The Fallacy of the American Dream. The Reservation Cab Driver and Essay

The Fallacy of the American Dream. The Reservation Cab Driver and Mexicans Begin Jogging - Essay Example Of the 300 million American citizens, close to 50 million of them do not have basic health insurance. This is such a travesty in a country that is the sole superpower and the most prosperous. With the onset of the latest episode of economic recession, the unemployment rate has touched an alarming 10 percent. The main characters in the two poems have highly insecure jobs and barely scrap-by for a living. Living hand-to-mouth on a perennial basis, the attainment of American Dream is a distant and implausible reality for these people. The Reservation Cab Driver is a man of Native Indian origin, whose rickety Malibu 65 also doubles up as his house. His rights for a basic social security blanket are taken away by the same government agencies such as Bureau of Indian Affairs and HUD, that were meant to provide benefits. Living a nomadic life as a Reservation Cab Driver and working 24 hours a day he cannot yet earn a subsistence wage. His condition typifies the status of Native Indians as a whole. Once the rightful inhabitants of the vast American continent, the arrival of European colonizers put an end to their peaceful existence. Ever since, nearly the entire population of Native Indians have been wiped out, with few remaining descendants such as the Reservation Cab Driver still struggling for survival. (Alexie, 2011, p.173)

Gay Rights Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Gay Rights - Research Paper Example son of Florida Citrus Commission and also widely known for her best selling pop albums had lent a strong voice against gay activism and protested by stating that the prevalence of this movement was seriously hampering her basic right as a mother and creating impediments in the â€Å"moral atmosphere† that is considered right for the children (Gillian 127). There are enormous reasons for several divisions of opinion among people regarding same sex marriage although they have not been placed with substantiated doctrines or principles that would suffice the purpose of abandoning such marriages. A majority of anti gay activists have not been able to cite any other reason than the principles of the Holy Bible and their perceptions have centered on the fact that same sex marriage challenges the order of God, which is being counter challenged by the gay people who have repeatedly stated that those who have put forth their opinions may not be fit or able-bodied for defying the rights of homosexuals. As a matter of fact, such decisions must be taken by those who are able to envisage gay rights with reason and common sense according to the gay rights activists. On the other hand, the research studies of Regenurus took a different path than the previous studies conducted on same sex marriages. This research was based on a sample of young America n adults and compared with a group that was biologically intact. The parameters that were intended to be measured through this research included crime rates, tendency of sexually transmitted infections and drug addiction. The result of this study was quite disappointing as most of the young adults whose fathers were involved in same sex relationship were more likely to take drugs than others. The girls with lesbian mothers were four times more prone to thrive on public help than the children of normal biological parents or even single mothers (Ponnuru 29). Despite the studies that reveal such thwarting reports, gay activists have

The basic framework for strategy analysis

The basic framework for strategy analysis 1. To what extent does McDonalds Corporation achieve a close strategic fit between its strategy, the characteristics of its external environment, and its internal resources and capabilities? Are changes occurring in its external environment weakening this strategic fit? If so, how should McDonalds adjust its strategy? The discussion of â€Å"The Basic Framework for Strategy Analysis† (pp. 12-13) emphasizes the importance of strategic fit. McDonalds strategy is based on the creation of standardized, tightly integrated business systems for the supplying a limited menu of hamburgers, fries, drinks, and several other items that are produced and served to meticulous standards of speed and consistency at low prices. The success of McDonalds reflects (a) the appeal of McDonalds offerings to mass-market preferences of individuals and families for low-priced, popular meals. (b) McDonalds ability to create a set of capabilities that allow the replication of McDonalds restaurants worldwide (e.g. highly standardized operational capabilities supported by meticulous human resource training and management). In recent years, changes in the external environment have upset this close fit: Competition has increased. A large number of fast-food chains have developed, most of them utilizing the same franchising model perfected by McDonalds. Expansion by McDonalds and other burger chains has also led to market saturation. In the developed world, consumers have become increasingly health conscious preferences have shifted away from burgers, fries, and milkshakes. McDonalds success has made it a target for a range of activist groups: environmentalists, Opponents of globalization, nutritional campaigners. Consumers are seeking greater variety and novelty in their diets. As a result, McDonalds is in the process of adapting its strategy. Changes include: Broadening its menu. Responding to health concerns with more salads, fruit, and lower calorie items. Moving from global standardization to greater local differentiation: McCroissant in France, Rice Burgers in Hong Kong (see p. 383, â€Å"McDonalds goes Global†). Not only fostering local initiatives and innovations, but then allowing the international transfer of these initiatives and innovations (e.g. â€Å"McCafe† gourmet coffee bars initiated in Australia, then rolled out in US and other countries). 2. The discussion of the evolution of business strategy (â€Å"From Corporate Planning to Strategic Management†) established that the characteristics of a firms strategic plans and its strategic planning process are strongly influenced by the volatility and unpredictability of its external environment. On this basis, what differences would you expect in the strategic plans and strategic planning processes of Coca-Cola Company and Google Inc.? The shift during the past four decades from â€Å"corporate planning† to â€Å"strategic management† was influenced, in part, by increasing volatility and unpredictability of the business environment. As a result strategic planning became less based upon forecasts of the future, less formal, shorter term, and concerned more with innovation and the creation of options rather than with incremental improvements to the status quo. These same influences are likely to create differences in the approach to strategy making among firms that face different industry environments. A company like Google has an industry environment characterized by rapid technological change, and the constant emergence of new market opportunities and competitive threats. A company like Coca-Cola faces a much more stable environment. The world market for soft-drink concentrates is dominated by two giant companies (Coke and Pepsi), and this is likely to continue for the foreseeable future: each firms m arket position is reinforced by long-term agreements with bottlers and massive brand equity. Consumer tastes change slowly; there is minimal technological change. Hence, each company is likely to have a strategy-making process that differs in formality, precision, time horizon, and scope. For example: Coca-Cola Google Medium term (e.g. 3-4 years) Short term (12 months?) Precise operational and capex budgets Budgetary processes flexible Strong emphasis on short- and medium- Little emphasis on performance targets; focus term performance targets on first-mover advantage and creating options, Strategic planning based on narrow market Strategic planning based on broad market focus: soft drinks what is our core business? Emphasis on design, with top management Emphasis on emergence, with top management Exerting strong hierarchical control orchestrating bottom-up initiatives 3. I have noted that a firms strategy can be described in terms of the answers to two questions: â€Å"Where are we competing?† and â€Å"How are we competing?† (â€Å"Describing a Firms Strategy†). Applying these two questions, provide a concise description of Madonnas career strategy (see Strategy Capsule 1.1). Where does Madonna compete? Madonna derives revenue from a number of markets: recorded music, live concerts, movie/video acting, book author, and the management and production of other recording artists. In terms of size of revenues, then, recorded music is her â€Å"core business.† However, this does not recognize the links between the different markets in which she engages or the way in which Madonna positions herself in relation to them. At the broadest level, Madonna competes in the global entertainment business. However, her positioning within this is as a â€Å"superstar† Madonnas renown and appeal transcends the individual markets in which she competes. How does Madonna compete? Madonna is a trend-setter/trend-spotter. In music, fashion, and social attitudes, Madonna Identifies emerging trends then positions her in the vanguard. In the early 1980s, she recognized the potential for the music style sweeping New Yorks dance clubs to have an impact on popular music; in the late 1990s, she helped introduce world music into western pop music. Madonna creates integrated multimedia product offers that include music (a new album), a fashion look, an attitude and philosophy (sexual predation in the late 1980s, religious mysticism at the turn of the millennium), and worldwide promotion through a concert tour. Madonna uses a network of collaborators and partners to create her product offerings. These include musicians, song writers, fashion designers, actors, choreographers, vocalists, and dancers. Madonna acts as overall designer and systems integrator for these various contributions. Madonna relies heavily on the press and her own generation of news events to keep her continually in the public eye. Such instances include sexual bravado (kissing Britney Spears), high-profile liaisons (affair with Warren Beatty), personal events (adoption of African child), attacks on political and religious authorities, boundary crossing (mixing sexuality and religious iconography). 4. What is your career strategy for the next five years? To what extent does your strategy fit with your long-term goals, the characteristics of the external environment, and your own strengths and weaknesses? The same principles that we apply to business strategy can also be applied to individuals career strategies (as I note on pp. 11-12). Indeed, several prominent â€Å"self-help† books are essentially about strategic approaches to self-development. (E.g. Stephen Coveys Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is a systematic approach to life planning that begins with the choices about lifetime goals. Markus Buckinghams Go Put Your Strengths to Work is based on the simple observation that success results from individuals identifying and deploying their resource strengths.) This exercise involves using the basic framework of Figure 1.2. The principle stages are: Identify career goals: what are you seeking wealth, power, influence, fellowship, excitement, security, making a difference in the world? Which careers offer the best prospects in relation to your chosen goals? (Career opportunities may relate to work type (brand manager, financial analyst, general manager, entrepreneur, and politician) and sector (financial services, manufacturing industry, public sector, international organization.) For the most attractive careers you identify, what are the key success factors? What are your resources and capabilities? What are your strengths and weaknesses in relation to intelligence, skills and aptitudes, financial resources, qualifications, experience, contacts, etc.? On the basis of these considerations, outline the principal elements of a career strategy in terms of: Where? What type of job? In which sector? Where located? How? How will you acquire your next job? What will be your approach to performing in that job? What kind of job sequence do you anticipate? What kind of additional training or personal development do you see as desirable?

Metallica :: essays research papers

Metallica Introduction Metallica was a band that that started out in the garage of one of the members when they were in high school. The band went through many changes and tragedies and found solutions for them and somehow remained playing. They started in 1980 as one of the first, if not the first Black/Metal band. Their popularity decreased in 1987 and form there they went on to become really popular later on. Summary Metallica started playing in 1980 and are still a band to this day. They have gone through many changes over the years. The original members of the band were James Hetfeild, Lars Ulrich, Dave McGovney, and Dave Mustain. Hetfeild was the rhythm guitarist and singer. Lars is a very great drummer. McGovney was the original bass player. And Dave Mustain was the original lead guitarist. Lars first began playing at the age of 13 when his grandmother brought him home a cheap set of drums which he pounded in. He was inspiried and began to like music after his father took him to a Deep Purple concert. His family migrated from Denmark to Newport Beach, California in 1980 to find the sunny climate to play tennis. After that he met the band as friends and then began to play. Hetfeild went to Downey East Middle School where he started playing in the auditorium on the stage with friends. Three years later his mother died of cancer. There was a song written in memory of her memory titled "The God that Failed." Then he moved to L.A. where he met the band. Lars knew Kirk but he already had enough guitars in the band. Eventually Dave Mustain was kicked out of the band because he disagreed with everyone. McGovney followed with him. Kirk was already playing with a band called Exodus but quit to join Metallica. And the band acquired bassist Cliff Burton to join. Cliff was in the group when they made their oldest album called Kill em' All. But died in a bus accident on tour. The band was shook up and didn't play in concert for years. Not only did the death of Cliff startle them, but they also had to acquire a new bass player. Jason Newstead was chosen of many other people who tried out for the band. Those people included Les Claypool of the band Primus. Newstead grew up in Niles, Michigan where he and his family raised horses. They moved to Kalamazoo then to L.A. Jason Newstead came from a band named Flotsam and Jetsam named after a chapter in J.R.R.

Digitization of Library Materials

The Usage of Information Communication Technology in Science and Technology Information Networks in Sri Lanka R. P. R. N. Premarathna No. 361/1, Manel Watta Road, Bollegala Gonewala (w. p. ), Tel. 0714307681, Email. ranjan. [email  protected] com A number of cooperative programmes including exchange of information can be seen among member libraries of the Science & Technology information networks in Sri Lanka. At present most of information networks in other countries engage in their cooperative activities by using Information Communication Technology (ICT).This research attempts measure the impact of Information Communication Technology for cooperative activities of information networks among science and technology information networks in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Scientific and Technical Information Network (SLSTINET), Agricultural Information Network (AGRINET), and Health Literature Library and Information Service (HELLIS) have been selected for the research. These networks properly carry on library cooperative activities. The aim of the study is to find out whether they use information communication technology to do their cooperative activities.Data has been collected from these three networks and their member libraries by sending questionnaires. Questionnaires were sent to 60 out of 120 member libraries of SLSTINET, 25 out of 30 member libraries of AGRINET and 12 out of 19 member libraries of HELLIS. Data analysis has been done by calculating mode, mean and representation of percentage values. Data has been presented by using table and diagram. It was found that the Usage of Information Communication Technology can be seen in some house keeping function (a computerized catalogue, creating data bases, internet searching, CD ROMs searching and using emails) of the networks.It is used in cooperative programmes like contributing to union catalogue and ULIST, current awareness service through the email and providing access to online journals also. Some member libr aries in networks do not have computer hardware and software facilities. Lack of allocating financial provisions and lack of attention of mother organizations, have affected the use of information communication technology. It was found that up to a satisfactory level ICT is being used in science and technology information networks in Sri Lanka. Keywords: ICT; Information Technology; Information Network; cooperative programmes; AGRINET; HELLIS; SLSTINET

Toxic Chemicals

Toxic Chemicals are substances naturally produced by the environment naturally or artificially produced by industrial manufactures.. The chemicals produced that have been around since the industrial age began are considered hazardous both to us and the environment. Some of the most highly toxic chemicals used today include polychlorinated biphenyls(PCB's), chlorofluorocarbons(CFC) and polyvinyl chloride(PVC's). These chemicals can be found in such products such as nuclear waste and automobile tires. Toxic chemicals or pollutants are substances that enter the environment through industrial, agricultural, or other human-generated processes that pose health hazards to humans, animals, and plants. This paper will look directly at chemicals which have been discovered to be hazardous or toxic, that are produced in quantity, and are difficult or extremely costly to remove once introduced to the environment. Nuclear waste is produced throughout the entire nuclear fuel cycle, beginning with the mining of uranium to the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuel. Nuclear waste will remain hazardous for thousands of years, leaving a poisonous legacy for future generations. As part of the normal routine operations of every nuclear power station some waste materials are discharged into the environments directly. Liquid waste is discharged using turbine cooling water to carry the waste into a nearby stream or river. Gaseous toxins are released into the atmosphere. There are three categories of radioactive nuclear waste; High level waste (HLW), Intermediate level Waste (ILW) and Low level waste (LLW). HLW consists mainly of irradiated fuel from the cores of nuclear reactors (although the nuclear industry does not consider this to be a waste) and high-levels of liquid waste are produced during reprocessing. The deadly wastes produced from these producers, are stored in large tanks, and are mixed with a hot glass material for solidification purposes. These glass logs also being classified as HLW. While the glassification process may make it easier to transport and store nuclear waste, it does not diminish the terrible dangers that the public and the environment are exposed too. HLW is typically a thousand times more radioactive than ILW. ILW consists mainly of metallic fuel ‘cans' which originally contained uranium fuel for that was used by nuclear power stations, reactor metalwork and chemical residues. ILW must be contained and from workers and the public exposure during transport and disposal. It is usually stored at the site of production. ILW is typically a thousand times more radioactive that LLW. LLW can be defined as waste which does not require protective shielding during normal handling and transportation. Examples of products containing LLW chemicals include protective clothing and laboratory equipment which have come into contact with radioactive materials. When disposing of highly radioactive nuclear fuel, the â€Å"spent† fuel is removed from the reactor and is stored temporarily in water-filled cooling pools. As the cooling pools are filled, many nuclear sites will have to shut down due to this lack of storage space for the deadly waste. According to estimates by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global amount of â€Å"spent† fuel in 1992 was estimated at125,000 tonnes. It is projected that by the year 2000 the annual spent fuel world wide will be over 200,000 tonnes, and 450,000 tonnes by the year 2030. Although a variety of disposal methods have been discussed for decades, including disposal into outer space there is still no solution for what to do with the nuclear waste. Most of the current proposed solutions for dealing with nuclear waste involve burying it beneath the earth's surface in special concrete storage containers strong enough to stop the radioactive material from escaping. Uranium is a radioactive element. It decays into a series of other radioactive elements, known as â€Å"daughter products† until it ends up as a stable form of lead. As a consequence of the various radioactive forms uranium goes through, the uranium ore deposits contain many radioactive elements, some of which are particularly hazardous. One of the major dangers of uranium is that it produces radium toxins and radon gas. Radon gas, even when inhaled in small amounts, is known to cause lung cancer. Radium toxins can find its way into people through food and water and is known to cause other types of cancer. There are approximately 60 tire waste sites in Ontario alone. Eleven of these sites contain more than 100 000 tires, and the other 49 maintain approximately 5,000 tires. On February 12, 1990, a tire dump located near Hagersville, Ontario, which contained an estimated 14 million used tires, was set on fire and burned for 17 days. The toxic smoke alone caused thousands of people to evacuate their homes. It was estimated that 600,000 litres of oil was produced by the melting tires and collected by the cleanup crews. There is the possibility that even more oil and other contaminants from the water runoff may have entered local water sources. Statistics compiled bu the United States government reports that there are as many tires in American waste sights as there are American citizens. This estimate added to an already over-burdened environment, means that the number of scrap tires on the ground in 1994 at just under a billion in the United States alone. It is important to note that warm weather areas produce more scrap tires on average than northern, cold weather climates. Considering the unlikelihood of the invention of a â€Å"non-wear† tire in the foreseeable future, it would stand to reason that the supply of scrap tires will continue to rise for many years to come. The annual number of tires that are scrapped world wide is estimated to be 1. 6 billion (see Fig 1). The next decade alone will show an increase of more then 500 million tires per year. Improper disposal of tires can affect our health, our environment, and our waste management costs. Proper waste tire management eliminates whole tires from being buried in landfills, eliminates tire stockpiles that trap water, eliminates ideal habitats for disease carrying mosquitos and rodents; reduces the risk of uncontrollable tire fires and related hazards and provides raw material for scrap tire markets. Waste tires can be recycled as whole or split tires or as crumb (ground) rubber. Whole tires can be used as parts of playground equipment. Split tire uses include floor mats, belts and dock bumpers. Crumb rubber is the fastest growing market for scrap tires. Crumb rubber uses include rubber and plastic products such as floor mats, carpet, shoe soles, padding, athletic surfaces, alternative-energy fuel, and rubberized asphalt. Adding rubber to asphalt greatly enhances the material's temperature resistance and longevity (see Fig 2). Chlorine is found in nature mainly in the form of salt, a stable compound which is essential to many natural processes. Such as using massive amounts of electricity, the chemical industry destroys the salt compound's stability creating an extremely reactive form of chlorine that is not widely found in nature. The use of chlorine results in products and wastes, many of which are toxic to wildlife, humans and the ecosystem. Chlorofluorocarbons and hydro chlorofluorocarbons: The ozone layer which is located in the Earth's stratosphere is comprised of a blanket of ozone molecules. It is the primary protective shield that the Earth has against the deadly ultraviolet rays of the sun. During the past 60 years, the ozone layer has been severely damaged by millions of tonnes of ozone depleting substances (ODS) most notably chlorofluorocarbons (CFCS), have been released into the atmosphere by humans causing the ozone's deterioration. Other ODS include hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) which is used as part of warfare also depletes the ozone layer. ODS are known to be stable substances and can survive in the atmosphere for many years. They are carried up to the stratosphere by air currents where they eventually disintegrate under ultraviolet light. This disintegration releases chlorine or bromine molecules which creates a chemical chain reaction leading to the large scale destruction of the ozone molecules (see Fig 3). A decrease in the number of ozone molecules in the stratosphere reduces the atmosphere's ability to absorb UV-B radiation before it reaches the Earth's surface. Small changes in the thickness of the atmospheric ozone layer allow significant increases in the amount of UV-B radiation that filters through which can profoundly impact life on this planet. This added UV-B radiation impacts on the stability of the global ecosystem; the genetic health of life, the quality of the air we breathe and the weather. Unless these toxic emissions are halted immediately, the ozone's depletion and damage to the global biosphere could reach severe life threatening levels leading to the end of life as we know today. PVC's are now the single largest user of chlorine and its production is growing worldwide. Wastes from PVC production contain dioxins and other highly toxic contaminants; a range of toxic chemicals is incorporated within PVC products; and burning PVC plastic in incinerators or in accidental fires creates dioxins. PVC's have become a significant source of the planet's dioxin levels. PVC's are used as a component in consumer products such as credit cards, records, toys, window frames, doors, walls, panelling, pipes and gutters; around the home in vinyl flooring, vinyl wallpapers, venation blinds, shower curtains, office furniture, binders, folders, and pens. It is also used in the car industry, as medical disposables in hospitals, in cable and wire insulation, for imitation leathers, and in garden furniture. PVC's have become part of our everyday lives (see Fig 4). The disposal of PVC's creates environmental problems. If burned, PVC products will release an acidic gas and dioxins. PVC products are a significant source of dioxins globally. PVC's eventually releases toxins which can then threaten groundwater supplies if disposed of in landfills. PVC's are not a natural material and is not bio-degrade able. PCB's are produced in several countries and are widely used in industries as heat transfer fluids. PCB's are so versatile and so widely used because of their physical properties. These properties include resistance to acids and bases, compatibility to organic material, resistance to oxidation and reduction, electrical insulation properties, thermal stability and is nonflammable. However, widespread use and improper disposal practices have led to significant environmental contamination by these commercial PCB formulations. PCB's are highly stable in the environment. Non-Industrial sites have also been reported with high contamination (i. e. , The Antarctic). PCB's are usually found in fish, wildlife, and human adipose tissue, blood and milk. Health affects for babies who suckle their mother who has a high concentration of PCB's in their milk (see Fig 5). Between the 1940's through to the 1970's PCB's were used to coat silos of barns. The coating however, leaked from the walls into the cattle and into the human food chain via milk and meat. An increase in cancer diagnosis is humans has been reported by families that lived or used to live near these silos. These silos are now being dismantled or destroyed due to these findings. A case of Yusho/Yu-Cheng poisoning occurred in southwest Japan where 1600 individuals fell ill after eating rice oil contaminated with a commercial PCB industrial fluid. Nineteen hundred individuals also fell ill after eating the same thing. This incident occurred at the same time and area. Sixty-four percent of the victims made a recovery however, some reported to get headaches, and stomachaches, numbness of the extremities, coughing and bronchial disorders, as well as joint pains in many of the victims. Children that were affected by this incident had related growth and abnormal tooth development, and newborns exhibited systemic pigmentation and were born undersized. Beginning in 1980, congressional appropriations to a â€Å"Superfund† — money to be used by the EPA for hazardous waste cleanup — have totalled $8. 4 billion, of which the EPA has spent $6 billion (1990), and has completed work on only 52 sites listed on a national priority list of 1,218 sites that urgently required Superfund cleanup. There is no safe way to dispose of the toxic chemicals produced by industrial plants for everyday life. If there is, it can cost millions or even billions of dollars to companies and governments around the world. There are so many different toxins today that are affecting the way we live. The effects of these chemicals are destroying the environment and causing illnesses and even death in many people. Toxic chemicals must be properly used as we enter the new millennium to allow the production of toxic chemicals world wide should be cut to levels where it is considered safer for the environment and prevent increases in future levels. This global cut back should remain in place until technologies are created to safely dispose of the toxins safely. The planet. Humans must give the planet time to dissolve itself of the current toxins within the environment and repair itself to the point where living conditions are safe and clear of chemical hazards.