strategy, the managers are held accountable for upward employees’ mobility. BWF ensures that when layoffs occur, then the members of one group in the organization are not disproportionately affected in comparison with other member groups (Richard SaÃŒ nchez, SaÃŒ nchez-Runde, and Luciara Nardon, Pg.23). Another diversity strategy used by U.S Macy’s company business entails the continuous business improvement through the development and engagement of people. In this strategy, the business develops six

Managing Front Office Operations in the front office of a hotel Essay

Managing Front Office Operations in the front office of a hotel - Essay Example The reception docket performs different functions that include: sale of rooms, room assignments, guest registration, handling of guest requests, cashiering along with handling mail, maintenance of the guest accounts, and provision of information. Additionally, this docket handles financial tasks which include: receiving cash payments, verifying cheques, handling guest folios and handling credit cards and foreign currency. This works will detail the practice and procedures that a front office uses in a hotel The front office functions primarily in the facilitation of the activities between the visitors and other Hotel departments. It additionally support and assist in the provision of services to the guests. The nature and type of Front office operation is greatly determined by number of transactions and interactions between the hotel and the guest during the visitors stay. The procedures involved during this process are simply outlined as: pre-arrival, arrival, occupancy, and departure. The different practices and procedures between the hotel and the guest depend on the stage of the visitor stay. The transactions are better understood by taking a look at the visitor’s cycle presented as: reservations, check-in and registration, mail and information, uniformed service and baggage handling, telephone calls and messages, handling guest accounts, and check-out and bill settlement. All the transactions and services handled by the front office docket can be categorized into two groups basing on the area where they are performed. These groups include those accomplished by the reception as front-of-the –house and the other performed as back-of –the –house operation. Front-of-the-house practice and procedures are termed so because they take place in the presence of the visitors. These operations may either reflect a direct interaction with

Five Traits Essay Example for Free

Five Traits Essay 1.Define and discuss the importance of the following traits associated with leaders: intelligence, self-confidence, determination, integrity, and sociability. Is this list all inclusive? a.Intelligence: Having a strong verbal ability, perceptual ability, and reasoning abilities; Leaders intellectual abilities, however, should not differ too much from their subordinates; Intelligence is also defined as a trait that significantly contributes to a leader’s acquisition of complex problem-solving skills and social judgement skills; Intelligent leaders have the ability to consider every situation individually and make an assessment as to what is the best solution. b.Self-Confidence: The ability to be certain about one’s competencies and skills is self-confidence; Includes both self-esteem and self-assurance; Self-confidence is an essential trait for any leader because without self-confidence it may become harder for followers to fully trust their leader c.Determination: Determination is the desire to get a job done and includes characteristics such as initiative, persistence, dominance, and drive; these people are proactive and have the perseverance to face obstacles; this trait is needed in order for leaders and followers to overcome goals. d.Integrity: Integrity is the quality of honesty and trustworthiness; these people are those who adhere to a strong set of principles and take responsibility for their actions; Leaders need integrity in order to inspire confidence in others since they are trusted to do what they say they are going to do. e.Sociability: A leader’s inclination to seek out pleasant social relationships; people who possess sociability are able to create strong relationships with their fellow followers. f.The five traits described above are all traits in which strong leaders possess. While the list is certainly not all-inclusive, these five seem to be essential in order to produce a strong and successful leade r.

Lee Iacocca :: Essays Papers

Lee Iacocca Lee Iacocca grew up in Allentown Pennsylvania, very close to my hometown of Boyertown Pa. My geographic connection with Iacocca is one of the reasons I chose to read his autobiography. We are both very interested in automobiles and automotive history, which connected me even further with Iacocca . Iacocca believes that you can become and achieve anything in life as long as you have strong determination and motivation. I too share this belief. Lee Iacocca did not focus his life on goals that others set for him; he followed his heart and his dreams, which someday is something I hope to be able to say about myself. Iacocca, the son of Italian immigrants grew up in an upper middle class family. His father started out with nothing and over many years, he managed to build a successful chain of hotdog restaurants in Pennsylvania. Because of his father's success and strong beliefs in the value of education, Iacocca grew up attending private schools and eventually found his way into Lehigh University. While attending, Lehigh Iacocca earned a degree in Mechanical engineering. Upon his graduation, he landed a very prestigious job with Ford Motor Company. In August 1946, Iacocca began his work in the engineering department of Ford. After a year of engineering Iacocca discovered that it was not what he wanted to do with his life, he wanted to be in sales. Ford agreed, which was the start of a very successful venture for Iacocca and the Ford Motor Company. Through many years of hard work, Iacocca was promoted to top management. This is where he found himself living his dream. He never wanted to leave work at the end of the day and could not wait to go back the next morning. Although Iacocca was doing very well and could not be happier, the Ford Motor Company was going through hard times. General Motors was really hurting Ford in sales and in innovations. In the late 50's and early 60's Ford produced cars that were just not selling and were real failures in the industry. Iacacco knew something had to be done, and he convinced president and CEO Henry Ford Jr. that he was the man to do it. Through many months of close arduous work with Ford's design team, Iaccoca came up with the Idea of the Mustang .

Explain the main features of the theory of Utilitarianism Essay

The theory of Utilitarianism takes its name from the Latin word Utilis, meaning ‘useful’. It was first developed by Jeremy Bentham, a philosopher and legal theorist of the 18th century. Bentham sought to produce a modern and rational approach to morality which would suit the changing society of the industrial age. This was also the era of the French and American Revolutions, and of the Enlightenment, so orthodox morality was challenged on many fronts. Utilitarianism may be regarded as a relativist, consequentialist and teleological system of ethics, prescribing no fixed moral rules and judging an action by its consequences or end result (Greek: telos). Bentham argued that one should maximise happiness for the majority (‘the greatest good for the greatest number’: Francis Hutcheson), a view which is known as the ‘Utility Principle’. Happiness was thus equated with moral goodness. This idea further identifies Bentham as a ‘psychological hedonist’, since he regarded humans as being primarily motivated by pleasure and the avoidance of pain. A contented society would be a good society. To bring reason and evidence to the field of ethics, Bentham then put forward what he regarded as a scientific or empirical process for making moral decisions, known as the ‘hedonic calculus’. This consisted of seven key criteria one must consider when making a moral choice: Intensity Duration Certainty Propinquity or remoteness (how close at hand pleasure falls) Fecundity (how likely pleasure is to be followed by more pleasure) Purity Extent (how many people it affects). Later in the 19th century, Bentham’s God son John Stuart Mill modified his theory. Mill was a leading politician and philosopher of his day, advocating radical and liberal causes such as the equality of women. He regarded Utilitarianism as an important but flawed approach to ethics. While Bentham had regarded all pleasures as ‘commensurate’ (they are all equal or equivalent), Mill distinguished between ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ pleasures. Higher pleasures would be those which engaged the mind (e. g. music or poetry), but lower pleasures would be those which engaged merely the body (e. g.eating, sex). Mill developed the idea of ‘competent judges’: those who had experienced the full range of pleasures could discriminate between what is higher and lower. A good society would be refined and constructive in its pleasures, and so Mill avoided the charge that Utilitarianism is a system of base gratification. Another key distinction between Bentham and Mill lies in the difference between Act and Rule theories of Utilitarianism. Bentham proposed an Act Utilitarian approach, meaning that he treated each individual action separately, without any rules to guide the individual. Mill meanwhile proposed that one should make rules based upon the consequences which tend to follow from certain actions (e. g. stealing tends to cause pain, so we should have a rule against stealing). So, despite advocating the same underlying idea (the promotion of happiness), we can see that Mill and Bentham arrived at two very different approaches to morality, with Mill avoiding some of the more radical and controversial ideas put forward by Bentham. Evaluate the main strengths and weaknesses of the theory The strengths and weaknesses of Utilitarianism vary between different versions of the theory. The advantages of Act Utilitarianism are not the same as those of Rule; Mill’s outlook was very different from that of Bentham. Overall, however, the strengths of both forms are outweighed by their weaknesses. They are not convincing as ethical systems, and some other approach to ethics is required. An advantage of Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism is that it considers the consequences and happiness which result from actions; this seems a sensible approach to ethics which would find much support today. The theory is also flexible and easy to apply; it does not prescribe many hard rules and provides a simple method for decision making. The theory also enables tough decision making through its relativism (i. e. it would allow us to sacrifice individuals if it is of great benefit to society). The problem with Bentham’s theory however is that it is truly relativistic, so any conceivable action could be allowed (killing for the sake of pleasure, or ideology). It also enables the suffering of the innocent under a majority, despite obvious injustice. It further allows cruel or sadistic pleasure, since Bentham regarded all pleasure as commensurate (equal), a point noted by the philosopher Bernard Williams. Mill’s theory offers many advantages which get around the problems of Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism. By distinguishing between the quality of pleasures, Mill rules out the possibility of sadism or evil pleasure (e. g. prison guards enjoying torturing an innocent victim). Also, by offering Rule Utilitarianism, Mill is stating that certain actions are explicitly prohibited because they tend to promote pain. So, he would not allow torture, no matter how much it was enjoyed. However, Mill’s theory lacks the flexibility of Bentham’s, which means that sensible rule breaking is no longer possible (an objection pointed out by R. M. Hare). One could not tell white lies, even to protect others. There is a further weakness in Mill’s idea of different qualities of pleasure: how can we judge what makes pleasure higher or lower? Surely this is a subjective matter, as taste varies from person to person. It might also be argued that the concept of a competent judge is vague, since it is not clear whether we can really identify such people in today’s society. Overall, the theories put forward by Bentham and Mill fail to provide a convincing or useful approach to ethics. On the one hand, Bentham’s views are strikingly relativistic, allowing any pleasure (even sadism). On the other hand, Mill’s Rule system lacks the flexibility to make sensible choices in difficult situations. It may be that some other and more modern version of the theory can overcome these problems, such as Welfare Utilitarianism (as supported by Peter Singer) or Two Rule Utilitarianism (as suggested by R. M. Hare). We could strike a balance between favouring firm moral principles and paying attention to significant consequences or the all-round wellbeing of society. Such a compromise offers a more promising approach to ethics than the classical forms of Utilitarianism.

Gap Inc. in 2010: Is the Turnaround Strategy Working? Essay

Executive Summary Gap Inc. is facing the problem of decreasing sales in the family clothing store industry. Included in this paper is a detailed analysis of the family clothing store industry. This external analysis has showed that the industry is extremely competitive and difficult to make a profit due to low profit margins. The internal analysis of the company shows that although sales have decreased, Gap’s financial performance strengthens every year. Their profitability, leverage, and liquidity ratios have improved steadily every year which helps the company maintain a somewhat strong business situation. There are several possible alternatives for Gap Inc. to help increase sales and market share including maintain status quo, create new product lines and segment their target markets, and expand company operated stores in foreign markets which is the suggested course of action. Problem Statement The problem facing Gap Inc. is their decreasing sales and market share in the family clothing store industry due to the decreasing popularity of their clothing. Background and History Gap Inc. has several brands including The Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, and Piperlime. Gap Inc. was founded in 1969 by Doris and Don Fisher. They started out selling clothing that targeted teenagers in San Francisco and expanded their clothing line to include active wear in 1970. The company went public in 1976. Gap Inc.’s clothing was popular in the 1990s and as their clothes were becoming popular and sales were increasing rapidly, so was their debt due to expansion. As their long-term debt increased, the quality of their clothing decreased. By 2000, their clothing style was not popular. The company had a few CEOs including Millar Drexler who was fired due to decreasing sales, Paul Pressler who resigned due to the company’s weak performance and he was replaced by Glen Murphy. Pressler’s turnaround strategy for Gap included reducing long-term debt. Murphy’s turnaround strategy was to expand business internationally and improve on the style and design of the clothing. PESTE Analysis Political Forces * Foreign governments; can cause delays or stall shipments by imposing new rules. * Better labour standards in foreign countries could cause an increase in textile prices. * The World Trade Organization. Another Multi-Fiber Arrangement could be imposed in the future. Economical Forces * Recession – consumers more cautious of prices * Interest rates will affect a store’s ability to afford loans for expansions * Exchange rates will affect costs to those companies that are importing textiles from foreign countries. Social Forces * Consumer’s tastes change frequently in the fashion industry. * Aging population – as the baby boomers age, their fashion needs will be different. * Obesity rates rising, demand for plus size clothing rising * Sweat shops/poor working conditions for employees of suppliers in foreign countries can cause bad publicity Technological Factors * The internet is becoming a popular way to sell merchandise. * New software and advancements in IT make it easier and more efficient for companies to track inventory and make the ordering process easier. Environmental Factors * People are more environmentally conscious and want to ensure companies are committed to green practices and are being socially responsible. * Clothing manufacturers can be creating a large amount of pollution due to their operations, especially if running a large plant. Porter’s Five Forces Threat of Rivalry Gap Inc.’s competition includes Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Ross Stores, and several small local companies. The threat of rivalry is high due to: * Several competitors; thousands of small local and regional retailers. * No cost to buyers to switch brands. * Low profit margins; estimated to be only 3.4% in 2008. Threat of New Entrants The threat of new entrants is moderate to high due to: * Several possible new entrants, especially those operating specialty clothing stores. These include stores such as Reitmans who target women or H&M and Zara that target young adults. * Product differentiation and brand loyalty will make it more difficult to enter. Threat from Substitutes The threat from substitutes is high due to: * Several good substitutes are available such as: * Make your own clothes * Shop at specialty clothing stores * Buy second hand from flea markets, yard sales, or second hand stores * Department stores/big box retailers such as Sears or Wal-Mart. * No cost to buyers to switching to a substitute. * Prices are comparable or cheaper for substitutes and maintain quality Supplier Bargaining Power Supplier bargaining power is slightly higher than normal due to: * Limited supplies, potential for shortages * Products are differentiated in quality and style, however, could easily be duplicated by another supplier. * No cost to buyers to switch suppliers; however, may not be possible if there are shortages. Buyers Bargaining Power Buyers bargaining power are fairly high due to: * Low cost to switch suppliers * Products are differentiated in quality in style, however, could be easily duplicated. This increases buyers bargaining power. * Buyers are price sensitive – low profit margins and most of their purchases rely on third party suppliers from foreign countries. Overall, the family clothing store industry is not a very attractive industry. With all competitive forces being moderate to high, it would be very difficult for a new entrant to make a decent profit. Factors Driving Change * Entry of foreign companies * Regulatory influences and government policy changes. Regulations for importing textiles from foreign markets could cause an increase in prices for family clothing stores. * Changing social issues – increasing obesity rates * Changes in lifestyle – people becoming health conscious which affects their clothing needs. These factors driving change have the potential to decrease the demand for the family clothing store industry. As demand decreases, competition will become more intense. The combined impact of these factors could lead to lower industry profitability, especially if the companies cannot turnover inventory. Key Success Factors * Location * Brand loyalty * Keeping current with fashion trends These key success factors will determine how successful the companies in the family clothing industry are. Location is important because customers want to shop close to home. Companies must build brand loyalty to keep their customers coming back. Most importantly, if the company is not staying current with fashion trends, their customers will shop at a store that is offering the latest fashions.

Discover the History of the Redstone Rockets

Discover the History of the Redstone Rockets The Birthplace of NASAs Rockets Spaceflight and space exploration would be impossible without rocket technology. Although rockets have been around since the first fireworks invented by the Chinese, it wasnt until the 20th century that they were fashioned specifically to send people and materials to space. Today, they exist in a variety of sizes and weights and are used to send people and supplies to the International Space Station and deliver satellites to orbit. In the history of spaceflight in the United States, the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama has played a huge role in developing, testing, and delivering the rockets NASA needed for its major missions.The Redstone rockets were the first step to space in the 1950s and 1960s. Meet the Redstone Rockets The Redstone rockets were developed by a group of rocketry specialists and scientists working with Dr. Wernher von Braun and other German scientists at the Redstone Arsenal. They arrived at the end of World War II and had been active in developing rockets for the Germans during the war. The Redstones were the direct descendants of the German V-2 rocket  and provided a high-accuracy, liquid-propelled, surface-to-surface missile designed to counter Soviet Cold War and other threats throughout the postwar  years and the early years of the Space Age. They also provided a perfect avenue to space. Redstone to Space A modified Redstone was used to launch Explorer 1 to space - the first U.S. artificial satellite to go into orbit. That occurred on  January 31, 1958, using a four-stage Jupiter-C model.  A Redstone rocket also launched the Mercury capsules on their sub-orbital flights in 1961, inaugurating Americas human spaceflight program. Inside the Redstone The Redstone had a liquid-fueled engine that burned alcohol and liquid oxygen to produce about 75,000 pounds (333,617 newtons) of thrust. It was nearly 70 feet (21 meters) long and slightly under 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter. At burnout, or when the propellant was exhausted, it had a speed of 3,800 miles per hour (6,116 kilometers per hour). For guidance, the Redstone used an all-inertial system featuring a gyroscopically stabilized platform, computers, a programmed flight path taped into the rocket before launch, and the activation of the steering mechanism by signals in flight. For control during powered ascent, the Redstone depended on tail fins that had movable rudders,  as well as refractory carbon vanes mounted in the rocket exhaust. The first Redstone missile was launched from the militarys missile range at Cape Canaveral, Florida on August 20, 1953. Though it traveled only 8,000 yards (7,315 meters), it was considered a success and 36 more models were launched through 1958, when it was put into U.S. Army service in Germany. More about the Redstone Arsenal The Redstone Arsenal, for which the rockets are named, is a long-standing Army post. It currently hosts a number of Defense Department operations. It was originally a chemical weapons arsenal used during World War II. After the war, as the U.S. was liberating Europe and bringing back both V-2 rockets and rocket scientists from Germany, Redstone became a building and testing ground for various families of rockets, including the Redstone  and the Saturn rockets. As NASA was formed and built out its bases around the country, Redstone Arsenal was where rockets used to send satellites and people to space were designed and built into the 1960s.   Today, Redstone Arsenal maintains its importance as a rocket research and development center. Its still being used for rocket work, largely for Department of Defense use. It also hosts the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. On its outskirts, the U.S. Space Camp operates year-round, giving children and adults a chance to explore the history and technology of space flight. Revised and expanded by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Analysis Of Mobile Communication Communications Essay

Analysis Of Mobile Communication Communications Essay Wireless communication has become a ubiquitous part of modern life, from global cellular telephone systems to local and even personal-area networks. This book provides a tutorial introduction to digital mobile wireless networks, illustrating theoretical underpinnings with a wide range of real-world examples. The book begins with a review of propagation phenomena, and goes on to examine channel allocation, modulation techniques, multiple access schemes, and coding techniques. GSM and IS-95 systems are reviewed and 2.5G and 3G packet-switched systems are discussed in detail. Performance analysis and accessing and scheduling techniques are covered, and the book closes with a chapter on wireless LANs and personal-area networks. Many worked examples and homework exercises are provided and a solutions manual is available for instructors. The book is an ideal text for electrical engineering and computer science students taking courses in wireless communications. It will also be an invaluab le reference for practicing engineers. Wireless communication technology is diffusing around the planet faster than any other communication technology to date. Because communication is at the heart of human activity in all domains, the advent of this technology, allowing multimodal communication from anywhere to anywhere where there is the appropriate infrastructure, is supposed to have profound social effects. Yet, which kind of effects, under which conditions, for whom and for what is an open question. Indeed, we know from the history of technology, including the history of the Internet, that people and organizations end up using the technology for purposes very different of those initially sought or conceived by the designers of the technology. Furthermore, the more a technology is interactive, and the more it is likely that the users become the producers of the technology in its actual practice. Therefore, rather than projecting dreams and fears on the kind of society that will result in the future from the widespread use of wireless communication, we must root ourselves in the observation of the present using the traditional, standard tools of scholarly research. People, institutions, and business have suffered enough from the unwarranted prophecies of futurologists and visionaries that project and promise whatever comes to their minds on the basis of anecdotal observation and ill understood developments. Thus, our aim in this report is to ground an informed discussion of the social uses and social effects of wireless communication technology on what we know currently (2004) in different areas of the world. We would have like to consider exclusively information and analyses produced within the rigorous standards of academic research. This constitutes a good proportion of the material examined here. The rise of mobile communication Mobile communication has diffused into society at a rate that is unprecedented. On a world basis, the number of mobile phone s rose 24% between 2000 and 2005. According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), there was about one telephone subscription for every third person in the world (2005).2 At the same time there were about half as many who had access to the intent (ITU 2005). The highest adoption rates are found in Europe where there are approximately 82 subscriptions per 100 persons. In Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, etc.) there are 69, and in the Americas there are 52 subscriptions per 100 persons. Following this Asia had 22 subscriptions per 100 and Africa had 11. While the adoption rate in Europe has levelled off, there is an almost Klondike like atmosphere in many other countries. The growth rates in India and China are far above 50% per year. In addition, growth in sub-Saharan Africa often tops 100% and sometimes even 200% per year.3 Thus, in the last decade; we have seen the widespread adoption of a new form of communication.

Women around the globe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Women around the globe - Essay Example Over the years, the feminist movement has morphed into the global feminist movement, which champions for the rights of women from different sociocultural contexts. The new movement is sensitive to cultural issues that continue to infringe upon women’s rights and undermine the quality of their lives. Explored below is a brief overview of the global feminist movement and major issues that affect women within specific sociocultural contexts such as violence, poverty, suppression of sexuality, and infringement of the right to vote, access to education and employment opportunities. Global feminism, a derivative of postcolonial feminism, black feminism and postculturalist and postmodern schools of thought represents the application of feminist thought on a global scale in its display of unique overlapping characteristics as it focuses on advocating for a culturally relevant and positive change in women’s outcomes (Singh 628). Scholars theorize that it is an integral part of feminism’s third wave as it mirrors the latter’s three major characteristics, which include the acceptance of the existence of multiple narratives in diverse cultural contexts, acceptance of social activism, and the preoccupation with creating coalitions to tackle gender concerns instead of relying on a single organization to do so. The fundamental goal of the movement is responding to women’s local-level concerns while simultaneously incorporating the goals and philosophies of the earlier feminist movements. It continues to unite cultures with the sole intention of addressing women’s concerns that are emergent in countries external to the Western hemisphere. The global feminist movement exerts its mandate through the dismantling global patriarchal structures, which predispose chauvinistic attitudes that likely to contribute to the infringement of women’s rights; hence, their oppression. However, it is important to note that women