U,S. 1 E essays

U,S. 1 E essays Cultural cross-fertilization is the foundation on which the United States sits and has sat for hundreds of years. It is the mixing of cultures (English, African, Scots-Irish, Native American, etc.) that inevitably occurs when different groups of people live in the same area. The United States became the breeding grounds for different cultures well before it was even created. This cultural diversity grew tenfold when the population of the colonies started to grow to become  ½ the population of England. Groups other than the English started to migrate to the colonies, and these new cultures started to mix together to form a new American culture. This cross-fertilization of cultures has become what the U.S. is known for. Former ideas were primarily Eurocentric, such as the thought that America is just an extension of Europe. However, recent ideas from historians suggest that America has brought about a new, unique culture. This is the opinion expressed in the article called Varying Viewpoints: Europeanizing America or Americanizing Europe? The author provides very good and well-explained reasons as to why this opinion is correct. Examples of this cultural cross-fertilization can be found in society, even today. By being a 2nd generation American and the first member of my family to be a mix of heritages (German and Slovak), Im a great example of the unique culture of America. When compared to my parents, I have some aspects of both of their cultures and I also have some added ones. Religion is something that was taken from one of my parents cultures. My parents decided to go with my mothers religion, Roman Catholic, over my fathers religion, Russian Orthodox, when raising my sister and I. Although the religions are close, there are some distinct differences such as the preparations for Easter and the role of Easter in th ...

Server-Side Scripting in PHP

Server-Side Scripting in PHP Server-side scripting as it relates to web pages usually refers to PHP code that is executed on the web server before the data is passed to the users browser. In the case of PHP, all PHP code is executed server-side and no PHP code ever reaches the user. After the PHP code is executed, the information it outputs is embedded in the HTML, which is sent to the viewers web browser. One way to see this in action is to open one of your PHP pages in a web browser and then choose the View Source option. You see the HTML, but no PHP code. The result of the PHP code is there because it is embedded in the HTML on the server before the web page is delivered to the browser. Example PHP Code and Result While the server-side PHP file may contain all the code above, the source code and your browser only display the following information: My cat Spot and my dog Clif like to play together. Server-Side Scripting vs. Client-Side Scripting PHP isnt the only code that involves server-side scripting, and server-side scripting isnt limited to websites. Other server-side programming languages are Python, Ruby, C#, C, and Java. There are many instances of server-side scripting, which provides a customized experience for users. In comparison, client-side scripting operates with embedded scripts- JavaScript is the most familiar- that are sent from the web server to a users computer. All the client-side script processing takes place in a web browser on the end users computer. Some users disable client-side scripting due to security concerns.

Media sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Media sociology - Essay Example Distinguishing fans from ordinary audiences, Jenkins offered an ethnographic illustrations how fans used the media material as basis of their own stories, songs, videos and social exchanges within a rich and cultural network. Jenkins underscored that this type of reading as â€Å"poaching† is some form of a â€Å"raid on literary preserve that takes away only those things that seem useful or pleasurable to the reader.† (p. 471) Citing artifacts such as Star Trek and Star Wars, Jenkins points to how its followers became identified with a scandalous category in contemporary American culture, which provokes an excessive response from those committed to the interests of textual producers and the institutionalization of interpreters and the emergence of questions regarding the logic of by which others order their aesthetic experiences. (Jenkins, p. 471) Jenkins’ argument is that instead of people branding the fans as cultural dupes, social misfits, mindless consumers and other negative stereotypes, he suggested that they be called as â€Å"textual poachers.† â€Å"Interactivity† is one of the most important features of the new media. For instance, Manuel Castells (1999) illustrated how conventional mass media is characterized by one-way, undifferentiated messages through a limited number of channels. The new media system, however, rides on the wonders of technology in order to accommodate the audience’s participation in effect, creating what Castells call the â€Å"culture of real virtuality† phenomenon. According to him, â€Å"while, there is oligopolistic concentration of multimedia groups around the world, there is at the same time, market segmentation, and increasing interaction by and among the individuals that break up the uniformity of a mass audience.† (p. 403) The above issue also brings us to the globalization of the new

Russia and Central Asian Water by John C.K. Daly Assignment

Russia and Central Asian Water by John C.K. Daly - Assignment Example In the meantime, Russian economic security has been depleted by the loss of many of its previous territories, these â€Å"Stan† nations, and therefore cannot invest currently in creating a cascade system so that all nations can enjoy this scarce resource. Uzbekistan and others who support this particular country’s position believe that the freshwater reserves should be classified as transboundary rivers which make them open to international rules and regulations regarding its usage. However, this appears to be a weak argument that does not meet with appropriate resolution under diplomatic strategy. A scarce resource such as water which is needed desperately for human health reasons and food production seems to make individuals proverbially grasp at straws as a means to ensure their continued longevity, agricultural health and human survival. In an effort to try to deal with the issue and formulate some diplomatic or economic solution, five countries in the region create d the Interstate Coordinating Water Commission in 1992 to try to create a solution that would best fit every country’s needs (Daly). However, after many meetings since its inception, hardly any regionally-based solution has been developed, thus allowing these disputes to continue. The main problem in this case is that no nation who is disputing the water’s usage maintains the economic resources, financially, to ensure that appropriate facilities are created to better allocate this scarce resource.

Playmobil Toysâ€the Secret to the Years of Toy Craze Essay Example for Free

Playmobil Toys—the Secret to the Years of Toy Craze Essay A little over a century ago, you wouldn’t believe that Playmobil, one of the most loved toy companies, started out as a lock and fitting company originally called Metallwarenfabrik. It was founded by Andreas Brandstatter, a locksmith in Zindorf, Germany. It had a few years of great track record and was not only manufacturing locks, they were even manufacturing cash registers, telephones and other various sheet metal products coincidentally to be used for toy establishments. In the 1950s, the current owner of the company, Horst Branstatter shifted the company into plastic manufacturing and joined in on the Hula Hoop Craze, which is incidentally the start of an international craze for Playmobil Toys. But one question comes to mind, why do kids and parents go crazy for these Toys? For one, the company’s ideal for toys stem from its roots of lock and metal fitting—collecting all the right pieces and fitting them together to complete a set. Its collectability is one of its greatest marketing strategy. Same for the kids, it is a matter of pride once you manage to complete a set. Typically, most toy sets would have one center piece for the set and have multiple accessories. Each and every piece would have its individual uniqueness. The fun of having a toy is being able to divulge into a world of imagination using it as a medium. A single piece has complete functionality to fulfil its role on the set’s storyline, having functioning parts that can interact with its fellow toy pieces. This allows children of all ages to use their imagination to its full extent, giving never-ending fun on the part of the kids and a satisfied smile on their parents’ lips.

Preventing Air Pollution Essay -- Environment, Toxic, Ecology Essays

Preventing Air Pollution Air Pollution is a problem nation wide. The pollution hangs over our cities and is harmful and destroys living things and materials. Diesel exhaust is one of the most dangerous sources of air pollution. This type of pollution comes from on road vehicles such as large trucks and buses although factories, construction equipment and farms are big polluters too. Pollution from diesel engines contributes to about 80% of the added cancer risk from toxic air pollution nationwide. A main pollution problem has typically been high levels of smoke and sulphur dioxide arising from the burning of smoke and sulphur dioxide arising of sulphur containing fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas for domestic and industrial purpose. Here are the equations for the gases Sulphur+oxygen+water = sulphuric acid This is very bad to breath in and additionally destroys rubbers and metals. It comes from fossil fuels. Carbon + oxygen = carbon monoxide This is a very poisonous gas, which comes from vehicles. Furthermore soot is a common air polluter, which mixes with fog to make smog, which when breathed in, is very bad for our lungs. It is even most unpleasant in valleys as it hangs in the air for longer. When the pollution goes into the air it is known as an inversion layer, which can be transported for miles by wind killing and destroying on its journey. When the pollution attacks things that aren't living it can damage many things like, bike tyres, power line insulation, paint on buildings and makes spots on car paint via acid rain. Scientists have discovered that air pollution from the burning of fossil fue... ...trogen oxides that are releases into the air. So that means to reduce the emissions of fossil fuels. If people use less power and drive their vehicles less that will be a start to reduce acid rain. If everyone bought energy efficient appliances, bought energy efficient house or upgrade old houses to be energy efficient, take transit to work with 3-4 people in it instead of 3-4 cars, ride a bike, or walk it would make the air a lot cleaner to breathe. Certain types of chimneys can be built called static chimneys which when the pollution from the fossil fuels blow up then it sticks to the sides of the chimney, then got rid of in a solid form. If every person in the world would do this we help dramatically to reduce acid rain. Meaning it to be easier to breath and higher populations of fish, trees, plant life and animals.

Gay Marriage Essay

Marriage as defined by Chambers 21st Century Dictionary is one the state or relationship of being husband and wife, two the act or legal contract of becoming husband and wife and three the civil or religious ceremony during which this act is performed; a wedding. Gay marriage has been a topic that has been discussed in the United States for several years now. You have people that have different viewpoints on how they feel about gay marriage more so the big question everyone argues is whether it is right or wrong. We will be discussing gay marriage in this paper focusing on the ethical problems this issue faces. We will look at gay marriage from the deontology theory and then contract the theory from the relativism, emotivism and ethical egoism theory. Lastly I will discuss which of these views I discussed is closer to my view on gay marriage. Growing up I was always told marriage is between a man and a woman and that God wants us to be married and be fruitful and multiply, fruitful meaning having children. This is something that I was told by my parents, grandparents and the church. I chose to discuss gay marriage because it is really something that I have conflicting feelings about based on what I think is right and what I have been told is right, when I was growing up as a young child in a Christian environment. Many Christians quote that God found it unacceptable for same sex relations to take place, because it is wrong. Furthermore, God created woman for man and man for woman, not woman for woman or man for man, as stated in the book of Genesis. You have polls that have been conducted where people still think that gay marriage is wrong. Then religion may be one of the most controversial issues regarding gay marriage, many religions find gay marriage to be immoral and a sin. I think that same sex marriage should be allowed although many of my family and friends wouldn’t agree with my choice. I look at the issue like any other issue that our country has faced like women suffrage and slavery. I don’t think a couple should be discriminated or treated unfairly just because of their sexual preference. The United States of America Constitute states that all men are created equal and have certain unalienable rights. Thomas Jefferson offered as his examples of such rights â€Å"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness† (Mosser, 2010). So shouldn’t same sex couples be allowed to have those same rights, shouldn’t they be able to enjoy the life of an American dream that we all aim to achieve. By not being able to pursue these rights we could look at this as a violation of the Constitution. This can present an ethical problem for same sex marriage. Deontology ethics claims that the way to decide if an action is moral is to examine the intentions. Mosser writes that â€Å"deontology looks at the reason for which an act is done, and the rule according to which one chooses to act. Deontology doesn’t deny that acts have consequences; rather, it insists that those consequences should not play a role in our moral evaluation of such acts† (Mosser, 2010). Any time there is an ethical issue there is an ethical problem to follow that issue. First ethical problem we will look at is gay parenting. Many people believe that children being raised by gay parents will deprive them of normal development. Many Americans believe gay men and lesbians should not have or adopt children and that children would not develop â€Å"correctly† with homosexual parents, although research has shown that same-gender couples are as nurturing and capable of parental obligations as other couples. † (Avery, Chase, Johansson, Litvak, Montero, & Wydra, 2007). In the article Children Raised, 2001 a â€Å"study of 55 children–19 ra ised by lesbian couples, 10 by single mothers, and 26 by heterosexual couples–found uniformity among the categories vis-a-vis social skills, well-being, and academic performance†. I feel as long as a child is being raise by people who love them whether they are male or female and if they are being raised by a same sex couple the love the child would get from both parents won’t deprive them of any development deprivation. Although many children may experience some form of negativity from other people like classmates or people who may be against gay marriage. You might hear sometimes how children don’t understand why their parents can’t be married or they treated indifferently or talked about because their parents are gay. Another problem we have is with control. Society deems that is okay for a heterosexual couple to be out in public hugging and kissing each other in public. You have some cities or states that may prohibit this action for homosexual couples. Society sees this as wrong and I think that is why you have a lot of people who are afraid to come out and say that they are gay. Nowadays people are just a little more open to discuss their sexuality as before they were not because they were afraid of the repercussion that they may face. It is even worst for those who are in high power position like celebrities, government officials or people who may be well known throughout the community, as soon as they reveal that they may be gay it is plastered all over the news media, social networking sites and various magazines. It is really bad when they say oh this person was out holding hands or seen kissing his partner out in public. It is easier if you leave in a state that is more receptive to this like California, New York and Massachusetts. You really won’t see this behavior being favored in the Bible belt (the south). My thing is leave them alone if they chose that lifestyle that is their choice, they should be allowed like any other person in this country to freely walk out in public and hold hands and share a kiss. Now another problem is that some people believe that a same-sex couple raising children could destroy the family and social background that our society currently accepts with an opposite-sex couple. I think a child could still develop normally when they are provided the same love and nurturing necessities of life when provided by either couple whether gay or straight. A child needs love and encouragement to grow and flourish as an individual and that can be provided by people whether gay or straight. The environment a person is raised in does contribute to the type of person that they become, if they are receiving love, support and being nurtured by a gay couple it’s no different than opposite couples. Couples whether gay or straight will have that influence to teach a child what is wrong and what is right in life. As a child spend time with family members whether, gay or straight this will be part of the development process to teach a child who they are. I think a child growing up in a same-sex marriage or relationship will allow a child to learn tolerance and acceptance. They will be more prone to accepting things that others may not and be able to tolerate things more than others, cause having a child in an opposite-sex marriage or relationship they may not learn those same values as much as the other person. Same sex marriage would benefit children by increasing the durability and stability of their parents’ relationship. This will also bring increased social acceptable of and support for same-sex families, although those communities that meet gay marriage with rejection or hostility might not materialize. There really is no evidence that heterosexual couples are any more effective than same-sex couples at raising children. Religion is another ethical problem that we must look at when it comes to gay marriage. Religion as defined by Collins English dictionary is â€Å"belief in, worship of, or obedience to a supernatural power or powers to be divine or to have control of human destiny. Two any formal or institutionalized expression of such belief: the Christian religion. Lastly the attitude and feeling of one who believes in a transcendent controlling power or powers. Religion teaches us to believe in god or God or whoever we may believe in, it also teaches us kindness towards others, patience, tolerance and many other things to help us in our daily lives. Religion also teaches us to be able to accept other that may not be the same as us. Some people, including Christians, Jews, Catholics, etic†¦believe that it is wrong for people of the same sex to have a loving relationship with each other. I think each religion might have different interpretation on the teachings that is in the Bible, once religion ay interpret a section of the Bible one why while another will interpret that same section a different way. Does it might either religion right or wrong? No, it doesn’t it is one person interpretation over another. Growing up in a Christian environment it was quoted from the Bible that God found it unacceptable for same-sex relations to take place, because it is lustful and wrong. Then it says that God created man for woman and woman for man not man for man or woman for woman. As a Christian many people say that the primary purpose of marriage is procreation to be fruitful and multiple and that cannot take place in a gay marriage. Equal protection is another problem. The federal government responsibility is to protect and keep all citizens safe, this includes protection under the law. Religion has played a factor in influencing the votes of government officials to ensure equal protection under the law for heterosexuals but not for homosexuals. Bickford states that religious views continuously look down on homosexuality and condemn it. These views continue to influence the American government and the choices made when voting on laws for equal protection. Our government was formed on the basis of separation of church and state but some people are not able to accept that. So why is our government so influenced by religious organization in dictating what action they should take when it comes to voting on these laws? I don’t know if they fear that they would be retaliated against or loose support or funding from religious organizations. I know everyone is entitled to their own religious beliefs but to allow those beliefs to harm citizens in our country is unacceptable and it isn’t right. These actions cause hatred to spread throughout our country because of that. The government says that every citizen of the United States shall receive equal rights. Now why did the government pass out the defense of marriage act? The Defense of Marriage Act prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. I think this act is immoral and unfair because it restricts the rights of gay and lesbian citizens. This act should not have been passed because there really isn’t a reason to justify that act. Mosser states â€Å"The deontologist argues that we have a duty, or an obligation, to treat other people with respect; human beings have dignity, and we must take that dignity into consideration when dealing with them. (We also expect others to respect our dignity when they deal with us. ) As the most famous deontologist, Immanuel Kant (1724—1804), put the point, we should never treat another person only as a means to our ends, or goals, but should regard them as ends in themselves. In other words, I can’t simply use a person to get what I want nor can someone use me to get what he or she wants. We have to consider that other person’s needs and desires, respect them, and try to avoid violating them† (Mosser, 2010). The deontologist in this aspect would resolve gay marriage as stating that all human beings should be treated equally. They are human beings so they should be treated the same way that others are being treated. If a woman and a man is able to marry then a man and a man or a woman and a woman should have that same option. A deontologist would also argue that a person shouldn’t be treated differently just because of their sexual preferences. Deontology is like living your life by a set of rules. Now the rules can be used to push yourself into doing the â€Å"right† thing, even if you’d rather not. Now this would help by saying gay marriage is right and it is the right thing to do for same-sex couples, however there will always be exceptions, and this is where the theory falls flat on its face. You will always have someone who will debate this theory. Relativism is the idea that one’s beliefs and values are understood in terms of one’s society, culture, or even one’s own individual values. (Mosser, 2010). Now relativism on the other hand would say for gay marriage that what’s wrong for gay marriage is not necessarily wrong for someone else. Therefore, you have no right to tell two men or two women that they cannot marry, just because you feel personally that it is wrong. What you believe and hold as true is not necessary what someone else believes and holds as true. Relativism would argue that same-sex couples ould argue that marriage is right because this is what they believe in it is part of their values and beliefs. Relativism says that no matter how you argue a point even if every point is completely proven you cannot change someone’s beliefs. This will not work because it is their belief based on how they were raised, religion or even their social influences. I feel that at people whether heterosexual or homosexual should be afforded the same rights under the law of our Constitution. I just wish people would put their differences to the side when it comes to this topic about gay marriage. What really makes me upset is Christian people that I know in my family and at the church they are so quick to judge someone else and say it isn’t right but I am quick to remind them that we are all sinners. Even though you may not like the lifestyle someone chose to leave you can’t make that person change who they are. If they chose to be with another man or another woman that is their prerogative. Then they are so quick to get upset with the government when it comes to these issues. Everyone wants to bring church into politics. I really thing that is a sticky situation and it is so tough given the country that we live in because of the diversity that our country has experienced. I just feel that if someone choses and wants to marry someone from the opposite sex let them. I would say the theory that closely match my belief given the two that I discussed is relativism. I don’t see how gay marriage would bring harm to children that are being raised by gay parents. I don’t think same-sex couples should be deprived of certain benefits or rights because of their sexual orientation. In the article in USA today for gay marriage it states â€Å"But preventing gay parents from marrying hurts their kids, as does denying them equal rights to insurance and Social Security benefits, says Aimee Gelnaw, executive director of the Family Pride Coalition† (Elias, 2004). Why should we deny them these rights that they should be entitled to? If two people want to get married, neither society nor the government should be involved. Religion should stop having such a big influence of political policies and the deeper the donation the more they lean towards pleasing that particular religion. As stated earlier our Country’s constitution allows for the pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Nothing gives one person the right to decide what is wrong and what is right when it comes to same-sex couples. What would it be like if the Constitution only allowed certain types of people to be married like only people who tall and has blond hair or black hair. What if they put some stipulation that only whites can marry or only blacks. I am sure that would cause an outrage and scram discrimination. See this is what happens when our government puts limitations on its citizens. This papers has identified some of the ethical problems with gay marriage we have examined what gay marriage is like using the deontology and theory and contrasted it with the relativism theory. I am not gay but I think that a person should be able to choose who they want to be with. I don’t think they should be discriminated against, and at the end of the day it is their choice who they decide they want a relationship with, whether it be a person of the same or opposite sex. Society is so caught up in being in everyone business and who is doing what we want to tell people this is the right way to live or you should do things this way because it is right. Who is to say what that something might be better or right for someone else? Lets’ stop forcing our values and beliefs on others and allow people to be who there are. If they are Christian and they are gay or whatever religion they may be I say leave that between them and their god we should not be the ones judging or condemning them because of something that they believe in or desire. We are no better than the next person.

Cognitive development and Aging Paper Essay

As people age their bodies go through a lot of changes physically as well as psychologically. As humans age normally they undergo changes in their brain which affect cognitive functioning and development. Each person is different so the age-related changes in the structure of the brain and in its function as well as in cognition and cognitive domains are not uniform across the whole brain, nor are the uniform across individuals. This means that some of the changes that a person goes through due to aging another person may not experience. The two basic cognitive functions that are affected most by a person aging is attention and memory (Glisky, 2007). The thing that a person needs to know is that memory and attention are not unitary functions; there are multiple parts to both functions some of which may not be affected by a person aging while others are affected. According to the Glisky (2007), perception in a person as the person ages declines due to declining sensory capacities whic h can impact the cognitive functions later in a person. Perception is a person’s senses such as touch, sight, taste, and smells which is why some people believe that it is actually a precognition function. According to Anderson (2010), perception is the sensory experience of the world around individuals which involve recognition of environmental stimuli as well as actions in response to the stimuli. What this means is that as a person goes through life they recognize things such as sounds, smells, people, etc. and they react accordingly to these things based on their perceptions of them. When this function starts to decline with a person’s age the person starts to lose the ability to recognize things. Attention is a basic cognitive process but a complex one that has multiple sub-processes for different aspects of attention processes (Glisky, 2007). Attention is involved in almost all of the other cognitive domains in some way or another, up until a person starts to preform automatic or habitual  behaviors. Up until the time a person is completely tasks or behaviors that have become habit, such as knowing how much milk to put into a person’s coffee, then attention is inv olved in nearly all aspects. This means that as a person starts to age and their attention begins to decline there are broad-reaching effects that take place to a person’s ability to function efficiently and adequately in daily life (Glisky, 2007). Of attention divided attention has shown to have a significant decline in performance when linked with a person’s increase of age, especially when the tasks people are being asked to complete become more complex. According to Anderson (2010), as adults age significant impairments become apparent on their attentional tasks especially those requiring the person to divide or switch attention among different tasks or multiple inputs. While older adults tend to be slower on performance tasks then younger adults they are not impaired by distraction being able to maintain concentration for a concentrated period of time. According to Anderson (2010), older adults tend to show impairment on task which requires flexible control of attention, a cognitive function associated with the frontal lobes of the brain. What this means that if a person has to have attention divided among two or more processes or the person needs to switch attention from one thing to another in older adults this fu nction may become more impaired and less easy for the older adults to perform. A task like driving which requires the person to have attention focused on several different things becomes difficult for the adult to perform adequately. Memory is another process of cognitive functioning that may become impaired as a person gets older. According to Glisky (2007), memory is a multidimensional cognitive construct that is believed to be a fundamental source of age-related deficits in a variety of cognitive tasks such as long-term memory LTM, problem-solving, language, and decision making. All of these tasks are listed under working memory which is a limited capacity system that is relatively short-term and is responsible for active manipulation of information being maintained currently in attention. This means that working memory is taking the information that a person has at attention and processing the information into a short limited memory while the person needs it. Tasks such as making decisions, solving problems, and even the process of planning behaviors to achieve goals are all tasks that may be affected by aging as a person finds it’s harder to  actively manipulate and organize information in working m emory. According to Glisky (2007), aging specifically affects episodic memory, or more specifically events or experiences from a person’s past. Memories of past events though the person believes that they are fully intact may actually just be general core information but lacks in details of the event or experience that took place. Additionally, processes like encoding and retrieval of memory, or context of information, demands attentional resources that may be lacking. An older adult might find that they are unable to process information into memory, having a harder time retrieving things from memory, and are unable to process context of memory such as if they read it somewhere or were a part of the actual event. The aging process of a person impacts the person’s cognitive abilities greatly. Age-related changes though not universal among every person may affect a person’s cognitive functioning and domains greatly. Deficits and declines happen during the aging process in individuals which accounts for the slowed or impaired processes in older individuals. Much of the cognitive functioning that has been studied and shows decline is in attention and memory of individuals. The thing that a person needs to know is that memory and attention are not unitary functions; there are multiple parts to both functions some of which may not be affected by a person aging while others are affected. There is still much information that needs to be studied for a better understanding into the cognitive processes as they relate to aging. References Anderson, J. R. (2010). Cognitive psychology and its implications (7th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers Glisky, E. (2007). Brain Aging: Models, Methods, and Mechanisms.. Bethesda, MD: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Formal Paper Ap Government Essays

Formal Paper Ap Government Essays Formal Paper Ap Government Essay Formal Paper Ap Government Essay Interest groups are groups of people that work together on the behalf of a particular belief or topic. They have had an increasingly large impact on American politics. One interest group that is currently experiencing a lot of power is the National Organization of Women, also known as NOW. They fight very strongly for the rights of all women no matter her background or ethnicity. The National Organization of Women was founded in 1966 by 28 men and women including Betty Friedan, Pauli Murray, and Shirley Chisholm. The statement of purpose that they came up with to define what they are fighting for states â€Å"The purpose of NOW is to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men. † Their membership holds 500,000 members that are scattered across the country. There are 5,987 chapters in 47 states, not including Hawaii, North Dakota, and Maine, and in Washington D. C. In order to become a member, one simply goes on the website and fills out an application then makes a donation. NOW gets their money from two main sources; fundraisers and donations from members. In order to achieve their agenda items, the organizers of NOW take the time to call each of their members to keep them up to date on the current issues as well as try to persuade them who to vote for in upcoming elections. Currently, NOW members are pushing for the support of the Fair Elections Now Act. : Their website reads, â€Å"Save Our Democracy Support the Fair Elections Now Act† and goes n to explain the purpose of the act and why women should vote for it. They use very strong language as well as a play on emotions in their articles because they know that the vast majority of their supporters are women that can be greatly affected through the way that NOW states its issues. A major issue that NOW is currently facing is abortion rights and reproduction problems. The members fully support access to sage and legal abortion. They also believe that birth control, emergency contraception, reproductive health services, and education should be available to all women. They oppose all attempts to make these things unavailable or illegal. The speakers of NOW affirm that reproductive rights are issues of life and death, not mere matters of choice. They believe that women are fully capable of making decisions about their own bodies and sexuality free from government interference. Violence against women is another issue that NOW feels very strongly about. They believe that all efforts to â€Å"keep women in their place† including domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, violence at abortion clinics, hate crimes across lines of gender, sexuality or race, the gender bias in our judicial system, and the violence of poverty emphasized by the radical right’s attacks on poor women and children, are wrong and should be stopped. These things not only effect the woman that was acted against, but also the women surrounding her as they see what might happen to them out in the world. Even though NOW realizes that there are other crimes of violence being committed against other groups, they feel that fighting violence against women would affect the most people country wide. NOW also fights for racial and ethnic diversity. They claim to being committed to diversifying their movement and continuing to fight for equal opportunities for women of color in all areas. They strongly disapprove of racism and discrimination. Another issue that NOW has committed to fighting is lesbian rights. They oppose all discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender in all areas including employment, housing, public accommodations, health services, child custody, and military policies. They promote positive images in the media and education on the effects of homophobia. NOW wants the rights of equal marriage to apply to all. Currently, NOW has a campaign going on called Love Your Body. It is a women’s health project that provides information on different things that could affect a woman’s life like drugs and alcohol, being overweight, acne, HIV/AIDS, and eating disorders. This campaign provides statistics, definitions, problems, and even ways to cope with such issues. It is trying to show women that its okay to not look like models on TV and in magazines and to get them comfortable being who they really are. It also tries to instill confidence in the everyday woman. They think that more confident women will be more likely to get up and vote and stand up for what they believe in. : www. nowfoundation. org www. now. org

A Profile of the Karabiner 98k

A Profile of the Karabiner 98k The Karabiner 98k was the last in a long line of rifles designed for the German military by Mauser. Tracing its roots to the Lebel Model 1886, the Karabiner 98k was most directly descended from the Gewehr 98 (Model 1898) which first introduced an internal, metallic five-cartridge magazine. In 1923, the Karabiner 98b was introduced as the primary rifle for the post-World War I German military. As the Treaty of Versailles prohibited the Germans from producing rifles, the Karabiner 98b was labeled a carbine despite the fact that it was essentially an improved Gewehr 98. In 1935, Mauser moved to upgrade the Karabiner 98b by altering several of its components and shortening its overall length. The result was the Karabiner 98 Kurz (Short Carbine Model 1898), better known as the Karabiner 98k (Kar98k). Like its predecessors, the Kar98k was a bolt-action rifle, which limited its rate of fire, and was relatively unwieldy. One change was the shift to using laminated stocks rather than single pieces of wood, as testing had shown that plywood laminates were better at resisting warping. Entering service in 1935, over 14 million Kar98ks were produced by the end of World War II. Specifications Cartridge: 7.92 x 57 mm (8 mm Mauser)Capacity: 5-round stripper clip inserted into an internal magazineMuzzle Velocity: 760 m/secEffective Range: 547 yards, 875 yards with opticsWeight: 8-9 lbs.Length: 43.7 in.Barrel Length: 23.6 in.Attachments: Knife Bayonet S84/98, rifle grenades German and World War II Usage The Karabiner 98k saw service in all theaters of World War II that involved the German military, such as Europe, Africa, and Scandinavia. Though the Allies moved towards using semi-automatic rifles, such as the M1 Garand, the Wehrmacht retained the bolt-action Kar98k with its small five-round magazine. This was largely due to their tactical doctrine which emphasized the light machine gun as the basis of a squads firepower. In addition, the Germans frequently preferred to use submachine guns, like the MP40, in close combat or urban warfare. In the final year and a half of the war, the Wehrmacht began phasing out the Kar98k in favor of the new Sturmgewehr 44 (StG44) assault rifle. While the new weapon was effective, it was never produced in sufficient numbers and the Kar98k remained the primary German infantry rifle until the end of hostilities. In addition, the design also saw service with the Red Army which purchased licenses to manufacture them prior to the war. While few were produced in the Soviet Union, captured Kar98ks were used widely by the Red Army during its early war arms shortage. Postwar Use Following World War II, millions of Kar98ks were captured by the Allies. In the West, many were given to rebuilding nations to rearm their militaries. France and Norway adopted the weapon and factories in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia began producing their own versions of the rifle. Those German weapons taken by the Soviet Union were kept in case of a future war with NATO. Over time, many of these were given to nascent communist movements around the world. Many of these ended up in Vietnam and were used by the North Vietnamese against the United States during the Vietnam War. Elsewhere, the Kar98k ironically served with the Jewish Haganah and later, the Israeli Defense Forces in the late 1940s and 1950s. Those weapons that were obtained from captured German stockpiles had all Nazi iconography removed and replaced with IDF and Hebrew markings. The IDF also purchased large stocks of Czech and Belgian-produced versions of the rifle. In the 1990s, the weapons were again deployed during the conflicts in former Yugoslavia. While no longer used by militaries today, the Kar98k is popular with shooters and collectors.

Factors of production and circular flow of income Coursework

Factors of production and circular flow of income - Coursework Example These factors are divided into four main categories: Land is the first category; land entails all the natural resources. Labor is another factor which simply refers to man power or human resources available for production through the utilization of natural resources and others. The third factor is capital also referred to as the man-made resources. Last but not least is Enterprise; which combines the other three factors or resources for production purpose. The factors are also classified in terms of management, money, materials and machines (Gitman, & McDaniel, 2009, Pg. 5). Where management depicts land resources, machines refer to labor, capital is equated to materials and enterprise to money. They are termed as factors of production since they are scarce resources, which are useful for the creation of services and goods, though, not for immediate and direct satisfaction of human needs. Economists simplify the different sorts of factors of production into broad categories to assist in understanding these factors of production. Land as a factor of production involves anything that comes from it. The most common land resources include water, oil, minerals, forests, gas and others. The land resources form the raw resources or materials in the production process. Natural resources are classified in three kinds such as chemical nature, their availability and abundances and lastly their distribution. Chemical nature resources entail inorganic resources such as air, minerals and water. Organic resources of the chemical nature refer to animals, plants, microorganisms and fossil fuels. The last chemical nature category includes mixed resources like soils. The other category of land resources is abundance and availability which entails in exhaustible or exhaustible resources. Exhaustible resources entails renewable and non-renewable, whereas renewable resources can sustain themselves or be replaced if properly managed. Non-renewable resources are lost forever once has been used. The distribution category involves national, multinational and international resources, which are used to create resources. The revenue that resource proprietors receive in return for land amenities is known as rent. The next factor of production to analyze is labor. Labor as a factor of production is the effort that human beings contribute to the production of services and goods. Labor resources encompass the activities of the people to facilitate service provision and production of goods to assist in day to day activities. Labor resources are almost contributed by people who have attained age of working to earn. This is because economist says that if one has ever been paid for the work he or she did then in that way has contributed labor resources; thus, has enabled production of goods and services. The income obtained from labor resources is referred to as wages and forms the greatest source of income for the majority. The third resource of production is capital. Accor ding to economist, capital as a factor of production refers to tools, machineries or other instruments that humans use to produce goods and services. Capital as a resource of production differs; this is because different services and goods require different resources to produce them. The income that is gained from capital as a fact