Addiction Treatment Essays - Psychiatric Diagnosis,

Addiction Treatment Addiction Treatment This study will explore existing research data and reports from various agencies and journals in order to answer the question: does the length of treatment improve the success of people who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol? I have chosen several scientific journal articles concerning the relationship between the success rate of substance abusing clients and their length of time spent in treatment. Equal numbers of studies, both supporting and not supporting my hypothesis, will be used in order to present an unbiased, objective evaluation. In reality the dependent variable that I am interested in measuring is the success rate of substance abusers, with the independent variable being the length of treatment. As this is secondary research, for the purpose of this paper and evaluations of other articles, the dependent variable of my research will be the hypothesis of this paper. The support of this question/idea, or the lack of support will be provided by the independent variables, ie; journal articles and/or data compiled. An operational definition of my independent variable will be the reliability and validity of the journal articles selected for the study. One important factor for the operational definition will be what questions the articles ask and how well the findings they produce would support or not support my hypothesis. In fact, I used only studies that mentioned a relation in patient success or outcome and length of treatment, regardless of whether the outcome; or dependent variable, was positive or negative. There are other factors that have to be considered as variables and how they might influence the outcome of a clients treatment, ie; motivation for treatment, denial, family/support systems or the lack of them, level of addiction, and mental health (Cruse, 1989). I have no way of measuring these and will look at length of treatment in general as duration of treatment may change such variables itself. National archive data obtained from SAMHSA ( Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1998) will also be referenced in order to support the correlation between length of treatment and the success of substance abusers. This data may also help identify and measure extraneous variables. I chose these sources for data in order to obtain information about the population I am studying from the largest samples possible. Although some of the studies that I chose ( specifically the studies not supporting this papers hypothesis) utilized small sample numbers of one hundred or less, most of the research that I reviewed used five hundred or more subjects. The smaller studies were not chosen purposely, but chosen instead on the basis of availability. Duration and outcome of treatment data originating from the national system of drug/alcohol treatment centers, and compiled by the federal agency SAMHSA was used also because of the large numbers involved. An accepted normal course of treatment for a person physically addicted to alcohol and/or drugs would be; one to seven days of detoxification, and two to four weeks of in-patient care followed by variable lengths of out-patient treatment. While I have already mentioned some factors which might affect the outcome of a substance abusers treatment, there is also another issue involved that might take precedence over other issues and that is; health care cost and insurance coverage. The cost for treatment of addictions is not cheap; averaging in our area of the country about 3-4 hundred dollars a day for in-patient care, and approximately $ 100.00 dollars an hour for out-patient services (Fisher & Harrison, 1997). Obviously the cost of these services not only affects the availability of treatment for people, but also the duration of treatment. People with no health care insurance may not even consider treatment as an option, unless treatment is mandated by the judicial system. People arrested for driving under the influence, or domestic violence, are often forced to undergo treatment for substance abuse, and in these cases medicaid usually pays the bill. In any case people are not free to choose addiction treatment options without first considering methods and/or ability to pay for these services. Most people receiving treatment have some form of medical insurance, and insurance companies decide whether or not treatment, and what length of treatment is justified. The

Comparing the works of Susan Hill- Farthing house, and HG Wells- The red room Essays

Comparing the works of Susan Hill- Farthing house, and HG Wells- The red room Essays Comparing the works of Susan Hill- Farthing house, and HG Wells- The red room Paper Comparing the works of Susan Hill- Farthing house, and HG Wells- The red room Paper Essay Topic: The Haunting Of Hill House It is a common fact that, in todays society, the most popular genre of story or film are ones that involve ghostly supernatural happenings. A natural value to humans is that being eminently frightened excites us. Supernatural and ghost stories carry many conventions, which go towards building up the whole sense of tension, drama, and even fright. Ghost stories have been told for centuries and are oral tradition in many cultures. There are very distinctive conventions that can be identified in most ghost-related books or films. These centre on the plot events, the setting and the characters involved. Older film conventions have become stereotypical due to the changes in films of today through special effects. Ghost stories usually carry a sense of chase or death about them, which enhances dramatical effect. The most obvious convention of all is the cat and mouse style chase, which occurs, in most supernatural films, this enhances the whole sense of fright within the viewer. Another convention which occurs in slightly more shocking films, is when the object of fright is not in direct sight, it may be lurking in the dark shadows, somewhere out of view. All ghost related films have always had a sense of containment, where the main actor being chased, it sometimes seems certain that they will get killed, but yet always find a way out. The characters are the most important convention, for making the film more dramatic. In all ghost films, an extremely hysterical character is used, to make the film much more exciting, to shock the viewer into fright and overall, to keep interest. Usually the main targeted character is female, as it is believed that they much more hysterically to supernatural occurrences. The characters are usually put in place as a leader or hero, or to solve any problems and uncover the past behind the story. Many ghost stories are based on unfinished business, which the human characters are out to solve and uncover the truth and reconciliation behind the supernatural happenings. The setting of a ghost story is the most important convention, which goes towards the sense of being there and the atmosphere to the reader or viewer observing. The main constituent behind the setting of a ghost story is not the main constituent behind the setting of a ghost story is not location, but the obscurity. Ghost stories always seem to be set in a dark, obscure and isolated location. This adds more tension to the story, as it makes the viewer believe that there is no way out. Along the line of the supernatural happenings, comes bad weather, usually thunder and lightening, or even rain. This is a very stereotypical convention, which relates back to the days of witches and black magic. Until modern day films, ghost stories were always set in large, old houses. This relates to supernatural happenings, as old houses contain many nooks and crannies within, allows a jumpy atmosphere to be created. This also creates a sense of concealment, where the supernatural being is almost one step ahead at all times and comes out at very un-expecting times to be more jumpy and frightening. The setting of old houses dates back to the Victorian ages. Back in Victorian times, the genre if ghost stories came about from the interest in science and travel/exploration. Victorian science was mostly based upon the exploration of supernatural happenings or the creation of un-natural life, like the novel Frankenstein. The Victorian ages were when ghost stories were first properly introduced, and they have been shared and passed down, until todays modern film versions. It can be argued that ghost stories are emphasised better by a novel, the reader almost becomes involved in the story. Two authors who express this extremely well are Susan Hill and H. G Wells. In this piece, I will be comparing the works of Susan Hill- Farthing house, and H. G Wells- The red room. H. G Wells was an English author and political philosopher, most famous for his science fiction romances that variously depict alien invasion, terrifying future societies, and transformed states of being. He was born on 21st September 1866, in Kent. He failed in three apprentships (Two drapers and one pharmacist), and later earned a scholarship to the normal school of science. Although he was a gifted student, he failed his exams, but did become a science tutor. He died in 1946 aged 80. The author of Farthing house, Susan Hill, came from a completely different background to H. G Wells. The inspiration for her novels ideas behind the theme of Susan Hills novels come from the area she was brought up in. The tranquil and relaxed atmosphere in the Cotswolds inspired her that it led her to write such invigorating novels. The background to which she bases her novels on is the Cotswolds setting, she is also interested in childhood issues which showed that she may have had an pleasant childhood. In her early marriage, she had fertility problems, which led her to suffer a miscarriage. You can see that this became a theme in her stories now, as this is portrayed in Farthing house. Farthing house is based upon the past history behind the haunted old peoples home, which involved mothers and children. By the emotions in the story that are portrayed, you can tell that she has put her feelings into the novel, what she felt about her own experience. Both stories contain elements of plot structure that are typical of ghost stories. Together with the conventions of a ghost story, language devices and very detailed setting description, Susan Hill and H. G Wells have produced two very different stories, which use the same conventions, and share the same theme. The red room by H. G. Wells, is a story set as a very stereotypical convention, a large, gloomy and old mansion house filled with elderly servants and occupied by a very old man. A young man visits the house with a very assured attitude, very optimistic of his own thoughts. He is warned by an occupant of the house about visiting the red room at this time by ignores the advice to follow his own beliefs about supernatural happenings which may be laying ahead. The story follows his journey to the red room shares the supernatural experience he encounters in the red room. From his optimistic view before the encounter in the red room, his attitude completely changes, he had now become a believer in ghosts and haunting. Farthing house by Susan Hill is set in a very similar setting and follows the same theme, but yet the plot events are very different. The story is set in an ex- home for single mothers and children which dates back to the Victorian ages, but in the story is a home for elderly people. A young lady is going to visit her Aunt Addy in ht old peoples home, Farthing house. The story begins with a letter from a mother to her daughter explaining about the visit that she is making to see her Aunt Addy. The story centers on the visit which the lady make to Farthing house and what she experiences in the home. During one night of her stay, she wakes to the rather startling view of a figure, a young woman, holding a child to whom she contemplates, is a ghost. This gets to the lady, which is why she makes it her duty to find out who the lady is or was. The lady is sure this is the woman she saw in the corridor, which is when she also finds out what the home used to be. On main convention in these two stories which builds up drama and tension, is the use of climaxes and anti- climaxes. Both stories do not use many of these but as they are the main conspiracy of the story, they play the biggest part in creating the whole supernatural theme. In The red room, the climax in the story happens right in the middle when the young man reaches the red room. The climax is built up by the description of the mans actions as he enters the red room. H. G Wells describes the mans actions as very hasty as he opened the door. This suggests that the man new that something was going to happen. The young man then recalls his thoughts about the history behind the room where a man had died. The story now comes to an anti- climax as he just analyses the room and its surroundings. The story then begins to build up a climax once more, as the man becomes unsure of his thoughts. The climax becomes at its highest as the speaks aloud By Jove. This is when the supernatural experience begins. The climaxes and anti- climaxes in Farthing house are a bit more discreet as the story is at an overall lower tone than the red room. You can tell that the climax of the story is beginning by what the lady says as she gets into her bed. I was, as you might say, almost expecting to have bad dreams or to see a ghost. This signals that the atmosphere is quite eerie, she is expecting something to happen. The next step up in tension is displayed when she says, it was a baby crying. This short, emphatic statement shows that the lady is becoming nervous. When the reader begins to think that a supernatural occurrence is going to happen, but it is a false alarm she can no longer hear the sound of the baby. The next night, is when she sees the young woman. The story reaches the full climax when the lady says, the previous nigh, I had the sensation of someone having just been in my room. Now I saw her. This shows that the lady is shocked by the occurrence rather than scared. The convention of flashbacks and timeshifts helps to tell the background of the story and uncover the past. In the red room there is actually only one flashback. It occurs during the build up of climax as the young man enters the red room. As the young man closes the door to the red room behind him, he recalls a past story of what happened in the red room. He says, The great red room of Lorraine castle, in which the young duke had died. This statement adds to the build up of tension as a convention of the past coming back to haunt. So many flashbacks occur in Farthing house, that they become the element, which actually tells most of the story as well as the past. The first flashback occurs just after the letter from the mother to the daughter. It is a timeshift to a few weeks back when she quotes the edges of my consciousness blurred and insubstantial came into focus and in a rush I remembered to which she begins another flashback of her trip to Farthing house, which is where the story begins. The lady, the writer of the letter, predominantly tells the main body of Farthing house in a flashback to her daughter. The way in which the writers create setting establishes a sense of place. Both of the stories contain a very conventional setting and they are both very similar. The red room is wholly set in a large old house, which you are later told that it is called Lorraine castle. You can tell that the occupant of the house is very interested in keeping the house in its original state, the young man s description helps you to understand that the theme of the house is very much that of a castle. He says that mounted upon the walls is sconces, which are wall- mounted candlesticks, just like back in the days when electricity was not invented. You can also see that the owner of the house is interested in travel. The young man says that there is a porcelain Chinaman on a buhl table, which is the sort of object that you would pick up as a souvenir on your world-wide travels. The setting in Farthing house follows a similar theme but yet the house served a very different purpose. The home was set in a very quiet location as you can tell from the ladys description of her journey there. As the lady came to the house she noted that the entrance was by a lych gate, this is the kind out gate, which usually is found at a churchyard. When she came to the doorway of the house, she said that the porch was a marble floor, just like the floor of a hospital or nursing home. As the lady went in to the house, she was overpowered by the strong smell of anaesthetic, you can tell that this place used to be some sort of medical care home. Again this house was very old, in the hallway were many extremely old antiques. The contribution of drama from the setting of farthing house is mostly made by the very descriptive journey to the home by the lady. The convention of isolated and obscure location is highlighted in the ladys description. She said about how no cars passed from the little cathedral town during her journey to Farthing house. When the lady gets to the home, her description sounds very church-like, which brings in the convention of the dark atmosphere. The past behind what Farthing house used to be gives the theme for where the ghosts will come from, the young women and children. As for The red room, the castle-like theme relates back to witches and black magic. Castles are a good setting for a ghost story as they have a hidden past of death about them. The other element, which makes castles good for ghost stories, is the very cold atmosphere. The stone walls, large spiral staircases and no insulation creates a chilling feeling which adds to the drama of the story. The characters have a huge impact on the way that the audience perceives the plot. Characters enable the audience to relate to the plot on a personal level, infusing feelings and emotions. In The red room, the elderly servants contribute to some very important functions. The servant main purpose is to work in contrast with the young man. They are the ones who tell the man of the danger that may lie ahead if he visits the red room on that night. They also help to set the scene. With their very ghost-like descriptions, they become superficial, almost creatures. Their sole purpose in the house is to make the story more interesting and to perpetuate superstitions around the house. The story begins and ends with the servants, they are siclicle characters. In Farthing house, the character Aunt Addy is set in place for the only purpose, so that there is a reason for the lady who wrote the letter, to visit farthing house. The story is almost all told in a flashback so there is not going to be many other main characters. One of the roles of the lady in Farthing house is to inform her daughter about the journey she encountered to Farthing house. The letter at the beginning of the story, tells you the format of the story, it helps you to understand how the story is told. She is a very weary person, who adds to the tension build up because she can almost sense when the atmosphere is odd. Her other main role is to uncover the truth behind the lady she saw in the night. She makes it her inquiry to find out who the lady really is or was. In The red room, the young man is the main character and the narrator of the story. The young mans main role in the story is to portray the age of the elderly servants. The author of the story has depicted the young man as a new age scientific sort of person, he does not believe in ghosts or supernatural happenings. This adds to the drama and tension as his attitude changes after the supernatural encounter. From his very optimistic view before the encounter his attitude changes greatly after the supernatural experience. In the two stories, as they are both ghost stories, the main part of the story is centred on the supernatural encounter. They both involve a ghostly presence, although what form the presence is in is very different. In the red room, going by ghostly conventions, you could almost say that it is a slightly more chilling experience as there is not actual sight of a ghost. The ghost makes his presence known to the young man by a cold breeze on the back of his neck. The climax of the encounter is when the young man says, it was as if the wicks had been nipped between a finger and thumb, which shows that the ghostly figure relates to a human. The young man is extremely scared by this, as he speaks with a very sloppy dialogue. When all the candles in the room had gone out, he began to panic and said, my hands trembled so much that twice I missed the rough paper of the matchbox. This is the time when he began to believe that what was happening was true. In Farthing house, the ghostly presence is a lot more apparent. The lady in her bed is woken up by the distinct wail of a baby. Naturally, the lady goes to investigate, but she sees nothing. The next night is when the encounter occurs. She wakes to the view of a young lady walking across her bedroom. She is not at all scared of the presence but more like intrigued. The lady makes it her duty to find out who the young lady was and when she finds out about the past identity of Farthing house, she is able to come to the conclusion that the mother is just looking for her baby. Now that she knows the truth about the ghost she is not frightened at all. To show her emotions she says, I was no afraid any more, not now that I knew who she was and why she had been there, getting out her bed in Cedar room, to go in search of her baby. Both authors have used the conventions of a ghost story to create two exceptionally well-composed stories. The conventions are easy to recognise in both stories, but yet they blend in to the story line so that they are riveting reads. As far as the plot events go, The red room does not contain any chases or death, but does contain a very frightening scene, where the supernatural creature is not in direct sight. It is believed that these types of story are slightly more chilling than one where the ghost is easily seen. Farthing house is very different. The lady actually sees a ghost but again, there is no sense of chase or death involved within the plot. One plot related convention which Farthing house does contain is the long journey by the lady to get there, which often appears in ghost stories. Because of the obscurity in the ghostly presence of The red room I think that it works excellently as a plot related convention and it that it works better than the plot conventions in Farthing house. The setting of Farthing house completely follows the setting convention of a ghost story. A very isolated and obscure location provides the perfect setting for a ghost story. The theme of the home previously being a single mothers and children institute, is a very similar setting to a quite shocking modern film called The house on the haunted hill, which also contained a very old and isolated house, and previously was an institute for mentally handicapped people. The setting of The red room follows a very stereotypical setting convention. The setting for the red room is a large old house, which previously was a castle. This provides a better setting for a ghost story than Farthing house because the very old atmosphere helps you to relate to a supernatural occurrence. On the other hand, the setting in Farthing house and its previous purpose has a sense of death, almost like the setting of a hospital. In Farthing house, the use of very little characters helps to make the atmosphere a lot more eerie and desolate. There is one convention that neither of the stories share, they contain no hysterical characters. The drama and tension is created by other conventions by plot structure and setting. The one character related convention in Farthing house, is that the narrator is female, and although she does not react emotionally frightened, but concerned and intrigued. In The red room, the elderly servants used help to create a really ghostly atmosphere. They really support the ghostly presence well and also work along side the narrator. The young man in the story adds to the creation of drama and tension by the way that he becomes extremely frightened by the ghostly encounter. I think that the young man does make good use of the conventions, but in contrast with the characters in Farthing house, Susan Hill makes better use of the character related convention, by not using many characters. Overall by the evidence I have provided above, I think that it is quite hard to decide which story makes use of ghost story conventions best. Both stories have made excellent use of the conventions to create two stories of the same theme, but yet are both very different. By a very slight margin, I think that The red room by H. G Wells uses the conventions better than Farthing house. I think this because, firstly the plot structure of The red room creates a much more frightening story, in that the ghost is not actually seen. This makes the reader wonder more about what or whom the supernatural being is, thus creating a more exciting read. I also think that the setting of The red room is better than the one in Farthing house. I think this because, in my view, an older setting (like the one in The red room) creates a much better atmosphere for a traditional ghost story. On the other hand, the very descriptive journey to Farthing house helps to create a very good picture of how isolated the setting of it really is. As far as the character related convention goes, I think that Susan Hills use of very little characters creates an excellent atmosphere that is very chilling and quiet, the perfect environment for a traditional ghost story. Although I do think that the elderly servants that H. G Wells uses in The red room are brilliant for working in contrast with the very ghostly atmosphere. So overall, I think that The red room by H. G Wells makes use of the conventions of a ghost story best. Wells has kept within his science- fiction theme to create an excellent and very traditional ghost story.

Graffiti Art, Mural Art and Banksy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Graffiti Art, Mural Art and Banksy - Essay Example Graffiti is said to be street offshoots of murals, and are commonly called urban or street art, or street subversions. Majority of graffiti are only tagging, where only words or messages are inscribed, shouting to the public the artist’s pent-up emotions and discontentment, and are executed on walls of areas where heavy, constant human traffic is present like underground subway stations, earning graffiti another name, underground art. Underground, which refer to its under-the-surface location, and underground, which pertains to the very nature of its being illegal. Its legal counterpart, murals, has historical and artistic value and has existed since time immemorial. There have been discoveries of pre-historic paintings and carvings in caves, and in tombs of ancient royalties commemorating their lives and their reign. In Europe, old churches sport magnificent frescoes which are believed to date as far back as the 15th century. It was only in the 1920s, when murals began to be commissioned for public buildings in Mexico, that murals became public, and have become outlets for socio-economic realism and community concerns. Three leading Mexican muralists namely Diego Rivera, David Alfonso Siquieros and Jose Clemente Orosco, popularly and collectively called â€Å"Los Tres Grandes† or The Three Greats have been credited with greatly influencing the works of other muralists in the Mission District, San Francisco Area, the central hub of Latinos doing graffiti works. Graffiti became the underground vogue.... Graffiti is said to be street offshoots of murals, and are commonly called urban or street art, or street subversions. Majority of graffiti are only tagging, where only words or messages are inscribed, shouting to the public the artist’s pent-up emotions and discontentment, and are executed on walls of areas where heavy, constant human traffic is present like underground subway stations, earning graffiti another name, underground art. Underground, which refer to its under-the-surface location, and underground, which pertains to the very nature of its being illegal. Its legal counterpart, murals, has historical and artistic value and has existed since time immemorial. There have been discoveries of pre-historic paintings and carvings in caves, and in tombs of ancient royalties commemorating their lives and their reign. In Europe, old churches sport magnificent frescoes which are believed to date as far back as the 15th century. It was only in the 1920s, when murals began to be commissioned for public buildings in Mexico, that murals became public, and have become outlets for socio-economic realism and community concerns. Three leading Mexican muralists namely Diego Rivera, David Alfonso Siquieros and Jose Clemente Orosco, popularly and collectively called â€Å"Los Tres Grandes† or The Three Greats have been credited with greatly influencing the works of other muralists in the Mission District, San Francisco Area, the central hub of Latinos doing graffiti works (Drescher). Graffiti became the underground vogue during the hip-hop generations of the 80s and the 90s, although graffiti artists’ tagging deeds have been

Effects of the Differences of Technology and Leadership have on the Essay

Effects of the Differences of Technology and Leadership have on the Conflict in Mesoamerica after the Arrival of the Spanish - Essay Example An empire was destroyed. â€Å"The people of Mexico struggled to survive and adapt to the new Spanish colonial regime and to a new religion, Catholicism. In many ways the conquest represented both the death of a political state, or more exactly states, and much of their way of life and the birth of a new colonial regime in its place.†1 This essay will discuss the effects of the differences in technology and leadership to the different indigenous groups after the arrival and conquest of Mexico by the Spanish and how well they adapted. Prior to the conquest of Mexico, imperial states already existed, with its own culture, tradition and skills in agriculture, mathematics and astronomy, architecture and sculpture. The existing civilization even drew wonders among the Spaniards who came to conquer them. As narrated in â€Å"Victors and Vanquished†, Bernal Diaz, the young soldier who saw the city in 1519 gave voice to the awe that many of his companions felt: ‘Gazing on such wonderful sights, we did not know what to say, or whether what appeared before us was real, for or one side, on the land there were great cities, and in the lake there were so many more, and the lake was crowded with canoes, and in the causeway were many bridges at intervals, and in front of us stood the great city of Mexico.’ ... The book Victors and Vanquished Spanish and Nahua Views of the Conquest of Mexico, featured both the conquerors’ and the conquered’s sides but one thing remains true. Even after the fall of Tenochtitlan, even though the peoples of Mexico did not form a single political entity which led to the success of the Spanish conquest, most of the other Mesoamerican cultures were intact. They never disappeared at the time of the decline of Classic period or the arrival of the Spanish. But after years of colonialism, the Mexicans were dispossessed of their lands, languages and heritage which resulted to human suffering and cultural destruction. The introduction of technology and change in leadership only intensified the conflicts between indigenous groups and the aim of breaking free from those in control. These, together with political conflicts between them helped weaken the empire as a whole. They were welcomed as guests; as gods even because of their skin color. Little did they know that it would be the start of the downfall of a great civilization. Heavy exploitation followed the initial shock of the conquest. The natives were suffering and adapting to the destructive effects of the colonization in their way of life. The existing system of a great civilization was swept aside for the conquerors’ traditional, cultural and political standards. They created a community in the Spanish style. A civil government was created to be run by a Spaniard. The establishment of a new political standard resulted in the people relatively becoming rural peasants. Change was inevitable. The greatest change perhaps is the introduction of iron and steel. Indigenous peoples were technologically primitive, with weapons such as bows and arrows and wooden sword set with obsidian blades and so

Strategy Book Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategy Book - Case Study Example The sand dunes are the largest in the world, and they cover the largest coastal sand dune area in the USA (50 miles). The Stellar sea lion rookery is the only one in the mainland 48 states (Essentix). Florence has impressive man-made resources, as well, including: a rich history (Siuslaw Indians and loggers), a doll museum and pioneer artifacts museum, a sand dune golf course and an award-winning golf course. The Old Town has been tastefully restored. There is shopping, art, restaurants, river walks, historical buildings, live music and dancing. Peace Harbor Hospital serves Western Lane County. There is an existing tourism industry (Essentix). All towns have weaknesses, however. Florence’s population is weighted unevenly on the side of senior citizens. According to the 2010 census, the median age is 57 (Wikipedia). I suspect this has a negative effect on available tax income, and would shape the town in a conservative direction, where stability is preferable to risky opportunities. An older population is probably not attractive to young people, and there might be insufficient motivation to relocate there. In considering opportunities, what stands out in my mind is healthy, natural living and tourism. Residents are mostly older, so health support is attractive to them. People are living longer and want to feel good. Tourists want active, outdoor activities. That is why they come to Florence. For opportunity, we must build on tourism and natural resources, perhaps targeting a group not currently targeted. Threats may include resistance to abrupt change, due to an older population. Expanding nature-based tourism is dependent on outsider cooperation, as well as insider cooperation. Florence is not as well-known as Newport and Coos Bay, although it is uniquely positioned. Based on my SWOT analysis, it is clear that Florence is all about healthy, natural living and tourism. In googling Florence, this emphasis is quite visible. Although the town experienced

Usefulness Of Maxima And Minima Of Functions Engineering Essay

Usefulness Of Maxima And Minima Of Functions Engineering Essay The mathematical concept of a function expresses the intuitive idea that one quantity(input) completely determines another quantity (output). A function assigns a unique value or output to each input of a specified type. The argument and the value may be real numbers, but they can also be elements from any given sets: the domain and the co-domain of the function. Whenever a relationship exists between two variables (or quantities) such that for every value of the first, there is only one corresponding value of the second, then we say:The second variable is a function of the first variable. The first variable is the independent variable (usually x), and the second variable is the dependent variable (usually y). The independent variable and the dependent variable are real numbers. The term function is just a type of operator which transforms the given input to output according to the given conditions. This operator relates two or more quantities to each other, the quantities are known as variables. Out of total variables only one is independent and all other are dependent on that variable. One precise definition of a function is that it consists of an ordered triple of sets, which may be written as (X, Y, F). X is the domain of the function, Y is the co-domain, and F is a set of ordered pairs. In each of these ordered pairs (a, b), the first element a is from the domain, the second element b is from the co-domain, and every element in the domain is the first element in one and only one ordered pair. The set of all b is known as the image of the function. Some authors use the term range to mean the image, others to mean the co-domain. The notation Æ’:Xà ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Y indicates that Æ’ is a function with domain X and co-domain Y. (Domain implies input whereas range or co-domain implies output.) In most practical situations, the domain and co-domain are understood from context, and only the relationship between the input and output is given. Thus is usually written as Here the two variables are x and y out of which x is independent and y is dependent on x. From the other side if we consider y as independent variable then x is dependent on y. Every function can be plotted on graph or more precisely Argand Plain. The graph of function may be a straight line, a continuous curve, a circle, an ellipse or even a point also. HISTORY OF MAXIMA AND MINIMA: Since origin of life, all people knew, talked, applied the concept of maxima and minima in their daily lives without even knowing about the concept of maxima and minima. In the earlier phase of time the kings used to estimate the maximum and minimum army of the opposite side, doctors used to record minimum and maximum symptom of any disease, cooks used to estimate the maximum and minimum quantity of food or people before any function, the businessmen used to estimate maximum and minimum profit or loss in any transaction. Even today also the women in the house prepare the food according to maximum or minimum consumption by each individual. Sir Issac Newton, a great scientist, invented the concept of functions and hence concept of maxima or minima. Since then his concepts are very usefully applicable in our daily lives. PRESENT TIME CONCEPTS OF MAXIMA AND MINIMA: The terms maxima and minima refer to extreme values of a function, that is, the maximum and minimum values that the function attains. Maximum means upper bound or largest possible quantity. The absolute maximum of a function is the largest number contained in the range of the function. That is, if f(a) is greater than or equal to f(x), for all x in the domain of the function, then f(a) is the absolute maximum. For example, the function f(x) = -162 + 32x + 6 has a maximum value of 22 occurring at x = 1. Every value of x produces a value of the function that is less than or equal to 22, hence, 22 is an absolute maximum. In terms of its graph, the absolute maximum of a function is the value of the function that corresponds to the highest point on the graph. Conversely, minimum means lower bound or least possible quantity. The absolute minimum of a function is the smallest number in its range and corresponds to the value of the function at the lowest point of its graph. If f(a) is less t han or equal to f(x), for all x in the domain of the function, then f(a) is an absolute minimum. As an example, f(x) = 322 32x 6 has an absolute minimum of -22, because every value of x produces a value greater than or equal to -22. In some cases, a function will have no absolute maximum or minimum. For instance the function f(x) = 1/x has no absolute maximum value, nor does f(x) = -1/x have an absolute minimum. In still other cases, functions may have relative (or local) maxima and minima. Relative means relative to local or nearby values of the function. The terms relative maxima and relative minima refer to the largest, or least, value that a function takes on over some small portion or interval of its domain. Thus, if f(b) is greater than or equal to f(b  ± h) for small values of h, then f(b) is a local maximum; if f(b) is less than or equal to f(b  ± h), then f(b) is a relative minimum. Finding the maxima and minima, both absolute and relative, of various functions represents an important class of problems solvable by use of differential calculus. The theory behind finding maximum and minimum values of a function is based on the fact that the derivative of a function is equal to the slope of the tangent. When the values of a function increase as the value of the independent variable increases, the lines that are tangent to the graph of the function have positive slope, and the function is said to be increasing. Conversely, when the values of the function decrease with increasing values of the independent variable, the tangent lines have negative slope, and the function is said to be decreasing. Precisely at the point where the function changes from increasing to decreasing or from decreasing to increasing, the tangent line is horizontal (has slope 0), and the derivative is zero (With reference to figure 1, the function is decreasing to the left of point A, as well a s between points B and C, and increasing between points A and B and to the right of point C). In order to find maximum and minimum points, first find the values of the independent variable for which the derivative of the function is zero, then substitute them in the original function to obtain the corresponding maximum or minimum values of the function. Second, inspect the behavior of the derivative to the left and right of each point. A wide variety of problems can be solved by finding maximum or minimum values of functions. For example, suppose it is desired to maximize the area of a rectangle inscribed in a semicircle. The area of the rectangle is given by A = 2xy. The semicircle is given by x2 + y2 = r2, for y à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥ 0, where r is the radius. To simplify the mathematics, note that A and A2 are both maximum for the same values of x and y, which occurs when the corner of the rectangle intersects the semicircle, that is, when y2 = r2 x2. Thus, we must find a maximum value of the function A2 = 42(r2 -x2) = 4r2x2 44. The required condition is that the derivative be equal to zero, that is, d(A2)/dx = 8r2x 163 = 0. This occurs when x = 0 or when x = 1à ¢Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬Å¾2(r à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ +2 ). Clearly the area is a maximum when x = 1à ¢Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬Å¾2(r à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ +2 ). Substitution of this value into the equation of the semicircle gives y = 1à ¢Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬Å¾2(r à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ +2 ), that is, y = x. Thus, the max imum area of a rectangle inscribed in a semicircle is A = 2xy = r2. The problem of determining the maximum or minimum of function is encountered in geometry, mechanics, physics, and other fields, and was one of the motivating factors in the development of the calculus in the seventeenth century. Let us recall the procedure for the case of a function of one variable y=f(x). First, we determine points where f'(x)=0. These points are called critical points. At critical points the tangent line is horizontal. This is shown in the figure below. . The second derivative test is employed to determine if a critical point is a relative maximum or a relative minimum. If f()>0, then x is a relative minimum. If f() The notions of critical points and the second derivative test carry over to functions of two variables. Let z=f(x, y). Critical points are points in the xy-plane where the tangent plane is horizontal. Since the normal vector of the tangent plane at (x,y) is given by The tangent plane is horizontal if its normal vector points in the z direction. Hence, critical points are solutions of the equations: because horizontal planes have normal vector parallel to z-axis. The two equations above must be solved simultaneously. The Second Derivative Test for Functions of Two Variables How can we determine if the critical points found above are relative maxima or minima? We apply a second derivative test for functions of two variables. Let (x,y) be a critical point and define We have the following cases: If D>0 and (,).) If D>0 and (,).)>0, then f(x,y) has a relative minimum at ( ,).). If D If D=0, the second derivative test is inconclusive. Maxima and Minima in a Bounded Region Suppose that our goal is to find the global maximum and minimum of our model function above in the square -2 Relative extrema in the interior of the square. Relative extrema on the boundary of the square. Corner Points. We have already done step 1. There are extrema at (1, 0) and (-1, 0). The boundary of square consists of 4 parts. Side 1 is y=-2 and -2 The original function of 2 variables is now a function of x only. We set g'(x)=0 to determine relative extrema on Side 1. It can be shown that x=1 and x=-1 are the relative extrema. Since y=-2, the relative extrema on Side 1 are at (1,-2) and (-1,-2). On Side 2 (x=-2 and -2 We set h'(y)=0 to determine the relative extrema. It can be shown that y=0 is the only critical point, corresponding to (-2,0). We play the same game to determine the relative extrema on the other 2 sides. It can be shown that they are (2,0), (1,2), and (-1,2). Finally, we must include the 4 corners (-2,-2), (-2,2), (2,-2), and (2,2). In summary, the candidates for global maximum and minimum are (-1,0), (1,0), (1,-2), (-1,-2), (-2,0), (2,0), (1,2), (-1,2), (-2,-2), (-2,2), (2,-2), and (2,2). We evaluate f(x,y) at each of these points to determine the global max and min in the square. The global maximum occurs (-2,0) and (1,0). This can be seen in the figure above. The global minimum occurs at 4 points: (-1,2), (-1,-2), (2,2), and (2,-2). One of the great powers of calculus is in the determination of the maximum or minimum value of a function. Take f(x) to be a function of x. Then the value of x for which the derivative of f(x) with respect to x is equal to zero corresponds to a maximum, a minimum or an inflexion point of the function f(x). The derivative of a function can be geometrically interpreted as the slope of the curve of the mathematical function y(t) plotted as a function of t. The derivative is positive when a function is increasing toward a maximum, zero (horizontal) at the maximum, and negative just after the maximum. The second derivative is the rate of change of the derivative, and it is negative for the process described above since the first derivative (slope) is always getting smaller. The second derivative is always negative for a hump in the function, corresponding to a maximum. A critical point (x,y) of f is a point where both the partial derivatives of the functions vanish. A local maximum, or a local minimum, is a critical point. In one variable, local maxima and minima are the only `nondegenerate critical points. In two or more variables, other possibilities appear. For instance one has the saddle point, like the critical point of at (0; 0). In some directions this looks like a maximum, in other directions this looks like a minimum. We try to classify critical points by looking at the second derivatives. APPLICATIONS OF MAXIMA AND MINIMA IN DAILY LIFE: There are numerous practical applications in which it is desired to find the maximum or minimum value of a particular quantity. Such applications exist in economics, business, and engineering. Many can be solved using the methods of differential calculus described above. For example, in any manufacturing business it is usually possible to express profit as a function of the number of units sold. Finding a maximum for this function represents a straightforward way of maximizing profits. In other cases, the shape of a container may be determined by minimizing the amount of material required to manufacture it. The design of piping systems is often based on minimizing pressure drop which in turn minimizes required pump sizes and reduces cost. The shapes of steel beams are based on maximizing strength. Finding maxima or minima also has important applications in linear algebra and game theory. For example, linear programming consists of maximizing (or minimizing) a particular quantity while requiring that certain constraints be imposed on other quantities. The quantity to be maximized (or minimized), as well as each of the constraints, is represented by an equation or inequality. The resulting system of equations or inequalities, usually linear, often contains hundreds or thousands of variables. The idea is to find the maximum value of a particular variable that represents a solution to the whole system. A practical example might be minimizing the cost of producing an automobile given certain known constraints on the cost of each part, and the time spent by each laborer, all of which may be interdependent. Regardless of the application, though, the key step in any maxima or minima problem is expressing the problem in mathematical terms. Everything in this world is based on the concept of maxima and minima, every time we always calculate the maximum and minimum of every data. Now-a-days results are also based on the concepts of grades which is again based on the concept of maxima and minima.

Three Most Important Elements of a Manager :: essays research papers

Coming into this new semester I had many expectations. I was a little bit confused by the format being that this is my first time taking on- line classes, but now that we are so close to the end I am glad to have taken this course. I have learned many things on this class. I have also come across different point of views and have gotten some interesting ones from my classmates. The three things that stood out the most are the description of a good motivator, our great leaders and control techniques. For me a good motivator is a person that inspires you to do better in life. In my personal experience that person would be my grandmother. Unfortunately she passed away last year but I will always have her great image in my heart. I believe that she was a great motivation in my life. She would always encourage me to do better at school and work. She also told me to not settle for little but instead to go after my dreams. She was a hard working woman with a big family that always demanded her support and attention. She inspires me so much even now that she’s not with us. Many of my classmates mentioned their family members and I could relate to that. Huong Do mentioned that his motivators are his parents and his siblings. I believe the reason for him choosing them is because he got to see on a closer look the struggle that they went trough and how they never gave up. This subject also brought us to discuss the great leaders that the world has seen. It is a very similar topic because a great leader is also a great motivator that inspires people to follow his or her cause. A great leader is someone who stands up for certain causes and doesn’t care what people may think of him. They fight for people’s right to a better life, for peace and many other things. As I mention on the discussion I don’t think there are any great leaders left. Our society has become so busy and selfish that everyone is trying to look out for themselves. I agree with my classmate Susan Njenga when she tells us on her discussion that we could never see a leader like Ghandi or Martin Luther King .A great leader needs to have so many great qualities and control techniques.

Era of Good Feelings Essay

The Era of Good Feelings was the title of the period after the war of 1812 between the years of 1815 and 1825. The accuracy of this label however, is not accurate. During this era the United States of America were in a period of economic problems, political turbulence, and a mixture of rapid expansion and division. It is hard to believe that this time period was one of Good Feelings with an economy that kept many people very poor while only a few were able to profit much. In document A, John Randolph addresses congress in 1816. He states that it is unjust, to aggravate the burdens of the people for the purpose of favoring the manufacturers. He is referring to the inequality between the manufacturers or factory owners and the agriculturalists or farmers. Many taxes during this era were placed on the agricultural industry. This taxation left many farmers in the middle and southern colonies struggling. The level of poorness rose for them while in the urban areas factories and corporations that ran them were running in the ring of pleasure and could fatten upon them. In Document B, John Calhoun says, the extent of the republic exposes us to the greatest of calamities disunitywe are rapidly growing this is our weakness and our strengthlet us, then, bind the republic together with a perfect system of roads This suggests the size and distance of our growing nation was going to be another source of disunity. Because of the distance and lack of roads and other means of transportation, communication and trade between regions lessened and they became more distant. Trade was such an important factor in the economy and binding the nation. The reason that this disunity and sectionalism is such a calamity is that the last thing that the United States wanted or could stand to see was rebellion and a break in the Union. Because the agriculturalist label encompassed such a large part of the American population, the inaccuracy of the title of this Era becomes evident. Politics, being a very important topic in this time period, was caught in turmoil and became divided. In 1819, the Supreme Court heard the case between McCulloch and the state of Maryland over the right to create a bank. In Document D, John Marshall rules that states have true sovereignty and that the general government is subordinate to that of the states. This  division creates disunity and breeds sectionalism among states and regions. The disunity created threatened the nation later on and could be blamed for inciting rebellion. In Document G, Anna Hayes Johnson writes to her cousin in North Carolina about the convictions and executions of a number of leaders in her area. In all probability the execution will not end under 100, but I was told yesterday that the prisoners had been heard to say that even should there be 500 executed there would be still enough to carry the work into execution. It does not specify for what they are convicted exactly but I would not consider civil u nrest where hundreds of people are being executed to be a defining feature of an Era of Good Feeling. Earlier the division and expansion within the nation was mentioned; it is a very important factor in this time period. It influences the accuracy of being able to title this era as one of Good Feelings. In Document 1, it is clear that during the years of 1815-1825, the pattern of presidential election outcomes went from an effectively unanimous turnout for James Monroe to a fairly divided one in 1824. In 1824 the New England states were won by John Q. Adams and Andrew Jackson won many of middle and southern states. We can infer from this that sectionalism was forming in different regions of the country, especially between the north and south. In the expansion of the United States westward many people were encouraged or thought to move into these areas for more land, mainly to farm. From Document E, it is clear that the majority of the population was located in the northwest in and around the major cities. This is another division that promoted sectionalism. This expansion would have only strengthened the economy but the disconnection between the city-dwellers in the north and the farmers and plantation owners of the south created further disunity. The Era of Good Feelings was a period of great stress on United States. The economy began separating into distinct groups, one which under congressional tax sanctions grew richer, and the other poorer. Parties and regions began to identify themselves separately and a schism was formed in the union. The dangerous, rapid expansion of the United States also fueled the sectionalist separation which foreshadowed an even larger calamity of rebellion and war. Overall, the time period between 1815 and 1825 could not have been justly or  accurately named The Era of Good Feelings.

Importance of developing a thesis Essay Example

Importance of developing a thesis Essay Example Importance of developing a thesis Essay Importance of developing a thesis Essay Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Importance of developing a thesis A thesis statement shows the main idea or point of the essay. The rest of the essay discusses about this idea by expounding on it. It contains examples, facts and other forms of evidence. For example, a persuasive essay is based on the idea mentioned in the statement thesis. Generally, a thesis statement declares your direction in the essay. A reader will have a clue of the essay if he or she reads the thesis statement. This statement is mainly written as the last point on the introduction paragraph. Thesis statement eliminates confusion for the reader. A reader will understand the content using the help of the thesis. Lack of a thesis should never be considered creating suspense. It will only make some readers feel bored about the work. Sensitive readers will just cease to read it because it lacks interest. A thesis statement is a good way to identify relevant work. Someone might spend a lot of time looking for a certain essay. An essay with a thesis will assist in searching for that specific essay. The writer must have a theme or topic to write. The thesis statement enables a writer to remain within the topic. Thesis can be used to create suspense. It enhances the quality of the essay and makes it strong. In a persuasive essay, the thesis statement usually formulates questions, which will drive the reader to read the whole essay. It must be clear for the readers to understand. Failure to this, no suspense will be detected. A thesis statement is the pillar of a good essay. It gives value to the essay. An essay becomes useful by having a certain principle. Such essays can be used to educate or as source of an argument. If an essay lacks a thesis statement, it is not possible top identify the stand of the writer. Therefore, it would not be possible to understand the stand of the writer. It is important to look for the right words to use for a thesis statement. This is the only way a thesis will be clear. Readers expect well-organized essay for reading. They are easy to follow and understand. Such essays can easily be achieved by using a thesis statement. The writer will ensure all points are related to the statement. The points will also be organized in a certain order depending on the topic. When points follow in a chronological manner, the essay definitely makes sense. When the readers understand the thesis statement, they wonder why the writer says this. It will lead them to reading the whole essay and their questions are answered. Many topics are wide and cannot be fully exhausted in one essay. The thesis statement gives the essay its scope. It should not be extreme on either way. This means it should not be extremely wide or too precise. Such an essay uses the instructions of the essay to construct the thesis statement. Argumentative essays use a thesis statement as a fundamental tool. Most of them give points for both opposing and supporting sides then they declare a stand. The thesis statement ensures it is clear on the final stand of the essay Writers are advised to make a preliminary thesis statement on the draft. It helps to construct the best thesis. After deciding what words to use in the final copy, the statement will be ready to use in the actual essay. A thesis must be concise, since it is the foundation of the essay. It is advisable not to include a thesis statement if it will not be specific. It should have only one major idea. This is why it should have vague language. A general statement will not communicate to the reader, hence, lose it meaning in the essay.

Evolution of Airpower Essays

Evolution of Airpower Essays Evolution of Airpower Essay Evolution of Airpower Essay The Wrights always intended that the airplane be a contribution to international communications, trade and goodwill, but in their first attempt to sell a plane, they looked to the US War Department (Futures 15). From 1905 to 1907, not a lot of headway was made with the US War Department but, in 1907, due to the interest in aviation by President Theodore Roosevelt, a foothold was gained with the establishment of an Aeronautical Division within the Signal Corps (16). After much skepticism from Brig General James Allen, the Armys chief signal officer, the Wright Brothers received acceptance of the Flyer from the US government on February 8, 1908. World War I In August of 1914, the major European powers went to war with rudimentary air services and embryonic aviation industries (Olsen 1). The role of the airplane was viewed to have a primary mission of reconnaissance and communications in support of the land and naval forces. Starting with the Battle of the Manner in September 1914, French aircraft were used for reconnaissance and played a key role in detecting the German armys turn to the northeast of Paris, which enabled the British and French to strike the Germans flank (Morrow Jar. ). Also, in August and September of 1914, Germany looked toward their ridged airships, the Zeppelins, for aerial bombardment missions and reconnaissance. This became a costly venture for them with the loss of four ships to enemy action (7). As the war trudged on in Europe, little progress was being made toward the development of a fighting air force in the of ground or naval forces. By the time U . S. Entered the war in April 1917, we were a bit behind in the power curve. With the help of our allies, who were much farther advanced in military aviation, we set out to drawing up plans for an air service that loud include fighting and bombing airplanes as well as observation planes and balloons (Manure v). Their contribution not only included technical data on new developments in aircraft and equipment, but also in how to use aviation in battle. The lessons learned from war included detailed tactics, techniques and procedures as well as concepts on the role of aviation in warfare and its use from a tactical and strategic perspective (v). By the wars end in November 1918, aviation in the U. S. Military and its Air Expeditionary Force (PEA) looked a lot different than it had four years earlier. Between the wars Upon the end of the War to end all wars, the United States withdrew into its previous posture of isolationism. However, this did not stop the debate on how to use the aviation arm of the military. One camp, led by General John J. Perishing, Commander in Chief of the PEA, held the position that aviation was to assist the ground forces. The other camp, led by Brig. General William Billy Mitchell, the top ranking air commander in the PEA, agreed that some aviation had to be assigned to support ground forces, but the main focus should be on a strategic role of attacking military and industrial targets behind enemy lines. Although the two camps did agree on some conceptual ideas such as Perishing supporting to some degree, strategic missions, he strongly disagreed with Mitchell desire to create an air force independent of the ground forces (ix). Not agreeing with your boss is not a new concept, especially in the military, but Billy Mitchell seemed to want to make an art form of it. Being a bit outspoken, he attacked the War and Navy Department for being insufficiently farsighted regarding airport (Malinger). He believed that surface fleets were obsolete and proved the point, to at least him, with the sinking of overall battleships during bombing test held in 1921 and 1923. His flamboyant actions, like his disregard for the rule of engagement in the sinking of the German battleship Stationeries (and the dropping of a bomb on the still churning spot were the ship slipped beneath the waves to add injury to insult) brought attention to his ultimate goal of an independent air force, but his inability to keep his mouth shut finally lead to his undoing. In September 1925, the US Navy dirigible Shenandoah (ZERO-I) crashed in a storm in Ohio, killing 14 of the crew. This event, on the heels of another aviation disaster when US Navy flying boat PIN No. Was lost at sea in the Pacific Ocean, incensed Mitchell and leads him to accuse senior leaders in the Navy and War Departments of incompetence, criminal negligence and almost treasonable administration of the National Defense. (Passion). For the War Department, this was the straw that broke the camels back and in October 1925 they began proceedings to court martial Mitchell, who was convicted but chose to resign his commission (Passion). From the perspective of some military historians, Mitchell was viewed not so such as a theorist, but as a prophet, promoter and martyr (Passion). One glaring example of this comes from Burke Davis, in his book, The Billy Mitchell Affair (New York: Random House, 1967) were he goes into some detail about Mitchell report of his visit to Hawaii in 1924 in which he predicts a future war with Japan that opened In looking at World War II, it is very easy to get deep into the weeds if you are not careful when discussing the evolution of airport. In the opening salvo, Adolph Hitler and Germany introduced the world to the concept and tactic of the Blitzkrieg or Lightning War when he invaded Poland in September 1939. This was a simple tactic that obeyed all of the principles of war while employing the following: armor concentrations, massive precise air support, paratroopers, radio, flexibility, initiative and surprise, simplicity, air superiority, and logistics (rollway). By taking advantage of the advances in technology and the complacency of its opponents, primarily the French who were ready to fight World War I again in a defensive conflict, the Germans were able to sweep through the continent of Europe leaving only Great Britain standing in the way of completing the conquest of their enemies to the west. Being that Great Britain is an island, Hitters next task was to get his forces over there to complete the Job and then he could give his undivided attention to the Russians in the east. Dodo this he would have to make an amphibious assault on the British Isles (code name Sea-lion) and this could not be done without the control of the English Channel and the naturalization of the Royal Navy. In order to complete this task, the Luftwaffe would have to maintain air superiority over the Channel and abstinently the skies over Great Britain. On July 10, 1940 the Luftwaffe plan was to gain control of the Straits of Dover by luring out the RAFF into a full scale battle, thus beginning the Battle of Britain. Ultimately, this plan was destined to fail primarily for the following reasons: (1) The Germans fought too far away from their bases so that refueling and rearming were impossible. The German fighters had a very limited time which they could spend over Britain before their fuel got too low; (2) British fighters could land, refuel and rearm and be in the air again very quickly; (3) The change of targets was crucial. It is now believed that Fighter Command was perhaps only 24 hours away from defeat when the attack on the cities occurred. The breathing space this gave Fighter Command was crucial; (4) The Hurricane and Spitfire were exceptional planes capable of taking on the might of the Luftwaffe (historiographers). The factors provided above combined with a bit too much bravado on Herman Gorings part, believing that air power alone could blast England out of the war, forced Hitler to postpone indefinitely the invasion of Britain though the night time raids continued Bobolinks 84). Up until this point, the United States had not been officially involved in World War II but all of that was about to change. On December 7, 1941, a Japanese naval task force launched a surprise aerial assault on the U. S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor and on AAU in the Hawaiian Islands. From a one standpoint this was a rather bold and risky move. Japan successfully moved its task force composed of six aircraft carriers and their support vessels, 3,400 miles across the northern Pacific without discovery or major loss (Chambers). The main idea of this attack was to perform a preemptive strike against the US Fleet, thus vying Japan time to fortify their newly conquered territories. Many military experts believed that an aerial attack on naval forces moored in Pearl Harbor was a non- issue. They believed that the shallow depth of the harbor would prevent a successful torpedo attack and that their primary concern for the forces located on AAU should be focused on sabotage. The experts failed to realize what a little ingenuity could do. Torpedoes thus causing them to run shallower and reach their targets. Tactically, for Japan, the attack was a complete success, but it ultimately failed in its goal of estranging the US Navy in the Pacific. Although the battleships were damaged, failure to destroy the repair yards, the fuel reserves and the submarine bases enabled the remainder of the fleet, which included the aircraft carriers that were out to sea at the time of the attack, to continue to operate and play a major role in the Pacific theater. As you continue to look at World War II in general, it can be said that this was the worlds introduction to strategic air warfare. In the past, civilians had the luxury of viewing war from a distance if they didnt find themselves in the path of the combatants. During World War l, Germany was spared the repercussions of mass bombings due to the Armistice being signed before the concept was truly grasped. In World War II, this was not the case. To quote Gene Carl Sparta, who commanded the US Strategic Air Forces (STAFF) in Europe and the US Army Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific, one may argue the exact degree of contribution made by strategic bombing to the final decision; He war against Germany was fundamentally an infantry war supported by air power, much as the war against Japan was fundamentally a naval war supported by air (Futures 147). With that being said, you still cannot discount the contribution of airport and the implementation of its theories in the realm of warfare. In the time frame that encompassed World War II, we saw a monumental shift in the way future wars would be conducted to include the use of strategic bombardment, the introduction of Jet powered aircraft and ballistic rockets and the beginning of the atomic age. Basically, the Genie was out of the bottle. Old war With the Allied victory in World War II came a brand new series of problems that needed to be dealt with. We first had to figure out how we were going to dealing with our former enemies and rebuilding Europe and Japan. This was not going to be done without a great deal of planning and compromise. The problem here is you cant always be sure of the ulterior motives of the folks youre working with (even if it was really obvious to some, I. E. General George Patton). Post-war Germany, was divided into four parts, one sector or zone for each of the major partners (United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union). This also included the same division of the German capital of Berlin even though it was located in the Soviet sector. All of this was spelled out in the Marshal Plan, the road map to European recovery. The problem here was the ulterior motives I mentioned earlier. For the French, they wanted assurances that they would be able to retain their territories in French Indochina (Vietnam) in order for them to approve the plan. This compromise was made, even though we alienated an ally in Ho Chi Min, who helped us in our fight against Japan. As for the Soviet Union, they had no intention of giving back territory they acquired when they pushed German forces back to Berlin. Two times of note hat Russia had been invaded from the west (Napoleon and Hitler) and they were well aware of the strategic advantage that a buffer zone and the Russian winter gave them against invading armies. At the wars end, popular opinion was not going to support a new war against the Soviet Union to get them out of Eastern Europe and thus began the Cold War and the development of a new policy of Containment to implementation of the United States policy of Containment. On September 18, 1947 the National Security Act of 1947 created the United States Air Force as its own branch of the United States Department of Defense. From 1948 with the Soviet blockade of Berlin to 1989 with the tearing down of the Berlin Wall which marked the end of the Warsaw Pact and set the stage for the breakup of the Soviet Union itself a few years later, our country will has been tested many times (Korea, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Grenade, Panama Just to name a few). The technological advancements in aircraft during the Cold War were vital to our success against a foe whose strategy, in our opinion, was that of quantity of quality. I know that I am skipping over the nuclear capabilities, but with our policy of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), for the purpose here, that is a wash. This now brings us to the Air War in the Persian Gulf. In many ways Desert Storm was a pivotal moment in the application of air power. Our forces were used in multiple ways, sometimes like a scalpel with precision strikes using precision guided munitions (pegs) to like a sledge hammer with the standard dumb bombs dropped on aircraft hangers and runways. In addition, with the introduction of stealth aircraft made it a less daunting task to infiltrate the Iraqi air defenses, leaving them deaf, dumb and blind. The paid collapse of the Iraqi army before Coalition ground forces was in great part due to the collapse of its morale in the face of the massive bombing of its units(Murray 1).

Personal Viewpoint Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal Viewpoint Paper - Essay Example Once one reflects on the occurrences in his/her past life, one can be able to analyze the learning experiences in his life, and appreciate those moments. Throughout my life, I continue to encounter numerous experiences, which significantly affect my perception and understanding of the occurrences in life. Through these experiences I have learnt numerous things which have enriched my life immensely. Though some occurred subconsciously, others were instigated discussions held between myself and friends. While discussing various lifetime experiences with my friends, something I had always ignored occurred. My friend informed me of the inherent discrepancies present between environments where people grow up. The friend informed me of how he grew in a Muslim dominated society, and the difficult experiences he underwent as a Christian. With a majority of the people being Muslims, the childhood friends failed to understand the faith professed by my friend. The discrepancies in the fundament al teachings of the faiths caused numerous difficulties between the children professing different faiths. The children viewed each other as enemies creating immense tension and difficulty in creating friendships among children professing different faiths. After growing up, my friend’s understanding of Islamic faith enabled him to appreciate individuals professing the faith. My friend explained the various elements of the Islamic faith which caused the perception change. The discovery that a majority of the doctrines contained in the religions remain common across the religions was surprising. Through the explanation offered, I also gained an immense understanding of the Islamic religion. Although numerous accusations continue regarding the association of Islamic faith with terrorism, stereotyping could be explained as the causing element for these accusations. The fact that there are a quite many terrorists associated with Islamic faith should not be a benchmark for regarding all Muslims, terrorists. Stereotypical thinking with limited understanding of Islamic faith leads to fallacious conclusions regarding the religion. As a child, I had also held this populist believe as true. My understanding of the Islamic religious doctrines displayed the religion as modeling terrorist. Though a populist opinion, the believe fails miserably to present any factual argument supporting its contents. The belief, therefore, becomes a stereotypical populist opinion for disregarding individuals professing Islamic faith. Misinformation and misunderstanding contributed immensely to the thoughts of Muslims being terrorists. I realized there exists immense similarities between the religions, yet people tend to discriminate those professing different faiths. Acceptance of other people’s differences could also enable them to accept you into their society. It remains critically essential for individuals to accept that differences occur naturally between societies. The ele ment of discrimination, however, does not occur from the personality aspect. The discrimination fails to analyze the individuals for whom they are, however, discrimination occurs based on how people perceive others. The doctrines initiated in children during the early life contain significant influence in the people’s lives at later stages. Following the discussion with my friend, I realized how the environment changes people’

Diverse Effects Of Smoking Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Diverse Effects Of Smoking - Research Paper Example The administration has undertaken research on the sound mechanism to convince the students of the benefits of quitting or abstaining from smoking. Critical evaluation of costs associated with smoking in the wider society shows the significant loss. SCSU shows concern for the welfare of the society by taking the lead in addressing such contentious health issue. The student community is considered influential in boosting the campaign due to their high rate of interaction and potential to initiate the revolution. It is in the interest of the students to promote the campaign against the vice and enhance the functionality of the ban. Besides banning, the smokers can be made to see sense through insightful debate among students. The institution has factual evidence in support of its decision to effect a ban on smoking. The learning institutions should be at the center of championing for better health. In this respect, smoking in the school poses a significant health risk to the smokers and the non-smokers. These consequences are multidimensional. The resultant health conditions from smoking are an additional medical cost to the society. Besides, there is the likelihood of deterioration in physical and mental health which translates to poor performance in school. The central concern of the university for imposing the ban revolves around saving. The cost of cigarettes is high and affects the students’ financial positions significantly. SCSU has set a schedule on how to effect the ban and wrap it up with the intensive anti-smoking campaign in school. The schedule takes spectrum plan which will involve first, second, third and last to fine-tune the entire work.