Who Was Alex Supertramp - 983 Words

Who was Alex Supertramp? Alex Supertramp was merely an alias, or perhaps it was one of the numerous facets of Christopher McCandless. Mccandless’s life was documented in the national bestselling novel Into the Wild, authored by Jon Krakauer. After graduating from Emory University in Georgia, Chris decided to abandon all of his nonessential materialistic possessions and surrender to his desire of living in the Alaskan wilderness. There is an abundance of words that can be used to describe Chris McCandless, some of which may include perplexing, an extremist, obdurate, persistent, diligent, perspicacious, and so on. However, there is only one word that comes to mind when describing Chris’s ideology: Transcendentalism. This philosophy is based on the premise that in order to fathom the nature of truth, an individual must first evaluate the logical basis that governs the nature of practical knowledge. Christopher McCandless can be considered a transcendentalist due to the fa ct that he idolized other transcendentalists and their principles. He believed that all knowledge begins with self-knowledge, that individual happiness is dependent upon self-realization, and that one’s individuality is to be prioritized. The literary movement of Transcendentalism initially developed in New England as a response to the earlier literary movement known as Rationalism. Two prominent advocates of this literary trend, known as transcendentalism, were Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.Show MoreRelatedEssay on Death of an Innocent, by Chris McCandless 991 Words   |  4 PagesIn Death of an Innocent, Chris McCandless goes on a memorable and tragic journey into Alaska, but for most of his expedition he was known, not as Chris McCandless, but as Alexander Supertramp. The reason that he changed his name for his journey was because he is running away from his past and wanted to become the person he believed he really was. Chris McCandless had a very comfortable life of an upper-middle class citizen, with a good education and many opportunities. On a summer trip to CaliforniaRead MoreUse of Literary Techniques in Into The Wild, by John Krakauer1073 Words   |  5 Pagesauthors note, Krakauer gives a synopsis of his novel. He writes, â€Å"In April 1992, a young man from a well-to-do East Coast family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. Four months later his decomposed body was found by a party of moose hunters† (Krakauer, ANI). However, McCandless himself is unaware that the fate of his excursion will prove to be abominable. He believes that his own physical competence and superior intellect will guarantee his survival inRead MoreInto The Wild Transcendentalism Analysis1043 Words   |  5 Pagesa thrilling novel about a young man named Christopher McCandless, who leaves a materialist society and decides to journey into the wild. Christopher Johnson McCandless graduates from college and tells his parents that he is going to spend the summer traveling in his car, a used Datsun. He changes his name to Alex Supertramp in hope to start a new lifestyle, away from everything he knew. A natural disaster happens which forces Alex to abandon his car after it is damaged by a flash flood. He then loadsRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Life On The Road1463 Words   |  6 PagesKrakauer wrote about Chris McCandless, a very famous traveler and an intelligent man, after his death in the book, Into the Wild. Chris McCandless was a 24-year old who finished college at the elite Emory University, but unexpectedly left his family and ultimately society, to live life in the wild. He decided to travel to Alaska under the name Alex Supertramp and mostly live dependent on the land with limited supplies and the aid of passerbys. Unfortunately, Chris ends up in death’s grasp in Alaska fromRead MoreFilm Analysis : Into The Wild1429 Words   |  6 PagesInto the Wild The movie Into the Wild is about a young man who finished his university education and through everything away. He did this because he wanted to go into the wilderness to find answers to his questions to his life. There are multiple scenes that moved me when watching this movie. The first scene that moved me was during a campfire scene with Jan and Chris. They were talking and Jan said that â€Å"You look like a loved kid, be fair.† Chris answered â€Å"Rather than love, in money, in faith,Read MoreUse of Literary Techniques by Jon Krakauer When Writing Into the Wild1585 Words   |  7 PagesAlexander Supertramp, in which many of the people that he came in contact with called him. In the novel Krakauer introduces Wayne Westerberg through a letter that Chris McCandless wrote to him â€Å" saying that â€Å" he wants him to know that he is a great man†. Jim Gallien was the second character introduced that McCandless came in contact with. Gallien noticed Alex hitch hiking and gave him a ride to â€Å"Denali National Park† and also discovers that Alex is going to Alaska. However, he notices that Alex doesRead MoreThe Journey Of Chris Mccandless1654 Words   |  7 PagesWhether McCandless was a vagabond, genius, whack job, free spirit, rebel, or poet, Christopher McCandless (also known by the pseudonym Alexander Supertramp) was unique among men. At an age when most upper-class kids begin their arduous climb toward becoming the next big thing, Christopher McCandless went in the opposite direction—he became a nobody. Through perusing Into The Wild, I have detested a ton of feelings for the most part outrage. I have never believed that such individual would remainRead MoreAnalysis Of Chris Mccandlessness In Into The Wild870 Words   |  4 PagesChris McCandless was a free spirit, unbound by the chains of society and an old soul who took pleasure, and fulfilled his lust for adventure, by tramping around the United States. Rather than living the normal life in civilization, Chris felt his love for nature stated when he abandons his family and lives off the land. Jon Krakauer, the author of Into the Wild wrote the book about Chris McCandless aka Alex Supertramp when he died of starvation in the Alaskan wilderness and made headlines. PeopleRead MoreWas Chris McCandless Prepared When He Went Into The Wild? Essay1357 Words   |  6 Pagesbelieve that he was poorly prepared for his journey. But there are a few people who believe he was prepared mentally, and an even smaller amount believe he was fully prepared. I believe that Chris only knew what he was doing mentally. He did not have the correct tools or the developed skills to survive, for an extended period of time in the wild. But, he did know what he was about to get himself into. He planned out the trip and knew exactly what his risk factors were. Chris McCandless was either preparedRead MoreInto the Wild, by Jon Krakauer1848 Words   |  8 PagesChristopher Johnson McCandless who ventured off to Alaska and tried to survive in the wild. McCandless grew up in Annandale, Virginia where he attended school and made very good grades, rarely bringing home anything below an A. His father, Walt worked for NASA for a little while, before starting his own business with Chris’s mother, Billie, out of their own home. They worked hard and for long hours to get the business up and running and it finally paid off. The McCandless family was wealthy, but had many

The Rush of Amphetamine Use the Need for Speed Free Essays

The Rush of Amphetamine Use: The Need for Speed Over the last century, Adderall and Ritalin have transitioned from respectable medications into designer drugs. Chemist L. Edeleano developed amphetamines in the late 1800’s primarily for respiratory ailments, but in time physicians noticed additional behavioral effects. We will write a custom essay sample on The Rush of Amphetamine Use: the Need for Speed or any similar topic only for you Order Now Now, people that are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD, ADD) and narcolepsy use amphetamines to alert and focused (CESAR). According to the Princeton University online dictionary, amphetamines are â€Å"a central nervous system stimulant that increases energy and decreases appetite; used to treat narcolepsy and some forms of depression. † These prescription medications are some of the most popular and widely abused drugs among teens today, and are depended on for better performance in school, on sports field and are even used to aid weight loss. Because amphetamines and similar drugs reduce hunger, increase concentration, raise self esteem, and boost performance they appeal to insecure young people. These miracle drugs are most often abused by college and high school students because the medicine provides a sense of security that most users long for. Girls in particular use amphetamines such as Adderall, Ritalin, or Vyvanse for weight loss purposes. If a person takes too many lisdexamfetamines (a chemical like amphetamines in Ritalin or Vyvanse) or amphetamines, his body can build a tolerance which can cause increased dependency. The dangerous use of these drugs without the supervision of a medical doctor can be fatal. Like any other drug, amphetamines can become an addiction that can only be overcome with the assistance of a trained physician. Scientists designed amphetamines to be helpful for those with learning disabilities or mental disorders; however, the abuse of these chemicals causes psychological dependence, physical deterioration, and spiritual destruction. According to expert medical journal writer Ellen Bailey, when Dr. Heinrich Hoffman discovered learning disabilities like ADD and ADHD, parents were overjoyed and relieved that there was something they could actually do to help their children. Sir George F. explained to parents through his written lectures that it was not their fault that their children had attained uncontrollable behavior (2). Medical intervention could help, but the temptation to abuse the drugs followed the cure. Finding these drugs can be as easy as finding rock candy in a candy store. Desperate people who want amphetamines find â€Å"hole in the wall† doctors that will give them the prescriptions they need. Doctors who use these methods of treatment, for the most part, have their own practice firms and give the people what they want – not need. Because people love the doctors, they have high satisfactory ratings. Technically they are doing their job, and therefore are not reported for writing fraudulent prescriptions. There are several ways to take amphetamines; a few ways are: â€Å"ingested orally, crushed and snorted, dissolved in water and injected, or smoked (inhalation of the vaporized drug)† (CESAR). Some students use amphetamines as a shortcut to an â€Å"A† on a test or an easy way out of studying. What is so special about these drugs? What makes them appealing to students and adults without learning disabilities? Achievement through drug abuse is common; athletes use steroids to enhance their performance, and people who suffer from depression have â€Å"happy-pills† to help them be more at ease with themselves. Those who are compelled to over-achieve often use amphetamines. Because of intense peer pressure and a compulsion to achieve, students then fall into the trap of amphetamine abuse in an attempt to cheat the system. Amphetamines do help students and people with learning disabilities by allowing them to focus better and work more effectively. People with ADD and ADHD are missing certain chemicals in their brains that drugs like Vyvanse and Adderall can help. Margaret Lahey and Shari Rosen  from the Bamford-Lahey Children’s Foundation explain that the part of the brain that controls concentration uses a chemical called dopamine. It is an important neurotransmitter that does not work properly for people with learning disorders (Par 9). Adderall and other amphetamines supply this chemical for those people so that they are able to function as normally as possible. The outcome is the ability to function without restriction. Some suffering from anorexia nervosa have discovered another abuse of amphetamines in the form of dieting pills. Leading scientific experts Dr. John E. Blundell and Micah B. Leshem agree that hunger is severely suppressed while using amphetamines. In a recent study, the two scientists determined the following: The effects upon food intake of three dose levels of fenfluramine and amphetamine were compared in rats with bilateral or unilateral lesions of the lateral hypothalamus. †¦. At 8 weeks after operation amphetamine anorexia was significantly diminished in bilaterally lesioned animals whereas fenfluramine anorexia was significantly enhanced. Further tests carried out at 14 and 20 weeks after operation showed that amphetamine regained its anorexic potency in lesioned animals, while the enhanced potency of fenfluramine remained. The results are consistent with the belief that these two anorexic agents operate through quite separate sites and mechanisms of action. (Par 1) Because of the severity of the weight loss, it is extremely easy to fall into a deep psychological obsession and addiction. According to student John Monroe, diagnosed last year with ADD, within the first two weeks of taking Adderall, he lost a shocking ten pounds. He realized quickly how dangerous his weight loss would be if he continued taking the medications. Even though weight loss is not a motive for some taking the medications, the side effect still occurs. However, abusers sometimes take too much too often without even knowing it. Overdose can lead to hair loss, loss of menstruation in women, anemia, euphoria, body twitches, and even heart failure. Amphetamine abuse hurts you in more than the physical level; but also at the spiritual level. When sin entered the heart of man, so did the desire for self-acceptance. With today’s standards, some of the hardest trials a person can go through are perfectionist tendencies, fitting in with the word, and acceptance of self. If abusers have feelings of dislike towards themselves, their minds, or their bodies and do not feel perfect the way they are, they are telling God that He made a mistake in making them. God made each and every person in his image (New International Version Bible, Gen 1. 27); some people have difficulties learning while others do not. The rise of amphetamine usage in 12th graders is especially shocking. According to a recent study from the University of Maryland, 15% of 12th graders were using prescription amphetamines for nonmedical reasons (Cesar FAX). The graph below reveals the percentages of 12th graders using amphetamines to the usage of narcotics and where the students attained them. (Cesar FAX) An assumed argument against whether amphetamines should be legalized is that the medicine is not harmful to anyone if used in moderation and under a doctor’s supervision. If test results from a person without a learning disability reveal normal blood and behavior levels, that should be enough to make doctors realize that, if used under supervision and in moderation, the drug is safe. The medicine is more effective and safer for keeping a person focused and on target than smoking, and it gives the same buzz alcohol can give but without the risk of getting drunk. The danger is still deeper than mood swings or behavior problems. As stated before, Lahey explains that people who have learning disabilities have a dysfunctional neurotransmitter call dopamine (Par 9). In simpler terms, it means that the stimulation part of the brain is missing, and as a result, the brain automatically tries to find outside methods to release the chemicals it is lacking. People  with ADD have to fuel up their brains with things like physical activities, movement, and always doing something that stimulates their brains. Such impulsive behavior is not a conscious decision that people  with ADD/HD make; they really cannot help themselves. The behavior becomes a reflex action and they act in a hyperactive manner. The amphetamines help people with learning disorders like ADD and ADHD by supplying the dopamine that their brains are missing. If a person without such learning disabilities has too much dopamine, his or her body can go into overdrive and can create a resistance, causing the brain to need more; it becomes an addiction. One addiction can lead to a door of temptation that swings wide open for other drugs. Once one drug is dismissed by saying, â€Å"Oh, it is just a onetime thing†, the drug habit becomes a â€Å"onetime thing. † God provided doctors who can help a person with learning disabilities attain a sense of normalness and those without, He gave teachers, parents, and other people who can support them though any trial that may come God will provide for a person’s needs without using the easy way out and using counterfeit concentration or dieting habits. What many people fail to think about before taking amphetamines without prescription are the consequences. It is not worth losing family, friends, a job, or school and is certainly not worth the consequences of being charged with illegal drug use. Illegal amphetamine use may seem small and insignificant, but once one is addicted, it is nearly impossible to get rid of the ghosts of one’s past. The problem is not the me dication, but how mankind uses or abuses the medication. Works Cited Blundell, John E. , Micah B. Leshem. Central Action of Anorexic Agents: Effects of Amphetamine and Fenfluramine in Rats with Lateral Hypothalamic Lesions. † ScienceDirect – Home. Elsevier B. V. , Sept. 1974. Web. 04 Nov. 2010. Cesar FAX. â€Å"Friends and Family Are Most Common Source of Prescription Amphetamines and Narcotics Used Nonmedically by 12th Graders. † CESAR (Center for Substance Abuse Research). University of Maryland, 2 Feb. 2009. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. Ellen, Bailey, and Carson-Dewitt Rosalyn. â€Å"Behavior Drugs Children: An Overview. † Point of View Reference Center. EBSCO, 2009. Web. Oct. -Nov. 2010. Lahey, Margaret, and Shari Rosen. â€Å"Neurotransmitters and Learning, Memory and Developmental Disorders. †Ã‚  Children’s Disability Information. Children’s Disabilities Special Needs Information. Web. Oct. -Nov. 2010. Monroe, John S. â€Å"Having ADD. † Telephone interview. 9 Oct. 2010. Princeton University. â€Å"Amphetamine Definition. †Ã‚  WordnetWeb. Princeton University. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. University of Maryland. â€Å"Amphetamines. †Ã‚  CESAR (Center for Substance Abuse Research). University of Maryland, 2 May 2005. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. How to cite The Rush of Amphetamine Use: the Need for Speed, Papers

Short story Essay Example For Students

Short story Essay Outline briefly what the dilemma is and go on to discuss how the characters reaction to it gives you a deeper understanding of the story.  Roselily, a short story by well known author Alice Walker, is the tale of a black woman of the south facing a difficult decision on her wedding day. The story goes on to explain her circumstances and why this decision has to be made. During this essay I will explore this dilemma and how the characters reaction to it gave me a deeper understanding of the text. Roselily is a woman standing on the alter of her wedding and finding herself at a crossroads; Whether to live her life for herself or for her children; to marry a man she does neither love nor desire to ensure her childrens future or to leave and put her childrens future at risk. Roselily knows that should she marry this stranger who is to be her husband that she will not have the life she wishes for, that her life will be completely changed and they will move from the place she knows and loves to a cold inner city of the north. This is a huge dilemma and how Roselily reacts is portrayed as the story unfolds. Throughout the story Roselily, the antagonist Roselily herself faces a struggle between her conscience, wanting what is best for her children and her desire, wanting what is best for her. Roselilys reactions to this dilemma give us a deeper understanding of the story and of Roselily herself as a person  Roselilys reactions to the dilemma are evident in our understanding of the story. The first way in which Roselilys reactions to the dilemma is shown when in reference to her fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. Her view on her soon to be husband never seems to be positive except when in regards to her children and him;  She loves his understanding of her condition. The condition being referred to her is the fact that she has children out of marriage in the first place, and to many different fathers. However, when talking about how she sees him as a person she is not quite so generous in her praise of him;  She does not even know if she loves him.  This reaction is vital to our understanding of the story as it shows the self sacrifice that Roselily will make in order to save her children from an uncertain future. Without this reaction we would not be sure if Roselilys feelings were a factor in this marriage, but this reaction clarifies that she does not have feelings for her fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. Hence this reaffirms to what extent Roselily is prepared to go for a better future for her children and deepens our understanding of the text as a whole. The second way in which Roselilys reactions to the dilemma enhance our understanding of the text is through her reaction to the new way in which she must accustom her appearance and behaviour to suit her husband and his religion. It is not the sort of life she is used to. She imagines herself worshipping at her new place of worship;  She thinks of ropes, chains, handcuffs, his religion. His place of worship. Where she will be required to sit apart with covered head. This attitude towards his religion is immensely negative. It shows her resentment of the fact she is marrying this man and also heightens our awareness of the tremendous sacrifice she is making for her childrens benefit as this is a big change for her;  Even now her body itches to be free of satin and voile, organdie and lily of the valley. Memories crash against her. Memories of being bare to the sun. .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 , .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 .postImageUrl , .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 , .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168:hover , .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168:visited , .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168:active { border:0!important; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168:active , .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168 .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u468c3507ead9af271687211cc14f3168:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Shakespeare, Richard II: analysis of Richard as a king EssayThis also further highlights the sacrifice she is making and deepens our understanding of the texts as it shows how much Roselily hates to be covered up, and much prefers the exposure of her flesh. We are aware by this time that her husband is Muslim which would require Roselily as a Muslim woman to hide her body and her face from view. Hence her reaction to the idea of change for her husbands new religion also deepens our understanding of the text as it highlights the sacrifice which Roselily is making on behalf of her children. The final way in which Roselilys reaction to the dilemma deepens our understanding of the text is her opinion of the North of America and the South. The North of America, Chicago to be exact, is where Roselily would be moving if she were to marry this stranger she calls her fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. Roselily does not see the North as a good place, but as a dirty bad one, whereas she views the South as a clean wholesome place. This is shown by the use of cinders as symbolism. The cinders used are to represent the badness in the world and Roselily talks about Chicago and her home town of Pantherburn like so;  In Chicago, a word she hears when thinking of smoke, from his description of what a cinder was, which they never had in Patherburn. Roselilys negative attitude towards Chicago emphasises her desire to stay in Patherburn, in the south, and that she does not think much of the North except that it carries opportunities for her and her children alike.  Roselilys decision to marry her suitor and move on to better things for her children even though it is not truly what her heart desires is hence unpredictable as the dilemma shows her happiness versus her childrens. Her reactions to several things about her new life deepen our understanding of the texts as a whole as with out these reactions we would be unawares to the dilemma in the first place. And so, the characters reaction towards her husband, her new religion and her new home enhance our understanding of the text as a whole.

Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance free essay sample

This album will make you cry. It may anger you. It will make you question everything youve ever known about life and love, but it will have been worth all the confusion with My Chemical Romances 2004 album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge.With their second studio album, My Chemical Romance created what lead singer Gerard Way describes as a pseudo-conceptual horror story, a chilling tale of love, betrayal, and insanity foreshadowed by the bloodstained lovers on the cover. A masterpiece combining elements of emocore, pop punk, screamo, and alternative rock, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge will have you listening to the end. My Chemical Romance, a rock band from Jersey City, was formed by Gerard Way as a response to the 9/11 attacks. Gerard was originally a cartoonist (who actually designed this albums cover), but after 9/11 he decided to do something of substance with his life, hence the start of MCR. We will write a custom essay sample on Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge by My Chemical Romance or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The band, consisting of Gerard and Mikey Way, Frank Iero, and Ray Toro, have come a long way from their humble beginnings. They present a new, relentless style that evolves the sound of their debut album I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love into something deeper and more mature. Opening with the track Helena, My Chemical Romance begins Three Cheers with a passionate, haunting atmosphere that gives you the chills. Throughout the work, the instrumentals are truly striking, with MCR putting a variety of sounds on display. From the soft lull of Interlude that reminds you of a church hymn, the overpowering grief in The Ghost of You, to the indignant guitar of Im Not Okay (I Promise), every song builds on the previous track and offers something new. The vocals are one of the most unique aspects of the album. Gerard Ways voice reminds you of the angsty American teenager, but with a more serious, desperately emotional side that is surprisingly alluring. The lyrics of the album are also what makes it distinct. Instead of throwing together a random compilation of singles, MCR created a very deliberate concept album that tells a Shakespeare-worthy love story. This sets the bands newest offering apart from those of pop punk groups such as Fall Out Boy. Lines such as, Would I die for you? Well heres your answer in spades, and, Well meet again when both our cars collide, discuss the true meaning of unconditional love, as well as tough topics such as loss and suicide. The sheer emotion behind the songs and the tangible passion are what make it so compelling. Three Cheers may appeal to fans of Pierce the Veil and Black Veil Brides. In Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, My Chemical Romance doesnt just sing the songs, they live them, and the crazy surge of feelings that each track presents really pull you into the alternate universe of this album. Its a noteworthy experience. Certified platinum in three countries, be prepared to surrender all emotions and logic while listening to this record. Cheers!

Employee Relations Essay Example

Employee Relations Essay Example Employee Relations Paper Employee Relations Paper The Unitary perspective views the organisation as a team unified by a common purpose (Fox, 1996: 2), namely the success of the organisation. This perspective views all the people in the organisation as part of one big team. Unitarists view everyone within the organisation as part of one team with one loyalty structure. This immediately says that there are no barriers between different groups and departments which could lead to poor communication and animosity, which would go against the notion of common values and common goals as that would not be advantageous to the common goal, of the success of the organisation. The set of common goals and values that are put in place are there to try to create and maintain the order within the organisation, the common set of values and goals are important so that all of the employees are working in unison. This is important as it makes employees at the bottom of the organisation feel valued too as they have the same set of values and goals to achieve as the people at the top of the organisation. Unitarists believe that the sectional interest of the employees is important too however they are very much secondary to the general profitability and the success of the organisation. They see the states as an external agency which they can take their beliefs into. This means they that they believe the notion of the common values and goals should not be confined to organisations but to the nation so that we all have a set of common values which are in the national interest. One of the main factors for conflict within the organisation is the lack of communication and Unitarists see this as dysfunctional and counterproductive. The Unitarists believe that conflict is not inherent in employee relations as it does not make good sense for the organisation. They see conflict as an opposite to what they stand for because it is not structural and not organised, they see it as frictional as it can cause rifts and create different sub-cultures within an organisation which goes against their notion of the whole organisation working together as members of one team. Trade unions can also be seen a potential source of conflict as they are an external factor which are an intrusion to the organisation. They are viewed as not necessary within the organisation as they can create an alternative misplaced focus for some employees. The employee may see the trade union as part of the organisation thus placing their loyalty with them also, which could be tested if the trade union we unhappy with something and chose to strike. For this reason they are seen as an unnecessary external factor. The Pluralist perspective is just as the name suggests, they see organisations as constellations of different groups. The organisation is seen as multi-structured in terms of groups, leadership, authority and loyalty. A miniature democratic state composed of sectional groups with divergent interests over which the government tries to maintain some kind of dynamic equilibrium. The main groups within this perspective that find themselves at the opposite ends of the scales often are the workers and managers. This can be down to a number of issues such as pay, working conditions, bonuses and working hours and it is over issues like these that conflict often occurs. Pluralists believe that the interests of their employees compete with the organisations interest as there are always tensions over the price of labour and the levels of taxation. Trade unions are seen as helpful as they are seen as reflecting and regulation emergent conflicts between employees and the employer and they also help to defend the position of the employees so on their behalf at least they are seen as legitimate. The Pluralist view of conflict differs vastly to that of the Unitarists who believe that conflict is fractural, not structural and avoidable, the Pluralists believe the conflict is inherent within the employee relationship. They believe this because they acknowledge the differences between different employees and different groups within the organisation. Whereas Unitarists try to make the whole organisation into one team Pluralists acknowledge the different groups within an organisation and understand that at times they will not see eye to eye and their interest may differ. The answer to this conflict is to for the different employees and groups to not dwell on the problems and concentrate on resolving their differences and work together for the good of the business. This is how Pluralist try to maintain the order, with the management of conflict in place of trying to pretend it doesnt exist or giving up on trying to resolve it, like Unitarists and Marxists. Pluralists see conflict as something constructive on occasions as it can indicate times when things need to be changed in the organisation and it can indicate differences that need to be resolved. The Marxists perspective is one based on conflict. Industrial and employee relations can only be understood as part of a roader analysis of (capitalist) society. In contrast to any implicit or explicit assumptions about a balance of power in the industry, Marxists emphasise the asymmetry of power between the employer and employee. Marxists see the role of employees as sellers of their labour and employers as exploiters of that labour. The whole Marxist perspective is based on the proletariat and the bourgeoisie and how the bourgeoisie have with the help of capitalism kept the proletariat down. The different firms in an organisation are a reflection of society and the class divide. Marxist believe there are structured inequalities within organisations that are there to maintain the status quo and that any worker resistance is systematically suppressed by the powers of the state. The interests of the employees conflict with the employer, even the managers who perceive themselves as higher up than the workers and identify with the employers in fact they seen in the same light as the workers at the bottom Marxists believe. Trade unions are seen as a product of class conflict and are locked in antagonistic co-operation (Hyman) with capitalism. There is little need for order within the Marxist perspective as the conflict is structural and is necessary to that end they believe conflict and constant and is inherent within the employee relationship, more so than the Pluralists. They see conflict as endemic and ultimately inevitable and any type of management, team working or resolution of hostilities is just a temporary fix. Ultimately Marxists believe the only way resolve the conflict would be the abolition of capitalism. The Marxist view on the state is that it is an agent of capitalism and acts in its interest, as the organisations who are profitable are good for the economy as they are paying taxes and as long as they are doing that they maintain the status quo and the state will not want to change anything for fears of a revolution. In conclusion conflict within the employee relationship can be inherent dependant upon your view point. Unitarists believe that conflict is non structural and frictional and try to limit it, however the conflict could occur within the actually employee as they may feel they have to ignore or keep quiet about things which may harm the togetherness of the employees. The Unitarist perspective can be seen as a perspective with an omnipotent management who exercise total and unilateral control of an organisation through stereotypical integration of unilateral management control of employment relationship. Unitarist see employee relations as a very important aspect. At the other end of the scale the Marxist perspective is a broad theory that blames society and capitalism for the conflict within the employee relationship through structured inequalities and the glass ceiling. They see the field of employee relations as a waste of time because in fact there is no relations as the workers are just being exploited by the employers, the state and capitalism. Many disregard the Marxist perspective as it is a very old theory and believe it to have been more meaningful during the industrial revolution, although it still does have a strong following by workers who feel suppressed by work and the state. The Pluralist perspective in some regards sits in the middle of the Unitarists and Marxists perspectives as it does believe that conflict is inherent in the employment relationship however it believes that the conflict can be resolved by management. This may be the best compromise as many organisations use the pluralist perspective over the ideal Unitarist perspective and the conflict driven Marxist perspective.

8 Sneering Synonyms for Obvious

8 Sneering Synonyms for Obvious 8 Sneering Synonyms for â€Å"Obvious† 8 Sneering Synonyms for â€Å"Obvious† By Mark Nichol When we refer to something as being obvious, the connotation is often negative. Here are some synonyms for obvious that sometimes or always connote an uncomplimentary attitude about the subject at hand. 1. Blatant: crassly or offensively noisy, obtrusive, or obvious (possibly from the Latin word blatire, meaning â€Å"to chatter†) 2. Brazen: contemptuously bold (from Middle English brasen, meaning â€Å"brassy,† from the harsh, loud sound brass makes when it is struck) 3. Conspicuous: reflecting a lack or violation of good taste; the meaning can also neutrally refer to what is obvious (from the Latin term conspicere, meaning â€Å"to get sight of†) 4. Egregious: see conspicuous and flagrant (from the Latin term egregius, meaning, literally, â€Å"out of the herd† and figuratively connoting something outside of social norms) 5. Flagrant: demonstrating contempt for societal standards (from the Latin term flagrare, meaning â€Å"to burn†) 6. Glaring: Obtrusively obvious, with the connotation of embarrassment for the perpetrator (from the Middle English term glaren, related to the Old English word for glass) 7. Gross: reprehensibly obvious, plus other negative (and a couple of neutral) meanings (ultimately from the Latin term grossus, meaning â€Å"coarse†) 8. Rank: marked by a shocking display of poor taste; the term also has senses mostly related to coarseness or offensiveness (from the Old English term ranc, meaning â€Å"strong†) See this post for a list of synonyms for ostentatious or referring to bad taste. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:"Because Of" and "Due To" "Wracking" or "Racking" Your Brain?Show, Don't Tell

Choose a company to do your research on Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Choose a company to do your on - Research Paper Example Starbucks considers six guiding principles in accomplishing its mission. These principles include providing an idyllic work atmosphere and equal opportunities to workers. In addition, Starbucks embraces diversity as a way to do business, applying maximum standards to sourcing, roasting, and unsullied delivery of coffee to its consumers. Moreover, Starbucks aims at, â€Å"developing enthusiastically satisfied consumers, contributing positively to the communities and also recognizing that success is necessary for profitability† (Starbucks Global Responsibility Report, 2013). Starbucks has evolved in its commitment and has grown to promote environmentally and socially dependable practices that have resulted to its success. Starbucks considers social and environmental responsibility as an essential part of neighborhoods, as well as, business. Starbucks grant loans to people in need and also lengthens its emphasis on a range of programs that sustain and support cultural diversity. Starbucks is committed to preventing workplace injuries through rules placed to ensure safety of its workers and consumers; for instance, the introduction of digital brewing equipment such as espresso machines at Starbucks has reduced burns in workers (Starbucks Global Responsibility Report, 2013). Employees and customers are one of the most essential resources to Starbucks. All employees at Starbucks are eligible for Starbucks benefits and health care package, on top of a preliminary wage which is over the minimum wage. Moreover, the company endeavors to tender environmentally-s afe products. Starbucks makes noteworthy contributions to the environment, charities, and the homeless and supports AIDS research. Financially, Starbucks has had solid returns and earnings. The Company has managed to maintain healthy operations whilst generating sufficient

ECommerce and ECRM and eCommerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

ECommerce and ECRM and eCommerce - Essay Example Businesses and other productive sectors used to experience problems carrying out their duties due the communication breakdown and the ineffective methods which used to exist (Barnes, 2000 P. 34). According to Mwenda (2004), for one to appreciate the importance the new computer-aided communication can have, he/she must consider the dynamics of the same in that, it has made the world a global village since every one of us can communicate with his/her accomplices every where they are instantly (P. 41). Businesses have been made efficient since the transactions are made over the net in a faster way than we could have imagined sometimes back, advertisements are nowadays being made over the net, which is cheap. The important sectors of our economies are now safe in terms of communication due to the coming of this technology. Internet has been used for so many beneficial activities in sports, culture and the general wellbeing oh the human race (Richmond, J 2003 P. 102). On the same note, websites are being used by organizations to market their products and also to carry out transactions. For them to be efficient they should be well planned for and the organization of the materials should be in order. In addition, it should be attractive for the users. Intuitive and good level of innovation as well as easy navigation is an important issue for every website that is to sell the ideas of an organization. Poorly designed web pages cause confusion, frustration and total dissatisfaction to would be potential customers. This can sometimes cause them to opt out of using your services and consider using that of your competitor. With website metrics data, a company can test different operations to see how potential customers react and view the data to determine the overall navigation style for your site to take a notch higher. The use of website metrics is also called website analytics and is a tool for enhancing customers experience as well as ensuring that

The Effect of a Change in Language of Instruction on the Returns to Schooling in Morocco Essay Example for Free

The Effect of a Change in Language of Instruction on the Returns to Schooling in Morocco Essay According to this journal, in the last few decades, language reform has been a strong movement throughout the Kingdom of Morocco from a primarily French speaking country, to an Arabic speaking one. In the schools, the French teachers were removed and replaced with native speaking ones. Although the Curriculum changed, the books language did not, because many of the jobs available are in a French speaking language and nation. So, the economic value of the Moroccan people speaking French is greater than only speaking Arabic. In 1983, A process named â€Å"Arabization† by many, removed the French language and replaced it with Arabic. In schools in Morocco, many parents left their children in middle school until there was room for them in secondary school. In this article they have correlated the similarities between speaking the French language and The economy, and how each has affected each other. Islamic Radicalism Slows Moroccan Reforms. Steven Erlanger and Souad Mekhennet. New York Times. 26 August, 2009. According to this article, Morocco has been viewed as â€Å"a rare, liberalizing, Islamic State†¦that can live in peace with Israel. † (NY Times) King Mohammed VI is under extreme Islamic pressure and has slowed the pace of change. Although he says he is focused on democracy, according the article, it is more of just a facade. Many of the head officials have talked of a balance between freedom and democracy but many are worried of extremism. In 2003, bombings by Islamic radicals have increased tension in Morocco, and may have thwarted the attempts to make it a more accepting society. Since the Bombings, there has been a major crackdown on extremists in the country, going so far as to jail someone for having a long beard, and accusing them of terrorist activities because of this. Some say this is all over the top and the arrests are based on circumstantial evidence, but others such as Morocco’s intelligence leader stated that it was not based on political parties but a crack-down on terrorism. The king has decided to rid the country of the slums, in an attempt to smut out all radicalism. Although this crackdown has removed some extremism , it has interfered with human rights, especially that of people in jail. Background Note: Morocco. U. S Department of State. Bureau of Northeastern affairs. 12 March, 2012. This United states government website gives a profile of the geography, people, government, and economics of the Kingdom of Morocco. The location is North Africa on the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. The population is listed as 34,859,364 people. Their GDP as of 2010 was $90. 5 million. According to this article, the Moroccan people are mainly Sunni Muslims of Arab descent. Arabic is Morocco’s official language but French is most widely taught. It also states that most people live west of the Atlas mountains, near Casablanca. Although education is compulsory, the average literacy rate is surprisingly low, around 30% for women, and approximately 65% for men, but in rural areas is expected to be about only 10% for women. During World War II there was a strong campaign for independence from France. Morocco finally gained its independence on March 2nd, 1956. Currently Moroccan Government is ruled by a monarchy, but now has a stronger parliament to help improve democracy and human rights. Introducing Morocco. Lonely Planet. Website. 20 January 2012. http://www. lonelyplanet. com/morocco This Travel site describes Morocco as a sensory overload. Tangier is considered a common first port of call, but Casablanca is the most recognizable due to its popularity from portrayals in movies. Their monetary system is the Dirham, which is comparable, 1 USD= 8. 15 (DH). It also states that their chief of state is Mohammad VI. The Article says that Malaria is no longer a problem in the country. CIA. The World Fact book. Website. https://www. cia. gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2049. html This site explains the main exports of Morocco, which are clothing and textiles, electrical components, crude minerals, fertilizers, petroleum products, citrus fruits, vegetables, and fish. It is a very diverse, open-market economy. The economy over the years has seen steady growth with low inflation rates. The core of the economy revolves around agriculture, tourism, and apparel. Although they have had slow economic success, they still suffer from unemployment and poverty. Key challenges for the Moroccan economic system includes fighting corruption and reducing government spending. In 2006, Morocco entered a Free Trade Agreement with the United States, the only African country to have one. Morocco’s Labor force as of 2011 has 11. 6 million people approximately.

Creative Story: Death Cload :: essays research papers

Creative Story: Death Cload 2100 hours, Captain James S. Steward of the United States Air Force straps on his G-suit and goes over his mission briefings one last time. He walks out into the hanger and awaits his chariot. The SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest plane in the world with it's twin turbine engines and slick black radar absorbent skin make him a flying shadow in the air. His mission, to fly a covert reconnaissance mission over Moscow, the heart of the USSR Intelligence believe that the Russians have a build up of nuclear missile silos around the capitol. With the Cuban missile crisis at hand, the United States cannot let their guard down on a sneak attack from the Communists. "Another suicide-run," says Captain Steward to his flight maintainer. "Yes, sir," replies the private. Captain Steward squeezes into his cockpit seat like a sardine in a can. Little switches, gauges, and buttons embellish the cockpit, each with a crucial part in flying the aircraft. "Ready to rock n' roll." Steward pulls the Blackbird out of the hanger like a cumbersome Oldsmobile, but only this special Oldsmobile can travel over twice the speed of sound undetected by enemy radar. With a push of the throttle the twin-turbine engines roar with authority. The bird takes flight disappearing into the night skies evanescently. The only sign that it exists is the trademark sonic boom as it passes the sound barrier. After approximately seven hours flight time and two in-flight re-fuelings, the Blackbird reaches its destination, Moscow, Russia. The thermal imaging camera, located in the bird's hull, depicts the radioactivity from nuclear silos as bright yellow and orange blobs on the terrain. The images show seas of yellow throughout Moscow. The city resembles a giant missile base up and operational. Captain Steward pulls a 180 and heads for home with sick eerie feeling in his stomach. After a long comprehensive study of the recon images, the United States order an increase in their production of their nuclear missiles to counter- attack any offensive the Russians have planned. Silos sprout like weeds throughout the United States and the President gave the order for Defcon 2. The country falls in a state of panic, as they slip one step closer to a nuclear holocaust. On the other side of the Atlantic, the USSR notices the nuclear build up in the United States. In fear of an preemptive strike, the Communist fuel and prepare their birds just in case. This pre-war act resembles a chess game; one side makes and move and the other counters it until both sides end up killing

Cruise Control

Dept. of Electronics & Communication RVCE, Bangalore Cruise Control System |Cruise control is a new technological development which incorporates a factor of comfort in driving. Safety is only a small benefit of this | |system. In short, cruise control can be said to be a system which uses the principles of radar to determine the distances between two | |consecutive moving vehicles in which either one or both of them is incorporated with this system. | Lalitha Chinmayee H M 1RV11EC052 Namratha H Mahesh 1RV11EC062 IntroductionEvery minute, on average, at least one person dies in a crash. Air bags and seat belts save tens of thousands of people a year. But the ultimate solution and the only thing that will save far more lives, limbs and money is cruise control system. Cruise control was commercially introduced in 1958 as an option on the Chrysler Imperial. Cruise control is an invaluable feature on American cars. Without cruise control, long road trips would be more tiring, for the driv er at least, and those of us suffering from lead-foot syndrome would probably get a lot more speeding tickets.Cruise control is far more common on American cars than European cars, because the roads in America are generally bigger and straighter, and destinations are farther apart. With traffic continually increasing, basic cruise control is becoming less useful, but instead of becoming obsolete, cruise control systems are adapting to this new reality — soon, cars will be equipped with adaptive cruise control, which will allow your  ­car to follow the car in front of it while continually adjusting speed to maintain a safe distance. What is Cruise Control System?Cruise control is a system, which automatically controls the speed of an automobile. Most cruise control systems don’t allow the use of cruise control below a certain speed. The purpose of the cruise control system is to maintain a constant vehicle speed despite external disturbances, such as changes in wind o r road grade. This is accomplished by measuring the vehicle speed, comparing it to the desired or reference speed, and automatically adjusting the throttle according to a control law. The cruise control system actually has a lot of functions other than controlling the speed of your car.It can accelerate or decelerate with the tap of a button. There are also several important safety features — the cruise control will disengage as soon as you hit the brake pedal, and it won't engage at speeds less than a particular value (usually around 25-30 mph). We all know that the things that control the speed of the car are the gas pedal and the brakes. And the brain that normally controls the speed of the car is the brain of the driver. The driver senses the speed by looking at the speedometer and then adjusting the pressure on the gas pedal or the brakes to compensate for variations in the desired speed.The cruise control system does the same thing with one exception. It only controls t he gas pedal – it doesn't even know there are brakes in the car!! A Blind inventor and mechanical engineer called Ralph Teetor, invented cruise control in 1943. [pic] Modelling To understand the working of a cruise control system, we consider here a simple model of the vehicle dynamics, shown in the free-body diagram (FBD) below. The vehicle, of mass m, is acted on by a control force, u. The force u represents the force generated at the road/tire interface.For this simplified model we will assume that we can control this force directly and will neglect the dynamics of the powertrain, tires, etc. , that go into generating the force. The resistive forces, bv, due to rolling resistance and wind drag, are assumed to vary linearly with the vehicle velocity, v, and act in the direction opposite the vehicle's motion. [pic] Figure 1 Summing forces in the x-direction and applying Newton's 2nd law, we arrive at the following system equation: (1)[pic] —(1) Since we are interested in controlling the speed of the vehicle, the output equation is chosen as follows 2)[pic] —(2) Taking Laplace’s transform for equation (1), we get m sV(s) + b. V(s)=U(s) —(3) We find the transfer function of the cruise control system to be: [pic] [pic] Figure 2 – Block Diagram Controlling the Cruise Control The brain of a cruise control system is a small computer that is normally found under the hood or behind the dashboard. It connects to the throttle control as well as several sensors. The diagram below shows the inputs and outputs of a typical cruise control system. [pic] Figure 3 – Cruise Control Working Block DiagramA good cruise control system accelerates aggressively to the desired speed without overshooting, and then maintains that speed with little deviation no matter how much weight is in the car, or how steep the hill you drive up. Controlling the speed of a car is a classic application of  control system theory. Since the cruise cont rol system controls the speed of the car by adjusting the throttle position, it needs sensors to tell it the speed and throttle position. It also needs to monitor the controls so it can tell what the desired speed is and when to disengage.The most important input is the speed signal; the cruise control system does a lot with this signal. The most basic control system is a  proportional control. In a proportional control system, the cruise control adjusts the throttle proportional to the error, the error being the difference between the desired speed and the actual speed. So, if the cruise control is set at 60 mph and the car is going 50 mph, the throttle position will be open quite far. When the car is going 55 mph, the throttle position opening will be only half of what it was before.The result is that the closer the car gets to the desired speed, the slower it accelerates. Also, if you were on a steep enough hill, the car might not accelerate at all. Most cruise control systems use a control scheme called  proportional-integral-derivative control (PID  control). The integral of speed is distance. The derivative of speed is acceleration. A PID control system uses these three factors — proportional, integral and derivative, calculating each individually and adding them to get the throttle position. We've already discussed the proportional factor.The  integral  factor is based on the  time integral of the vehicle speed error. Translation: the difference between the distance your car actually travelled and the distance it would have travelled if it were going at the desired speed, calculated over a set period of time. This factor helps the car deal with hills, and also helps it settle into the correct speed and stay there. Let's say your car starts to go up a hill and slows down. The proportional control increases the throttle a little, but you may still slow down.After a little while, the integral control will start to increase the throttle, opening it more and more, because the longer the car maintains a speed slower than the desired speed, the larger the distance error gets. Now let's add in the final factor, the  derivative. The derivative of speed is acceleration. This factor helps the cruise control respond quickly to changes, such as hills. If the car starts to slow down, the cruise control can see this acceleration (slowing down and speeding up are both acceleration) before the speed can actually change much, and respond by increasing the throttle position. pic] Figure 4 – Block Control of Cruise Control Model Setting of Cruise Control [pic] [pic] Figure 5 & 6– Setting of Cruise Control using buttons The system pictured above has five buttons: On, Off, Set/Accel, Resume and Coast. It also has a sixth control – the brake pedal, and if the car has a manual transmission the clutch pedal is also hooked up to the cruise control. †¢ The on and off buttons don't actually do much. Hitting the on button does not do anything except tell the car that you might be hitting another button soon.The off button turns the cruise control off even if it is engaged. Some cruise controls don't have these buttons; instead, they turn off when the driver hits the brakes, and turn on when the driver hits the set button. †¢ The set/accel button tells the car to maintain the speed you are currently driving. If you hit the set button at 45 mph, the car will maintain your speed at 45 mph. Holding down the set/accel button will make the car accelerate; and on this car, tapping it once will make the car go 1 mph faster. If you recently disengaged the cruise control by hitting the brake pedal, hitting the resume button will command the car to accelerate back to the most recent speed setting. †¢ Holding down the coast button will cause the car to decelerate, just as if you took your foot completely off the gas. On this car, tapping the coast button once will cause the car to slow down b y 1 mph. †¢ The brake pedal and clutch pedal each have a switch that disengages the cruise control as soon as the pedal is pressed, so you can shut off the cruise control with a light tap on the brake or clutch.Adaptive Cruise Control System A more advanced cruise control is being developed that can automatically adjust a car's speed to maintain a safe following distance. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is an automotive feature that allows a vehicle's cruise control system to adapt the vehicle's speed to the traffic environment. This new technology, called adaptive cruise control, uses forward-looking radar (or lidar – light detecting and ranging. But lidar based ACC’s are limited due to poor working in bad weather), installed behind the grill of a ehicle, to detect the speed and distance of the vehicle ahead of it. [pic] Figure 7 – Adaptive Cruise Control System Adaptive cruise control is similar to conventional cruise control in that it maintains the vehicl e's pre-set speed. However, unlike conventional cruise control, this new system can automatically adjust speed in order to maintain a proper distance between vehicles in the same lane. This is achieved through a radar headway sensor, digital signal processor and longitudinal controller.If the lead vehicle slows down, or if another object is detected, the system sends a signal to the engine or braking system to decelerate. Then, when the road is clear, the system will re-accelerate the vehicle back to the set speed. The 77-GHz Autocruise radar system made by TRW has a forward-looking range of up to 492 feet (150 meters), and operates at vehicle speeds ranging from 18. 6 miles per hour (30 kph) to 111 mph (180 kph). Delphi's 76-GHz system can also detect objects as far away as 492 feet, and operates at speeds as low as 20 mph (32 kph).These systems are being enhanced to include collision warning capabilities that will warn drivers through visual and/or audio signals that a collision i s imminent and that braking or evasive steering is needed. In May 1998, Toyota became the first to introduce an ACC system on a production vehicle,luxury sedan. Main Parts & Working of ACC’s The main components of a typical radar-based ACC system are: 1. Fusion sensor 2. Headway control unit 3. Throttle 4. Brake 5. Dashboard display Fusion sensor: It is a combination of sensors and processors.They are 1. Millimetre-wave radar 2. Stereo camera 3. Image processor 4. Fusion processor [pic] Figure 8 – Architecture of Radar Based ACC System Millimetre wave radar: It is a sensor which uses millimetre wave for detecting the position and velocity of a distant object. Range is calculated using the formula C = 2*R/T Where, ‘C’ is the velocity of light, ‘R’ is the range, ‘T’ is the time of flight of transmission. [pic] Figure 9 – Millimetre Radar Unit Stereo camera: The camera’s function is detection of cars and other objects i n the roadway.Image processor: It processes the images from the stereo camera and the data fed into the fusion processor. Fusion processor:  The function of fusion processor is Data Fusion. Headway control unit: It has control on the brakes and throttle and uses dashboard for immediate warnings. Canceling Cruise Control Operation: †¢ Brake pedal is pressed †¢ ‘Off' button is pressed †¢ Vehicle Speed < 25 mph †¢ An ACC system fault is detected [pic] Figure 10 – A car model with advanced cruise control system First, the vehicle speed sensor might fail. Normally the speedometer also fails so that's pretty easy to diagnose.Next, the power to the brain can be interrupted (Here brain is referred to the cruise control system as it works similar to brain). A blown fuse or a corroded connector can prevent the brain from working correctly or at all. Next, the brains can lose its ability to function. A faulty component can prevent the brain from doing its thi ng. The brain is a pretty sophisticated box that contains a lot of electronic components including a microprocessor. Normally when the brains fail you need to replace the box. The vacuum diaphragm can develop a leak.If that happens then the cruise control might set and hold the speed for some time however if the leak is larger than the supply line and modulator can add vacuum to the system the system will slowly lose control and the vehicle will slow down. This can also happen if the vacuum line to the diaphragm is cracked or loose. Finally, the linkage that connects the diaphragm to the accelerator linkage can fail. Some aftermarket cruise control systems use a short length of what looks like fat key chain – bead chain. I have seen several units fail when the chain simply breaks. ConclusionBut one drawback is that cruise control systems are dangerous in wet roads and slippery roads as they may cause some serious problems. Fully autonomous car is probably not viable in the fo reseen future. Nearby vehicles would be in constant communication with each other and act co-operatively. It will probably take decades, but car accidents may eventually become almost as rare as plane crashes are now. References 1. www. howstuffworks. com 2. www. cars. com/features/adaptivecruisecontrol 3. www. autorepair. about. com 4. ctms. engin. umich. edu/CTMS/index. php? example=CruiseControl=SystemModeling

Demographics Paper

The expected growth of the aging population in Louisiana is expected to grow and will have a tremendous impact on our healthcare system in the years to come. In the past, the increased growth of the aging population was not a problem. Presently it is becoming a problem. One major impact is the need for health care workers. Healthcare workers are decreasing because physicians and other health care workers are retiring. When people get older, they also need more healthcare services. The demand for healthcare services is growing because of the older adult population. Baby boomers from years ago are growing and maturing. In the meantime, fertility rates are declining. This is what is leading to the increased aging population in Louisiana. The aging population is living longer because of new technologies extending their years. Demographics are constantly changing and so are healthcare costs in result. The government is implementing plans to tackle the problems associated with the aging population. It is not an easy task. It is very challenging and difficult to implement successful changes. However, the future is looking very good for the aging population if the government can provide solutions to the barriers caused from the growth of the aging population. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, â€Å"the percentage of persons in Louisiana 65 and older is 12. 3%. † Statistics show how much of an impact the aging population has on health care services and costs. â€Å"The aging of the population of Louisiana is one of the most important demographic trends affecting the state. Estimates show that Louisiana has approximately 436,992 caregivers, who provide more than 468 million hours of care valued at more than $4. 6 billion. † That goes to show just how important it is that fertility rates increase. We are in desperate need for health care workers to care for the aging population (U. S. Census Bureau, 2007). † Not only are we in need for workers, but we are also losing money as the aging population increases. Louisiana is now facing a serious problem that could seriously affect the population and healthcare costs. â€Å"Louisiana’s birth rate is declining, which means our state is aging (Jones, 2007). † Th e number of elderly people is continuing to grow. The numbers of births are continuing to decline. The only solution is to increase fertility rates by having more babies. The impending growth of the elderly population will require Medicare and Medicaid services to change based on the needs of the population. In recent years, healthcare costs were much lower. Healthcare costs have increased because of the need for services among the elderly population. The changing patterns will focus on the needs of the patient. When health care costs go up, many citizens are unable to afford health insurance. Therefore, many patients will go untreated because they are unable to pay for their healthcare costs. There are two problems here. Patients are going without care and their health problems and conditions could get worse because of a lack of healthcare. According to Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, 2004, â€Å"at the current rate of growth of health care costs and with the population aging, assuming no fundamental changes, 28% of the American economy will be spent on health care by 2030. More than one-third of national health care expenditures are currently attributable to people 65 or older. In the next 20 years, half of all health care encounters will involve older adults. † These statistics show just how much a change is needed regarding our healthcare system and the aging population. It is becoming very difficult for healthcare organizations to plan for such a change. The community has been working to address challenges associated with the aging population. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, 2005, â€Å"figures show that Louisiana will add 333,675 people by 2030, increasing the total population to 4. 8 million. But higher growth rates elsewhere will drop Louisiana from the 22nd most populist state in the nation to 26th by 2030. † This has already begun to happen. Another thing that Louisiana is doing to address major challenges is increasing the wages for healthcare workers. When there is a shortage of jobs, graduate students see this as a golden opportunity to make more money. It gives students motivation and encouragement to get into the field right away. Louisiana is making positive moves to change the way it uses federal Medicaid funds as well. The community is making every effort to combat the problems associated with the aging population, such as the increased health care costs, infertility rates, and need for health care workers. Implementing these changes in Louisiana will be very effective and create a healthy population growth. Chronic disease wellness programs are a great way to decrease healthcare costs and improve healthcare productivity. Because of the rise in health care costs, the government is looking for new strategies to lower healthcare costs. Researchers believe that chronic wellness programs are the answer. â€Å"Wellness programs have proved to be cost effective and the return on investment has been well worth the initial cost (David, 2010). † Helping the aging population develop a healthy lifestyle increases productivity and lower health care costs and insurance premiums. If we do not create chronic disease wellness programs, we will not gain anything. As a matter of fact, we will be paying more for insurance and set back from improved productivity. The need for lowered healthcare costs is pushing government officials to implement chronic disease wellness programs throughout the state and the country. â€Å"Health promotion programs or Wellness programs are geared to improve employee's physical, emotional, and psychological health (David, 2010). † It is better to spend a little money to gain a lot of money instead of losing money due to the lack of healthcare knowledge and motivation of patients and employees. Chronic disease wellness programs improve cash flows for organizations and also keep people healthy. Many people decide to change their lifestyles after these interventions. These programs provide so many great benefits that it would be foolish for the government to reject or ignore them. The aging population is more likely to need healthcare products and services as they age. â€Å"Unfortunately, elderly adults are often confronted with sales gimmicks, advertisements, telephone solicitations, or mailings that promote products that have no value in treating a physical or psychological problem and can, at times, actually be harmful to the individual (Ryder, 2011). It is important for the older generation to feel safe and secure buying the necessary products to help with their medical conditions. In order to market products to patients, organizations can promote them through doctor’s offices. This way the patient knows that the organization selling the product is not a scam. If the product is not being sold through the doctor’s office, the patient can always ask his or her doctor if the product being used is safe to use. When marketing a product, I would point out to the patient that the product is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved. This will let the patient know that the product is safe to use and does work to treat medical problems. As the young generation grows old, there is an increased need for services and products. The aging population usually have many more doctor visits, prescription drugs, need for beds in hospitals, need for healthcare services and products than the young generation. This is driving healthcare costs up at a remarkably increasing rate. There are many challenges being faced by the aging population and healthcare organizations because of people growing old. Louisiana has a desperate need for more health care workers and more births in order healthcare costs. Growing old is what is causing this. The community is trying to come up with solutions to decrease healthcare costs and promote the need for more healthcare workers. A couple solutions have already been made, such as offering more money to college students who are inspiring to be healthcare professionals, adopting chronic disease wellness programs, increasing fertility rates, and watching how Louisiana spends their Medicaid funds. It is crucial for us to consider how we will be able to care for the aging population and at what cost. As one’s body becomes frail, older adults are highly likely to be in and out of health care settings for medical care. Health care professionals must be able to provide quality care to the elderly based on their individual needs. A more viable elder healthcare system is essential. The population is growing faster than the economy. Louisiana and its communities are facing many challenges as the population ages. However, there are many steps being taken by government that will help improve our healthcare system and services being provided to patients. It is a difficult process, but in the end is more than worth it.

Hindenburg Disaster

Hindenburg Disaster The suddenness of the disaster was shocking. At 7:25 p.m. on May 6, 1937, while the Hindenburg was attempting to land at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey, a flame appeared on the outer cover of the rear of the Hindenburg. Within 34 seconds, the entire airship was consumed by fire. Take-off On May 3, 1937, the captain of the Hindenburg (on this trip, Max Pruss) ordered the zeppelin out of its shed at the airship station in Frankfurt, Germany. As was usual, when all was ready, the captain shouted, Schiff hoch! (Up ship!) and the ground crew released the handling lines and gave the giant airship a push upward. This trip was the first of the 1937 season for passenger service between Europe and the United States and it wasnt as popular as the 1936 season. In 1936, the Hindenburg had completed ten successful trips (1,002 passengers) and was so popular that they had to turn away customers. On this trip, the first of the 1937 season, the airship was only half full, carrying 36 passengers despite it being equipped to carry 72. For their $400 ticket ($720 round trip), the passengers could relax in the large, luxurious common spaces and enjoy fine food.  They could play, sing, or  listen to the baby grand piano on board or just sit and write postcards. With 61 crew members on board, the passengers were well accommodated. The luxury of the Hindenburg was a marvel in air travel. Considering that passengers were not taken across the Atlantic in heavier-than-air crafts (airplanes) until 1939, the novelty as well as the luxury of traveling in the Hindenburg was astonishing. The smoothness of the ride took many of the Hindenburgs passengers by surprise. Louis Lochner, a newspaperman, described the trip: You feel as though you were carried in the arms of angels.1 There are other stories of passengers waking up after several hours aloft questioning the crew as to when the ship was to take off.2 On most trips across the Atlantic, the Hindenburg maintained an altitude of approximately 650 feet and cruised around 78 mph; however, on this trip, the Hindenburg encountered strong head winds that slowed it down, pushing back the Hindenburgs arrival time from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 6, 1937. The Storm A storm was brewing over the Lakehurst Naval Air Station (New Jersey) on the afternoon of May 6, 1937. After Captain Pruss had taken the Hindenburg over Manhattan, with a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, the airship was nearly over Lakehurst when they received a weather report that stated winds were up to 25 knots. In a lighter-than-air ship, winds could be dangerous; thus, both Captain Pruss and Commander Charles Rosendahl, the officer in charge of the air station, agreed that the Hindenburg should wait for the weather to improve. The Hindenburg then headed southward, then northward, in a continuing circle while it waited for better weather. Family, friends, and newspapermen waited at Lakehurst for the Hindenburg to land. Most had been there since the early morning hours when the airship was first scheduled to land. At 5 p.m., Commander Rosendahl gave the order to sound Zero Hour - a loud siren beckoning the 92 navy and 139 civilian ground crew personnel from the nearby town of Lakehurst. The ground crew were to help the airship land by hanging on to mooring lines. At 6 p.m. it began to really rain and soon after began to clear. At 6:12 p.m., Commander Rosendahl informed Captain Pruss: Conditions now considered suitable for landing.3 The Hindenburg had traveled perhaps a little too far and was still not at Lakehurst at 7:10 p.m. when Commander Rosendahl sent another message: Conditions definitely improved recommend earliest possible landing.4 Arrival Not long after Commander Rosendahls last message, the  Hindenburg  appeared over Lakehurst. The  Hindenburg  made a pass over the airfield before coming in for landing. Circling over the airfield, Captain Pruss tried to slow down the  Hindenburg  and to lower its altitude. Perhaps worried about the weather, Captain Pruss made a sharp left turn as the airship approached the mooring mast. Since the  Hindenburg  was a little tail heavy, 1,320 pounds (600 kg) of ballast water was dropped (often, unwary onlookers who had ventured too close to an approaching airship would get drenched from ballast water). Since the stern was still heavy, the  Hindenburg  dropped another 1,100 pounds (500 kg) of ballast water and this time did drench some of the onlookers. At 7:21 p.m., the  Hindenburg  was still about 1,000 feet away from the mooring mast and approximately 300 feet in the air. Most of the passengers stood by the windows to watch the onlookers grow larger as the airship decreased its altitude and to wave at their family and friends. The five officers on board (two were just observers) were all in the control gondola. Other crewmen were in the tail fin to release mooring lines and to drop the rear landing wheel. A Flame At 7:25 p.m., witnesses saw a small, mushroom-shaped flame rise from the top of the tail section of the  Hindenburg, just in front of the tail fin. The crewmen in the tail of the airship said they heard a detonation which sounded like the burner on a gas stove turn on.5   Within seconds, the fire engulfed the tail and spread quickly forward.  The mid-section was completely in flames even before the tail of the  Hindenburg  hit the ground. It took only 34 seconds for the entire airship to be consumed by flames. The passengers and crew had only seconds to react. Some jumped out of the windows, some fell. Since the  Hindenburg  was still 300 feet (roughly equal to 30 stories) in the air when it caught fire, many of these passengers did not survive the fall. Other passengers got wedged inside the ship by moving furniture and fallen passengers. Other passengers and crew jumped from the ship once it neared the ground. Even others were rescued from the burning bulk after it had hit the ground. The ground crew, which had been there to assist the craft in mooring, became a rescue crew. The injured were taken to the airfields infirmary; the dead were taken to the press room, the impromptu morgue. The Radio Broadcast On the scene, radio broadcaster Herbert Morrison captured his emotion-filled, first-hand experience as he watched the  Hindenburg  burst into flames. (His radio broadcast  was taped and then played to a shocked world the following day.) Aftermath Considering the quickness of the catastrophe, it is amazing that only 35 of the 97 men and women on board, plus one member of the ground crew, died in the  Hindenburg  disaster. This tragedy - seen by so many via photographs, news-reels, and radio - effectively ended commercial passenger service in rigid,  lighter-than-air crafts. Though it was assumed at the time that the fire was caused by a hydrogen gas leak ignited by a spark of static electricity, the cause of the disaster is still controversial. Notes 1. Rick Archbold,  Hindenburg: An Illustrated History  (Toronto: Warner/Madison Press Book, 1994) 162.2. Archbold,  Hindenburg  162.3. Archbold,  Hindenburg  178.4. Archbold,  Hindenburg  178.5. Archbold,  Hindenburg  181.

Saying Best and Worst in Spanish

Saying Best and Worst in Spanish Best and worst as adjectives are usually expressed in Spanish using mejor (plural mejores) and peor (plural peores), respectively, preceded by a definite article (el, la, los or las). A few examples: el mejor presidente, the best presidentel mejor ejemplo, the best examplela mejor cmara, the best cameralos mejores estudiantes, the best studentsel peor libro, the worst bookla peor excusa, the worst excuselas peores pelà ­culas, the worst films The definite article is dropped when mejor or peor follows a possessive adjective: mi mejor camisa, my best shirtnuestras mejores decisiones, our best decisionstu peor caracterà ­stica, your worst quality Like most other adjectives, mejor and peor can function as nouns:  ¿Quà © coche es el mejor? Which car is the best?He comprado muchas computadoras, y à ©sta es la peor. I have bought many computers, and this one is the worst. When mejor or peor is functioning as a noun, lo is used as the definite article when mejor or peor refers to no particular noun. In such cases, lo mejor frequently can be translated as the best or the best thing; lo peor frequently can be translated as the worst or the worst thing. A few examples: Lo mejor es olvidar. The best thing is forgetting.Lo mejor es que me voy a casa. The best thing is that Im going home.El amor es lo mejor de lo mejor. Love is the best of the best.Lo peor es cuando haces una pregunta y nadie responde. The worst thing is when you ask a question and nobody answers.Vi lo mejor y lo peor de la humanidad. I saw the best and the worst of humanity. In phrases taking the form the best/worst ... in the ..., the in typically is translated using de: lo mejor coche del mundo, the best car in the worldel mejor presidente de la historia, the best president in historyel peor libro de toda la existencia humana, the worst book in all human existencelas peores pelà ­culas de la serie, the worst movies in the series

Electric Cars Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Electric Cars - Research Paper Example The company has completed designing the car but wants to increase its output. A rise in output can only be afforded, if the company makes a commercial plan that would help to market the product and make it a leading vehicle in the current competitive industry. The context of this research paper would capture the various details about the product, industry, potential market applications, challengers, risks and path of commercialization that would be useful for the company to make its product acceptable in the market. Product Description An electric car is an eco friendly car that runs with the help of an electric motor or battery stored electrical energy. The electric motors in such cars help to generate torque, thereby giving smooth and strong acceleration to such modern vehicles. Such cars emit less air impurities because they do not discharge tailpipe pollutants. Some electric cars are also powered by solar energy or gasoline, these cars are known as solar and hybrid cars respectively (Westbrook, 2001). Prototype Status The research paper concentrates on a four seating electric car. The car is produced by a Canadian automobile company and its manufacturing division is in Ontario. The car fully runs with electricity and comprises of all the features that a modern car should contain. However, the car is required to be charged every time its cell energy diminishes. The company manufactures only 75 cars per month at present but the figure is expected to augment up to 200 cars per month by 2014. Intellectual Property Status The intellectual property rights are legal rights that are catered to the automobile firms for discovering a new design of a vehicle. Such rights ensure that the state of technology or blueprint newly invented by a company is not copied by any other firm in the industry. A trademark can only be used by a Canadian company according to the norms of Canada. Thus, it is obvious that the Canadian electric car manufacturing firm will possess a trademark that would protect its product from forgery (WIPO, 2013). Industry Analysis Definition of your industry The automobile industry is an industry that comprises a large pool of organizations and companies. Such companies are engaged in designing, selling, manufacturing, marketing and developing motor cycles, mopeds, towed vehicles and motor vehicles. It is a long established business segment since 1890’s. Working and Prospects of the Industry Automobile industry is considered as one of the most important ind ustry in the current global economic system in terms of revenue. The biggest strength of the industry is its diversity; there are infinite companies that participate in automobile manufacturing. The industry stands 3rd in the Fortune 500 list and

MGMT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

MGMT - Essay Example The internet relays a vast array of information and services within the interlinked documents and emails. However, due to increased technology and widespread use of the internet creates security threats due to the vulnerabilities posed by the system. As a result, internet laws have been established to deal with matters related to internet. It’s necessary for the users to have knowledge of the laws. From the early days, professionals in the technology industry realized that the diversity of the internet functions required trust since it was used by the public. The industry code of conduct was established as a guiding principle to ensure responsible use of the internet by the operators and users. However, with the improving world of technology courts and governments around the world are creating internet laws to handle legal disputes related to internet use. Cyber laws have been designed to fit in the legal system frameworks in order to ensure there is order in the conduct and commerce in cyberspace. The internet law handles cases of trademark and copyright infringement as well as other related cyber crimes (Smith, 2006, 37). Internet has changed the legal landscape since it’s the world largest marketplace. The internet influences committing crimes, torts and infringing intellectual property. The internet law controls many aspects of internet use such as e-commerce, marketing and cyber activities. As a result, the laws protect the users in all the fields that incorporate internet use in their activities. Rules should accommodate new developments such as improvement in the software industry, as well as transformation in the intellectual property laws. The internet creates unique jurisdictional disputes since the technology respects no national borders. The internet rules keep changing due to the advancement in technology posing new threats and challenges. As a result, the legal frameworks must be designed to accommodate the changes to ensure protection of

How does the weather from a meteorologist stand point affect playing Essay

How does the weather from a meteorologist stand point affect playing football - Essay Example When making football predictions people usually take into consideration factors such as history, temporary form of team, statistics, suspended and injured players. However, they rarely check the weather, a factor that is often overlooked but can greatly influence the football matches outcome. Weather conditions not only affect individual players, but also affect the condition of the football pitch and this can affect players’ performance (Wesson, 2002). A particular weather condition affects how players play, how they pass, as well as their ability to determine how effective certain tactics are within that system. True professionals in football clubs are aware of the importance of weather. This explains the reason why most of major football clubs hire the services of professional meteorologists to obtain the most accurate information regarding the conditions on the time and day of the game (American Football Coaches Association, 2002). This paper will discuss how the weather f rom a meteorologist standpoint affects playing football. One of the most common weather situations in football is the rainy weather. This situation makes the football ground more slippery and may cause the ball to move faster and to slide. However, this condition may be perfect for teams who like quick movements with many tactics and short passes (Hyde, 2009). If the rain becomes quite strong or continues for a long time, the pitch will be over flooded and this will disrupt passes and slow down the ball. This is especially true for matches that are played on fields with poor drainage system and which are not able to keep the ground in perfect condition. Since such conditions makes heavy tackles inevitable, they tend to favor teams with better physical shape (Biskup, 2010). It is for this reason that it is critical for meteorologists to examine whether it will rain, and how much rain is expected. In rainy conditions, football pitch is likely to be slippery and this can have a major i mpact on the number of goals that can be scored in a given match. Rain will not only impede safe capture of the ball by the goalkeeper, but also will reduce the ball’s visibility in the long shots (Hurley, 2013). The second most common weather situation in football is the windy weather. Wind affects any sport that involves flying objects in an open place. Strong wind can affect teams who prefer playing with long passes because it changes the ball’s movement and players must take into consideration the direction of the wind. Strong winds may impact playing conditions, with throwing and kicking becoming especially hard (Wesson, 2002). Unlike other weather conditions, wind tends to affect both teams equally; it is considered to be an equal-opportunity hazard. It causes players to have more runs and this means less overall plays because plays use more time. As a result, there are less field goal attempts due to reduced passing effectiveness. Also, the winds have an impact on the fans attending a football match (Guy and Sang, 2009). Besides, football fans enjoying tailgating have to make sure that all their personal items are securely held down, or risk having them being blown away. However, it should be noted that that the effect of wind on playing football is prominent only in significantly windy conditions that exceed 15 mph. In addition, temperature is a weather

My First Political Impression Politics Essay

My First Political Impression Politics Essay In our country all citizens from children to seniors in some way are involved in the political events.  Every day we watch the news about political developments, we learn about them from television, radio, at work and schools. But every person is involved in political life in different ways.  First of all, it dependents on the specific political situation, the spiritual climate in society, as well as on the state of political system, and the person himself. Interest in politics among youth is different in different countries, but it is understandable that in general most citizens have neither the means nor the opportunity for serious involvement in politics. What affects our participation in the political life of the country?   First of all the Political Socialization agents who are those that influence us throughout our lifetime,: family, school, media, religious and community organizations. lets take a closer look at how Political Socialization agents influence political activity. Family. Politically active parents have more interested in politics and children who are also showing more confidence in political institutions.  Political socialization by parents is the most effective in relation to political attitudes and ideological orientation of young people.   Influence of school.  The more active young people at school, the more active they are outside school, and after graduation.  Structures of possible political participation in schools reinforce youth interest in politics, and also peers most strongly influence the political behavior of young people. The influence of mass media.  There is a link between the choice of certain media and political activity of youth.  Those young people who read newspapers or use the Internet, are engaged in a wide range of political activities and are more active. Passive media perception, like television and radio, leads to a lower level of political participation.  Ã‚  The older people are, the more closely they follow the policy through the mass media. Some people are actively involved in the activities of political parties, political movements, interest groups and so on.  Others are characterized by alienation and indifference to the public sphere. The primary and, as experience shows, the best form of political participation for the majority of the population are elections to representative bodies. So my most bright political impression was presidential election process in the year 2008, though it was the most significant political event of the last years. Americans are more likely to vote of any other nation in the world.  Since the age of 18 they are entitled to elect a president, senators, congressmen, members of state legislatures, governors, mayors, judges, sheriffs, and so on. So the president election in the year 2008 was the main event in the life of the country,that nobody was indifferent to. The year 2008 was special in n the electoral history of the United States.  For the first time in state history a president could become a man or a woman, for the first time in 80 years candidates for this position were neither an incumbent president nor vice president.  And the November 2008 election was both parliamentary and presidential. The main candidate for the U.S. presidency in 2008 from the Democratic Party was the senator from Illinois, an African-American Barack Obama, and from the Republican Party was the senator from Arizona John McCain. These candidates caused a lot of discussions, arguing and political battles. As for me, of course I wasnt indifferent to the political situation in the country. I think that president election is an event that is important for every citizen of the USA, because people choose not only the president, but they choose the future of their country. I watched the political process in the country.  I watched the meetings of voters with the candidates, debates and battles on TV and in the press.  I studied the electoral programs of candidates, in order to know what future they promised to the United States.  People voted by assessing the future changes in their lives and in the development of country.   And what was happening caused the frustration and insecurity among people, as people felt the beginning of the political crisis in the country, and some even had lost confidence in government. One of the fundamental aspects of all social life in the USA is the confrontation and cooperation of the two leading parties of the country: the Democratic and the Republican.  Much of the policy is determined by how the people, the voters consider each of them and what place people take themselves in this two-party system. It was also interesting to know the sociological study of the opinions of voters. Among the factors constraining the decision to vote in 2008, were the age of McCain and Obamas race. I was surprised by that facts, as many voters were against the President being black. According to statistics, 8% of voters believed that Obamas affiliation to African Americans, reduce the effectiveness of his work as head of state.  Although the sociological study of the opinions of voters showed that the country was ready for a black president. Those Americans, for whom religion an important part of their lives, were more likely to vote for McCain than for Obama (50% vs. 40%).  Among the less religious people, for a Democratic candidate were willing to vote 55%, for the Republican 36% of Americans. So, president election is a very important political event in the country, as and also it is important for all people, being involved in the process. When person vote for a certain candidate, he chooses the future of the country, so in some way he influences his life too. So nobody should stay indifferent, and should take active position in this political event in the life of the country. Fair and free elections is the guarantee of the democracy.   While voting for their representatives, people elect the leaders, from which depends the future of the country.   That is why elections confer greater powers of ordinary citizens: the vote makes it possible to have an impact on future government policy, and thus on their future.