Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd ) - 2578 Words

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder What is PTSD? PTSD, or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood. Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time. However, some people will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. These individuals may develop PTSD. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person’s daily life. When and how was it discovered? Although posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is sometimes considered to be a relatively new diagnosis, as the name first appeared in 1980, the concept of the disorder has a very long history. That history has often been linked to the history of war, but the disorder has also been frequently described in civilian settings involving natural disasters, mass catastrophes, and serious accidental injuries. The diagnosis first appeared in the official nomenclature when Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-I was published in 1952 under the name gross stress reaction. It was omitted, however, in the next edition in 1968, after a longShow MoreRelatedPost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd )990 Words   |  4 PagesPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common anxiety disorder characterized by chronic physical arousal, recurrent unwanted thoughts and images of the traumatic event, and avoidance of things that can call the traumatic event into mind (Schacter, Gilbert, Wegner, Nock, 2014). About 7 percent of Americans suffer from PTSD. Family members of victims can also develop PTSD and it can occur in people of any age. 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We can express our appreciation to our veterans by creating more support programs, help them go back to what they enjoy the most, and let them know we view them as a human not a disgrace. According to the National Care of PTSD, a government created program, published an article and provides the basic definition and common symptoms of PTSD. Post-traumaticRead MorePost Traumatic Stress Disorder ( Ptsd )1780 Words   |  8 Pagesmental illnesses. One such illness is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that affects a person’s sympathetic nervous system response. A more common name for this response is the fight or flight response. 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Civil Rights Sparked Ever Lasting Change - 1526 Words

Charles Richardson HMXP 102 Professor Patrice Burleson 24 April 2016 Civil Rights: Sparked Ever Lasting Change in America In modern America, equality is becoming more of a realization however; racial and civil rights issues are still existent in today’s society. The civil rights movement, which originated in the 1960’s, involved public movements in the United States which the goals were to terminate racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans and to obtain and secure legal acknowledgement and federal protection of the citizenship rights enumerated in the constitution and federal law. Current racial issues have sparked movements such as the â€Å"Black Lives Matters† movement and the controversial killing of black men from†¦show more content†¦These events include but are not limited to The Vietnam War, JFK’s assassination, and the liberation of women and women’s suffrage. However, there has been one exception, the civil rights movement. The civil rights movement was the most effective pol itical and social force of the 20th century and which is still making headlines in today’s news. Humans as we know, tend to allow external factors affect their self-identity by attempting to conform to societies’ norms. However, for one to find their true self-identity they must develop their own rational ideas and create themselves based on the desire of freedom from external factors. Famous civil rights activists like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., became famous from his outward appeal against racial segregation during the mid 1900’s. If Dr. King did not step forward and represent the minority community, civil rights could possibly be the opposite of what they are now. In Lee Daniel’s â€Å"The Butler† Cecil Gaines, who portrays the story of Eugene Allen, witnesses his father stand up for himself and his family. Cecil was raised by sharecropping parents and the cotton plantation owner, Thomas Westfall, who was confronted by Cecil’s father, ra ped his mother. Cecil witnessed his father being kill a white plantation owner all because his father stood up for what he believed in. Succeeded

Legal Aspects BHP Billiton Limited

Question: Discuss about the Legal Aspects for BHP Billiton Limited. Answer: Introduction: BHP Billiton is one of the leading resource companies in the world. It is the largest producers of the iron ore, metallurgical coal, uranium and copper. BHP Billiton was formed merging two smaller mining companies, Broken Hill Proprietary and Billiton in the mid 1800 century (5BHP Billiton, 2016). It is the dual-programmed company operated by BHP Billiton limited and BHP Billiton Plc, which was completed in the year 2001. The headquarters of the BHP Billiton Limited are situated in Melbourne and Australia, whereas that of the BHP Billiton Plc is located in the city of London and United Kingdom (7BHP Billiton, 2016). The company has provided employment opportunities to around 42829 individuals in Australia and approximately 82,368 all round the globe. The company is committed to provide utmost level of the governance fostering culture while giving utmost importance to the ethical standards and corporate integrity (8BHP Billiton, 2016). The purpose of BHP Billiton is to make use of the sustainable value of the shareholders by expanding the commodity, market and geography (9BHP Billiton, 2016). The values of the company first include sustainability in which safety and health is given the foremost priority with due importance being given to its responsibilities towards the environment and community (BHP Billiton, 2013). Integrity also forms a part of the companies value, which can be boosted by doing the right thing in a correct manner while working together for the betterment of the organization as well as the community. The values of the company also entail the factor of respect in which trust and team work plays a very important role for valuing the relationships equally. Performance of the company, being a part of its value spreads the notion that positive results can be achieved only with complete efficiency put on the capabilities of the individuals. Lastly, simplicity and accountability contributes largely in enhancing the value of the companies, which can b e maintained by focusing on operation based on their priority and by accepting the roles and responsibilities for delivering necessary outcomes of the commitments (5BHP Billiton, 2016). BHP Billiton is a diversified resource company which markets its products such as metals, coal, iron ore and the petroleum products throughout the world. The business of the company operates in the many divisions. Some of the division are as follows;- Iron ore The company is one of the largest suppliers of the iron ore in the world. BHP Billiton extracts iron ore in Brazil partnering with the Samarco, a Brazilian miner vale. It also operates its business in the Pilbara region of Western Australia joint venturing with Rio Tinto (IBIS World, 2016). Coal Thermal coal which is used by the industries in power generations is marked by the company. BHP Billiton has been operating the mines in many regions which includes; South Africa, Australia, North and South America. The company also provides cooking coal for steel manufacturing globally (IBIS World, 2016). Petroleum and Potash The company extracts petroleum and gas for supplying it into the international markets. Some of the products are natural gas, crude oil, condensate, LPG and LNG. This division of the BHP Billiton also involves the pre-development of Potash (IBIS World, 2016). Copper This division of the company involves the mining of the copper, zinc, silver, gold and uranium. BHP Billiton has the largest uranium deposit in the world which is located in Olympic Dam. This mine produces copper for Australia, Asia and Europe while producing silver and gold for Australian Perth Mint (IBIS World, 2016). Identifying the Regulatory Framework Affecting the BHP Billiton Australian Jobs Act 2013 This act of legislation has imposed unnecessary regulatory difficulties for the companies who are operating businesses in Australia. The project which involves capital of more than 500 million dollars has to prepare and implement the Australian industry participation plan (AIPP), which acts as an additional burden for the companies. BHP Billiton focuses on the procurement strategies in which the availability of local products and competitiveness is primarily maintained. This act has also added an extra cost with complexity for the company in its proceedings related to the procurement of the major invested projects thereby creating confusions in the corporate practice (BHP Billiton, 2014).. Western Australia's Domestic Gas (Domgas) Policy This policy introduced by the Australian government stating the requirement of reserving gas for domestic consumptions has considerably reduced the gas supply investments within Australia. The policy has further increased the risk in shortfall of domestic supply of gas, which in turn restricts Australia from making maximum utilization of the available resources. BHP Billiton has also been affected with the policy as it does not have the permission to supply LNG into the international markets. Hence, this policy has the potential to reduce productivity and restrict the competition of the business in the near future (BHP Billiton, 2014). The Coastal Trading (Revitalizing Australian Shipping) Act 2012 This act of legislation has introduced licensing system and standards of labors which make it difficult as well as costly for the outside countrys vessels to provide interstate and intrastate shipping services. This has led to the reduction in the competitiveness of BHP Billiton in this sector. The shipping cost of the interstate and intrastate distribution has largely increased due to this act. It has also resulted in the decrease of competition for the Australian products, which uses this form as a means of transport (BHP Billiton, 2014). National Access Regime in Part IIIA of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 The BHP Billiton has experienced the implementation of the part III of Competition and Consumer Act 2010, by responding to Fortescue Metals Group Limited's (FMG's) application of announcement related to the access of the tracks on the companys Pilbara iron ore railways. This has led the company to experience the incurring of heavy expenses, demonstrating export and GDP loss. The company also encountered delays in operational movements, expansion and innovation in the business operations. Part IIIA declaration regime is the discouragement to private investment (BHP Billiton, 2014). Australian Competition Law According to BHP Billiton, the present competition law of Australia is undoubtedly complex, which focuses largely on the statutory form. This law has made an adverse affect on the company which has in turn affected the cost, consistency and business consistency among the international regulations (BHP Billiton, 2014). Minerals Resource Rent Tax and Petroleum Resource Rent Tax The Australian government proposal of imposing 30% tax on the mineral resources has resulted in 22.5% additional tax to be levied on profits of the company dealing in iron ore and coal operations. Petroleum resource rent tax extensions also has an impact on the business of the company in the areas of imports and exports (BHP Billiton, 2011). Identifying the Agreements, Treaties or Conventions and its Impact on the Goods and Services Agreements between BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto on Iron Ore Production Joint Venture BHP Billion has signed an agreement with Rio Tinto for production joint venture on 5th June 2005. The agreement covers the business of both the companies on its iron ore assets. The joint venture includes all the present and future iron ore assets and liabilities. The equal roles and responsibilities will be owned by the both the companies. This agreement will develop the significant cooperation among the companies operate business in Western Australian iron ore. The main focus of this partnership is to produce low cost iron ore. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto believe that the production and development of this joint venture will bring business of more than 10 billion dollars in the future period of time (4BHP Billiton, 2016). BHP Billiton Agreement with the Government of Western Australia for Royalty Amendment With this agreement, the state agreement act covering the business operations of BHP Billiton will get amended on the areas of the royalty payment on iron ore consignment. The new rate of royalty will be specified according to the Western Australian Mining Regulation. Government of Western Australia and BHP Billiton has made amendments on the other agreements, such as the permit sharing of infrastructure with Rio Tinto. This agreement after the amendment will enable the company to operate in a more efficient manner. The use of rail and infrastructure will improve the operating capabilities, as a result of which more goods will be produced and made available in the Australian market (3BHP Billiton, 2016). New Agreement Signed With Banjima People BHP Billiton has signed an agreement with the Banjima people in Western Australia. The comprehensive agreements included the business operations of the companys Pilabara based iron ore plant covering the areas of 8263 square kilometers. The company believes that the agreement will bring transparency and uniqueness in engaging the indigenous communities. Through this partnership, the Banjima people will get good opportunities to make a well established future with the help of programs and projects of the company. Mining will be done in the area selected by BHP Billiton, which will in turn increase the productivity of the iron ore. Hence, the product will be easily available at a very low cost in the market (2BHP Billiton, 2016). Agreement of sale of interest in IndoMet Coal with the PT Alam Tri Abadi (Adaro) BHP Billiton has done an agreement to sell interest which is 75% in IndoMet Coal partner on equity PT Alam Tri Abadi (Adaro). Equity partners comprise seven major coal contracts in Indonesia. According to the BHP Billiton, the deal was initiated to focus on the important areas of business. With this agreement, the company intends to bring about growth in different important portfolios. This can bring more future investment for the company which will have an influence on the productivity of the business to a large extent (1BHP Billiton. 2016). Agreement with the Australian Government to Undertake a Strategic Assessment on Iron Ore Mines BHP Billiton and Australian government has signed an agreement on 18th September 2012 to undertake planned evaluation of the impact of iron mines development in the future which has association with the national environmental significance. The agreement was according to the Section 146(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 related to the plans and policies of the company and its implementation. In order to take steps for environmental protection, the company has designed to set up all the activities to carry out its iron ore operations effectively. The agreement on the strategic assessment will identify and measure possible impacts to ensure the ongoing protection and management activities to develop the plans and lessen the impact. This will help the company to maintain integrity in the business and provide opportunity for the people to enhance their support for developing the business of the company. Hence, the agreement will help in developing qua lity products for the customers with better service and easy availability (Common wealth of Australia, n.d.). References BHP Billiton, 2016, sale of interest in IndoMet coal, Invertors and Media, viewed 26 August 2016, https://www.bhpbilliton.com/investors/news/sale-of-interest-in-indomet-coal. BHP Billiton, 2016, New agreement signed with Banjima people, Community Sustainability News, viewed 26 August 2016, https://www.bhpbilliton.com/society/communitynews/new-agreement-signed-with-banjima-people. BHP Billiton, 2016, Latest news, Investors and Media, viewed 26 August 2016, https://www.bhpbilliton.com/investors/news/bhp-billiton-announces-agreement-with-the-government-of-western-australia-to-amend-royalties-and-state-agreement BHP Billiton, 2016, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto sign binding agreements on iron ore production joint venture, Investors and Media, viewed 26 August 2016, https://www.bhpbilliton.com/investors/news/bhp-billiton-and-rio-tinto-sign-binding-agreements-on-iron-ore-production-joint-venture. BHP Billiton, 2016, Our charter, About Us, viewed 26 August 2016, https://www.bhpbilliton.com/aboutus/ourcompany/charter. BHP Billiton, 2016, Our history, About Us, viewed 26 August 2016, https://www.bhpbilliton.com/aboutus/ourcompany/ourhistory. BHP Billiton, 2016, Our structure, Our Company, viewed 26 August 2016, https://www.bhpbilliton.com/aboutus/ourcompany/ourstructure. BHP Billiton, 2016, Leadership. About Us. viewed 26 August 2016, https://www.bhpbilliton.com/aboutus/leadership. BHP Billiton, 2016, Our Strategy Delivers, About Us, viewed 26 August 2016, https://www.bhpbilliton.com/aboutus/strategy. BHP Billiton 2011, Annual report, A Disciplined Approach a Proven Strategy, pp.1-265. BHP Billiton 2013, Annual Report,. Our Shared Values, pp.1-305. BHP Billiton 2014, Regulation undermining Australias productivity. Submission to The Competition Policy Review, pp. 1-55. Common Wealth of Australia, No date, Strategic assessment of BHP Billiton iron ore expansion for the Pilbara, Environment Assessment, viewed 26 August 2016, https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/assessments/strategic/wa-pilbara-bhp. IBIS World, 2016, BHP Billiton Limited, Premium Company Report Australia, viewed 26 August 2016, https://www.ibisworld.com.au/car/default.aspx?entid=2.

Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper free essay sample

Financial management is very crucial in today’s health care financial procedures. It is one the most important aspects of the financial health care. There are many assessments made- based the financial records and the business transactions that occur within the health care organization. It is crucial the financial records are kept up- to -date and they follow specific guidelines. The books kept up- to- date and in order, this will show the amount of money being brought into the organization for profit and the amount of money the organization has lost in profit. One thing that may cause the honesty of the organization to be on the brinks is the organization financial management and the correctness of the financial books. This paper is about information that will address financial reporting practices and ethics. It will address four financial management functions, summaries that accept accounting principles by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We will write a custom essay sample on Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It will also give an example from an article that has reflected ethical standards of conduct and financial reporting. The basic four components of financial management are planning, controlling, organizing and directing and decision making. The preparation is responsibility for financial management to recognize the purposes of the health care organization. The planning step is to â€Å"set directions and allocates resources, the organizing step brings people and material resources together in working condition, the leading step inspires people to best utilize these resources, and the controlling step checks that the right things happen, in the right way, and at the right time† (Lombardi, Schermerhorn, amp; Kramer, 2007,). Controlling is the process of the financial management to ensure that each department of the organization are going by the procedures that was decided. The financial manager should have the reports available to study the most recent financial reports. The reports will help to select what department needs the most consideration to keep the organization going. Organizing and directing is the responsibility of the financial manager to decide in what way to make use of the funds of the organizations most efficiently. Resources such as assets will help the manager to ensure the goals of the healthcare organizations are accomplished. Directing is an everyday job provided that control and support. The final step in the element in financial management is decision making. Planning, organizing, and controlling is a correspondence with the decision making process. The choices will be by the financial manager based on evaluation, analysis and information. Generally accepted accounting principles is a set of financial recommendations used for financial accounting. The recommendations are for preparing financial statements and for setting standards for organizations accountants. According to Baker (2011), â€Å" One of the requirements of GAAP is that unrestricted fund balances be separated from restricted fund balances on the statements, so you see two appropriate line items (restricted and unrestricted) in the fund balance section† (p. 108). GAAP are the rules of accounting. Those guidelines are to arrange the reporting of financial statements that will include the cash flow statements, income statements, and the balance sheet. With the reply of these responsibilities, the Organization of Managing Bookkeepers declared principles of moral conduct for employees of managing bookkeeping and financial management. The principles take account for confidentiality, integrity, and competence. A person must maintain knowledge and the necessary skills is what includes competence. They must always maintain their professional responsibilities and duties in accordance with related rules, technical standards, and regulations. Confidentiality when one should not disclose confidential information, such as health records except when given the right authority to do so. Integrity has the responsibility not to engage in activities that would affect prejudgment, favors that will influence their actions and decision making. According to† Ethical Standards† (n. d),â€Å"Specialists of managing bookkeeping and monetarist managing partake an commitment to the community, their line of work, the institute they work for and themselves, to uphold the utmost principles of decent manner. Hewlett-Packard Company CEO, Mark Hurd turn out to be mixed up in the workplace. According to (Healthfield, 2012), â€Å"Mr. Hurd had failed to disclose a close personal relationship he had with a contractor that constituted a conflict of interest† . †Mr. Hurd also â€Å"failed to maintain accurate expense reports, and misused company assets. † This is an example that reflect ethical standards of conduct a nd financial reporting practices. Practicing accuracy end honesty will help continue the capacity to never misuse the financial systems, and abide by the laws laid out by GAAP. Organizations are providing their employees with the necessary training that will equip them as well as sustain the reporting practices operational but at the time use the similar procedures and show them new procedures. Fraud and abuse is something everyone know when being ethical. By using the GAAP guidelines, keeping the organizational ethics and policies would be free from abuse and fraud. By following the guidelines that comes from the GAAP, they can help prevent fraud and abuse from happening in the health care organization itself. These guidelines are there to help the organization benefit so they will always be ready in case there may come a time when they have to show their financial documents to a third party. Therefore in conclusion, it a major responsibility in financial reporting practices and ethics. Financial managers should implement the four elements of financial management in their reports to avoid fraud, abuse and the risk of breaking ethics. Managers should know how to plan, control, organize and directing and decision making. They should always incorporate the GAAP rules and regulations in order to avoid unethical rulings.

Catcher In The Rye, JDK Slinger Research Paper Example

Catcher In The Rye, JDK Slinger Research Paper Example Catcher In The Rye, JDK Slinger Paper Catcher In The Rye, JDK Slinger Paper Holder Coalfield can be broken up into Hold-on as if he is not ready to grow up, and that it is too difficult for him to handle. And Call is apart of the amnion, which protects the babys head during birth, this relates to Holder as he is metaphorically protected by this and does not mature as a result. Slinger communicates the theme of growing up through the central character, Holder, as he is at the stage where he should be growing up and maturing but does not. Slinger uses Holders personality and his appearance to contrast how Holder finds growing up difficult and painful. Holders younger siblings are also key characters in the novel that Slinger uses in order to communicate ten theme. Allele, Holders Trotter, oleo AT leukemia years before the novel was set. He was very unique, he had fiery red hair, and was left handed. Holder speaks of him on many occasions in the novel, he aspires to be more like Allele, because he believed he was the nicest and smartest of all the Coalfields he was about fifty times as intelligent. Part of Allies enduring appeal for Holder is that e is forever frozen in time, in childhood, exactly where Holder wants to be. Phoebe, is quite like Allele, she is a child, and possesses similar attributes her intellect and hair color. Before we meet Phoebe, we rely on Holders descriptions of her. Holder looks up to her, he believes she is the only trustworthy person in a world of phonies. Holder has categorized life into two sections; childhood, being innocent and where Holder wants to stay, and the cruel adult world, where everyone becomes shallow and hypocritical and where Holder wants to avoid. When Phoebe is introduced into the narrative, she complicates Holders thoughts. Even she knows that growing up is mandatory, and becomes angry with Holder as he stays immature, She gets very emotional, I swear to God. As this young girl is presented to us, and is able to understand maturity, Holders stunted maturity seems a little foolish. However we can sympathies with Holder as he feels unable to mature and is being criticized by the one person he truly cares about. Slinger uses this contrast of the characters to emphasis the difficulties of growing up. Slinger not only uses symbolism to communicate the main theme of growing up, but also to highlight the main feelings of Holder. When Phoebe asks him want we wants to be in life, he replies with the image from a Robert Burns song of being the catcher in the rye, to protect children from falling off the cliff as they play in the field of rye. It is highly ironic that Holder swaps somebody meet a body comic thro the rye for somebody catch a body because the song now has the opposite meaning. The main lyrics ask if it is wrong to have a sexual encounter in a far-away field without it leading to anything, but Holder completely changes the meaning. Holder wants to catch children, who play in the field, before the fall out of innocence onto the knowledge of sex and other adult things that he, personally, does not understand. Also the fact that Phoebe is the one to point out the real lyrics, symbolisms that she is not as innocent as Holders idealistic thoughts of children. Because his mind has blocked out the real lyrics, this makes him seem more innocent, childish and afraid of the adult world. The use of the red hunting hat symbolisms Holders desire to be a child for longer. He wears the hat to feel unique and an individual, because it is so different and vibrant. The color of the hat is the same as Phoebes and Allies hair, red. This symbolisms how Holder looks up to his younger siblings, and how he wants to be more like them, as they represent innocence and purity in his eyes. The museum of natural history also communicates the idea that Holder wants to continue to be a child. Holder liked the museum as it was unchanging, The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. The museum represents his catcher in the rye world, in which no-one ever changes, and everything is true, simple and idealistic to him. Holder is scared of change, mainly because of his brothers death, so he wishes everything lull always stay ten same Including ml so nee does not nave to deal Walt negative changes in his life. Slinger uses a key incident in the novel in order to establish that Holder wishes to stay a child for as long as possible. In chapter 13, Holder is met with the possibility of a sexual encounter with a prostitute named Sunny, but turns it down. He admits to being a little nervous about the whole ordeal, as he is a virgin. He comes too realization, that he wants it to be more special. What he learns with Sunny is that he prefers not to get there with a prostitute; I dont think I could ever do it with somebody that sits in a stupid movie The whole scene is depressing rather than erotic for Holder, so he makes up excuses for not being able to go through with it. He realizes has to get to know a girl, and like her a lot, before he is comfortable with that kind of intimacy. On the other hand, it shows he is not emotionally ready for sexual encounters, he talks about it and thinks about it, but in reality he feels too young. This develops the theme of growing up as he has the chance to do the things he says, but he does not take it, meaning he is not et mature enough to handle this kind of adult behavior. This is more like what a child would do when faced with something they are not comfortable doing. And thus shows that when Holder is given the chance to mature, he rejects it, and keeps his innocence and his virginity intact. The idea established in the novel that it is difficult to grow up is identifiable in the 21st century. The book may be from another century, the language may be different, but the central idea that Slinger uses is timeless. Holder goes through strange ordeals in comparison to most people, however the reader can connect to Holder as hey will have had to mature at some point in their life, even if it was not as painful as it was for Holders character. The majority of the readers feel connected to the story, even if their life is extremely different, and they can relate to their own life in one way or another. JDK Slinger develops the main theme of growing up throughout the Catcher in the Rye using successful devices. He develops Holder as a character, uses symbols to relate to the childish nature of Holder, and uses a key incident to establish that Holder wishes to remain a child for as long as possible.

Biography of Michael J. Smith, Challenger Astronaut

Biography of Michael J. Smith, Challenger Astronaut Michael J. Smith was the pilot aboard the space shuttle Challenger, which exploded on January 28, 1986. It was his first flight as an astronaut. His death ended a distinguished career as a Navy pilot and a future in space flight. Michael J. Smiths voice was the last one heard from the shuttle just before the explosion, replying to Mission Control: Go at throttle up. Fast Facts: Michael J. Smith Born: April 30, 1945 in Beaufort, North CarolinaDied: January 28, 1986 in Cape Canaveral, FloridaParents: Robert Lewis and Lucille S. SmithSpouse: Jane Anne Jarrell (m. 1967)Children: Scott, Alison, and ErinEducation: Bachelors degree in Naval Science from the U.S. Naval Academy, masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate SchoolCareer: Navy pilot, served in Vietnam. He was selected for the astronaut program in May 1980; Challenger was his first flight. Early Life Michael J. Smith was born on April 30, 1945, to Robert Lewis and Lucille S. Smith, in Beaufort, North Carolina.  He attended East Carteret High School and learned to fly while still a teenager. He enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Naval Science. He then pursued a masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, which he completed in 1968. After graduation, Smith went on to train as a naval aviator. From there, he became a flight instructor, before taking an assignment in Vietnam. During his deployment, he flew A-6 Intruders and participated in bombing efforts against the North Vietnamese. After Vietnam, Smith returned to the U.S. and entered Naval Test Pilot School. As many other astronauts did, he worked with up-and-coming aircraft, as well as cruise missile guidance systems. His next assignment was as an instructor, before heading out to the Mediterranean for two tours of duty aboard the USS Saratoga. Smith logged a total of 4,867 hours of flying time, piloting 28 different types of civilian and military aircraft. NASA Career Space Shuttle Challenger crew in the White Room prior to launch. They are (L-R): mission specialist Christa McAuliffe and astronauts Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik, Mission Commander Dick Scobee, astronaut Ronald McNair, pilot Michael J. Smith, and astronaut Ellison Onizuka. NASA Headquarters - GReatest Images of NASA (NASA-HQ-GRIN) Michael J. Smith applied to the NASA astronaut program and was selected for duty in 1980. He spent the next five years in training and working in various capacities in the agency, focusing on flight operations, night landings, and other areas. His duties also included command of the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory, as well as stints with aircraft operations, and a series of assignments working with flight operations and testing. Eventually, Smith was selected to be the pilot on STS-51L, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, which was his first flight to space. He was already assigned as pilot for Space Shuttle Mission 61-N, scheduled to launch in the fall of 1986.   The launch of Challenger on January 28, 1986, ended in disaster, and the deaths of Smith, mission commander Dick Scobee, Ron McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Judith Resnik, Gregory Jarvis, and teacher-in-space mission specialist Christa McAuliffe.   Personal Life Michael J. Smith married Jane Anne Jarrell in 1967, just after his graduation from the Naval Academy. They had three children, Scott, Alison, and Erin. Smith was an athletic type and played tennis and squash. He also played football and participated in boxing while at the Naval Academy. Although he loved being in the Navy and served with distinction, he told his wife and friends that moving to NASA would give him more time with his family. The Space Shuttle 51L crew is shown during simulation at the Johnson Space Center before their ill fated flight. (L to R) Mike Smith Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnik and commander Francis R. (Dick) Scobee. The other three members of the crew would be seated on a lower deck during takeoff. Bettmann Archive / Getty Images Honors and Awards Michael J. Smith, as with the other Challenger astronauts who perished with him, is recognized at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center memorial wall. The airport in his hometown is named for him. Smith was awarded the Congressional Space Medal, as well as the Defense Distinguished Service medal (both posthumously). For his service in the Navy, he was given the Navy Distinguished Flying Cross, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, plus other medals for his work in the service. Upon his death, he was raised to the rank of Captain. Memorial plaque at the Astrononaut Memorial wall in Florida. This Dignity Memorial bears the names of all who have died in space-related mishaps. Seth Buckley, CC BY-SA 3.0 Smiths widow joined other Challenger families to create the Challenger Centers, educational institutions designed to bring math and science alive for students across the United States and Canada. A total of 25 centers were built on three continents (four countries and 27 U.S. states). Sources â€Å"Home.† Challenger Center, www.challenger.org/.Jones, Tamara. â€Å"A SPACE IN THE HEART.† The Washington Post, WP Company, 27 Jan. 1996, www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/01/27/a-space-in-the-heart/c430840a-2f27-4295-81a4-41ad617e237e/?utm_term.47cf89488681.â€Å"Michael J. Smith.† The Astronauts Memorial Foundation, www.amfcse.org/michael-j-smith.NASA, NASA, www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/smith-michael.html.Patterson, Michael Robert. Chin Sun Pak Wells, Specialist, United States Army, www.arlingtoncemetery.net/michaelj.htm.â€Å"Smith, Michael John.† Weapons in the War of 1812 | NCpedia, www.ncpedia.org/biography/smith-michael-john.

City Tourism Management and Marketing Research Paper

City Tourism Management and Marketing - Research Paper Example The London governing bodies has distinctive bodied identified with specific brand projection for the tourism promotion of London and its major attractions. The Greater London authority (GLA), The London Development authority and the Visit London campaign defined their working areas to collectively promote tourism in London. The GLA, the LDA and the visit London has formulated strategies keeping in view of the 2012 Olympics. The previous results show that the cities that hosted Olympics projected an increase in the tourism revenues and the tourist arrivals. The "Totally London" campaign was major success as the number of tourist arrivals has increased from the year 2003. An effective contingency management plans were drawn to cope with the adverse incidents like the SARS, the mad cow disease, the terrorist attacks at London. One of the largest tourism marketing campaign (Totally London) was rolled out in 2003 by the Mayor and London Tourist Board. The campaign entailed-national press advertsing, promotional offers and discounted holiday packages. The key target markets were USA and the European countries. The tourism in France has centuries of tradition with grandeur of the attractions imbibed in the country. The state governments were provided with the freedom to implement the policies suitable to their region. The central government has initiated many important decentralization programs to streamline the ground realities of developing tourism with key target on implementing regional plans locally. The French authorities organized programs like "experience the Parisian lifestyle" to elevate the perceptions regarding the Parisians and awareness campaigns to enhance the tourist experience (Arrogant paris on tourist charm offensive, 2007). The researcher has asserted more on the development of the rural areas and highway zones to generate revenue and create employment opportunities. The developments plans in the mountainous regions "Snow plans" in the 1960s' and 70 and establishing ski resorts along the sea banks were major initiatives. Dubai has strengthened its position as the tourism capital of the Gulf region working out rapid strides in the areas of real estate and the massive construction spree. The Government has been working on economic development of not entirely dependant on oil. The government was proactive in agressivley promoting Dubai as an dream destination in every sector. As a result of these initiatives there has been an incredible boost in the revenues of the tourism industry in UAE.The World Travel and Tourism Council(WTTC) in its global travel forecast has suggested that UAE's revenues from inbound tourism are likely to grow at 7.2% annually till 2015.The tourism sector revenues account for 15% of Dubai's GDP.Furthermore,over the last decade Dubai has evolved as a global hub, climbing fro the 26th to the 10th international hub in terms of the volume of international traffic. Airlines have taken advantage of the city's strategic location, attracting flyers on their way from Europe, Asia and Afric a. (khaleej times) City Infrastructure and Destination Appeal: The Dubai International Airport is one of the world's fastest growing airports. It registered a

Case Study Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Case Study - Assignment Example Capital budgeting decisions fundamentally places strong emphasis on time value of money. In this regard, net present value method is very effective as it takes in consideration discounting of the inflow. The NPV of project Alpha was determined to be  £36,700 while that of project Beta was determined to be  £29,340. Both NPVs are positive but project Alpha has higher NPV, hence the firm should accept project Alpha. Accounting rate of return has been measured by establishing proportionate relationship between average accounting income and average investment for a specific period. The ARR of project Alpha was determined to be 29.39% while that of project Beta was determined to be 1.62%. The reason for low ARR in project Beta is significant investment in new purchases in the third year. Based on ARR, project alpha should be accepted. Additionally, payback period is least for project Alpha and based on the argument that a project with quicker returns should be accepted, project Alpha is better investment that Project Beta. Nonetheless, the overall assessment favours project Alpha over project Beta. Therefore, Project Alpha is a better investment (Froot and Stein, 1998). Capital budgeting decisions can be evaluated using discounted and non-discounted techniques: the discounted techniques comprise NPV and IRR method while non-discounted techniques include ARR and Payback period. NPV is referred to the difference between initial investment in a project and the discounted future net cash flows from the project. The NPV of a project ranges among positive, negative or breakeven (equivalent to zero). The first criterion for accepting a project is positive NPV as negative NPV indicates unfeasible project while zero indicates breakeven. The second criterion for accepting or rejecting a project is that an investment with highest NPV will be accepted. Discounting cash flows using a discounting factor, which

Financial Analysis of Steel Industry - Arcelormittal and Us Steel Essay Example for Free

Financial Analysis of Steel Industry Arcelormittal and Us Steel Essay Stock Evaluation Project Steel Industry Industry Analysis Steel is a part of metals and mining industry which is highly cyclical in nature, and when the economy at large suffers, this industry suffers with it. The most recent five years have been a struggle for this particular industry along with uncertain economic indicators, and steel companies’ stocks have trended downwards. The metals and mining industry is comprised of companies that engage in exploration, mine development, and ore mining. The industry includes precious metals mining for metals such as gold, silver, platinum as well as mining and processing industrial metals such as steel, copper, aluminum. The industry is mature, cyclical, capital intensive and dominated by large companies. Some of the major names in the Steel Sector of this industry are Commercial Metals (CMC), Steel Dynamics (STLD), Reliance Steel (RS), AK Steel (AKS), ArcelorMittal (MT), U.S.Steel (X). The US steel industry is currently worth more than $50 billion with annual growth rates around 1% to 2%. Process chains are long with high production volumes. Recently, large quantities of low-cost imports have impeded growth. However, the industry has seen enhanced productivity, energy efficiency, and higher yield due to restructuring, downsizing, and widespread implementation of new technologies. In the coming years, overcapacity and price instability may remain critical. Thereby, efficient production, better-suited products, enhanced capacity utilization and environmentally friendly practices are vital factors to future success. Demand comes from transportation, packaging, consumer electronics, construction, aerospace and power companies, which leads industry, overtly responsive to economic conditions. Companies are responding to pricing pressures through consolidation and vertical integration, which is aimed at streamlining the supply chain. Future growth for the US metals and mining industry also depends upon demand from BRIC nations, developing countries, and domestic consumers. The industry has always faced a number of challenges including environmental concerns, deteriorating ore grades, overproduction, technological changes, and the global economy. Intense competition from nations such as Canada, Russia, China and Mexico pose threats to the US mining industry because those nations have lower labor costs, lax  environmental regulations and lower operating costs. Sustainability of high prices, resurgent global demand, particularly from the Asia-Pacific region, and signs of increasing industrial output across Europe and the United States may boost industry performance. Conclusively, in anticipation of J-curve yield in the industry index, we can expect greater demand in near future due to a combination of rising GDP, another increase in auto sales, and inventory accumulation by distributors, which would further lead to an increase in the volume of steel shipped in 2013. In the Figure 1.1 below, one could clearly see the downward trend of the Dow Jones US Steel Index for the last five years. And as we all know, what goes down comes back up therefore, we must rebalance our portfolios along with this cyclicality. Figure 1.1 Dow Jones US Steel Index (Point and Figure Chart) U.S.Steel (X) United States Steel was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. United States Steel Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production and sale of steel products primarily in North America and Europe. The company has gone through a business cycle in the past 10 years and currently at its low yet a stable condition. This is due to several reasons, which are explained clearly by the ratios and the Z-score, as plotted by the help of Altman Z’s Model. The companys liquidity has been fairly stable besides the times of 2008-2009 financial crises. If we smooth out an average for turnover measure, we could also conclude that the company’s management is doing fairly well in using the assets. Financial Leverage measure seems to be the only component affecting the Altman Z Score significantly, inflicting a bias in the usage of the model to solely depend on this method of deriving the company health. Also, if we draw a line at 2.0 ratio level, there is a bubble growth in the Z-score during 2005 and 2008, as shown in the figure 1.2 below. Figure 1.2 Altman Z-score Model for U.S.Steel ArcelorMittal (MT) ArcelorMittal engages in the production and marketing of finished and semi-finished carbon steel and stainless steel products worldwide. The company serves automotive, appliance, engineering, construction, energy, and machinery industries. The company, formerly known as Mittal Steel Company N.V., was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Luxembourg, Luxembourg. The stock performance has been quite interesting for this company over past 10-12 years. From $0.63/per share in 2001 to the highs of $97 just prior to its downfall, to $12/share approx. after 12 years, tells us a lot about the business cycle of steel sector. As plotted by the ratios derived by Altman Z-Score model below, it is very clear that besides Turnover and Financial Leverage ratios, no other ratio changed significantly in last 10 years and the company stock performed rationally if we consider business cycle but irrationally, if we consider the all other financial measures. Again the spike in the Z-score in the early 2000s reflects the spike in Financial Leverage of the company. However, at this point in time, the company looks as in congruence to the low levels of the industry, yet healthy and we could anticipate an upcoming up-trend in its performance. Figure 1.3 Altman Z-Score model for ArcelorMittal

Cancer Essay -- essays research papers fc

Cancer   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Right now, cancer is one of the most feared diseases in the world. In the early 1990s almost 6 million new cancer cases developed and more than 4 million deaths from cancers occurred. Also more than one-fifth of all deaths were caused by cancer and it has been predicted, by the American Cancer Society, that about 33% of Americans will eventually develop this disease. This is a huge disease that is killing people all over the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The field of cancer study is called Oncology. The government has spent billions of dollars on research of this fatal disease. Cancer is the most aggressive disease of a larger class known as neoplasms. Neoplasms do not fully comply with the parts of the cell that control the growth and functions of the cell. These cells eventually become abnormal growths and can be recognized as not normal tissue. These traits are passed down as the cell reproduces therefore spreading the cancer.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Neoplasms are generally classified into two groups: malignant and benign. Malignant tumors, or abnormal tissue, grow more rapidly than benign tissue and they invade normal tissue. Benign tissue is structured similar to normal tissue while malignant tissue is abnormal and has an unstructured appearance. Of greater importance, benign tissue does not metastasize, or begin to grow in other sites, like malignant tumors do. Cancer always refers to metastasized tumors but the term tumor is not always necessarily cancer. A tumor is any living tissue that is distinguishable as abnormal living tissue. After a cancer forms, it can also change from a benign to a malignant state, therefore making the cell grow at a more rapid rate. The development of the cell starts when it forms notable abnormalities in chromosomes and then multiplies exceedingly. Then metastasis usually occurs and generally causes the death of the host. There are many different cancers which form on just about all parts of the body. In the US, skin cancer is the most common cancer, then prostate cancers in males, and then breast cancer in women. Leukemia is clearly the dominant cancer in children. The number one killing cancer in the world today is lung cancer, mostly caused by the smoking of cigarettes. Some researchers have stated that if Americans stopped smoking, lung-cancer deaths could disintegrate within two decades. Stomach cancer is ... ...e cancerous legions in the body. The second is radiation therapy, which uses radiation to try and kill the tumor. One of the main problems with that is not only does it kill cancerous tissue, it also kills healthy ones. The third way to treat cancer is chemotherapy, which is treatment by chemical agents. The chance of complete cure is not common but it is usually used to increase the life of the carrier. The desired effect of treatment in cancer patients is remission, where the cancer is gone from your body and if it does not return within 5 years it is considered cured.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Right now the government is spending huge sums of money on cancer research. They are continuously finding cures and finding better ways to treat and deal with cancer. Research has come very far and helped many people fight cancers. Thanks to all the work done, cancer is still a dreaded disease but is now curable which gives many people faith in recovery. Bibliography Compton’s Encyclopedia(1992). Cancer . Chicago: Compton’s Learning Company Encyclopedia Britannica(1992). Cancer. Chicago: Encyclopedia Brittanica, Inc. American Cancer Society website(1996): http://www.cancer.org/acs.html

Strength of Hitler

This question concerns the extent and strength of Hitler’s power and refers to the controversy concerning the efficiency of the Nazi regime; the debate between intentionalist and structuralist viewpoints. S stracturalist: To further these opinions stracturalist historians would refer to Hitler’s reliance on the power of the Gauleiter, as shown when he could not support Frick in trying to subordinate them. In 1934 the Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich meant Frick tried to put the newly created Reich Governors under his control as head of the Ministry of the Interior; thereby centralising control.It did not work because most of the governors were also Gauleiter with large local power bases. In the end Hitler agreed to place them nominally under Frick’s control but in reality they could appeal directly to the Fuhrer. On top of that, The setting up of rival agencies to that of the traditional state which created political chaos and the use of Fuhrer orders whic h were often contradictory. The latter was notably the case when in 1935 both Hess and an official from the Ministry of the Interior were given contradictory orders with regards to whether it would be best for the Jews to be allowed to stay in Germany.HOWEVER To accept the evidence of Stewart-stracturalist -in supporting the viewpoint of a lack of power would be to show a misunderstanding of Hitler’s role and significance. His absorption of the powers of Chancellor and President combined with the army’s oath, both in 1934, gave unassailable power. This then allowed Hitler to be presented as a demigod who was worshipped by the German people, most notably in the Triumph of the Will which portrayed the Nuremburg Rally.In short Hitler’s dictatorship was so powerful that he could distance himself from the detail of government and furthermore this helped maintain power as blame for any unpopular measures would be directed to subordinates and not as an attack against t he Fuhrer himself. Thus the bohemian lifestyle and competing agencies that were left behind do not show weakness in power but completely the opposite. Fuhrer’s will’ Hitler’s power as head of party, state and military was unassailable.The ‘Triumph of the Will’ showed him as a demigod worshipped by the German people and it was this propaganda that distanced him from the need to be involved in day to day decisions. The crucial peacetime decisions were made by Hitler; most notably the Night of the Long Knives. However this chaos does not show a lack of comprehensive power as within this vacuum the agencies were competing to ‘interpret the Fuhrer’s will’. In fact a situation where all were trying to find the right method to achieve an element of the world view at the right time shows a much higher level of power.This viewpoint can clearly be supported by analysing how the policy towards the Jews was formulated. Frick’s ‘ Aryan Clause’, Wagner’s speech leading to the Nuremburg laws, the street violence following Anschluss, the 1938 legislation to isolate the Jews and Goebbels’ green light for Kristallnacht were all methods and legislation formed by those ‘working towards the Fuhrer’; trying to come up with the right method at the right time. Instead it was Hitler’s hand off approach that allowed a much higher level of power to develop.By distancing himself from government Hitler left a vacuum that was filled by competing agencies and ministries all trying to form a method that fully interpreted his world view. Kershaw is correct to adopt this viewpoint as this style of government did create chaos but it was this competing chaos to please and gain influence from Hitler, supported by the representation of Hitler as a mystical religion in propaganda, that show the true totality and comprehensiveness of the Fuhrer’s power. Revision:Hitler – Weak Dict ator or Master of the Third Reich TSR Wiki  >  Study Help  >  Subjects and Revision  >  Revision Notes  >  History  >  Hitler – Weak Dictator or Master of the Third Reich Two main historical interpretations of the relationship between Hitler and the Nazis. Contents  [hide] * 1  Weak Dictator * 2  Master of the Third Reich * 3  The Middle Way * 4  Notes on ‘Hitler and Nazism’ by Jane Jenkins * 5  Comments| ————————————————- Weak Dictator * Structuralists; emphasis ‘intuitional anarchy’ of Nazi regime and ‘leadership chaos' * Argue Hitler was merely a puppet, a figurehead Polycratic chaotic government consequence of Hitler’s inability to effectively direct government * Social Darwinist ‘divide and rule’ (a term coined by ‘intentionalists') strategy resulted in time-wasting and bu reaucracy * Argue that whilst Hitler’s ideas were central to Nazism, they were empowered and enforced by others * Argue that under Hitler, Germany suffered * Blame Hitler’s inaccessibility, reluctance to give policy directives or even to document his ideas * Structural limitations to Hitler’s power, as argued by Bracher. Many measures can be seen as responsive to pressure of events, and not the result of long-term planning; Hitler reacted to events, rather then creating them * Night of the Long Knives was a response to pressure from business and the army, not a predetermined strategy. * Idea that Hitler was an ‘all-powerful dictator’ is straight out of Nazi propaganda * Hans Mommsen: â€Å"Hitler was just one extreme element of the extensive malevolence that was the Nazi system† * â€Å"Several powerful empires ran underneath Hitler† * Preoccupied with self-image â€Å"Hitler Myth†, Kershaw – was the great vision of Hitle r reality or simply myth * Built on fear * Ultimately weak in that he relied on, albeit a very powerful, propaganda machine, run by Goebbels, to provide a facade, a myth† * Rosenthal: â€Å"Without Goebbels, there was no Hitler† ————————————————- Master of the Third Reich * Intentionalists; stress centrality of Nazi regime; importance of Hitler’s personality, ideas and strength * Alan Bullock â€Å"National Socialism can be called Hitlerism† * Argue that Nazi policies predetermined by Hitler Key to power was access to Hitler; which explains the influence and control of the three ‘lieutenants’; Goring, Goebbels and Himmler * Party organisation based on the ‘Fuhrerprinzip’ – the principle of leadership – whereby authority remained with Hitler, at all levels. The same term is used by ‘structuralists' to mean a different thing. * Hitler removed himself from daily life to retain his prestigious image, not out of weakness * Truly charismatic speaker, could hold people’s attention for up to 6 hours Alan Bullock: â€Å"It’s not what Hitler said, it’s the way he said it† * Corkery: â€Å"Hitler had the unique ability to persuade people† * â€Å"Hitler uber Deutschland† 1931 * Norman Rich: â€Å"Hitler had a fixed plan from the Beer Hall Putsch to death in his bunker in 1945† * Jackel: â€Å"the essential political decisions were taken by a single individual, by Hitler† * Williams: â€Å"There was no effective institution which could depose him† ————————————————- The Middle Way Kershaw: â€Å"Hitler’s force in Nazi politics was as such that calling him â€Å"weak† is difficult to accept†; there a re no examples of major policy decisions by Hitler being successfully opposed by subordinates or the Party * Kershaw: â€Å"Nevertheless, his distant style of leadership and hesitancy regarding critical decisions make it equally difficult to see him as a â€Å"master† of Nazi Germany† * To some extent, Hitler was a prisoner within the Nazi hierarchy, with more active Nazi players interpreting Hitler’s will and anticipating his desires.Kershaw calls this relationship â€Å"working towards the Fuhrer†. ————————————————- Notes on ‘Hitler and Nazism’ by Jane Jenkins Foreign cartoonists ridiculed Hitler as an absurd little man * Yet many accepted his ‘dictatorship’ and remained loyal to the end * Germany appeared to be, on the surface, a one-party state under Hitler’s sole rule * His dictatorship was underpinned by an effective political apparatus * Goebbels’ propaganda aimed at creating a Hitler myth, emphasising his political genius, generating great support and fortifying Hitler’s position as all-powerful Fuhrer * Hitler has been portrayed as a leader who dictated events and who established ascendancy over all who came into contact with him. He was egarded as the master of the Third Reich * However, some historians disagree with this image, emphasising a man who was remote from public affairs * Hans Mommsen, 1971: â€Å"Hitler was unwilling to take decisions, frequently uncertain, exclusively concerned with upholding his prestige and personal authority, influenced in the strongest fashion by his current entourage, in some respects a weak dictator† * Hitler did not actively intervene in government and his withdrawal made the machinery of government slower and more chaotic, as the important decisions were not taken * Government disintegrated into competing personal empires; Goring, Himmler and Goebbels * Hitler became dispensable in this personal system; he rarely issued written orders; fuelling the view that he was an inactive leader There are two approaches to viewing Hitler’s role in Nazi Germany; the Intentionalist and the Structuralist * Intentionalists stress that the essential political decisions were taken by Hitler. He was the prime force in domestic and foreign policy. So important was the leadership principle that they equate Nazism with Hitlerism. * Intentionalist historians: Hugh Trevor-Roper, Alan Bullock, Jane Jenkins, Bracher, Hildebrand, Jackel * They stress the centrality of Hitler’s personality, ideas and strengths. * Regard Hitler as having predetermined goals, especially in foreign policy * Saw hostility between rival groups as being resolved solely by the Fuhrer * Hitler as central to foreign and racial policy Structuralists stress the limitations on Hitler’s freedom of action as a result of forces operating within the State. They argue that, under Hitler, Nazi Germany suffered a leadership crisis. From the mid 1930s Hitler abandoned the normal business of government. He resorted to extreme working methods and lifestyles, a development which was commented upon by contemporaries. * Structuralist historians: Hans Mommsen, Martin Brozat * Saw Hitler as ‘weak’, failing to give clear planning and consistent direction, leading to the collapse of ordered government and self-destruction * Emphasise ‘institutional’ anarchy and leadership chaos. Power was distributed among many. Hitler’s own authority was only one important element Hitler ruled through his trusted henchman but could not ignore his dependence on the traditional elites * A radical purge of the civil service would jeopardise this relationship * The government cabinet did not operate, so the Reich Chancellery co-ordinated events, although Hitler only made decisions when absolutely necessary * Hitlerâ €™s government can be described as ‘polycratic’, where his authority was only one element * However, Hitler still expected total loyalty and that all power rested with him * There are no examples of major policy decisions by Hitler being successfully opposed by subordinates or the Party * It would be misleading to view Hitler as a weak dictator * Only about 12 people had easy access to Hitler at all times * This ‘kitchen cabinet’ changed over the years but always included; Goring, Himmler, Goebbels, Hess and Bormann. Hitler organised the Party, created its main ideology and masterminded its campaign for power * He was the dominant focal point and others accepted his dictatorship; he demanded absolute obedience * He also ensured his supremacy and unchallenged leadership by fostering an anarchy of rivalries amongst leading Nazis * Such rivalries enhanced Hitler’s own position as supreme arbiter * Intentionalists argue that the government’s c haotic structure was merely a result of Hitler’s ‘divide and rule’ strategy * Even the top Nazis of the ‘inner guard’ were not immune; Goring was denied access to Hitler and ignored in policy discussions after 1941 and Heydrich was sent to Prague when they became too powerful * Hess was assigned ‘deputy to the Fuhrer’ because he represented no danger to Hitler * Hitler’s purge of Rohm, leader of the SA, is the best example of how top Nazi leaders, even ‘friends’, could be removed from power if posing a threat * Between 1933 and 1941 Hitler was central to the regime and certain developments would not have happened without his authority; the SS would not have developed on the large scale that it did and Germany would not have one to war, as war was unpopular with the Army and top Nazis such as Goring * Ian Kershaw argues that Hitler had three main functions: â€Å"to integrate the many different and antagonistic groups , to mobilise the actions of his subordinates and to legalise many of the barbaric actions taken by subordinates† * Hitler seized the opportunity in the 1930s as European diplomacy collapsed. Hitler exploited the weakness of Europe and was central to the collapse of international order * Hitler’s non-interventionist style of leadership, born out of Social Darwinist theories, has been misinterpreted as weak leadership * The Nazi state would have collapsed if Hitler had died or been removed, as he integrated the divergent Nazi groups * The succession would ultimately have passed to the Army elites, who, more Conservative in their ways, would have most likely began de-Nazifying Germany

Eliminating Global Poverty Essay

Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) affirms the right of each individual to a â€Å"standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family† (qtd in Morsink, 2000, p. 146). Health here is to be understood as â€Å"a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity† (WHO, 1946, p. 100). Within the context of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of health, the aforementioned article thereby encompasses the related rights for the realization and maintenance of an individual’s â€Å"physical, mental, and social well-being†. Guinn (2007) notes, The legal imports of this broad definition is that States not only have a duty to prevent or remove barriers to the realization and maintenance of (an individual’s) well-being, they also have the obligation to promote health, social, and related services, along with cultural reform to remedy potential social harms. (p. 56) If such is the case, the implementation of this right requires the elimination of poverty since poverty affects the promotion of this right as well as other rights (Alegre, 2007, p. 37). For the sake of clarity poverty as it is used in this paper should be understood as â€Å"the standard of living far below the mainstream standard of the larger society† (2008, p. 224). Given that this standard is set by the larger society and society in itself is characterize by various forms of income disparities, the question arises as to the corresponding duties and obligations that each individual holds in order to ensure the eradication of po verty. Given that the eradication of poverty stands as a condition for the fulfillment of human rights claims other goals and preferences should stand subordinate to it which leads to the conclusion that it will lead to a competition between preferences, policies etc. However, such is not the case. Poverty may be eradicated through the redistribution of resources within society. Such redistribution, however, does not necessarily entail the drastic change in the economic structure of each society. On the other hand, according to Singer, it entails a reassessment of each individual’s charitable responsibilities. He notes, â€Å"In the real world, it should be seen as a serious moral failure when those with ample income do not do their fair share toward relieving global poverty† (Singer, 2006, p. 58). The basis for Singer’s claim is the assumption that the eradication of poverty stands as each individual’s duty as opposed to a morally optional form of charity. In lieu of this, the task of this paper is to layout and critically analyze Singer’s aforementioned claim as it is stated in his article â€Å"What Should a Billionaire Give-and What Should You? †. The paper is divided into two parts. The first part of the paper outlines Singer’s argument whereas the later part of the paper provides a support of Singer’s view using Nozick’s entitlement theory of justice. The presentation of Nozick’s views aims to show that Singer’s assumption is not only valid on moral grounds but on political grounds as well. In the aforementioned article, Singer claims that human life holds a primary value over other values. If such is the case, â€Å"differences of sex, ethnicity, nationality and place of residence (does not) change the value of a human life† (Singer, 2006, p. 58). In addition to this, he notes that each individual should consider it his duty and obligation to ensure the realization of this value and since poverty affects the realization of this value, individuals should consider it their duty and obligation not only to alleviate but to eliminate poverty. This is possible if individual’s practice â€Å"philanthropy as a means for fighting global poverty† (Singer, 2006, p. 58). However, for Singer, acts of philanthropy are not limited to the rich. He argues that for the ordinary members of society the â€Å"obligations are limited to carrying the fair share of the burden of relieving global poverty† (Singer, 2006, p. 58). By fair share, Singer refers to the percentage of an individual’s income that is not necessary for ensuring the continuance of an individual’s basic necessities (Singer, 2006, p. 8). In a previous article entitled â€Å"Famine, Affluence, and Morality†, Singer states, â€Å"If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it† (1972, p. 233). He supports his argument with the following claims. First, â€Å"our obligation to the poor is not just one of providing assistance to strangers but one of compensation for harms that we have caused and are still causing them† (Singer, 2006, p. 58). These harms stem from developed countries’ acquisition of natural resources from the Third World nations. Singer argues that it is not sufficient to remedy these problems through public policies. Philanthropy is necessary since â€Å"private donors can more easily avoid dealing with corrupt or wasteful governments. They can go directly into the field, working with local villages and grass-roots organizations†. Singer notes, â€Å"Private philanthropists are free to venture where governments fear to tread† (Singer, 2006, p. 58). Second, Singer argues that since â€Å"at least 90 percent of what people earn in wealthy societies† are dependent upon their societies’ social capital wherein social capital refers to the â€Å"natural resources†¦, the technology and organizational skills in the community, and the presence of good government† it follows that the income of an individual is partially dependent upon the society in which he resides in and therefore it is incorrect to argue that individual’s are entitled to their wealth as a result of hard work. In addition to this Singer holds that motives should not be considered in acts of philanthropy. It is important to note that Singer adheres to a utilitarian theory. Within the aforementioned theory, the end has greater value than the means through which the action is performed. If such is the case, the reasons as to why individual chooses to engage in acts of philanthropy does not matter, what matters is whether the end [eradication of poverty] may be met with such actions. As I reckon, the appeal of Singer’s approach on the issue lies on its stand as a moral obligation as opposed to a political obligation. However, it is also possible to be support Singer’s view if it is implemented as a political obligation. Nozick in Anarchy, State, and Utopia argues that obligation ought to based upon consent. Nozick holds that the only legitimate state is the minimal state, whose activities are confined to the protection of individuals and their property and to the enforcement of contracts. This state is unique among social organizations in having the right to force residents to pay for its services whether or not they have consented to do so. Citizens may band together for whatever other purposes they may desire-to provide education, to aid the needy, to organize social insurance schemes. Such schemes however must necessarily be purely voluntary and the state must enforce anyone’s right not to be compelled to contribute to them. Nozick reaches these conclusions by adhering as closely as possible to the idea that, in economic life all valid obligations derive from consent. Since consent alone cannot be theoretically basic something must determine the conditions under which the consent counts as morally binding. In addition, the obligations and entitlements one person acquires through voluntary agreements can affect the alternatives open to others who have not been parties to these agreements. Something must determine when such side effects make an agreement void. In Nozick’s theory, these conditions and limits are set by a skeletal framework of rights derived from Locke. The minimal role allowed to the state, the great scope left to voluntary agreement, and consent in his theory are direct consequences of the particular character of these rights. Nozick’s theory of justice is based on unpatterned historical principles. This theory is an entitlement conception of justice. Its central tenet is that any configuration of holdings that results from the legitimate transfer of legitimately acquired holdings is itself just. Many theories of justice will give some role to considerations of entitlement. Such theories recognize some processes as conferring legitimacy on their outcomes. What is special about Nozick’s view is that it makes entitlement principles the beginning and end of distributive justice. While his principles are not described in detail, it appears that his theory differs from other pure entitlement conceptions chiefly in admitting fewer restrictions on the acquisition and exchange of property. One such restriction [in fact the only restriction] is called the Lockean Proviso. The aforementioned proviso states that any acquisition, transfer, or combination of transfers is void if it leaves third parties worse off than they were in the state of nature. Such a worsening might occur, for example, if someone were to buy, in simultaneous secret transactions, rights to all the available sources of water. The aforementioned restriction [Lockean Proviso] could be substantial were it not for the fact that the baseline for its application is set by conditions in the state of nature. According to Nozick, the productivity of the capitalist system in improving our material condition makes it unlikely that anyone could acquire holdings that would leave others below this standard. Nozick clearly feels that the distinction between historical [un-patterned] principles of justice and end-state [patterned] principles is of fundamental importance. He emphasizes that almost all of the principles of justice commonly offered are end-state and are clearly mistaken. Singer’s proposition for the alleviation of poverty is highly dependent upon an individual’s consent to enact his moral obligation and duty towards his fellowman however if one conceives of his proposition within the context of the Lockean proviso as stated above it is possible to give strength to Singer’s claim thereby allowing the possibility of its transformation into a political duty. Within the context of the Lockean proviso, Nozick claims that morality does not ensure that the right to tend to one’s business [in this context the economic conditions within one’s society] is not affected by the circumstances of other individuals since there exists a duty to ensure the welfare of others.

Ashley Pondâ€Biography of a Murder Victim

Ashley Pond- Biography of a Murder Victim Ashley Marie Pond was born on March 1, 1989. Her mother, Lori Davis, was barely 16 at the time, almost a child herself. For the first few years of Ashleys life, she lived with her mother and her mothers high school sweetheart, David Pond. Eventually, the two married, and Ashley viewed David as her father. Childhood Ashley was described as an easy child who could entertain herself and one who adored being hugged. Basically, well-behaved Ashley seemed to live a fairly normal life for a child of parents so young. But then at about the age of nine or ten, Lori Pond divorced David Pond, and Ashleys world changed forever. The Truth About Her Biological Father During the divorce, the couple fought about child-support payments and a  paternity test was administered to determine if Ashley was indeed David Ponds biological daughter. To Ashley’s devastation, it was determined that he was not, but instead, a man named Wesley Roettger was her real father. She Admits to Being Sexually Abused She began to visit her biological father, staying with him on the weekends. It was during this time that friends and family noticed she was growing increasingly sullen and confrontational. She began to resist visiting her father until she finally admitted to her mother that Wesley Roettger had been sexually abusing her. In January 2001, Roettger was indicted on 40 counts of raping and sexually abusing Ashley. He pled no contest to one count and was released. Ward Weaver Enters Her World During the following months, the police were called out to the Pond apartment for various reasons including an allegation that Pond was drunk and neglecting the children. By April 2001, Ashley Pond was spending a lot of time over at the house of a friend, who was the daughter of Ward Weaver. In early spring, a report was made by Linda Virden, Ashleys reading teacher, to Gaffney Lane Elementary principal Chris Mills, that she saw Ward Weaver kiss Ashley on the lips. She Finds Comfort at the Weaver Home According to the Portland Tribune, Ashley spent almost the first half of 2001 with the Weaver family even joining Ward Weaver, his girlfriend, and Weavers daughter on a two-week vacation to California  in late June, early July. The calls to the police about disturbances at the Ponds home continued over the next few months and Ashley spent more and more time with the Weavers. Weaver Is Accused of Sexually Abusing Her In early August, Ashley confided in her reading teacher, Linda Virden, that Ward Weaver was molesting her and threatened to testify against her in her fathers rape trial. Earlier in April she also accused two other men of molesting her  but recanted her statements. Possibly the fear of no one believing her kept her from pursuing charges against Weaver. Paperwork Slips Through the Cracks Once the accusations were made, she stopped going to Weavers house and felt ostracized by Weaver, Weavers daughter, and friends of Weavers daughter. Due to the sloppy handling of the paperwork by county officials regarding Ashleys accusation, Weaver was never investigated or charged with sexually abusing Ashley at that time. Life Begins to Settle Down Throughout the following fall, Ashleys life seemed to settle down. Her grades were improving and she was fighting less with her mother. Some of her bubbly personality seemed to return. As Christmas approached it has been suggested that Ashley and the Weaves had partially renewed their friendship. Ashley Pond is Murdered According to the Portland Tribune, on Jan 9, 2002, Lori Pond heard Ashley say goodbye around 8:15 a.m. as she headed out to catch her school bus at a stop near Weaver’s home. What happened to Ashley after that time is unknown. What is known is that at some point before she died, she consumed possibly as much as five shots of whiskey. On the weekend of August 24-25, the body of Ashley Pond was found inside a barrel buried in a hole in the backyard of Ward Weavers rental home. A concrete slab had been poured over the hole. According to Weavers son, Francis Weaver, his father confessed to him that he killed Ashley Pond, although the exact details of the confession have changed from time to time. On October 4, 2002, Ward Weaver was indicted for the murder of Ashley Pond and of 16 other counts including sex abuse, attempted rape, aggravated murder and abuse of a corpse all of which he pled not guilty. On September 22, 2004, Ward Weaver plead guilty to killing two of his daughters friends then hiding their bodies on his property. He received two life sentences for the deaths of Ashley Pond and ​Miranda Gaddis.

Everything You Need to Know The Great Gatsby Era

Everything You Need to Know The Great Gatsby Era SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The Great Gatsby takes place during a time that's now known as the Jazz Age or the Roaring 20s. Wondering what the world was like when Jay Gatsby struck it rich in bootlegging? Curious to see how much Daisy and Myrtle's struggle for more echoes the lives of real women? Interested in the other ways that The Great Gatsbyera matters to the plot of the novel? This article will guide you through the historical, economic, and social movements of the 1920's as they relate to events, themes, and characters in The Great Gatsby. Why DoesThe Great Gatsby EraMatter? Understanding what the world was like during the time the novel is sethelps you in all sorts of ways: Figuring out an author's assumptions. Writers are products of their time, so knowing what they would have assumed to be true makes reading their work richer. For instance, inThe Great Gatsby, it's taken for granted that the Jewish gangster Meyer Wolfshiem would need the WASP-y face of Jay Gatsby to make some of his deals, since Wolfshiem wouldn't have been allowed to join or participate important political and business networks. Getting a deeper grasp of character. To get a really good sense of why characters in the novel do what they do, it's useful to know the specific historical circumstances they are dealing with. For example, it's all well and good to assume that Daisy should leave the boorish Tom, but divorce would have been way more complicated for a woman in the 1920s than it is today. Developing a richer interpretation of symbols, motifs, and themes. Knowing the hot-button issues of the novel's day gives you a good second way to support arguments about the importance of a particular theme, or your reading of the meaning of a symbol. (Of course, the primary support for these arguments should come from the text itself!) Suppose you wanted to analyze the importance of cars in The Great Gatsby. It would help your argument to talk about the sudden skyrocketing prevalence of cars on the road in the 1920s, connecting them to increased danger, status symbol consumerism, and modern life. Historical context: the giant arm propping up the baby that is your argument. When DoesThe Great GatsbyTake Place? The Great Gatsby was published in 1925 and is set in 1922, near the beginning of the decade. (See our article on this novel's publication and reception history for more.) As such, theGreat Gatsby era is theperiod in 20th century U.S. history nicknamed both the â€Å"Roaring 20s† and the "Jazz Age." The first nickname points toAmerica's post-WWIeconomic prosperity and the country's greater influence abroad. The second nickname refers to this period'schanging social norms and daring artistic movements. Gatsbyis now seen as both a product of and a record of the 1920s. What does this mean? Let's explore. Before The Great Gatsby: WWI and Modernism Although many previous events eventually influenced the 1920s, there are two crucialpieces of background history that you have to know. World War I World War I dramatically affected the United States in the 1920s (and, of course, shaped much of the 20th century all over the world as well). On the one hand, it elevatedthe U.S. into a world super power and ushered in a decade-long economic boom.On the other hand, its horrific death toll and seeming meaninglessness forever dispelled the idea of war as noble and glorious. Abrief recap of what happened. After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir of Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1914, Austro-Hungary and its ally Germany declared waragainst Russia. Russian allies France and England were pulled in to defend Russia. The smaller European powers were forced into the war as well, based on whatever alliances they had made in the past.For the first three years, the U.S. remained neutral, instead profiteering from the war by selling supplies toboth sides of the conflict. But, in 1917, the U.S. was pulled into the fighting, fearing an alliance between Germany and Mexico. WWI was a war of trench warfare, chemical weapons, shrapnel artillery, and other gruesome technologies that had never been seen before. When you combine this level of mass destruction with the fact that most of the war was a territorial stalemate (no army advanced, no army withdrew - they were just locked in a horrible tie), it's easy to see how unaccountable the 40 million deaths the war caused were. The survivors of the war - both the veterans and those who came of age during the fighting - were called the Lost Generation. F. Scott Fitzgerald, though he didn't actually see any fighting during his time in the army, was a member of this generation. (See our brief biography of Fitzgerald to learn more.) You should know about WWI (and its aftermath) because: Both Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby have military backgrounds. Gatsby's early romance with Daisy is heightened by the initial idealism that he was about to go fight in a noble and glorious endeavor. Some of the rumors swirling around Gatsby point to how fresh the war was in everyone's mind (that he was a German spy during the war, or that he is related to Kaiser Wilhelm, who ruled Germany during the war). Modernism and the Lost Generation The war and its devastating after-effects, particularly in Europe, fed into the creation of a new artistic movement: modernism. Modernism was all about breaking with the past. In contrast to 19th century writing that tended to reinforce the status quo, modernism rejected old-fashioned ideas like heroism and moral certitude. Similarly, modernism writers experimented with form and style rather than sticking with traditional forms of prose and poetry. Inspired by the devastation of WWI, writers in The Lost Generationembraced a cynical view of human nature. Fitzgerald himself waspart of a circle of modernists who regularly met inParis (others included Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Sinclair Lewis, and the painters Picasso and Matisse). Fitzgerald wroteThe Great Gatsby while in Paris, surroundedby this group. You can connect modernism withthe novel's descriptions of East Egg and West Egg extravagance. Like his fellow modernists, Fitzgerald was deeply critical of the wealth and capitalist success ushered in by the post-war boom, considering the new obsession with money and status shallow. What trench warfare looked like. Imagine spending weeks in this hole in the ground. The Great Gatsby Era:The Roaring 20s At the time when the novel takes place, the U.S. was in the middle of a tremendous economic boom and a soaring stock market that seemed to be on a permanent upward swing. At the same time, many of the social restrictions of the early 20th century were being rejected, and progressive movements of all kinds were flourishing. Prohibition, Bootlegging,and the Speakeasy Socially progressive activists in both the Democratic and Republican parties united to pressure the government to ban alcohol, which was blamed for all kinds of other social ills like gambling and drug abuse. In 1920, the U.S. passed the 18th Amendment, outlawing the production and sale of alcohol. Of course, this did little to actually stem the desire for alcoholic beverages, so a vast underground criminal empire was born to supply this demand. The production and distributionof alcohol became the province ofbootleggers - the original organized crime syndicates. Selling alcohol was accomplished in many ways, including throughâ€Å"speakeasies† - basically, underground social clubs. Since speakeasies were already side-stepping the law, they also became places where people of different races and genders could mix and mingle in a way they hadn’t previously while enjoying new music like jazz.This marked a shift both in how black culture was understood and appreciated by the rest of the country and in how women’s rights were progressing, as we’ll discuss in the next sections. If you understand the history of Prohibition, you'll make better sense of some plot and character details inThe Great Gatsby: Gatsby makes his fortune through bootlegging and other criminal activities. Gatsby's business partner Meyer Wolfshiem is a gangster who is affiliated with organized crime and is based on the real-life crime boss Arnold Rothstein, who was indeed responsible for fixing the World Series in 1919. Any time someone isdrinking alcohol in the novel, they are doing something illegal, and are clearly in the know about how to get this banned substance. Gatsby’s parties have a speakeasy feel in that people from different backgrounds and genders freely mix and mingle. One of the rumors about Gatsby is that he is involved in a bootlegging pipeline of alcohol from Canada - this is a reference to a real-life scandal about one of the places where illegal alcohol was coming from! Police emptying out confiscated barrels of beer into the sewer. Women’s Rights The 19th Amendment, passed in 1919, officially gave women the right to vote in the United States. Suffrage had been a huge goal of the women’s movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, so this victory caused women to continue to push boundaries and fight for more rights during the 1920s. The ramifications of this were political, economic, and social. Politically, the women's rights movement next took up the cause of the Equal Rights Amendment, which would guarantee equal legal rights for women. The amendment came close to eventually being ratifiedin the 1970s, but was defeated by conservatives. Economically, there was an increase in working women. This began during WWI as more women began to work to make up for the men fighting abroad, and as more professions opened up to them in the men's absence. Societally, divorce became more common. Nevertheless, it was still very much frowned on, and being a housewife and having fewer rights than man was still the norm in the 1920s. Another social development wasthe new â€Å"flapper† style. This term described women who would wear much less restricting clothing and go out drinking and dancing, which at the time was a huge violation of typical social norms. If you understand this combination of progress and traditionalism for women's roles, you'll find it on display in The GreatGatsby: Daisycontemplates leaving Tom but ultimately decides to stay. Jordan parties and doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to settle down. Myrtle flouts traditional rules by cheating on her husband but is killed by the end of the book, suggesting women are safest when they toe the line. Women's suffrage parade in New York City. Racial and Religious Minority History The post-war boom also had a positive effect on minorities in the U.S. One of the effects was thatJewish Americanswere atthe forefront of promoting such issues as workers rights, civil rights, woman's rights, and other progressive causes. Jews also served in the American military during World War I in very high numbers. At the same time, their prominence gave rise to an anti-Semitic backlash, and the revival of the KKK began with the lynching of a Jewish man in 1915. Another post-WWI developmentwas the Harlem Renaissance, acultural, social, and artistic flowering among African Americans that took place in Harlem, NY, during the 1920s. Artists from that time include W.E.B. DuBois, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday. You can see the effects of these historical development several places in the novel: jazz music is a fixture of Gatsby’s parties, and almost every song that Fitzgerald describes is a real life piece of music. Nick's love of Manhattan as a diverse melting pot is illustrated by the appearance in Chapter 4 of a car with wealthy black passengers and a white driver. Tom Buchanan's racist rant in Chapter 1 and his fears that the white race will be "overrun" by minorities is based on the backlash that African American advancement occasioned. The novel includes Nick's anti-Semitic description of a Jewish character - Meyer Wolfshiem. There are modern theoriesthatJay Gatsby is may be half blackand that Daisy may actually be Jewish. Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes Automobiles The 1920s saw huge increases in the production and use of automobiles. Almost 1 in 4 people now had a car! This happened because of advances in mass production due to the assembly line, and because of rising incomes due to the economic boom. Car ownership increased mobility between cities and outer suburban areas, which enabled the wealthy to work in one place but live in another. Cars also now created a totally new danger, particularly in combination with alcohol consumption. If you're aware of the newness and attraction of cars, you'll notice that inThe Great Gatsby: The wealthiest characters own cars and use them to commute between Manhattanand Long Island. Cars are clearly used to display wealth and status - even Tom, normally secure in his superiority, wants to brag to George Wilson aboutthesuper-fancy Rolls Royce heborrows from Gatsby. Cars are tools of recklessness, danger, and violence - there are several car accidents in the novel, the most notable of which is when Daisy runs Myrtle over and kills her in Chapter 7. Death machine, or no, you have to admit that's a pretty cool-looking car. The Bottom Line Understanding historical context helps you in all sorts of ways: Figuring out an author's assumptions. Getting a deeper grasp of character. Having a richer interpretation of symbols, motifs, and themes. The Great Gatsby was published in 1925 and is set in 1922, a time nicknamedboth the â€Å"Roaring 20s† and the "Jazz Age." There are two crucialpieces of background history that you have to know to understand the novel: World War I.Its horrific death toll and seeming meaninglessness forever dispelled the idea of war as noble and glorious.The survivors of the war - both the veterans and those who came of age during the fighting - were called the Lost Generation. Modernism and the Lost Generation.Modernism was all about breaking with the past, experimenting with form and style, andembracing a cynical view of human nature. The Great Gatsbyera was distinguised byan economic boom, the rejection of oldsocial restrictions, and progressive movements of all kinds: Prohibition, Bootlegging,and the Speakeasy.The U.S. bannedalcohol, ushering ina vast underground criminal empire, including speakeasies -underground social clubs. Women’s Rights.The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote.Politically, the women's rights movement next took up the cause of the Equal Rights Amendment.Economically, there was an increase in working women.Societally, divorce became more common, and the "flapper" style was born. Racial and Religious Minority History.Jewish Americanswere atthe forefront of promoting progressive causes.Another post-WWI developmentwas the Harlem Renaissance, acultural, social, and artistic flowering among African Americans. Automobiles.Car ownership increased mobility between cities and outer suburban areas, andcreated a totally new danger, particularly in combination with alcohol consumption. What’s Next? Learn more about how The Great Gatsby was received when it first came out, and also read about the life ofits author, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Excited to dive in? Check out our articles onGatsby’s title, its opening pages and epigraph, and itsfirst chapter. Or, zoom out toa summary of The Great Gatsby, along with links to all ourgreat articles analyzing this novel! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: