Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Bond Energy Definition in Chemistry

Bond Energy Definition in Chemistry Bond energy (E)Â  is defined as the amount of energy required to break apart a mole of molecules into its component atoms. It is a measure of the strength of a chemical bond. Bond energy is also known as bond enthalpy (H) or simply as bond strength. Bond Energy Explained Bond energy is based on an average of bond dissociation values for species in the gas phase, typically at a temperature of 298 Kelvin. It may be found by measuring or calculating the enthalpy change of breaking a molecule into its component atoms and ions and dividing the value by the number of chemical bonds. For example, the enthalpy change of breaking methane (CH4) into a carbon atom and four hydrogen ions, divided by four (the number of C-H) bonds, yields the bond energy. Bond energy is not the same thing as bond-dissociation energy. Bond energy values are an average of the bond-dissociation energies within a molecule. Breaking subsequent bonds requires a different amount of energy.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

One Percenters Motorcycle Gang

One Percenters Motorcycle Gang The term One-Percenters originated from the July 4, 1947, annual Gypsy Tour race sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) which was held in Hollister, California. The  Gypsy Tour race,  which was the  pià ¨ce de rà ©sistance of motorcycle racing events during that time, was held at different locations across America and had been previously held in Hollister in 1936. The Event A location near the town was chosen again in 1947 partly because of  its  long relationship with bikers and various biker-related events that were held throughout the years, and also because of the welcome the   AMA  received by the town merchants who knew the positive impact it would have on the local economy. Approximately 4,000 attended the  Gypsy Tour  race and many of the riders and non-riders ended up celebrating in the town of Hollister. For three days there was a lot of hard-core beer drinking and street racing that went on in the town. By  Sunday,  the California Highway Patrol was called in armed with tear gas to help put an end to the event. The Aftermath After it was over, there was a record of about 55 bikers being arrested on misdemeanor charges. There were no reports of property being destroyed or of looting and not a single report of any local people being harmed in any way. However, the San Francisco Chronicle ran articles that exaggerated and sensationalized the event. Headlines like  Riots... Cyclists Take Over Town and words such as â€Å"terrorism† described the general atmosphere in Hollister over the holiday weekend. To top it off, a  San Francisco Chronicle  photographer by the name of Barney Peterson  staged  a photograph of an intoxicated biker holding a bottle of beer in each hand while leaning against a  Harley-Davidson motorcycle,  with broken beer bottles scattered on the ground. Life magazine picked up on the story and in the  July 21,  1947,  edition it ran  Petersons staged photograph   on full-page display titled, â€Å"Cyclist’s Holiday: He and Friends Terrorize Town.†Ã‚  Ultimately, to the dismay of the AMA, the image sparked both fascination and concern about the violent, unruly nature of the growing subculture of motorcycle groups. Afterward, films about motorcycle clubs with members depicting bad behavior began hitting the movie theaters.  The Wild One, starring  Marlon Brando, brought particular attention to gang-type behavior displayed by members of motorcycle clubs. The event became known as the Hollister Riot although there is no documentation that an actual riot occurred and the town of Hollister invited the race back, other cities across the country believed what the press reported and it resulted in numerous cancelations of the  Gypsy Tour races. AMA Responds It was rumored that the AMA defended the reputation of its association and member, with an alleged press release stating that, The trouble was caused by the one percent deviant that tarnishes the public image of both motorcycles and motorcyclists and going on to say  that 99 percent of bikers are law-abiding citizens, and the one percent are nothing more than outlaws.   However,  in 2005 the AMA denied credit for the term, saying that there was no record of any AMA official or published statement that originally used the one percent reference. No matter where it actually originated from, the  term caught on  and  new outlaw motorcycle gangs   (OMGs) emerged and embraced the concept of being referred to as  one-percenters. The Impact of War A number of veterans returning from the Vietnam War joined motorcycle clubs after being ostracized by many Americans, especially within their same age group. They were discriminated against by colleges, employers, often spat upon when in uniform and some considered them nothing but government-grown killing machines. The fact that 25 percent were drafted into the war and that the rest were trying to survive it did not seem to sway opinions. As a result, in the  mid-1960-70s, a  surge of outlaw motorcycle gangs emerged across the country and created their own association which they proudly called, One Percenters.  Within  the association, each club could have its own rules, operate independently and given a designated territory.   The outlaw motorcycle clubs; the  Hells Angels, Pagans, Outlaws, and Bandidos emerged as what authorities  refer to the Big Four with hundreds of other one-percenters clubs existing within the subculture. Differences Between Outlaws and One Percenters Defining the differences (and if any exists) between outlaw motorcycle groups and one-percenters depends on where you go for the answer. According to the AMA,  any motorcycle club that does not adhere to AMA rules is considered an outlaw motorcycle club. The term outlaw, in this case, is not  synonymous with criminal or illegal activity. Others, including some outlaw motorcycle clubs, believe that while all one-percent motorcycle clubs are  outlaw  clubs, meaning that they do not follow AMA rules, not all outlaw motorcycle clubs are one-percenters, (meaning that they do not participate in illegal activity. The Department of Justice does not differentiate between outlaw motorcycle gangs (or clubs) and one-percenters. It defines one-percenter  outlaw motorcycle gangs as being highly structured criminal organizations, whose members use their  motorcycle clubs as conduits for criminal enterprises.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Organization and Organizational Change Assignment - 1

Organization and Organizational Change - Assignment Example The solution might require instituting drastic changes in policies or purchase of new machinery to facilitate the work process. However, as common in contemporary organizations, difficulties in the economic condition make financial resources scarce. As such, organizations usually resort to proposed changes which could be unconventional but feasible – if only in the short run. The article discussed the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Presbyterian Hospital’s strategies for implementing change with regards to the implementation of the Electronic Health Records (EHR) project; especially ways to address resistance to change (Sesack). One is convinced that overcoming resistance to change requires understanding of the need for the change that is to be instituted and communicating the relevance of implementing that change in the work setting. If the need for the change is justified to benefit various stakeholders in the work setting, over and above the current system, inevitably, implementation for change would ensue in a smooth and conflict free manner. It was therefore commendable that the key to overcoming resistance is the ability of leaders to communicate the need for change and allow the personnel to be affected by the change process to see the benefits of the change that would be implemented. The article therefore asserts that there really is nothing to fear with proposed changes. Managers should be able to motivate workers to see that changes would ultimately benefit all concerned in the long run. The article focuses on reasons why implementing change in the work setting fails (Ashkenas). The author evaluated the change theories and ways of implementing change to discern if there is a need to change a crucial facet in the process. As asserted, â€Å"the content of change management is reasonably correct, but the managerial capacity to implement it has been woefully

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Risk in the business world Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Risk in the business world - Essay Example There are four basic ways in which a CFO can handle risk; avoid, reduce, assume, or transfer the risk (Silverman, n.d.). A CFO’s attempts should be directed at managing risk in the very order as mentioned here. Personally, a CFO handles risks by collaborating with and influencing the CEO, and also by maintaining independence (Egon Zehnder International, 2008). The challenge for a CFO is to focus on controls, and at the same time, on business partnering. Being able to balance the two conflicting claims enables a CFO to deliver business results. Professionally, a CFO handles risk by trying to assess it in advance and informing the concerned authorities so that it can be managed in time and effectively, if encountered. The best source of risk assessment is historical records and past experiences coupled with expert opinion. In addition, various software like Primavera Risk Analysis can be used to assess and manage risks involved in a

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Commentary on Testing the Reality Essay Example for Free

Commentary on Testing the Reality Essay This short but powerfully descriptive poem tells the story of a young man who comes to discover just how fragile the boundary between life and death really is. Written in the form of a dramatic lyric, the poem highlights the moment of revelation and reflection as the man realizes his mother hadnt died; instead she had moved on to another place. The themes of death and abandonment are clearly depicted by the poet through the use of tone, setting, rhythm, symbolism, hyperbole, alliteration and time. Through all these methods, the poet builds a sense of sorrow and feeling of utter reliance the narrator has upon his mother. It emphasizes the mans lifelong journey, from a young child learning to count to a fully grown man mourning the death of his 70-year-old mother. As he grows in body and matures in mind, he fills his head with knowledge and pushes at the boundaries of his world, testing it. The name Testing the Reality arises because the son has to face the reality of life, and the deaths that occur in life. The poem takes place in a church, in a funeral set-up, with flocking birds in the sky. We understand this because of the phrase so crammed church roof and belfry. I can comprehend that it is a funeral because the poet relates the hibernation of the birds to a 70 year old woman. The writer also illustrates a picture of a myriad of birds as he writes There must have been 10,000 there or more. Even though he feels immense loneliness and sadness after the passing on of his mother, he is not yet ready to follow her, and must remain in reality, hence he is the last soul still unhatched. The poem begins in the first person as the poet describes his experiences as a boy. We learn that his mother taught him to count to a ragged 20 but no higher. When he was still a boy, the sheer number of birds perching on the belfry exceeded his counting abilities, cramming church roof and belfry, cross and spire. At this later stage in his life, however, it is not due to his counting skills that he cannot count but due to the sheer immeasurable quantity and their uncontrollable, free nature, unable to be caged or catalogued. Their numbers were so great that their final taking off blacked Beestons sky. These birds feature throughout the poem, creating a sense of activity and movement and dramatic symbolism. Here, the black sky symbolises the unfortunate and sad mood. While the flocking birds represent what the man is looking at and his memories of them as a boy, they also have a metaphorical meaning, symbolizing the life and death of his mother. The crossroad of reality and imagery appears in line six with the following alliteration: picketed piercingly the passing of each day. The power of the repeated P sound reflects the sound of the birds cries. In the poets mind, each bird also represents a single day in the life of his mother. In fact, as the second stanza progresses, the birds only exist to measure the accumulated days in the life of the mans mother. Her attraction towards the birds is completed when they suddenly depart, taking her life with them. The shock of the mothers death is so deep that the first person used throughout the first two stanzas is obliterated and transformed into the third person in the last stanza, the man suddenly being referred to as her son. The third stanza also dramatizes the metaphorical blend of his mother and the birds. Death becomes the wings of night, her life becomes the flocking days. Her departure from the earth is an effusion, a release, of all her physical experiences which are soaring away. So significant was she to her son that her departing life blocked the light. In the final line the son becomes an unhatched egg/soul left behind in the clutch or the nest. Having come to associate the birds with his mother, his memories of her are immediately summoned whenever he sees them. She may be dead but she lives on in his memories of the birds. At first they shrilly hailed the first new light they saw, greeting the new day in what initially seems to be an irritating way because they are portrayed as having loud, high-pitched cries that are not particularly pleasant to the ears. However, after his mother dies, and they leave too, he comes to see them in a different light, after they soared away. His opinion of them has now changed and he sees them as graceful and elegant creatures. This imagery also successfully implies life after death, and the setting of the poem becomes important when looked at in this light. A church is a place of peaceful meditation, praying and holiness, a place where the boundaries between the physical and the spiritual, the barriers between life and death, merge. For these reasons it becomes the nest that hatches souls into the heavens. Even though the birds, and the mans mother with them, fly beyond all sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch they do not fly beyond love or memories, instead leaving a path for the man to follow when it is his turn to be hatched. The lesson the mother taught her son began with counting, but ended with a realization of life after death and the possibility of living, in spirit, for infinity.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Braham Stokers Dracula :: Dracula Essays

Free Essay on Dracula In the novel Dracula there are many qualities that are necessary for success. Firstly determination is a key factor to succeeding; secondly revenge is a factor in succeeding; furthermore fearlessness plays a big role when they go to kill Lucy; lastly intelligence is needed to make all the plans. When Jonathan Harker get captured by Dracula he is afraid, but he is also determined to get free. "I can not say in this room much longer for I shall die," he said. A small crack of light appeared through the stones. "I pushed the stone with all my might but it only move, I found a carving utensil which I used to make the hole bigger" said Jonathon. "The hole got bigger and bigger then the stone just fell out." When Jonathan Harker and the rest of the people go to hunt Dracula they are determined to kill him because they do not want Dracula to kill anyone else. In order to kill Dracula they must plunge a stake through it's heart, cut off it's head, and stuff it's mouth with garlic. They use silver knives to kill him just as the sun sets. "Get him before he flees" said Jonathan, "he must not get away." Arthur proceeds with the stake cautiously. "I got him" yelled Arthur. Abraham shoves a clove of garlic in the Count's mouth. "get him before he tries to get away." Jonathan and Quincey, use silver knives to cut off his head. "We have finally done it we killed Dracula" said Quincey. Jonathon was determined to escape. Arthur, Abraham, Jonathan, and Quincey are determined to kill Dracula. In order to get out of the Count's castle Jonathan thinks of three things survival, escaping and kill the Count for trapping him in the castle. "I can't die I have to get out, I have to end his rain of terror, he can`t get away with what he did to me" said Jonathan. This shows that Jonathan Harker wanted to kill Dracula through revenge, but he also killed him so Dracula would not kill anyone else. When Van Helsing, Holmwood, Seward, and Quincey Morris go to kill Lucy they must be fearless of the un-dead.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Organizational Behavior Synthesis paper Essay

The study of people at work is generally referred to as the study of organizational behavior. This chapter will start by defining the term organizational behavior and briefly reviewing its origins. Organizational behavior is the systematic study of the actions and attitudes that people exhibit within organizations. Each person regularly uses intuition or our â€Å"gut feelings† in trying to explain phenomena. For example, a friend catches a cold and we’re quick to remind him that he â€Å"didn’t take his vitamins†. The field of organizational behavior seeks to replace intuitive explanations such as this example with systematic study. The objective, of course, is to draw more accurate conclusions (Wilson 1994). What does organizational behavior study? Actions (or behaviors) and attitudes. The behaviors that get the bulk of attention in organizational behavior are three, which have proven to be very important determinants of employee performance. They are productivity, absenteeism, and turnover (Wilson 1994). The importance of productivity is obvious. Managers are clearly concerned with the quantity and quality of the work their employees are performing. But absence and turnover are particularly cause for concern because of the adverse affect it may have on an employee ’s productivity. In terms of absence, it’s hard for an employee to be productive if he or she isn’t at work. High rates of employee turnover increase costs and tend to place less experienced people into jobs (Daniels 1994). Organizational behavior is also concerned with employee job satisfaction, which is an attitude. There are three reasons why managers should be concerned with their employees’ job satisfaction. First, there is a link between satisfaction and productivity. Second, satisfaction appears to be negatively related to absenteeism and turnover. Third managers have a humanistic responsibility to provide their employees with jobs that are challenging and rewarding (Daniels 1994). The second part of organizational behavior’s definition that needs to be explained is â€Å"organization†. For our purposes organizational behavior is specifically concerned with work-related  behavior-and that takes place in organizations. An organization is a formal structure o f planned coordination, involving two or more people, in order to  achieve a common goal (Daniels 1994). Organizational behavior is about studying and understanding people and human nature. Do employee ever make efforts on behalf of their employing organization’s interests or fellow employees’ interest when it is not in their direct self-interest to do so? This question exists in any organization must be address. The problem addressed here is a conflict of self-interest. The question here should be very interesting to people in organization. People should try to understand and address counterintuitive behavior in certain situation (Young 1998). For instance, why does moral hazard exists in organization? Organizational behavior success or failure depends on its goal setting, such as group cohesiveness and productivity. In a case study of 2 groups several researchers have suggested that goal acceptance moderates the relationship between group cohesiveness and group productivity. In Study 1, goal acceptance was found to moderate the relationship between group cohesiveness and the quantity of performance of 40 machine crews in a paper mill located in the north eastern United States. In Study 2, the extent to which leaders fostered the acceptance of group goals was found to moderate the relationships between group cohesiveness and quantitative measures of group productivity in 71 insurance agency units located throughout the United States. The companies’ success or failure in this study will be explained in organizational behavior (Jacob 1985) Goals of Organizational Behavior The field of most organizational behavior has an amount of common goals. In order to reach these goals, people need to effectively predict, explain, and manage the behavior that occurs in our organizations. In order to change behavior, one needs to accept that any behavior is rational and logical to the person exhibiting it because his or her goals may differ from others. If an organization is able to predict which reward systems is most effective in motivating the employees, then one can explain the reasons for this effectiveness and describe how managers can enforce effective reward systems. Our everyday lives are about predictions. Predicting the behavior in an organization is usually wondering â€Å"when people will make ethical decisions, create innovative products, or engage in sexual harassment† (Johns 1996).  The behavior in our organizations licenses us the prediction of its future circumstance. Predictions are not always accurate, however. The field of organizational behavior offers a â€Å"Scientific foundation† (Johns 1996). That helps upgrade predictions of these events. But, being able to predict these organization behaviors do not guarantee a hundred percent that he can explain the reason why this particular behavior had developed. A manger needs to be able to get things accomplished, reach all goals, take control, and knows everything that is going on in their company I know that there varieties of management styles to be effective, depending on the situation. There are some cases when a manager acts without investigation, just looking for that quick solution to solve a problem usually results in an unhappy ending. If an organizational behavior â€Å"Can be predicted and explained, it can often be controlled or managed† (Johns 1996). A great manager would be able to predict a certain behavior and have an act on it before it’s too late. Remember, our lives would be more easier if we anticipate when our friends are anger, what our professors expect out of us, and whose lying and telling the truth, â€Å"Regardless of who we are our actions are in response to a variety of motivations† (Wilson 1994). When one understands, one will understand human behavior. Use the predicting. Explaining, and managing principles, and any manger will have the ability to reach your goals through the efforts of others. The four goals of organizational behavior are: 1. To describe systematically how people behave under variety of conditions 2. To understand why people behave as they do 3. To predict future employee behavior 4. to control & develop human activity at work Theory X and Theory Y Theory X and Theory Y are theories of human motivation created and developed by Douglas McGregor at the MIT Sloan School of Management in the 1960s that have been used in human resource management, organizational behavior,organizational communication and organizational development. They describe two contrasting models of workforce motivation. Theory X and Theory Y have to do with the perceptions managers hold on their employees, not the way they generally behave. It is attitude not attributes. There are two kinds of reinforcement, positive and negative. â€Å"Positive reinforcement causes a behavior to increase because a desired, meaningful consequences follows the behavior. Negative reinforcement causes a behavior to increase in order to escape or avoid some unpleasant consequence† (Daniels 1994). Models of Organizational Behavior There are four major models or frameworks that organizations operate out of, Autocratic, Custodial, Supportive, and Collegial (Cunningham, Eberle, 1990; Davis ,1967): o Autocratic — The basis of this model is power with a managerial orientation of authority. The employees in turn are oriented towards obedience and dependence on the boss. The employee need that is met is subsistence. The performance result is minimal. Custodial — The basis of this model is economic resources with a managerial orientation of money. The employees in turn are oriented towards security and benefits and dependence on the organization. The employee need that is met is security. The performance result is passive cooperation. Supportive — The basis of this model is leadership with a managerial orientation of support. The employees in turn are oriented towards job performance and participation. The employee need that is met is status and recognition. The performance result is awakened drives. Collegial — The basis of this model is partnership with a managerial orientation of teamwork. The employees in turn are oriented towards responsible behavior and self-discipline. The employee need that is met is self-actualization. The performance result is moderate enthusiasm. Although there are four separate models, almost no organization operates exclusively in one. There will usually be a predominate one, with one or more areas over-lapping in the other models. The first model, autocratic, has its roots in the industrial revolution. The managers of this type of organization operate mostly out of McGregor’s Theory X. The next three models begin to build on McGregor’s Theory Y. They have each evolved over a period of time and there is no one best model. In addition, the collegial model should not be thought as the last or best model, but the beginning of a new model or paradigm. References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_X_and_Theory_Y http://www.csupomona.edu/~msharifzadeh/chapter1.html http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadob.html http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Oli-Per/Organizational-Behavior.html

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Marvel Holdings

To determine Whether or not it will be difficult for Marvel or other companies in the MacAndrews and Forbes holding company to issued debt in the future, we should analyze two perspectives, one is historical and the other one is the future perspective. Historically, Marvel Holdings issued zero-coupon senior secured notes which were all secured by Marvel’s equity rather than its assets or operating cash flows. However, this was a very attractive offer since the stock price was trading above $25 per share which had a value of $1.9 billion, well above the face value of the bonds issued. The interest payments on these bonds would be made from revenues received through tax sharing agreements between Marvel and Marcel III Holdings; moreover, all issues were scheduled to mature in April 1998, which in other words, the company would have a huge cash outflow when the bonds came to maturity. After the issurance of debt, company’s revenue decrease due to the comic book and trading card business failure, which caused share price to fall significantly. Despite the problems of revenue fallen, Marvel acquired SkyBx and financed the acquisition with $190 million of additional debt in early 1995. S&P then downgraded the holding companies debts from B to B-. The fianancing structure and the revenue fallen problems lead to Marvel announced that it would violate specific bank loan covenants due to decreasing revenue and profits. Moody downgraded Marvel’s public debt after the announcement and caused the price of the zero-coupon bonds to fall drastically by more than 41%. Moreover, their two largest institutional holders desided to sell the bonds even at a price of $0.37 per dollar of face value. When the resturcture plan was announced, the stock price fell by more than 41% and the zero-coupon bonds fell by addition 50%, to $0.18. As shown on the Balance Sheet, there was a $625.8 millions of current portion of long-term debt in 1996 which was increased significantly compare to previous years. Moreover, the short-term borrowing has also appeared on liability in the year of 1996. Total long-term debt and total liabilities also increased drastically in 1995 and more significantly in 1996. From the Consolidated statement of operations, the cost of sales increased since 1995. Moreover, the amortization of goodwill increased which is due to the decrease in revenue of trading cards and comic books. Interest expense also increased due to significant increase in debt. All these caused a loss in income and earning per share becomes negative at the end of 1995. Based on all the above historical evidences, it will be really difficult due to the fact that the company has a debt-to-total capital ratio of 88% which is $805.4 million in total debt and $107.4 million in equity. With the downgrade of the public debts, it will make the financing situation even worse since the issueing notes or bonds will not raise as much financing as when the rating is good and will be more costly since the interest rate has to increase due to the increase in risk. In the future perspective, a restructure plan was mentioned by Perelman. However, Marvel was facing three options: 1. if marvel was going under chapter 7 liquidation, the debtholders would get around 70% of the original value and the holding company debtholders and equityholders would get nothing. 2. If Marvel did not aquire Toy Biz, the total enterprise value would between be no more than $660 which was not enough to settle the debt, and the equity would again be worthless. 3. If Marvel acquired Toy Biz, the company could transform into an integrated entertainment company which would operate theme restaurants, movie studio, entertainment software, and etc. Marvel believed with the growth of new media exposure, they would be able to have modest growth and pay secured and unsecured creditors in full. This plan had passed the feasibility test, which in other words, the company was not likely to be liquidized or reorganized. let’s assume Marvel implement the restrurture plan and make modest growth of profit. As they slowly payoff the debts, start earning profit and rebuild their reputation, It will become easier to raise debt. Moreover, if their performance is good, it might be even possible to increase their rating which will lower the cost due to the decrease in default risk.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Events of Septrmber 11, 2001

The Events of Septrmber 11, 2001 On the morning of September 11, 2001, Islamic extremists organized and trained by the Saudi-based jihadist group al-Qaeda hijacked four American commercial jet airliners and used them as flying bombs to carry out suicide terrorist attacks against the United States. American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into Tower One of the World Trade Center at 8:50 AM. United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into Tower Two of the World Trade Center at 9:04 AM. As the world watched, Tower Two collapsed to the ground at about 10:00 AM. This unimaginable scene was duplicated at 10:30 AM when Tower One fell.   At 9:37 AM, a third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was flown into the west side of the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, initially being flown toward an unknown target in Washington, D.C., crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 AM, as passengers fought with the hijackers. Later confirmed as acting under the leadership of Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden, the terrorists were believed to be attempting to retaliate for America’s defense of Israel and continued military operations in the Middle East since the 1990 Persian Gulf War.   The 9/11 terrorist attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 men, women, and children and the injuries of more than 6,000 others. The attacks triggered major ongoing U.S. combat initiatives against terrorist groups in Iraq and Afghanistan and largely defined the presidency of George W. Bush. America’s Military Response to the 9/11 Terror Attacks No event since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor propelled the nation into World War II had the American people been brought together by a shared resolved to defeat a common enemy. At 9 PM on the evening of the attacks, President George W. Bush spoke to the American people from the Oval Office of the White House, declaring, â€Å"Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.† Foreshadowing America’s impending military response, he declared, â€Å"We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.† On October 7, 2001, less than a month after the 9/11 attacks, the United States, supported by a multinational coalition, launched Operation Enduring Freedom in an effort to overthrow the oppressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan and destroy Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorist network. By the end of December 2001, U.S and coalition forces had virtually eradicated the Taliban in Afghanistan. However, a new Taliban insurgency in neighboring Pakistan resulted in the continuation of the war. On March 19, 2003, President Bush ordered U.S. troops into Iraq on a mission to overthrow Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, believed by the White House to be developing and stockpiling weapons of mass destruction while harboring Al Qaeda terrorists in his county. Following the overthrow and imprisonment of Hussein, President Bush would face criticism after a search by United Nations inspectors found no evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Some argued that the Iraq War had unnecessarily diverted resources from the war in Afghanistan. Though Osama bin Laden remained at large for over a decade, the mastermind of the 9/11 terror attack was finally killed while hiding out in an Abbottabad, Pakistan building by an elite team of U.S. Navy Seals on May 2, 2011. With the demise of bin Laden, President Barack Obama announced the beginning of large-scale troop withdrawals from Afghanistan in June 2011. As Trump Takes Over, War Goes On Today, 16 years and three presidential administrations after the 9/11 terror attacks, the war continues. While its official combat role in Afghanistan ended in December 2014, the United States still had nearly 8,500 troops stationed there when President Donald Trump took over as Commander in Chief in January 2017. In August 2017, President Trump authorized the Pentagon to increase the troop levels in Afghanistan by several thousand and announced a change in policy regarding the release of future troop level numbers in the region. â€Å"We will not talk about numbers of troops or our plans for further military activities, Trump said. Conditions on the ground, not arbitrary timetables, will guide our strategy from now on,† he said. â€Å"Americas enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out.† Reports at the time indicated that top US military generals had advised Trump that a â€Å"few thousand† additional troops would help the U.S. make progress in eliminating the insurgent Taliban and other ISIS fighters in Afghanistan. The Pentagon stated at the time that the additional troops would be conducting counterterrorism missions and training Afghanistan’s own military forces.   Updated by Robert Longley

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

What Does Your Name Mean - Genealogy

What Does Your Name Mean - Genealogy Could someone named Biff ever be president? Could a Gertrude ever become a prima ballerina? Does your name really play an integral part in who you are and what you will become? Can changing ones name common practice with many immigrant families actually change ones destiny? The hidden meaning of names is a popular query on Internet search engines as people hope to learn what their name says about them and who they will become. Different than traditional name meanings found in baby name lists and last name meaning dictionaries, the hidden meaning of a name is more akin to astrology or fortune telling than true etymological science. With some exceptions, most sources which reference the hidden meanings of names appear to use a variation on research known as sound symbolism, which attributes meanings to individual sounds based on their emotional response. So what exactly is sound symbolism? The traditional view of most linguists is that word meanings are related to morphemes (roots, suffixes, prefixes, etc.). There are a few, however, who place great faith in the theory of sound symbolism, suggesting that the letters of the alphabet individual sounds such as p or st actually mean something based on how they are pronounced. Sound symbolism, in its basic form, suggests that letter meanings influence how we feel about words and how we react to names, whether personal names or brand names. As one such individual, Joseph Gilbert, explains it, look at the words that start with st. Whether steadfast or just plain stubborn, theyre almost all really stuck in one place (stop, stick, stand, stall, stoic, store, stack, still...), unless of course theres a raring, rearing, roaring r in there who can get your st started. Curious, of course, I checked out the hidden meaning in my name. Entering my first name, I was told Your name says that you are curious. People with your name are naturally curious and inquisitive. You are a true researcher and investigator who likes to get to the bottom of complicated things, and find solutions to yet unsolved problems. Of course, trying many possible combinations, I also was unable to find a meaning that was not positive and also was given meanings for names which are, essentially, concocted gibberish. Either way, it was a fun exercise in linguistics. If youre curious about the meanings behind the individual letter sounds, check out the hidden meaning in your name. Numerologist Joy Light also claims to be able to find the hidden meaning in your name by using the numbers which correspond with the letters in your name. By adding all of the numbers in your name together, you arrive at a number that represents your destiny, or what it is in this lifetime you want to accomplish. A hidden meaning behind your name. Hmm..... I wonder how much I have in common with the other Kimberly Powells of the world?

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Construction Industry Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Construction Industry - Research Paper Example It provides employment to most of the people as its growth is often projected to increase by more than a million between the year 2002 and 2012 (Fenn 22). This improves the economy of the country as most of the people are trained in the construction industry reducing the unemployment rate in the economy of the United States. The Construction Industry is the core of all the construction locally and also internationally. Most of the structures being designed are always done by the construction company. Its effect is felt as most of the facilities are able to be constructed leading to an economy grow. An economy of a country is determined by the standing Infrastructure which is modernized. It also shows the people’s creativity and intellectual ability as it requires not the only the mind but also the skills in making it work.It is used as a tool by the government in managing the level of the economy. When there is a recession and the rate of unemployment is seen to be high the go vernment increases the public expenditure by the use of the construction industry (Fenn 29). This completely shows its contribution to the American economy as most of the people are believed to be in this sector. The construction industry related with other economic sectors using the backward-forward linkage the forward showing its relationship of total output to inter-industry sales while the backward linkages. This is used in showing the relationship between total output and the industry purchase.... It is used as a tool by the government in managing the level of the economy. When there is recession and the rate of unemployment is seen to be high the government increases the public expenditure by the use of the construction industry (Fenn 29). This completely shows its contribution in the American economy as most of the people are believed to be in this sector. The construction industry related with other economic sectors using the backward forward linkage the forward showing its relationship of total output to inter-industry sales while the backward linkages. This is used in showing the relationship between total output and the industry purchase. Gross fixed capital is the expenditure on fixed assets including buildings and machinery among others in either replacing or adding stock of the fixed assets. This is related to investment as fixed assets are used in the production process. It is important public policy tool as it is used in creating employment and also increases the de velopment in the U.S. This is through the central bank through which people invest in infrastructure leading to money injection in the economy. This industry contributes to a third of total investment in fixed assets in the economy. It has also led to the construction of new and better buildings like the hospital facilities, educational centre like schools. There has also been the construction of better recreational centers which are able to increase the number of people that can be accommodated in the building and also a concrete structure which can last for a longer period of time. Domestic Data in the Construction Industry Number Employed The number of personnel employed in this industry is rapid as it has a high employment