The Big Mall Information Kiosks

Project Background The Big Mall is one of the biggest shopping malls in Canberra and its operations have been very successful in the recent past. The management has always endeavored to offer maximum satisfaction at all the times. However, there is a massive competition in this industry within this region and The Big Mall must find a way of retaining its top position in this market.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on The Big Mall Information Kiosks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This means that the management has to find a way of offering continuous satisfaction to the customers through improved service delivery. To achieve this, the management must make an effort to ensure that the firm adopts emerging technologies, which can help improve its service delivery and customer experience. One of the ways of ensuring that customers remain constantly satisfied is by ensuring that they are constantly informed over iss ues they consider relevant in their purchasing process and post purchase activities. Installing Information Kiosks around the mall can help in ensuring that this firm offers its customers relevant information at any time when they need it. The focus of this project is to provide new Information Kiosks for the Big Mall in Canberra to help it meet the needs of its customers. To do this successfully, there is need to have the required technical resources, including human resource, which will help in ensuring that this project is a success. The Big Mall is the client in this project and the chief financier in this project. This firm will also be responsible for provision of information on how they desire the system to look like, and the kind of information that should be available to the customers at the Kiosks on demand. Info Systems Limited, a local IT support company in Canberra, will undertake the projec t. Employees of Info Systems Limited who will be assigned the task of undertaki ng various duties in this project will work directly under the chief executive officer and the manager of The Big Mall as a way of ensuring that the finally developed firm will be able to meet all the requirements of the firm. The project deliverables and all the project-planning activities are clearly articulated in this report in order to enhance understanding of what is to be achieved upon completion of this project (Wysocki 2012, p. 78).Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Justification of the project According to Muriwani (2012, P. 74), the world of business has become so competitive that it forces relevant stakeholders to find ways of remaining competitive in their respective industries. This scholar further says that this competition has made it necessary for firms to come up with ways through which they can attract customers in order to remain sustainable in the marke t. The Big Mall is currently one of the biggest shopping malls in Canberra. However, this may not remain so if the management fails to take measures that would help in propelling the firm to higher heights. The management of this firm must find ways through which it can continue offering maximum satisfaction to its customers. The research and marketing team have come to realize that customers need to access information about the products they purchase or those that they intend to purchase at any time of the day. The current structure of this firm does not allow it to provide this information at the rate at which customers would have desired. This may make it lose its customers to firms that will be able to respond to this new customer needs. For this reason, the management has considered this project justifiable as a way of retaining its customers. It is true that this firm will have to spend in this project. However, the expenditure is worth making because the project will help ens ure that there is a constant flow of customers into this firm. Undertaking this project will help improve profitability of The Big Mall. Scope of the project As Marchewka (2009, p. 57) advises, it is always important to define project scope before the onset of the actual project. When conducting a project, various stakeholders will have varying expectations of the project. There are those who will be optimistic of the project, while others may not understand what to expect from the particular project. The aim of every project team members of to meet the expectations of the relevant stakeholders upon completion of the project. It may not be easy to satisfy every stakeholder because of the varying expectations. For this reason, it is important to define the scope of a project before it is officiated.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on The Big Mall Information Kiosks specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This will help in ensuring that all the stakeholders will understand what to expect of the project, and what is beyond the scope of the project. In this project, the focus is to develop Information Kiosks for The Big Mall at eight different locations within Canberra. The Information Kiosks will be exclusively for provision of information to the customers from the database of this firm as desired by the management. The management of The Big Mall will determine the kind of information that will reach customers. This project is limited to this, and any other task that stakeholders may have besides offering relevant information to customers is beyond the scope of this project. Objectives of the project The project members, having understood the needs of the management of The Big Mall, came up with a number of objectives that this firm wishes to achieve when this project is completed. It is important to understand that these objectives are user-specific, meaning that they be meant to suit the client, w hich in this case is The Big Mall. The following are some of these objectives To complete this project for The Big Mall successfully and within the preset constrains of costs, scope, quality and time To work hand in hand with the client in managing this project in a skillful and professional manner To fulfill all the expectations of the stakeholders relevant in this project To provide a system which is accurate and efficient To demonstrate high levels of skills and capacity in this area of project management To maintain client’s high levels of satisfaction in the entire process of the project To be able to plan for mitigation measures for any unforeseen risks which may affect success of the project To demonstrate high level of various project management skills Project Schedule Schedule of the project In every project, it is important to have a clear schedule that should be followed to ensure that it achieves its objectives. This project should be completed within two months . The system should be up and running within the four months from the day it is officially set operational. The Gantt chart below specifies the activities that will be carried out in this project Gantt chart The above Gantt chart demonstrates all the activities that should be accomplished within a specified duration. The activities should be accomplished within a time span of two months. The activities will start from October 1 2013, to November 31 2014.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Project resources As Levine (2002, p. 29) says, every project can only succeed if the needed resources are availed at the right time for the project members. In this project, the resources that are needed for successful development of eight information kiosks for The Big Mall are identified in the table below. Resources necessary for the project People Staff from Info System Limited The Big Mall staff Database administrator Desktop Engineer (Hardware engineer) Network Engineer (Software engineer) Technology Computers Directory’s (Kiosk) Facilities On site office Mall facilities Finance Any financial support the team may need to complete the project successfully Other resources to be provided Internet Connection Internal Software used by employees The above table is a summary of all the resources that this project will need. It is important to note that both the staff of The Big Mall and the contracted specialists from Info System Company will carry out this proj ect. It is in the knowledge of the planners of this project that employees of The Big Mall do not have the technical capacity to undertake this project. Inclusion of a number of their employees in this project will help in confirming the costs of the project. They will also understand the system so that they can be involved in its maintenance once it is up and running. Info System Company will provide the software and the hardware resources including internal software that will be used by employees. The Big Mall will only provide its employees, onsite office, and physical location of the eight Information Kiosks. Basic assumptions of the project Kerzner (2009, p. 69) says that it may be important to develop some assumption when developing a project proposal. The main assumption that was used in this project is that by completion of this project, the current need for Information Kiosks will still be relevant. It is also assumed that this project offers this firm the best strategy thr ough which it can meet the needs of the market in providing it with all the relevant information it needs. The project also assumed that the induction that will be done by employees of Info System on the employees of The Big Mall would be enough to offer them proper guidance on how to run this system when it is finally put into use. These assumptions explain why various activities have been planned as given in this project proposal. Project members and their roles It is important to ensure that all the stakeholders within the project know their roles clearly. According to As Levine (2002, p. 78), defining project stakeholders is important to ensure that all members understand their role. This scholar further states that defining the stakeholders avoids cases of wrangling during project implementation stage. Every member of the organization will know what he or she is expected of during the implementation stage. The following chart shows the proposed stakeholders that should be invol ved in this project, and how they should relate. Project Stakeholders Role Name Contact Manager (PM) (Kindly insert your name) (include contacts) Sponsor The Big Mall (include contacts) Client (Owner) The Big Mall (include contacts) Other Info Service LTD (The contracted firm) (include contacts) Ownership It is necessary to clarify ownership of various items within this project. According to Kerzner (2009, p. 74), defining ownership in a project where one firm contracts another firm always helps in avoiding possible litigation cases in future. In this project, the planners were keen on identifying the ownership of various items used in this project. Info Service limited is the owner of the intellectual knowledge that has been employed to develop this project. The Big Mall has not bought this intellectual knowledge from Info Service. It has only bought the service. This means that the intellectual property rights will remain with Info Service even after the project is c ompleted. The individual employees of Info Service may not claim ownership of this intellectual property unless they registered it under their name. On the other hand, the system that will be completed by the employees of Info Service will remain an exclusive property of The Big Mall once the project is completed. This company has duly paid for this service and its outcome remains under its ownership. The management of the Big Mall has express authority to point out a number of issues in the project in cases they are not completed as per the original plan. This final product must meet the expectations of the Big Mall. It is important to understand how stakeholders are related in this project. It is important to note that the project is under the management of the project manager who is an employee of Info Service. Most of the members who will participate in this project are also employees of Info Service limited. Employees of The Big Mall will be present during project implementatio n process just to understand the system so that they may know how it is operated once its installation is complete. The chief executive of The Big Mall will act as the chief advisor in this project. The chart above demonstrates that in this project, the project manager will be responsible for every activity that will be taking place within the firm. He or she will be responsible for managing all the project members and ensuring that they undertake activities that are expected of them. Under project manager will be various managers in charge of various sections of the project. They are technocrats who will be involved in coming up with the appropriate system prototype that will be appropriate for this Information Kiosk. These officers will be working hand in hand with project manager to ensure that the project runs according to the plan. Then the finance representative, who will be an employee of The Big Mall, will be there to represent the interests of the project in the finance de partment. Within the project, this officer will ensure that the finances of the project are spent wisely. Within the finance department of the firm, the officer will ensure that sufficient funds are allocated to the firm. Although a group of software and hardware engineers will do the project, commerce specialists will do its management (Phillips 2004, p. 47). The project manager will be at the helm of all the activities talking place in this project. The system developers will have a special niche in this project where they will be allowed to give their views on this project, while directly taking part in the activities of the project. All the project members selected for this project should have basic knowledge about issues regarding the Information system development. This way, they will be in a position to act as members of monitoring and evaluation team. This will also allow them easier time when they get to various other tasks within the project. They will be in a position to explain to other stakeholders the importance of the new system in meeting their objectives. This will help ensure that the outcome of the project is easily understood and appreciated by all the relevant stakeholders in this project. Communications Plan Communication is one of the most important ingredients towards successful completion of a project. It is important to spell out the communication channel within the project in order to allow all the responsible stakeholders understand the project’s progress. In this project, there are senior officers from Info Service and The Big Mall who will need to have clear knowledge of the activities of the project, but may not participate in the project directly. According to Marchewka (2009, p. 97), involving all stakeholders in the process of rolling out a project is important because it helps in avoiding cases where a project is rejected upon its completion for failure to comply with the needs of the client. It is important to maintai n a constant information flow so that other stakeholders who are not taking part in the project directly can put in their inputs and enhance quality of the project. The top management of Info Service will receive regular updates of the progress of the project. The project manager will do this on a weekly basis. When necessary, the management of Info Service can receive the updates on a daily basis. The project manager will always update the chief executive of The Big Mall on the project’s progress after every two days. The quality assurance team from the Big Mall will also issue updates to the stakeholders of the Big Mall on a weekly basis on the project’s progress. The project’s information officer will be releasing weekly reviews of the progress of the project to all other stakeholders who may not have express authority to access information of this project. This officer will also receive any comments from the stakeholders and communicate it to the project man ager who will then act upon it. Project Challenges According to Fioravanti (2006, p. 71), it is always important to identify any possible challenges that a project may face during its implementation process. Identifying the anticipated problems helps in creating measures that can be used to mitigate them. In this project, the main problem that is anticipated is the ability of the employees of The Big Mall to manage this new system once it is installed. This system can only be useful if the employees of Big Mall can run it as expected. The project management will try to train these employees on how to manage this system in order to eliminate this challenge. The project management team will also help these employees understand how to maintain the system as would be appropriate when the system is officially handed over to the Big Mall. Project Costs This very ambitious project will help The Big Mall to not only satisfy customers’ need for knowledge, but also improve efficiency o f its workforce by eliminating the need for the employees to explain various issues to customers when they visit. However, this project must be undertaken at a given cost that must be met by relevant authorities within this firm. This project lays down some of the expected costs that would be needed in order to make this project a reality within the specified time. The tables below specify these costs in their relevant categories. The Big Mall Information Kiosk Project Costs One-off costs 8 Kiosks (UAD) Circle Soft (UAD) ESSN Co. (UAD) Software $6,000 $5,000 $5,500 Hardware $9,000 $7,500 $10,500 Network components $600 $750 Cables $25 $25 $25 Training $350 $300 $300 Testing $70/hr $1,200 $60/hr $1,000 $65/hr $1,100 Other $1,500 $1,800 $1,000 Totals $18,675 $16,375 $18,425 The above table shows some of the one-off costs that will be incurred in this project. The recurring costs, especially the cost of maintenance are specified in the table below. Repeating C osts 8 Kiosks (UAD) Circle Soft (UAD) ESSN Co. (UAD) Maintenance contracts for software Year 1 $400 $650 $0 Year 2 $550 $650 $600 Year 3 $700 $650 $600 Maintenance contract for hardware Year 1 $0 $0 $0 Year 2 $550 $450 $0 Year 3 $600 $580 $700 Repairs Year 1 $250 $0 $0 Year 2 $500 $600 $550 Year 3 $800 $810 $950 Consumables (Paper, ink, etc) $800 $750 $800 Totals per month Year 1 $75 $54.20 $0 Year 2 $46.20 $145.90 $81.70 Year 3 $158.40 $165.80 $171.80 Total $ 5429.6 $ 5505.6 $ 4453.5 Grand Total $24,104.6 $ 21,880.6 $ 22878.5 Total one-off maintenance costs $ 68863.7 Miscellaneous costs (the unexpected occurrences) $ 31136.3 Total amount available for the project $ 100,000 Above tables shows a detailed costing of this project from the time of implementation to the time of maintenance follow-ups to the third year. Info System Limited offers The Big Mall three-year maintenance upon the completion of this project. The tec hnicians of Info System Limited will do this. The budget has also set aside an amount that would cover Info System during project implementation process. The two firms may not control such occurrences as inflation. To avoid cases where Info System is forced to ask for more funding from The Big Mall due to such eventualities, this amount is set aside to carter for such additional costs. This will ensure that the project remains viable in the entire process of its implementation. Quality management plan Principles guiding the project The project manager and all the stakeholders involved in undertaking this project are concerned with quality of the outcome of this project. For this reason, care was taken by these stakeholders to develop principles that would guide the entire research process to ensure that quality is delivered when the project is finally delivered. One of the principles that would be used in this project is based on Total Quality Management principles. This means that quality of this project will be a priority to all the involved stakeholders at every stage of their involvement in this project (Schwalbe 2010, p. 86). The project manager will be directly responsible for value chain management in the entire process of project implementation. Quality will be assessed from the planning stage. This means that before the project can be initiated, the entire plan will be assessed to determine its viability and desirability. The process of analyzing the plan before its implementation will take place in the office of the chief executive of The Big Mall. The chief executive and the Manager will be expected to give their input into the plan by either proposing any possible amendments into the project or just giving a nod when the presented plan is within their quality demands. Another important principle that will guide this project is that of separation of powers. In order to achieve the desired results at the expected rates and within the given deadlines, it will be necessary to define the role of every stakeholder in this project. This will avoid cases of duplication of assignments or other assignments missing participants. These principles will help guide every step taken to make the entire process a reality. Quality metrics When developing a project, one of the main important factors that a client would always be interested in is its quality. According to Fioravanti (2006, p. 38), the client would want the outcome of a project to be something of high value. This is because such projects are always very costly, and the only way of ensuring that clients find it worth spending in such projects is to offer them quality. In this project, project manager and other project members were very concerned of how to ensure that final products that will be delivered in this project is of very high quality. The following quality metrics was developing to help define the expected quality in this project. Quality Metrics ITEM QUALITY REQUIREME NT QUALITY METRICS DESCRIPTION PROCESS It will be necessary for the client to provide all the deliverables based on the agreed criteria to make the project a success. 1. All the activities and the deliverables must match with dates provided 2. It is important to ensure that the deliverables are complete. 3. Check-list should be used to track the progress of activities. 4. All the deliverables must meet the acceptance criteria. 1. The deliverables and activities must be aligned to stated dates in the Gantt chart. 2. The client and the contractor must provide all the needed variables. 3. It is necessary to follow project process using checklist. 4. Proposed criteria must be met. PRODUCT It should improve efficiency, accurate data retrieval and offer maximum customer satisfaction. 1. The production should be done with high efficiency 2. The product should be at least 98% efficient. 3. The product should wastage and improve saving. 4. The product should be customer-friendly 1. Incre ase productivity while reducing labor 1. Improve data accuracy and speed of data retrieval. 3. Help in cost cutting such as reduction of staff. 4. customer should find the product efficient and able to meet their demands PROJECT Control of the progress of the project 1. Identification and elimination of high risks 2. Any issue identified should be resolved as soon as possible 3. Project must be accomplished as per the budget 4. Project progress must be submitted on a weekly basis 1. All risks that may have massive impact on the project be mitigated 2. Any issues raised must not take 2 days before they are resolved 3. All the costs of the project must be within the assigned budget 4. A report of the project’s status must be delivered regularly Verification and validation activities According to Porter-Roth (2002, p. 89), it is always important to ensure that there is a follow-up of a project to determine the extent to which it is within the original expectations as stated in the plan. This does not mean that some failures are obvious and are expected making it necessary to have follow-ups. Verification and validation activities are always carried out to help in the accountability of the project (Thomsett 2002, p. 71). The analysis will help determine if the project was conducted within the initial costs as specified during the planning stage. The verification also helps in determining if the project has succeeded in achieving the set objectives. In this project, the internal auditors of The Big Mall, which is the client in this project, and auditors from Info Service limited will conduct the verification and validation activities. The two groups of auditors will then share their findings in order to determine if the project has achieved the intended objectives at the pre-set cost. This should be done in a clear manner. The two firms must clearly state the names of the auditors who will be responsible for the task of auditing. The date, time of audit and the time the audit results will be given should also be stated. Risk control plan The process of installing this new system is generally safe and the project management team does not expect any serious risks associated with safety of the individuals who will be taking part in this project. However, measures have been put in place to ensure that any possible eventuality that may pose any risk to the participants is well taken care of in the entire project implementation process. Minor injuries that may be caused by the instruments used in this project will be treated the first aiders. First aid kit will be part of the items needed in this project because some of the instruments to be used are sharp and can cause harm. The quality assurance team will address the risks associated with the quality of the system under construction. This has been defined in the sections above. The project manager will play a pivotal role in identifying and these risks and addressing them with the rel evant departments. Quality metrics defined above will be helpful in identifying and addressing possible risks within the project itself. The risk of possible inflation during project implementation has been addressed in the budget. The budgeting team has set aside some funds for miscellaneous expenses that may arise during the process of implementing the project. According to Marchewka (2009, p. 98), some projects have failed during the process of their implementation because the planned budget did not consider possible risk of inflation. They realize that the project is not viable under new economic environment and therefore, abandon the project a lot the way. This project took measures that would mitigate such eventualities. Project Summary The purpose of this project is to come up with an Information Kiosk that will enable customers of The Big Mall access information they need with a lot of ease. The Big Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in Canberra. However, this prestig ious position cannot be retained forever if measures are not taken to ensure that their customers are fully satisfied with their work. This firm has come to realize that its employees are in need of information on various issues about the products they purchase and about the firm. However, these customers are unable to get this information as needed because of the limited number of employees who can respond to their question. The only way they can satisfy this information need without having to higher more employees is to set up the Information Kiosks. This project will develop eight Information Kiosks within Canberra where customers can walk in any time and access any information they need. To make this possible, the client must fund this project appropriately. The project members must also have the competence needed to undertake various activities that will be assigned to them. The process of monitoring this project will be done by officers from The Big Mall, which is the client, and Info Service, which is the contracted firm. List of References Fioravanti, F 2006, Skills for managing rapidly changing IT projects, IRM, Hershey. Kerzner, H 2009, Project management – A systems approach to planning,  scheduling and controlling, Wiley, Hoboken. Levine, H 2002, Practical project management: Tips tactics and tools. Cengage, New York. Marchewka, J 2009, Information technology project management, Wiley and Sons, Hoboken. Muriwani, J 2012, IT project management: Providing measurable organizational value, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken. Phillips, J 2004, IT project management: On track from start to finish, McGraw Hill, Sydney. Porter-Roth, B 2002, Request for proposal: A guide to effective RFP development, Addison-Wesley, Boston. Schwalbe, K 2010, Information technology Project Management, Cengage Learning, Boston. Thomsett, R 2002, Radical project management, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River. Wysocki, R 2012, Effective project management: Traditional, agile, ex tremeis, Wiley, Indianapolis. This proposal on The Big Mall Information Kiosks was written and submitted by user Matthias Hansen to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Why I Chose CreateSpace to Print My Paperback

Why I Chose CreateSpace to Print My Paperback Why I Chose CreateSpace to Print My Paperback Yvonne M. Feltman owns a successful pet sitting company in Austin, Texas called Custom Critter Sitters and aspires to be a New York Times Bestselling Author. In this article, she talks about her experience using CreateSpace (now known as KDP Print) to create her latest nonfiction, Your Pets Are Fine†¦ and Other Lies. If you’re currently comparing the different print on demand services out there, this might just help you choose!As a first-time self-published author, the decisions I had to make after I finished writing the chapters of my novel seemed daunting. Navigating the sometimes murky waters of ISBNs, copyright, font decisions, beta readers, sensitivity readers, book  editing services, cover design, and all the seemingly endless details during the process was not easy. Only determined authors will get to the finish line and have the privilege of saying â€Å"I published a book.† Luckily, the internet is full of amazing resources for new authors, including too ls like Reedsy, where I was able to find a highly experienced editor - Adam O'Brien - to help me perfect my story.I think every author should have the opportunity for that special moment when someone asks for an autograph on their own book. That can’t quite be done on an eBook! It is neat to wonder where my paperbacks may end up - on a shelf in a guest cottage in the French Riviera, or at a garage sale 20 years from now. My book could fall into the hands of a movie producer and we could see it as a dark comedy on the big screen one day.There is nothing like walking into the local bookstore and seeing a stack of my own books on a shelf for sale. How many people do you know personally who can claim that? The answer is likely â€Å"not many.† Publishing a book is a truly unique accomplishment that not many get to claim. Luckily, in the current day, we have robust tools like Createspace and Reedsy to help make that happen.Have you used any of the POD services out there? What was your experience? Leave any thoughts or questions for Yvonne in the comments below!Your Pets Are Fine†¦ and Other Lies is available in paperback and on Amazon Kindle!

David Gregg and the History of the Optical Disk

David Gregg and the History of the Optical Disk An optical disk is a plastic-coated disk that stores digital data. Tiny pits are etched into the disk surface that are read with a laser scanning the surface. The technology behind the optical disk is the foundation for similiar formats including CDs and DVDs. David Gregg The optical disk is an analog video optical disk format. The original format provided full bandwidth composite video and two analog audio tracks (digital audio tracks were added later). The optical disk (commonly known as the laser disc as trademarked by Pioneer) was replaced in popularity by the introduction of DVD in 1997. David Gregg Speaks on the Invention of the Optical Disk ...By dumbing down an electron beam to visible wavelengths, modulating it to the standard PWM video frequency, and reducing the power to photoresistive requirements, an e-beam optical videodisk mastering system was practical and commercially available in the late 50s. However, this simple and practical means of mastering was abandoned by others in favor of more costly and time delaying technology: the laser, the supreme toy of the moment for techies. Impact of David Greggs Patents Digital Versatile Disc or DVD and LaserDisc from PioneerMiniDisc from Sony Compact Disc or CD from Philips the 3M Company List of Patents for Optical Disk Technology Continue Extract from Optical Disk Patent Special thanks goes to Tom Peterson for providing information for this page including the words of David Gregg. David Gregg was Toms father by adoption. A transparent plastic disc is described in the Copending Application Ser. No. 627,701, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,966, issued March 4, 1969, in which picture information in the form of video signals is recorded on one or both sides of the disc. The recorded picture information on the disc is intended to be reproduced, for example, through a television receiver, by playing the disc on a turntable and by directing a light beam through the disc, as described in the Copending Application Ser. No. 507,474 now, abandoned, and its continuation-in-part application, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,530,258. The light beam is modulated by the video recordings on the disc, and a pick-up head is provided which responds to the resulting light signals to transform them into corresponding electrical video or picture signals for playback purposes. The present invention is concerned with such a video disc record, and with a duplication process by which a multiplicity of such records may be mass-produced from a master record die. The material of the disc record surface is made such to be appropriate for embossing and to enable, under suitable temperature conditions, a slight force pressing the disc surface against a master die to cause the impressions on the surface of the die to be embossed into the surface of the disc. With such an embossing process, there is no transverse flow of the disc material, as occurs in the usual prior art stamping or molding processes, as are presently being used in the production of phonograph sound records, for example, and by which the actual surface of the record is raised above its melting point. The stamping techniques presently being used in the manufacture of phonograph records are not suitable for the extraordinarily fine microgrooves and patterns required by video frequency recordings of picture information. Such stamping techniques as are presently being used in the production of phonograph sound records require that the master record die be heated to a temperature above the melting point of the vinyl or other plastic material used in the phonograph record. In the prior art phonograph record duplicating process, a biscuit of the vinyl or other plastic material is placed in a stamper, and the heated master record die is brought down onto one or both surfaces of the biscuit. The plastic of the biscuit surface is melted and caused to flow radially into the spaces defined by the impressions on the master die surface. As mentioned above, this stamping technique by present day standards appears to be unsuited for the extremely fine micro-spiral grooves required for video frequency recordings. As an alternative to the present day practice, and as will be described, a video disc record blank of laminated transparent plastic construction may be provided, the laminated record having a surface layer of relatively soft transparent plastic of any suitable known type, and which can be readily embossed; and a supporting base of a rigid plastic, such as an acrylic resin or polyvinyl chloride. As a first step in the alternate approach, the laminated disc record blank is heated to a point at which the surface tension of the surface material causes the surface to be smooth and regular. This temperature is the critical temperature at which embossed impressions may be formed on the disc surface, and it is below the melting point of the surface material. The embossing die(s) is(are) heated to a temperature slightly above the critical temperature, and it(they) and the record blank are brought together with a slight pressure. As the die(s) and the record blank are brought together, the die(s) is(are) cooled to the aforesaid critical temperature, and its (their) surface impressions are embossed into the surface(s) of the record. Obviously, if two sides are being embossed, two embossing dies are required. The supporting structure would require modification, but such modification is well within the skill of the art. After the disc record has been embossed, as described above, an opaque mask is deposited into the portions of its surface around the resulting embossed micro-grooves. This latter mask may be formed on the disc by using a vacuum deposition technique, as will be described. The aforesaid disc record, when laminated in accordance with the aforesaid alternate approach, is used in order to present the desired surface characteristics for optimum embossing capabilities, and yet so that the record itself may be rugged and suitable for rough usage. The laminated structure of the record comprises reasonably tough and dimensionally stable clear plastic for the main body of the disc; and a plastic material on one or both surfaces of the disc which is most suited for embossing. The combination provides a video record disc which is useful, which can take on appropriate amount of handling, and which still can be embossed easily and effectively.

Pathway to RVCC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pathway to RVCC - Essay Example At the time I took that job, I had planned on enrolling in college to get a degree in Nursing. But working full-time and raising my son by myself proved to be very demanding, so I decided to put school on the back burner for a while and concentrate on paying my debts and spending quality time with my son. It was at this time that I met a lovely man, and we decided that since we liked each other so much, we might as well make a commitment to each other. We combined the money we were spending on rent and got a home for ourselves. We found a charming cape-cod-style house in Somerville with a yard big enough for my son and his two active golden retrievers. We thought we were the luckiest people alive! Fast forward to February 14, 2004-our lucky streak ended. The job I had just lost was a union job that required only a high school diploma, and it paid well. Now I realized that without a "proper" education, I could never make as much money as before. It was a difficult time, and I feared for the future of my family. But my lack of a college education trapped me where I was. One day, while waiting for the blue unemployment checks to arrive, I ventured out on Route 22 West searching for a Walmart, and saw a sign that said "Raritan Valley Community College: next right." Something took over me, and I made the right almost instinctively, which led me to the college campus. I found the perfect parking space and wandered into the building. At the student advisement center, I poured my heart out to the college counselor. She listened and guided me through the college enrollment process, which was easier than I had thought. I did some research on their Nursing program and knew right away it was the degree I wanted to pursue. It was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life! I later came to realize that I loved college, making new friends, and just being in a learning environment. I think I will be a student for life. Eventually, I found a great job working in the medical practice. I even turned down the union when they came calling with a job offer. I had decided to finish what I started in college, and I never looked back-a choice that sets a good example for my son as well. He's very proud of me-and one day his Mommy will be a Nurse and help others feel better. His sweet words made me feel lucky

Segmentation and Possible Target Markets Case Study - 1

Segmentation and Possible Target Markets - Case Study Example This is because both of these drinks initially originated from the United States hence the people identify with the brand. Behavioral aspects of the people of the United States also determine the marketing segment. The people constantly enjoy a soft drink as compared to the other part of the world where beverages like tea possess more popularity. Hence, the United States is a market segment for coke and diet coke based on geographic, psychographic and behavioral patterns (D’Altorio, 2010). The product coke targets towards the whole population in the market. However, Coca-Cola Company takes exceptional effort to ensure that various age groups associated with this brand. As a result, teenagers become a market segment for the Coca-Cola Company. Teenagers are a notorious market segment that proves hard to impress various times. However, Coca-Cola takes up the challenge to identify their brand with the young generation since teenagers constantly consume soft drinks. Teenagers provi de a good market segment since they are an ideal target for both coke and diet coke. While Coke aims at the general teenage population, diet coke appeals easily to teenage girls who are health conscious and prefer to consume a low-calorie soft drink. Coca-cola targets the teenage population by placing their products in school vending machines. In addition, the social media plays a crucial role in ensuring the brand advertises itself to teenagers through popular sites such as facebook and twitter. One of the advertisements by coca cola targeting teenager is the global ad campaign that uses the love of music by teenagers to appeal to them (Chapman, 2011).Women in the United States are a market segment specifically due to their consumption of Diet Coke. Since the release of the product in 1982, diet coke receives appraisal and acceptance in the United States market as a feminine drink. This is because the drink attracted more female customers than it did male customers.  

Acme Fireworks Prospectus Essay Example for Free

Acme Fireworks Prospectus Essay Acme Fireworks is a fireworks retailer that sells fireworks, puts on ground display fireworks, and large aerial displays fireworks. Acme Fireworks has been a sole proprietorship since it began two years ago. At this time the owner is receiving inquiries as to Acme Fireworks ability to create fireworks displays on a regular basis. CITATION Rog12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012). In anticipation of increased business, the owner of Acme Fireworks is in need of some information. This prospectus is going to inform the owner as to: Whether or not the business will be governed by common law or the Uniform Commercial Code. Analyze whether or not the owner has any actual contracts. Explain the potential personal liability to Acme Fireworks is someone is injured by a stray firework. Discuss different employment types while discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each type as it applies to Acme Fireworks. And finally, give suggestions as to why Acme Fireworks should no longer be a sole proprietorship. When it comes to contracts, it is important to understand that there are two different bodies of law that come into play, the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and the common law of contracts. The difference between the UCC and the common law contract can make a huge difference in the outcome of a contract dispute. This could be the difference between being able to collect punitive damages, discharge or modify a contract, be able to sue under breach of contract, and whether or not there truly a legally recognizable contract after all CITATION Gun12 \l 1033 (Denton, 2012). It is important to understand the type of contract governed by each body of law. The UCC applies to the sale of goods and securities, and common law of contracts applies to contracts for services, real estate, insurance, intangible assets, and employment CITATION Gun12 \l 1033 (Denton, 2012). If the contract should happen to be for both  the sale of goods and for securities, the dominant element would be in control of the contract CITATION Gun12 \l 1033 (Denton, 2012). Should Acme Fireworks have contracts with the inquiring businesses, these contracts would be governed under UCC rule. The contracts would be for both goods and services with goods being the dominant factor of the contracts. There would be more fireworks than there would be personnel. Hence, this would be the reasoning for a UCC contract. In order for the owner to have valid contracts with inquiring businesses there are five elements that must be present in order for the contracts to be valid. First there must be an offer. An offer is an invitation for another to enter into a contract CITATION Rog 12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012).Then there is the need for acceptance. Acceptance is the acquiescence to enter into a contract CITATION Rog12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012). Then there is consideration. Consideration is anything of legal value that is asked for and received as the price for entering into a contract CITATION Rog12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012). Now there is legality. Legality is the extent to which the contract is legal and not against public policy CITATION Rog12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012). Finally, there is capacity. Capacity is the mental competency to enter into a contract CITATION Rog12 \l 1033 (Rogers, 2012). Considering Acme Firework’s new â€Å"contracts†; Was there an offer? No, there was not an offer. The businesses were making inquiries, asking questions trying to find out what Acme Fireworks could handle. Was the acceptance? No, there was no acceptance. There were no contracts offered, therefore nothing to accept. Was there consideration? No, there was no consideration. Pricing of the firework displays was talked about, but that w as just information given to answer question f the inquiry. Is there legality? Yes, when the contracts are made they will be legal as they will not be against public policy. Is there capacity? Yes, there is capacity. It is safe to assume that the owner of Acme Fireworks and the owners of the other businesses are of sound mind and body therefore able to enter into legally binding contracts. So, did the owner have enforceable contracts? No, he did not. While there was legality and capacity; there was no offer, acceptance, or consideration present. Fireworks displays are beautiful and exciting, but they are also very dangerous. The operator of a fireworks display has a duty to fireworks are done in a safe way that does not injure spectators CITATION All13 \l 1033  (Business, 2013). To successfully sue a promoter of a firework display, it must be shown that the promoter failed to keep spectators at a reasonable safe distance CITATION All13 \l 1033 (Business, 2013). In order to sue the operator of a firework display it must be shown that the spectator was injured by the discharge of a fireworks or firework that did not explode properly CITATION All13 \l 1033 (Business, 2013). Should an injury occur negligence by the operator is presumed, as the operator is in sole control of firing the fireworks. Essentially, Acme Fireworks is going to want any such liabilities to be the responsibility of the company and not result in personal liability. Being a sole proprietorship Acme Fireworks will be liable for all debts and claims against the business. A lawsuit of this type could be financially devastating. However, should Acme Fireworks take the time and effort to incorporate or to form a Limited Liability Company they would more than likely be protected to a significant degree from such personal injury CITATION All13 \l 1033 (Business, 2013) Should these contracts come into being, Acme Fireworks will need to hire more employees. But which type of employee should Acme Fireworks employ? The full-time employee works regular and on-going, between 35-45 hours a week, which includes non-wage entitlements and benefits like paid holiday leave, sick leave, and long service leave CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014). Part-time permanent work is regular and on-going, involves fewer hours than full-time and usually has set days or set hours. No benefits and entitlements are received by part-time employees. Casual work is on-going and involves irregular hours and hourly pay. Casual workers work on an as needed basis, which means that they work when they are needed CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014). There are no entitlements for casual workers since the entitlements are factored into 20% of the higher hourly rate that casual workers receive CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014). Casuals usually receive hourly rates of pay based on a minimum 15% loading of normal or applicable hourly rates of pay CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014). Fixed term or contract employees are hired for a fixed period of time for a specific project or to replace an employee on sick leave or paternal leave CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014). This type of employee would need an agreement in writing that sets out the length of the employment contract. Fixed term employees are entitled to the same annual personal and other leave as  full-time employees, but on a proportional basis for the period of their employment CITATION ASU14 \l 1033 (ASU, 2014) Piecework and commission only payment employees rather than being paid a wage or salary are paid by: Piecework – the paying f a specific amount for completing a specific task. Commission – the paying of a percentage for each sale made Retainer plus commission – the paying of a fixed amount plus commission. Should Acme Fi reworks decide to hire more employees, my suggestion would be to hire casual workers. Casual workers do not expect to work all the time they work when they are needed. They would not have to give them any entitlements just work. Should Acme Fireworks become so busy that they are working everyday then they might want to get some full time workers. But, as of right now go with the casual workers. Acme Fireworks has been a sole proprietorship since it began two years ago. As a sole proprietorship all liabilities for finances and operations are on the owner. The owner’s personal property is tied to the business, so the owner assumes a risk against his personal property should the business experience financial hardship. Profits and losses of the business are reported through the owner and are taxed at the individual rate. The sole proprietorship entity is the easiest entity to set up, but the owner will probably have to sell the business to retrieve his investment. Should Acme Fireworks become a partnership? A partnership has two or more owners that share equal control, unless the partnership agreement says otherwise or the entity is set up as a limited partnership CITATION Phi14 \l 1033 (Phillips, 2014). Like a sole partnership, profits and losses of the business flow through the partners and are taxed at the individual rate. Operating partners assume risks, both legally and financially. Creditors can attempt to collect debts from the partner’s personal assets CITATION Phi14 \l 1033 (Phillips, 2014). To recoup their investment the partner is required to sell his interest in the business. With the potential for devastatingly high personal injury claims, this entity would not be the one for Acme Fireworks. This entity jeopardizes the personal assets of the businesses owners. A corporation? A corporation can have an unlimited number of owners, known as shareholders. This business entity remains separate from the owners in legal and financial matters CITATION Phi14 \l 1033 (Phillips, 2014). The profits and losses of a corporation are taxed at corporate rates, not individual rates. Should the  corporation realize a profit it is paid out to the shareholders who then report it as income and pay taxes on it at an individual rate CITATION Phi14 \l 1033 (Phillips, 2014). Corporations are taxed twice, once at the time of profits and losses and then again when the shareholders realize the dividends. Or a limited liability company? This entity is a partnership and a corporation mixed together. Owners are protected from personal liability like a corporation, but enjoy the tax advantages similar to a partnership. The LLC would be the entity I would suggest for Acme Fireworks due to the ability to be free from personal liability and the ability to be taxed at the lower partnership rate. References: BIBLIOGRAPHY \l 1033 ASU. (2014). Employment Type Defin itions Eligibility Summary. Retrieved from ASU: http://www.asu.edu Business, A. (2013, July 13). Fireworks Displays. Retrieved from Avoiding Personal Liability: http://www.allbusiness.com Denton, G. . (2012). Thwe difference between a contract that falls undert the UCC and one that does not and why it is important to you. Retrieved from Gunderson Denton at Law: http://www.gundersondenton.com/business/difference-contract-falls-ucc-important Phillips, C. (2014). Three Types of Business Entity. Retrieved from Small Business: http://www.smallbusiness.chron.com Rogers, S. (2012). Essentials of Bussiness Law. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

The Death Penalty: A Necessary Evil Essay -- essays research papers

The Death Penalty: a Necessary Evil Life is the most wonderful gift that God gives us. He also gives us the power to do what we wish with that life. We can keep it and guard it, or we can take it away. It follows that murder is the worst crime anyone could ever commit. It is a crime that no one can ever make right because once you take a life away you can never give it back. Penalties exacted from criminals are made to fit the crimes committed. The worst crime possible should therefore receive the worst penalty possible. That penalty is the death penalty. Take, for example, the case of a man who is caught shoplifting. He does not deserve the same punishment as someone who is convicted of assault and battery. Most people would have no problem agreeing with this. Yet many of these same people believe that a cold blooded killer deserves the same life sentence as a convicted kidnapper who did not kill his prisoner. Granted these are both serious offenses, but our system of law works be degrees of seriousness. The mental damage done to that prisoner can be turned around, but the life taken away by the murderer can never be given back. They should therefore be given a harsher punishment than life in prison. In terms of justice, we should all get what we deserve. One argument against the death penalty is that the bible tells us not to murder. If this includes all people it should include the government. However, the death penalty is not quite the same as murder. It is an exacting...

A reasoned evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses in Marxism, Functionalism and Feminism

A sociological theory is a set of ideas that provide an explanation for human society. In undertaking an accurate interpretation of three sociological perspectives, I will make a reasoned evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses in Marxism, Functionalism and Feminism. From the three chosen sociological perspectives I will also look at their individual views on religion and the family. SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES MARXISM Marxism named after its founder Karl Marx (1818 – 1883) is very famous and influential. Marx regarded people as both producers and the products of society, he believed since people made society, only they can change it. He argued that ‘man makes his own history'. Marx believed that the rich would get richer (bourgeois – ruling class) and that the poor would get poorer (proletariat – subordinate /working class). He proposed that the proletariat would revolt in anger, leading to a revolution, resulting in the disappearance of the social class system and that people would live in a more equal society. Max Weber (1864 – 1920) agreed with Marx, however he also stressed the importance of status and power (i.e. an individual may be poor but have high status, such as a teacher). His views on religion differed to that of Marx too, arguing that it could be a source of conflict and change rather than a source of stability or social control. Key Names: Mark, Eng els, Young and Taylor. FUNCTIONALISM Society is viewed as a system, that is, as a set of interconnected parts that together form a whole. Functionalists believe that society has basic needs, which must be met if it is to continue to exist. It believes the concept of function i.e. the function of the family is to ensure the continuity of society by reproducing and socializing new members and the function of religion is to integrate the social system by reinforcing common values. Key Names: Durkheim, Merton, Murdock, Malinowski and Parsons. FEMINISM The basic assumption shared by all feminists is that women suffer certain injustices on account of their sex. Feminist sociology, stresses the importance of gender divisions in society and it portrays these divisions as working to the overall advantage to men. Although feminists are united by their common desire for sexual justice and their concern for women's welfare, there is actually a wide spectrum of ‘feminisms' (Mitchell and Oakley, 1986). These can be divided into four broad ‘tendencies': liberal, radical, Marxist/socialist and Black. STRENGTHS MARXISM Critical of Capitalism. In favour of the average person in society. Economic base or infrastructure and Political/Ideological superstructure. Social Structure (Macro Approach). FUNCTIONALISM Functional Imperatives: Goal Attainment, Adaptation, Integration and Latency. Functional sub-systems: Economic, Political, Family and Religion. FEMINISM Has done a lot to improve things for women over the years. Focuses on male/female relationships. Looks at laws needed/ used to ‘redress' male/female power balance (equal legal protection and social rights). WEAKNESSES MARXISM Too many inconsistencies and interpretations of Marx's work. Unscientific (the ‘Faith of Marxism' – Popper). Conspiracy theory (especially aimed at instrumental Marxists). Communism does not appear about to happen. Forms of (non-economic) conflict (gender, ethnic group) ignored in favour of economic conflicts. Left Functionalism (‘Marxism is little more than a form of Functionalism that replaces the interest of ‘society' with ‘ruling class' – Jock Young). Modern society is more complex than Marx predicted. Comparatively dated theories. Critics: Popper, Weber, Young (‘Left Idealism'), any New Right Theorist, Social biologists and Radical Feminists. FUNCTIONALISM Functionalists find it hard to explain rapid social change. They believe that ‘if something exists it has a function. It has a function because it exists'. The belief that non-human things like ‘society' can have human qualities such as ‘needs and purposes'. Over-emphasis upon the ‘beneficial' aspects of institutions and structures. Believing that society revolves around family unit – but not willing to recognise that not all people worldwide – belong to a family unit – yet function well. Critics: Marxist Sociologists, Radical and Marxist Feminists. FEMINISM Women – like working class men – are at a fundamental economic disadvantage; although Feminists refuse to see that. Legal changes mainly benefited middle class women. Legal equality not the same as status equality. Ignores study of social structural factors (e.g. class). Feminism geared towards middle class feminists (Bourgeois). Men are seen as the ‘enemy' (Marxist Feminism). Critics: Radical Feminists and New Right of Liberal Feminists and New Right, Marxist/Socialist Feminists of Radical Feminists. STRUCTURAL VIEWS ON RELIGION AND THE FAMILY Religions, families and societies have been around for a very long time. Unsurprisingly, we find family units and religions present in all known societies, and consequently, families and religion have a social impact. Everyone has their own view of what religion and the family consists of. These pre conceived ides are mostly to do with our own backgrounds, culture and life experiences. There is a lot of disagreement among sociologists about the roles of religion and the family within society; we will look at three sociological perspectives: RELIGION MARXISM In Marx's view, ‘Man makes religion, religion does not make man'. In other words, religion is the self-conscious and the self-feeling of man who has either not found himself or has already lost himself again. ‘Truly liberated individuals have no need of religion'. Thus, if the alienation and exploitation associated with the classes are eradicated, and people are freed to develop their human potential and find themselves, as in a truly socialist society, religion will no longer be needed and will cease to exist. Marx and Engels believed that religion represented a protest against a dehumanising social world and human alienation, it also leads people into false hopes and direction, along with the ‘solutions' it promises that are illusory. It obscures and distorts the true nature of reality in ways that benefit the ruling class. Marx anticipated that when a classless society was established, religion would disappear. FUNCTIONALISM Whereas Durkheim sees religion as an expression and celebration of people's sociality. Religion creates order and stability in society; it can be an agent of socialization and create a sense of social solidarity. Malinowski accepted like Durkheim that religion creates social solidarity but he believed that religion is a response to peoples needs during stress (e.g. birth and death). Parsons believed the role of religion served two functions, one to provide guidelines (behaviour in society) and the other is to answer ultimate questions. FEMINISM Religion is seen as an instrument of oppression, as a product of patriarchy rather than a product of capitalism. Religion is used by oppressors (men) to control the oppressed group (women), and it also serves as a way of compensating women for their second-class status. In most typical religions of the last millennium women are subservient and secondary to men (i.e. Catholic church and Muslims). THE FAMILY MARXISM The Marxists position asserts that the nuclear family is not universal but a product of capitalism and that the family is an exploitative institution. Murdock's theory is critised because he didn't consider that other social institutions could have performed the functions and he does not examine other alternatives to the family. In Engels theory he suggested that the main reason that the family developed was to solve the problem of inheritance, also that the family was the most efficient device for insuring legitimacy of the proposed heirs. Engels theory was largely based on a flawed interpretation of the family by Anthropologist, Lewis Morgan (1900). FUNCTIONALISM A strong supporter of the family is the Functionalist. Their belief is that the family is the ‘cornerstone of society'. A study was conducted on the family, studying 250 societies by George Murdock (Social Structure 1949). In his study, he concluded that the ‘nuclear family is a universal human social grouping †¦. It exists as a distinct and strongly functional group in every known society'. Murdock identifies four basic functions that the family performs: sexual, reproductive, economic and educational. Fellow functionalist Talcott Parsons would largely agree with Murdock's theories of the family. FEMINISM Feminists' criticise the family as the focus on the exploitation of women by men, they argue that men dominate family relationships. Radical feminists argue that in it's most extreme form this means oppression and violence (Russell Dobash, 1980). Evidence to suggest that women are dissatisfied in their family life is portrayed in the rise of divorces filed by women. Parson's theory of the family being a safe haven is more myth than reality for families today. Feminist Margaret Benson focuses mainly only the point that women are a source of cheap labour, as the housewife is unpaid for her work. In the family women are primarily seen as a housewife and mother, and in this environment men are given the control over women's sexuality and fertility. EVALUATION The different aspects of religion have a social impact and must be measured. Through out history there is considerable evidence to support Marx's ideology, that religion maintains the existing system of exploitation and reinforces class relationship, thereby keeping people in their place (consider the Islamic world). However, conflicting evidence suggests that religion does not always legitimate power (Catholicism – Pope – Rome). Whilst Feminism implies that religion and belief systems are an instrument of manipulation for men to use on women; although I believe this theory to be the case for some religions but not all. It can vary from religion to religion, for example women cannot become priests in the Roman Catholic or Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, but in the Jewish faith women can become rabbis and do not sit apart from men. Contrary to Marxist views that religion suppresses people' attempts to change their situation, religion can sometimes provide an impetus for change (Queen Mary – Catholicism and Queen Elizabeth I – Protestant). The Functionalist perspective of belief systems and religion does not vindicate for the dysfunctional aspects that the unruly force of religion can manifest (i.e. war in the name of ‘Religion'). The subject of the family and how it is defined is extremely difficult to determine. Marxists position asserts that the nuclear family is not universal but a product of capitalism and that the family is an exploitive institution, and that it was the simplest solution for insuring legitimacy of proposed heirs. Whereby Functionalism is a strong supporter of the family, believing it to be the ‘cornerstone' of society. Feminists' criticise the family as the focus on the exploitation of women by men, they argue that men dominate family relationships. CONCLUSION Everyone has their own view of what religion and the family consists of. These pre conceived ideas are mostly to do with our own backgrounds, culture and life experiences. I find it difficult to subscribe to one theory over another as Functionalist, Marxist and Feminist theories can be interpreted in many different ways. Consequently each theory's perspective will work for their interpretation of religion, the family and society. The three theories are not too dissimilar to the three main Political Parties (Labour, Conservative and Liberal) in Britain; each has it's own agenda, but are all are equally as devious! I am more inclined to opt for the Feminist and Marxist theories as they seem more plausible and are more comparative to past history and present day findings. I also believe that as societies cultures change through time, so will our definition of family, religion and society.

Habeas Corpus and the War on Terror Essay

In this paper I will be diving in to the history of Habeas Corpus and how it has evolved over the years. I will briefly explain the origination of the habeas corpus, the role it plays in U. S. A and what current action is being taken about it. I will be also looking in to the Bush administration and the way they dealt with habeas corpus. The original purpose of habeas corpus â€Å"was to bring people into court rather than out of imprisonment† and by the year 1230, the writ’s utility for that purpose was a well-known aspect of English common law. Known as â€Å"the Great Writ,† its codification into English law came by way of Parliament in the Habeas Corpus Act of 1641, created in response to the King of England’s actions during what is now referred to as Darnell’s Case. In Darnell, five English noblemen were thrown â€Å"into the castle’s dungeon deep† for failure to support their country’s dual wars against France and Spain. The men filed suit, requesting the King provide an explanation as to their imprisonment. King Charles refused, on review; the court upheld the monarchy’s steadfast silence, stating that the law did not require the King to provide any justification for their detention. The public outcry against this decision was deafening, prompting Parliamentary action the following year. Parliament expanded habeas rights several years later with the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, additionally requiring â€Å"charges to be brought within a specific time period for anyone detained for criminal acts. † By 1765, habeas corpus was firmly imbedded within the foundation of English law, as noted by William Blackstone, who described the Great Writ as â€Å"a second magna carta, a stable bulwark of our liberties. This fundamental English right successfully traversed the Atlantic Ocean when our founders incorporated the doctrine of habeas corpus into the U. S. Constitution. As stated, â€Å"The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it. Known as the â€Å"Suspension Clause,† this provision specifically places the ability to suspend habeas corpus in the hands of Congress only during times of rebellion or invasion. Despite the clarity of the clause, the American debate on habeas corpus only begins at this point. The ‘Great Writ’ of habeas corpus has long had an iconic status as the ‘writ of liberty’ which ensured that no person could be detained in prison without being put to trial by a jury of his peers. According to the traditional version, popularized by Whiggish constitutional writers from the late seventeenth century onwards, the English constitution as embodied in the common law had, since time immemorial, striven to protect the fundamental rights of Englishmen and women, which included the right to personal liberty obban, M. & Halliday, P. D. (2011). Habeas Corpus is an ancient common law prerogative writ – a legal procedure to which you have an undeniable right. It is an extraordinary remedy at law. Upon proper application, or even on naked knowledge alone, a court is empowered, and is duty bound, to issue the Extraordinary Writ of Habeas Corpus commanding one who is restraining liberty to forthwith produce before the court the person who is in custody and to show because why the liberty of that person is being restrained. Absent a sufficient showing for a proper restraint of liberty, the court is duty bound to order the restraint eliminated and the person discharged. Habeas Corpus is fundamental to American and all other English common law derivative systems of jurisprudence. It is the ultimate lawful and peaceable remedy for adjudicating the providence of liberty’s restraint. Robertson. J, (2002). After the attacks of 11 September 2001, came the war in Afghanistan followed by the war in Iraq: a two-pronged engagement collectively known as the Global War on Terror As U. S. rmed forces captured enemy combatants by the M35 truckload, the Bush administration pondered how to systematically detain such persons in a manner that would provide adequate detention while maintaining intelligence-gathering capabilities vital to the war efforts. The answer was found on the island of Cuba: Guantanamo Bay. U. S. naval forces have occupied this site since 1903, and it seemed to provide the perfect solution. Relying on the Court’s previous precedent in Johnson v. Eisentrager, govemment officials believed that keeping enemy combatants outside the realm of U.  S. territory would preclude such individual’s filing, among other things, claims for habeas corpus review. The govemment’s legal position was tested almost as quickly as the detainees arrived. Beginning in 2002, the United States transported captured enemy combatants to the area of Guantanamo Bay known as â€Å"Camp X-Ray. Applications for writs of habeas corpus by Guantanamo detainees were made as early as February 2002. In Coalition of Clergy v. Bush, the U. S. District Court for the Central District of California first approached this issue in line with govemment expectations. Relying on Johnson v. Eisentrager, the court held that several U. S. citizens under the â€Å"Coalition of Clergy, Lawyers, and Professors† who had filed â€Å"show cause† petitions on behalf of enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay lacked â€Å"standing to assert claims on behalf of the detainees. † The court further concluded that, â€Å"even if petitioners did have standing, this court lacked jurisdiction to entertain those claims. Moreover, the court found that no federal court would have jurisdiction over petitioners’ claims, so there is no basis to transfer this matter to another federal district court. Because Guantanamo Bay remained outside U. S. sovereignty, the case closely mirrored that of Eisentrager As a result, the United States failed to maintain jurisdiction and the court dismissed the petition. In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force which grants the President power â€Å"‘to use all necessary and appropriate force'† against all who either participated in any way in those attacks or gave refuge to those who participated. Under this authority, the Department of Defense ordered several â€Å"enemy combatants† to be transferred to Guantanamo Bay for detention. In Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, a plurality of the Court recognized that the ability to detain individuals engaged in armed conflict against the United States was â€Å"so fundamental and accepted an incident to war as to be an exercise of the ‘necessary and appropriate force’ Congress has authorized the President to use. Notwithstanding this explicit sanction of detention, the Court held that the â€Å"citizen-detainee seeking to challenge his classification as an enemy combatant must receive notice of the factual basis for his classification, and a fair opportunity to rebut the Government’s factual assertions before a neutral decision maker. † The Court suggested that this could be done â€Å"by an appropriately authorized and properly constituted military tribunal. † Pond, B. C. (2009). The rationale for the U. S. detention policy derives from the Bush administration’s comprehensive military order issued on November 13, 001, which is intended to govern the â€Å"Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War against Terrorism. † Purportedly modeled after a proclamation and military order issued by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during World War II, President Bush’s military order limits the use of military commissions to any non-citizen for whom the president determines: is or was a member of al Qaeda, has committed, aided or abetted, or conspired to commit terrorist acts, or has knowingly harbored one or more of these individuals. Several months after the issuance of this military order, the administration began using the term â€Å"enemy combatant† to describe those subject to detention and trial by military commission. The administration’s definition of enemy combatant, however, has varied over time. The administration sometimes uses the â€Å"enemy combatant† label as a term of art to describe a new and unique category of combatant in the post 9/11 world. On other occasions, the administration uses the term generically to describe what traditionally has been called lawful and unlawful combatants, while at other times the term is used synonymously with unlawful combatants. According to this definition, the term â€Å"enemy combatant† is not limited to war combatants alone, but includes anyone who has aided terrorist organizations fighting against the United States, including those who may have unwittingly given financial support to al Qaeda. The Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a slightly different definition of â€Å"enemy combatant† on March 23, 2005. According to Joint Publication 3-63, entitled â€Å"Joint Doctrine for Detainee Operations,† the term enemy combatant describes â€Å"a new category of detainee† and â€Å"includes, but is not necessarily limited to, a member or agent of Al Qaeda, Taliban, or another international terrorist organization against which [the] United States is engaged in an armed conflict. † Staab, J. B. (2008). Conclusion The premise behind habeas corpus as stated is to bring people into court rather than out of imprisonment. However in my opinion, during the Bush administration, they found a way around this law so as to not have to give a trial. While I want justice like the next person, I would not like to be in a situation where I am being held under the pretence that I a criminal without evidence or a trial. I am not saying that the people held were/are innocent, but I can’t help but to think we cannot be sure. I think that capturing these people were also done out of revenge and thus not urging anyone to think of their right. The 9/11 attack was gut ranching and frankly something I never want to experience again, so I do understand the need to talk less and carry a big stick. From an honest stand point, after 9/11 I was scared to do anything, while I am of no Middle Eastern decent, I look like an Indian person from India, that meant no one ask you where you are from when they look at you suspiciously. Even with all the rights I have in the U. S. A if I was suspected of being suspicious and someone higher and more powerful said that I had dealing with terrorists activities, no one will honestly believe me because of the way I look. Bring me to my point that without a trial we cannot tell for sure of the people being held in Cuba was innocent or guilty without a trail.

Free Essays on Charles Chestnutt

â€Å"Without struggle, there is no progress†. In 1899, Charles Chesnutt was commissioned by Small Maynard and Company to write a biography of Frederick Douglass to be included in the famous Beacon Series. The Beacon Biographies contained volumes on eminent Americans such as Ralph Waldo Emerson. Chesnutt was the first African American invited to write for this series and Frederick Douglass was the first African American biography included. Chesnutt and Douglass were men who played important roles in the history of African-Americans and the history of our country. Although Chesnutt was not an eminent American in the Beacon Series, he could have qualified for inclusion because of his pioneering role in American fiction and his consistent efforts to agitate the American conscience regarding discrimination against blacks. In fact, during the year 1899, he wrote Frederick Douglass, Chesnutt published Two works with Houghton Mifflin, Boston: The Conjure Woman and The Wife of His Youth and Other Stories. The two books were the first works by an African American to be published by a major publishing house. As a result of these Publications, Chesnutt recognized in American literary history as the first African American author to receive high critical acclaim. These works were Followed by the novels: One House Behind The Cedars, The Marrow of Tradition, and The Colonel’s Dream. Through his public speeches and his polemical writings, Chesnutt fought consistently for the Civil Rights of African Americans. He was a strong voice against the disfranchisement of African Americans, the showing of racist movies such as â€Å"The Birth of The Nation† and the publication of books denigrating African Americans. In 1928 Chesnutt, the teacher, the lawyer, the businessman, and the writer, was awarded the NAACP Spingarn award for contribution to creative literature and Civil Rights. Hence, Chesnutt’s biography of Doug... Free Essays on Charles Chestnutt Free Essays on Charles Chestnutt â€Å"Without struggle, there is no progress†. In 1899, Charles Chesnutt was commissioned by Small Maynard and Company to write a biography of Frederick Douglass to be included in the famous Beacon Series. The Beacon Biographies contained volumes on eminent Americans such as Ralph Waldo Emerson. Chesnutt was the first African American invited to write for this series and Frederick Douglass was the first African American biography included. Chesnutt and Douglass were men who played important roles in the history of African-Americans and the history of our country. Although Chesnutt was not an eminent American in the Beacon Series, he could have qualified for inclusion because of his pioneering role in American fiction and his consistent efforts to agitate the American conscience regarding discrimination against blacks. In fact, during the year 1899, he wrote Frederick Douglass, Chesnutt published Two works with Houghton Mifflin, Boston: The Conjure Woman and The Wife of His Youth and Other Stories. The two books were the first works by an African American to be published by a major publishing house. As a result of these Publications, Chesnutt recognized in American literary history as the first African American author to receive high critical acclaim. These works were Followed by the novels: One House Behind The Cedars, The Marrow of Tradition, and The Colonel’s Dream. Through his public speeches and his polemical writings, Chesnutt fought consistently for the Civil Rights of African Americans. He was a strong voice against the disfranchisement of African Americans, the showing of racist movies such as â€Å"The Birth of The Nation† and the publication of books denigrating African Americans. In 1928 Chesnutt, the teacher, the lawyer, the businessman, and the writer, was awarded the NAACP Spingarn award for contribution to creative literature and Civil Rights. Hence, Chesnutt’s biography of Doug...

How to Travel Like a Geologist

How to Travel Like a Geologist Geology is everywhere- even where you already are. But to learn more deeply about it, you dont have to actually become a field geologist to get the true hard-core experience. There are at least five other ways you can visit the land under a geologists guidance. Four are for the few, but the fifth way- geo-safaris- is an easier way for the many. 1. Field Camp Geology students have field camps, run by their colleges. For those you have to be enrolled in the degree program. If youre getting a degree, make sure you experience these expeditions, because these are where faculty members do the real work of imparting their science to students. The websites of college geoscience departments often have photo galleries from field camps. Theyre hard work and very rewarding. Even if you never put your degree to use, youll gain from this experience. 2. Research Expeditions Sometimes you can join working geoscientists on a research expedition. For example, when I was with the U.S. Geological Survey I had the good fortune to ride along on several research cruises along the southern coast of Alaska. Many in the USGS bureaucracy had this same opportunity, even some people without geology degrees. Some of my own memories and photos are in the Alaska geology list. 3. Science Journalism Another avenue is to be a really good science journalist. Those are the folks who get invited to places like Antarctica or the Ocean Drilling Program to write books or stories for glossy magazines. These are not jaunts or junkets: everyone, writer and scientist, works hard. But money and programs are available for those in the right position. For a recent example, visit writer Marc Airharts journal from the cenotes of Zacatà ³n, Mexico, on geology.com. 4. Professional Field Trips For professional geoscientists, the most fun are the special field trips that are organized around major scientific meetings. These happen in the days before and after a meeting, and all are led by professionals for their peers. Some are serious tours of things like research sites on the Hayward fault, while others are lighter fare like the geologic tour of Napa Valley wineries I took one year. If you can join the right group, like the Geological Society of America, youre in.   5. Geo-Safaris and Tours For those first four options, you basically have to have a job in the business or be lucky enough to be near the action. But safaris and tours in the worlds great countrysides, led by eager geologists, are for the rest of us. A geo-safari, even a short day trip, will fill you with sights and knowledge, and all you need to do in return is pay some money. Ive built a list of these geo-safaris, and it has a wide range. You can ride a small bus to the mines and villages of Mexico collecting minerals- or do the same in China; you can dig up real dinosaur fossils in Wyoming; you can see the San Andreas fault close up in the California desert. You can get dirty with real spelunkers in Indiana, trek upon the volcanoes of New Zealand, or tour the classic sites of Europe described by the first generation of modern geologists. Some are a nice side-trip if youre in the region whereas others are pilgrimages, to be prepared for like the life-changing experiences they truly are. Many, many safari sites promise that youll experience the geologic wealth of the region, but unless they feature a professional geologist in the group I tend to leave them off the list. That doesnt mean youll learn nothing on those safaris, only that theres no guarantee youll really get a geologists insight into what you see. The Payoff And geological insight is a rich reward that youll take home with you. Because as your eye opens, so does your mind. Youll gain a better appreciation of your own localitys geologic features and resources. Youll have more things to show off to visitors (in my case, I can give you a geo-tour of Oakland). And through heightened awareness of the geologic setting you live in- its limitations, its possibilities and possibly its geoheritage- youll inevitably become a better citizen.Finally, the more you know, the more things you can do on your own.

Proposed change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Proposed change - Essay Example that hand, hygiene is universally acknowledged by several organization such as, World Health Organization (W.H.O), and Center for Disease Control (C.D.C), as the main requirement for cross infection. The effect the following strategies will be employed to ensure that hand hygiene is implemented to the letter to control cross infection (White, 2012pp.304) Several communication strategies will be employed to ensure that hand hygiene is not only initiated but also complied and strongly adhered to. Firstly, hand hygiene will be made a policy before any procedure is done to the patient or on anything since cross infection come in any form. This will form a breech in any case the policies on hand hygiene that are written and communicated to staff are end up reneged. By doing this, discipline will be instilled to the staff that just decide to be reckless. Another area that is important to ensure effective communication is by examining the organizational or institutional culture for this case is the hospital. Organization culture plays a pivotal role in facilitating and supporting effective communication across. In this case, communication should have open channels; there should be transparency and trust. This will ensure mutual trust between those who are the target of communication. The objective is to change their habitual character of poor hand hygiene. Still on the organization culture, there is a need to have leadership support. Health care teams need strong leadership to ensure that whatever is communicated is implemented. The policies and procedure earlier communicated will only be implemented if only there is strong leadership. Strategy here is strengthening the organizational leadership first. On the education of the health care team, the educator must do the following as the strategy of giving a thoughtful education to the health care staff to have an impact on implementing hand hygiene. One there must be a clearly stated links between the communication and