Controlling and Harmonising Brand Identity, Image, and Personality of Essay

Controlling and Harmonising Brand Identity, Image, and Personality of Apple 03041 - Essay Example Brand identity helps a company to bring out its individualism and for this reason; management and employees help to bring out the real brand image. The Apple Brand competes across the markets, while evolving and expanding its range of products and services. Aaker and Kaprer’s Brand identities Models are popular in the business world, and apple successfully continues their application as discussed below. Brand identity and brand personality remain contentious issues hence the need for Apple Brand to introduce new and effective branding strategies in this competitive market. As Viot (2011) reveals, a brand is the presentation of the product that goes far beyond its intrinsic characteristics. It provokes emotional feeling and attraction when the target clients sites such a product. Brand identity involves the visible elements of a brand including design, colours, name, logo, and symbol, which together identify while distinguishing the product in the client’s mind (Ghodeswar 2008). Identification of the brand roots on the brand produce, the individual, the corporation, or the symbol. There are diverse advantages that comes along with brand identity. Differentiation of the products heightens the products identification to the consumers (Chaudhuri & Holbrook 2001). Furthermore, the target users will have an informed opinion about the product, hence an already created product preference. Eventually, there is creation of value perception to the product users (Madhavaram et al. 2005). Most primarily, brand identity leads to the formation of intellectual property, an element that escalates the product value hence the firm has the mandate to controlling the value of purchase and utilization (Janonis et al. 2007). There are different models of identification including Aaker’s and Kapferer’s Brand identity Model. When it comes to strategic analysis of any company,

In View of Traditional and Modern Ethics Essay Example for Free

In View of Traditional and Modern Ethics Essay Introduction The study of philosophy has long been a part of our society. The field of ethics is one of the important branches of philosophy. Ethics deals about moral values our understanding of what is right or wrong, about life, about one’s rights and regarding the Divine being. What we are now is the product of the past. Ethics mold our personality. It is how we live our lives. Ethics guides us in seeking the answers to the many different queries we have in mind like why we exist, why we long for true happiness, and why can’t we avoid immoral acts. Traditional vs. Modern Ethics The focus of traditional ethics differs from the modern ethics in many ways. Traditional ethics goes back during the times of Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates in the ancient times. These ideas of traditional ethics have become the basis of succeeding ethics foundations. The ethics being promoted today has already existed before. The world has changed. People have also changed. Thus, ethics change to adapt to the changes in the world and the people’s perspective. Ethical and political philosophy awakening started as early as 5th century B.C. in Greece by the Sophist. They desired to discover the essence of moral virtues, the â€Å"form of good† which is the ultimate source of reality and value. There are a number of themes or doctrines that emerged. These are skepticism, relativism, subjectivism, egoism, and hedonism. Some ethical egoists suggested that one’s highest objective is to lead a pleasant life focusing on his or her pleasures. It gave birth to Epicureanism and Stoicism. During the medieval times the Christianization of ethics took place with the coming of St. Augustine, St. Hildegard, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Later on utilitarianism emerged and also philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill. Around 18th and 19th centuries moral philosophy focused on politics. People were also exposed to Liberalism, Marxism, Communism, and Anarchism. Recent moral and political philosophers introduce the concept of normative ethics, emotivist, invisible hand mechanism, conservatism, socialism, and democratic socialism to name a few. Philosophers include G.E. Moore, W.D. Ross, John Rowls and other important names. Conclusion Moral issues are important concern for all people not just for the philosophers. All the philosophers from the ancient to the modern times have contributed to our own system of beliefs regarding life and the many issues of human existence. Indeed traditional and modern ethics are related and supportive of each other. Ideas of the traditional ethics are the foundation of the modern ethics. Advocates of modern ethics customized or revised the concepts of the traditional ethics to fit today’s society. Both traditional and modern ethics have influenced the way people think and analyze life and their society. Reference Moore-Bruder, (2005). â€Å"Moral and Political Philosophy.† Philosophy: The Power of Ideas, Sixth Edition. The McGraw-Hill Companies

The History Of The Marxist Feminist Sociology Essay

The History Of The Marxist Feminist Sociology Essay Feminists fight for the equality of women and argue that women should share equally in societys opportunities and scare resources. Through the ages woman were seen as the production of children, mothers and wives, they do the cooking, cleaning, sewing and washing, they take care of their husbands and are largely excluded from high-status occupations and from position of power. Patriarchy is a society in which the oldest male is the leader of the family, or a society controlled by men in whom they use their power to their own advantage and is the inequality the women experience within the family and background. It is important to outline that not all feminists believe in the same concepts, that is some feminists come from different branches and they have their own ideal concept and ideologies. The development of feminism has led to attention being focused on the subordinate position of women in many societies. Most Feminists tend to see society as divided into different social groups which are: Marxist Feminist Marxist feminist focus on social institutions of private property and capitalism. Marxist see the male domination as the one who provides capitalism to the family while the woman will eventually stay at home to raise the children and supply of labour. Inequality does not stand from the economic system but in the patriarchy. Some argue that there is inequality, but its not man who is causing it or those women are weak but we analyse inequality with a boarder social system. Example: Margaret Benston (1970s) argues that womens labour power in family is unpaid and so they are seen as the secondary breadwinners of the family which result into cheap and easily exploitable labour. To pay woman for their work, even at minimum scale, would result into a massive redistribution of wealth. Mens/ Labourers work must compensate for two people: their own wage and that of the wife. According to Fran Ansley she sees the emotional support given by the wife when her own husband absorbs his own frustration and anger with her. Radical Feminist There are many varieties of radical families, in fact this is a theory of or by woman. The patriarchal or the male domination is the most universal form of domination and society which eventually forms the widest, suffering and deepest female oppression in society, regardless of your economic background, colour, and class. Womens oppression provides a conceptual model for understanding all other forms of oppression. E.g. the focus of Radical Feminists is largely on the violence that women suffer, and their social subjugation through violent behavior inflicted by men. They believe that this is what keeps women oppressed whether they are rich or poor, black or white, educated or illiterate. The focus of Radical feminism is therefore on fighting gender related violence. Separatist Radical Feminist state that there is no point in changing mens behaviour or attitude, woman must be separated from men to lead non-exploitative lives. Example: Delphy and Leonard (1992) see the family as an economic system and it revolves around labour relations in which men will benefit from. Feminists see the family as a way for men to dominate women, men are usually the head of the house hold and benefit from the work that gets done e.g. making dinner, cleaning, bringing up kids and so on. Liberal Feminist Liberal Feminism is based on gender equality which means that both genders should have equal pay, better working jobs condition, education, individual achievement etc. All people are created equal and should not be denied equality of opportunity because of gender. Liberal Feminists focus their efforts on social change through the construction of legislation and regulation of employment practices which should be set by society for girls and boys, and men and women. Gaining job opportunities and being paid and promoted equally in traditionally male-dominated occupations is an important goal to liberal feminist. Someone might ask but what do woman want? Liberal feminism answers: mostly, what men want: to get an education, to make a decent living, to provide for ones family. So, the primary obstacle to equality is sexism which means that there is a belief that the members of one sex are less intelligent, able, skilful, etc. than the members of the other sex, especially that women are les s able than men. In the above paragraph I described liberal feminism in theory of work that focuses more on issues like equality of workplace, in education, in political rights but it is important to outline that liberal feminism looks at situations which are more private. Example liberal feminists tend to support marriage as an equal partnership, and more male involvement when it comes to child care. Another example is that of domestic violence. Ending domestic violence and sexual harassment have to do with removing obstacles to women achieving on an equal level with men. Nowadays liberal feminist see that both genders are becoming equal and that it improved. Example: Jennifer Somerville (2000) encourages realistic policies which results into gender equality. Some modern men are voluntarily committed to sharing in those routines necessities of the family survival, even though men do not take full share of responsibilities. Difference Feminist Some feminist writers might disagree with the above aspects. Instead, they believe that ones experience might be different than that of another individual. For example: they do not believe that all husbands treat there wife badly or are equally disadvantaged in all types of work, or that looking after her children is a stressful thing. They only emphasis on the experience of womanhood by taking into consideration ones variables e.g. beliefs, employment, race, religion etc. still they do believe that woman are oppressed but they do not see it as affecting all women. Example a white rich woman lives in a more comfortable setting than that of a black poor woman.

The shear strength of soils

The shear strength of soils Introduction The shear strength of soils is essential for any kind of stability analysis. Therefore, it is important to determine reliable values. For this purpose triaxial tests are most appropriate. Nevertheless, direct shear tests are mostly performed to determine the shear strength of soils. From the tests result a clearer picture of the soil strata, there will be Direct Shear Test where the data can be interpreted and correlated info soil parameters. The soil parameters will be designed accordingly to the characteristic of the soil at the site itself. This case study is about evaluating contamination for the specific site. It involves the interpretation and manipulation of data from the Shear test and chemical tests. The whole process will be determination of contamination and measure its effect on the soil and then propose some remediation practices and methods. Part (1) Soils Contaminants Soils are categorized according to the contaminants present (type and amount); Soils that contain contaminants below regulatory concern Soils that contain hazardous waste Non-hazardous 1. Hazardous Soil that contains hazardous waste must be managed as such when contamination is above the nonhazardous waste limits or is otherwise classified a hazardous waste. The only options for soils that contain a hazardous waste are on-site remediation or off-site management as a hazardous waste. 2. Non-Hazardous Contaminated soil is non-hazardous when both of the following criteria are met: a. The contaminant levels are above the most stringent soil cleanup criteria established by NJDEP. b. The waste is not classified as a hazardous waste. 3. Soils That Contain Contaminants Below Regulatory Concern Soils that contain contaminants at levels that are below the most stringent site cleanup levels established by NJDEP for a specific site are not of regulatory concern with the exception of sites in the Pinelands Area Brownfield sites come in all sizes and shapes The Brownfield Law created four different cleanup â€Å"tracks.† Cleanup levels at these tracks are based, in whole or in part, upon the sites future anticipated use. A site to be used for industrial purposes, for instance, would not have to be cleaned up as much as a site intended for commercial use. (See Appendix A for a description of each of the tracks). Clesn Up Site cleanups can be conducted by federal, state, or local government agencies and/or their contractors, by private parties responsible for the discharge of the hazardous substances, or by purchasers of land who did not cause the contamination but are willing to pay for and conduct the cleanup. Private parties can be directed by DEP to conduct cleanups or individuals can come to the department voluntarily and offer to do part of or all of a cleanup. Cleanups can be conducted to allow for any future use of the land: from residences, schools, and day care centers to commercial buildings, or new industrial uses. Cleanups can also be conducted to turn formerly contaminated sites into parkland for passive and/or active recreation. The level of cleanup required to protect human health and the environment is determined by the end use envisioned for the property. Obviously, cleanup to more stringent standards is required when people will be living on the property, or when sensitive populations such as children will be using the property for schools or recreation. Protectiveness can be obtained by either totally removing the contaminants of concern, or by treating them, or by limiting access to the substances by creating barriers to contact, such as with soil or other types of capping material. Certain cleanups can be conducted â€Å"at risk† by private individuals, with little oversight by the state. However, cleanups involving ground and surface waters must be conducted with DEPs oversight because the state is the trustee for those natural resources. Most parties conducting remediation will come to DEP for oversight if they desire a â€Å"No Further Action† (NFA) letter at the end of the process. That letter certifies that the states regulations have been met as of a specific date, as described specifically in the letter. With the NFA comes a â€Å"Covenant Not to Sue,† which defines those parties who are no longer liable to conduct additional cleanup at the site. Part (2) Direct Shear Test A. Shear Strength In the Mohr-Coulomb theory of failure, shear strength has two components: one for inherent strength due to bonds or attractive forces between particles, the other produced by frictional resistance to shearing movement The shear strength of cohesionless soils is limited to the frictional component. When the direct shear test is used to investigate a cohesionless soil, successive tests with increasing normal stress will establish a straight line that passes through the origin. The angle of inclination of the line with respect to the horizontal axis is the angle of internal friction. Values of the angle of internal friction are given in the following table. If the soil is dense when tested, initially higher values for the angle of internal friction will be measured, but with increasing amounts of strain, the angle will decline to the approximate ranges seen in the Table. SOIL TYPE ANGLE φ, DEGREES Sand and gravel mixture 33 36 Well-graded sand 32 35 Fine to medium sand 29 32 Silty sand 27 32 Silt (non-plastic) 26 30 The shear strength of a cohesive soil is more complicated than a cohesionless material. The differences are due to the role of pore water in a cohesive soil. Most cohesive soils in field conditions are at or near saturation because of their tendency to hold moisture and their low permeability. When load is applied to a soil of this type, the load is supported by an increase in the pore-water pressure until pore-water can drain into regions of lower pressure. At that point, soil particles are forced closer together and the strength increases, just like a cohesionless soil. Time is an important factor however, because it takes longer for water to move out of a low permeability material. Direct Shear Test: Results of the direct shear tests should be evaluated statistically. The statistical assessment in the shear box test includes the values of friction angle (Ï•) and cohesion (c), derived from the Mohr-Coulomb regression line, and the (original) measured values of peak shear strength. In previous publications only the derived parameters Ï• and c were taken into account. As the most important result the investigations have shown that it makes a remarkable difference whether the pair of variables Ï• and c or peak shear strength is considered. http://www.csus.edu/indiv/c/cornwell/engineering/9-20-06.pdf Direct Shear Box Test Procedure: 1. Bring the shear box together http://www.civil.mrt.ac.lk/docs/direct_shear_test 2. Compact the soil sample (which has reached the optimum moisture content) in the mould. 3. Place the sample into the shear box 4. Record the weight of the applied load and place the loading plate on top of the upper porous plate http://www.civil.mrt.ac.lk/docs/direct_shear_test 5. Remove the alignment screws to hold the shear box together. 6. Tighten the diagonally opposite screws to reduce the frictional force. 7. Reset the dial gauges. 7. Apply the normal load. 8. Start the motor to produce the desired constant rate of shearing 9. Take readings from the gauges, a) Proving ring. b) Horizontal displacement. c) Vertical displacement. 10. When the shear load starts to reduce or remains constant stop the test http://www.civil.mrt.ac.lk/docs/direct_shear_test A. Data Proving ring Horizontal (0.001 in) Vertical Time 0 9.00 0.00 00:00 5 9.11 0.00 00:30 15 9.12 0.00 01:00 15.5 9.26 0.00 01:30 18.5 9.38 0.00 02:00 20 9.63 0.00 03:00 22 9.87 0.00 04:00 23 10.12 0.00 05:00 24 10.36 0.00 06:00 23 10.62 0.00 07:00 24 10.87 0.00 08:00 26 11.12 0.00 09:00 25 11.37 0.00 10:00 26 11.62 0.00 11:00 27 11.87 0.00 12:00 27 12.12 0.00 13:00 27.5 12.37 0.00 14:00 28 12.62 0.00 15:00 28 12.87 0.00 16:00 29 13.11 0.00 17:00 28 13.37 0.00 18:00 31 13.62 0.00 19:00 29.5 13.87 0.00 20:00 Results Shear stress Kpa Horizontal (0.001 in) Time 0.000 9.00 00:00 0.951 9.11 00:30 2.862 9.12 01:00 2.950 9.26 01:30 3.528 9.38 02:00 3.812 9.63 03:00 4.194 9.87 04:00 4.381 10.12 05:00 4.577 10.36 06:00 4.381 10.62 07:00 4.577 10.87 08:00 4.959 11.12 09:00 4.763 11.37 10:00 4.959 11.62 11:00 5.145 11.87 12:00 5.145 12.12 13:00 5.243 12.37 14:00 5.331 12.62 15:00 5.331 12.87 16:00 5.527 13.11 17:00 5.331 13.37 18:00 5.527 13.62 19:00 5.625 13.87 20:00 FAILUER = 5.527 kpa. Part (3) Contamination Assessment PH Measurements: PH measurements were measured against TSS results, While no apparent correlation was found between pH and salinity; samples presenting higher pH generally had higher TSS concentrations, as indicated in the figure below. The addition of cement (and its effect on turbidity) appears to have had a noticeable effect on pH. In addition to the various testing that was performed as part of this study, two additional studies beyond the original scope were conducted: (a) an evaluation of the effect that organic content found within silt sediments would have on soil-cement hydration and strength gain, and (b) an assessment of whether the cement stabilization/solidification of contaminated sediments immobilizes organic and inorganic contaminants within the sediment. Part (4) Remediation. Chemical Fixation And Solidification Taking into consideration to select the best fit remediation method and conserve ecosystem and trying not to undergo major landscape disruption. One alternative to dredging and disposing of contaminated sediment is to solidify the sediment in-situ using CDSM, and cover the stabilized sediment with a cap. In this scenario, the mixing is a viable way to reduce the potential for highly contaminated sediments to be eroded over time by natural hydrologic events, vessel traffic or dredging. In situations where decisions regarding removal of sediment have not yet been made or if management alternatives (decontamination) are not yet fully developed, the CDSM technology can be used to stabilize sediment for later removal. Chemical fixation and Solidification, CFS, also commonly referred to as Solidification/Stabilization Treatment, S/S, is a widely used treatment for the management of a broad range of wastes, especially those classified as hazardous. The initial application of the technology in the United States dates back to the 1950s when it was fruitfully used to treat and dispose of radioactive waste. The USEPA considers S/S an established treatment technology, and has identified it as the best demonstrated available technology, BDAT, for 57 RCRA-listed wastes. It is anticipated that 30% of the CERCLA (Superfund) remediation sites include the use of S/S. There is an ample body of technical literature that documents the fundamentals for applying S/S, as well as the practical experience using the technology in a wide variety of wastes, contaminants and chemical matrices. The applicability of using S/S to immobilize the principal contaminants in the Passaic River sediments was evaluated. The following sections briefly summarize those findings. There are several additives mentioned in the literature as potential enhancers of the PCB immobilization. These depend on the particular conditions of the application: 1. Organically modified clays 2. Activated carbon 3. Ferric hydroxide 4. Rubber particulate A well-documented case where S/S was used for the immobilization of PCBs in contaminated soils is provided in the Yellow Water Road Dump in Duval County, Florida. Where In that case, a superfund site that started remedial action in 1984 was removed from the NPL in 1999. During the remedial activities, 4472 cubic yards of PCB contaminated soils were excavated and treated with S/S and placed back within the former operations area of the site. A groundwater monitoring program was established, and monitoring wells were installed to evaluate the future need for contingent pump-and-treat remedy. The site was monitored as part of the EPA five-year review program. In September 2000, the five-year-review report established that the selected remedy remained protective of human health and the environment. Site inspections and groundwater monitoring continue to ensure long-term protectiveness. Out-Of-State Recycling For recycling soils out-of-state, a written determination from NJDEP is required as to the non-applicability of the solid waste management regulations set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:26-1 et seq. For sites without a Site Remediation Program lead (i.e., Industrial Site Recovery Act, Bureau of Underground Storage Tanks, Bureau of Field Operations) and for the recycling of soil as a solid process waste, contact the Bureau of Resource Recovery and Technical Programs (609/984-6985). Sites with a Site Remediation Program lead must send this information in lieu of a Soil Reuse Proposal to the assigned case manager for an approval. The following are the standard requirements pursuant to (N.J.A.C. 7:26-1) for approval to send soils out-of-state: a. A letter, sent to the Bureau of Resource Recovery and Technical Programs from the generator of soil, certifying that the soil in question has been analyzed or is known in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:26G-5.1 not to contain a hazardous waste. This also must include any necessary test results documenting that the soil contains constituents and hazardous waste characteristics below their regulatory levels. b. A letter sent to the Solid and Hazardous Waste Division from the receiving a facility stating that they agree to accept the specified amount of soil, indicating intention and method to beneficially use or reuse the soil and the time frame for such activity from the date of receipt at the facility. In addition, a copy of this information must be sent directly to the solid waste coordinator of the county of the soils origin. c. A letter sent to the Solid and Hazardous Waste Division from the proper regulatory agency of the receiving state or a copy of a current facility permit verifying that facility is operating in accordance with applicable rules and regulations and can accept the soils for the declared use/reuse. d. Once the soil is delivered to the identified use/reuse facility, a letter from the facility or a bill of lading stating the date and amount of soil received must be sent to Solid and Hazardous Waste Division and the solid waste coordinator of the county of the soils origin. Operational Landfill Cover Operating landfills that are permitted to accept ID 27 waste may use non-hazardous soil for daily landfill cover with approval from the Bureau of Landfill and Recycling Management. Fine grained soils which may create erosion problems or are easily windblown are prohibited for use as daily cover. Brownfield sites are found in both urban and rural settings and the present challenges that make the cleanup and redevelopment of these sites unique as compared with other real estate projects. Brownfield sites deal with four key issues, including: Environmental Liability Developers, land owners, and prospective associated with the propertys history can be successfully addressed. Financial Barriers Private financial institutions or investors may be reluctant to provide loans for sites impacted by real or perceived environmental contamination. Cleanup Activities Redeveloping a brownfield site may take longer than that of a typical real estate development if remediation is warranted. Feasible Reuse A viable plan for putting the site back into productive use based upon the localitys goals and well researched information are critical to successful redevelopment. Despite these challenges significant opportunities exist for brownfield redevelopment which can economically revitalize an area and improve the quality of life for communities. Brownfield redevelopment is also an ideal time to integrate a number of sustainability features that can result in improved storm water management, reduced air emissions and energy consumption, and preserve the history and culture of our communities. The purpose of this guide is to provide a starting point for information about brownfield redevelopment planning, regulatory considerations and resources available from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Iowa Departments of Economic Development and Natural Resources. 6. References 1- NJDEP. Discussion Paper on Landfill Closure and Remediation Issues.(1993). 2- Environmental Protection Agency. Handbook for Remedial Action at Waste Disposal Sites. 3- Bujang B.K. Huat et al., (2007) Modified shear box test apparatus for measuring shear strength of unsaturated residual soil , Faisal Hj. Ali, S.Hashim , Thomson Gale (December 27, 2007) 4- Marcel van der Perk, (2009), Soil and Water Contamination: From Molecular to Catchment Scale, TF Books UK; 1 edition (January 28, 2009) Appendix A Description Of The Brownfield Cleanup Tracks The statute establishes four different â€Å"tracks† that a developer can follow in remediating a site. Under Track 1, a remedial program â€Å"shall achieve a cleanup level that will allow the site to be used for any purpose without restriction and without reliance on the long-term employment of institutional or engineering controls.† ECL 27-1415(4). With respect to soil remediation, the statute directs that Track 1 cleanups â€Å"shall achieve† the generic SCOs designed to allow for unrestricted future use of the property. Id. A developer who remediates a site to Track 1 standards receives a greater tax credit than is available for remediation under the other three tracks. Under Track 2, a remedial program â€Å"may include restrictions on the use of the site or reliance on the long-term employment of engineering and/or institutional controls.† ECL 27-1415(4). With respect to soil remediation, however, the statute directs that a Track 2 cleanup â€Å"shall achieve† the generic SCOs appropriate for the future use of the property â€Å"without the use of institutional or engineering controls to reach such objectives.† Id. Under Track 3, the developer does not need to achieve the generic SCOs, but instead â€Å"may use site specific data to determine† soil remediation objectives. ECL 27- 1415(4). Those sitespecific objectives must â€Å"conform with the criteria used to develop† the generic SCOs. Id. Like the generic SCOs, soil remediation objectives developed by the applicant pursuant to Track 3 â€Å"shall not exceed an excess cancer risk of one in one million for carcinogenic end points and a hazard index of one for non-cancer end points,† except where rural soil background contamination exceeds that risk level. ECL 27-1415(6)(b). A Track 4 remedial program â€Å"shall achieve a cleanup level that will be protective for the sites current, intended or reasonably anticipated residential, commercial, or industrial use with restrictions and with reliance on the long-term employment of institutional or engineering controls to achieve such level.† ECL 27-1415(4). The statute instructs that â€Å"[f]or Track 4, exposed surface soils shall not exceed the generic contaminant-specific [SCOs] developed for unrestricted, commercial, or industrial use pursuant to this subdivision which conforms with the sites current intended, or reasonably anticipated future use.† ECL 27-1415(6)(d). The statute defines â€Å"exposed surface soils† as â€Å"two feet for sites used for residential use and one foot for

Exaggeration of Despair in Sherman Alexies Reservation Blues Essay

Exaggeration of Despair in Sherman Alexie's Reservation Blues Gloria Bird realizes that for generations Native Americans have had drinking problems, and she also realizes that it is difficult for â€Å"native writers to accurately represent our communities without exploiting them.†(G. Bird) However, Bird criticizes Alexie of embellishing or exaggerating the Native Americans’ despair. Alexie cannot ignore the alcohol situation when describing Native American culture, but Alexie does not need to make alcoholism a common trait amongst almost every ‘Indian’ on the reservation and other reservations. Bird’s statement concerning Alexie’s embellishment of Native American despair due to alcoholism is an accurate interpretation of Reservation Blues. In Reservation Blues, almost every Native American is an alcoholic. Two of the main characters, Victor and Junior, spend all of their money on booze and get wasted on a regular basis. â€Å"After the tavern had closed, Junior and Victor climbed into the water truck and passed out.†(p.24) It is reasonable for there to be a few drunks, but Alexie introduces or makes references to too many Indians who either lost everything or their lives because of alcohol. When Thomas’ father Samuel is introduced he is drunk, and Alexie explains that this is normal, for â€Å"Thomas†¦had lost count of the number of times he’d saved his father†¦ Once, a month, he bailed his father out of jail for drunk and disorderly behavior.†(p.95) Even though Thomas didn’t drink,...

The main paper -- Essays Papers

The main paper In response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, there has been renewed interest in the creation of a national identification system, typically embodied in a "smart" ID card, as a component of a national counter-terrorism strategy. National ID cards have been advocated as a means to enhance national security, unmask potential terrorists, and guard against illegal immigrants. "The core issue can be expressed as a question: What actions should the federal government take to certify the identity of its citizens and other persons in its jurisdiction, and what role should computing technology play in that process? To deal with questions like this, lawmakers, leaders, and government agencies often begin the policymaking process by seeking the advice of expert panels"(CSC4735 Forum). In overall, there are many opinions that people agree with the national ID card; also many of them disagree with it too. In my opinion the national ID card system would not protect us from terrorism, but it would create a system of internal passports that would significantly diminish the freedom and privacy of law-abiding citizens. Larry Ellison, head of Oracle Corporation, the California based software company, has called for the development a national identification system and offered to donate the technology to make this possible. He proposed ID cards with embedded digitized thumbprints and photographs of all legal residents in the United States (Black). In recent ideas, ID cards have been linked to national registration systems, which in turn form the basis of government administration. In such systems the ID card becomes merely one visible component of a much larger system, with the advent of magnetic stripes and microprocess... ...debates over health are reform, the Clinton Administration also constantly stressed that it was opposed a national identifier. In 1999 Congress repealed a controversial provision in the Legal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which gave authorization to include Social Security Numbers on drivers' licenses. For conclusion, there are some reasons that discussed in this paper. I think the national ID card system would not protect us from terrorism, but it would create a system of internal passports that would significantly diminish the freedom and privacy of law-abiding citizens. So now imagine this. A police officer stops you in your car. Scan your license, matches your fingerprint with a central database and has immediate access to a plethora of information, including whether you are on a terrorist watch list. What would you think?

Electoral Basis Of The Two-par :: essays research papers

In the article â€Å"Electoral Basis of the Two Party System† by Maurice Duverger, the political party systems are dissected and looked at from many points of view. Democratic countries can have the political party system range from a two party system, such as the one in the United States, to a many party system, such as the party system in France and Italy. This article also gives the specific views of those few people whom are opposed to the political party systems as well as those few that are for the political party systems. In speaking of those that are in opposition to the political party system, many views and opinions are expressed. The political party system is called a party oligarchy because of the way the election process occurs. The article says, â€Å"The party oligarchy is widened without ever becoming a democracy, for the election is carried out by the members, who are a minority in comparison with those who give their votes to the party in general elections.† Duverger also states that parties usually tend to create an opinion formed by propaganda and improper procedure, such as the ballot procedure. In conclusion, â€Å"the party system is less a photograph of opinion is a projection of the party system.† According to this statement, Duverger expresses that â€Å"the general development of parties tries to emphasize their deviation from the democratic regime [which is a mode of system of rule or government].† The electoral processes are gradually losing ground in the appointment of leaders by nomination or co-option. Because of this fact, â€Å"discipline among members is tightened both by these material means and by an even greater effort of propaganda and persuasion which leads them to venerate the Party and its leaders and to believe in their infallibility.† This statement leads others to believe that a system without political parties would be better for the country as well as for the governmental system of that particular country. Democracy was built on the basis of the eighteenth-century philosophical ideas, which the experts think is true and justifiable. Duverger states that all governments are oligarchic, which means the domination of many by the few. Governments of all types imply discipline, which means â€Å"All discipline is imposed from without: ‘self-discipline’ is itself the result of education, which implies a prior external discipline, and is always very limited.† After looking at a few things that are wrong with governments and why the political party system should be non-existent, â€Å"true democracy is something different, more modest but more real.