China Essay

There were multiple changes and similarities from the time of the Warring States period to the time of the Mongols and the Yuang Dynasty. There were changes between politics and government, but also some similarities that helped China grow while also not maintaining the same structures that were successful, but did not prevail forever, because change was needed. From the Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, and Yuang dynasties, many differences occurred in government and education structures while also maintaining things like Confucianism.Many people were frustrated with the differences some dynasties brought which fueled the revolts against the dynasties, and the rise and fall throughout time. The similarities are not too common between the multitude of dynasties. The Han improved their own dynasty from Qin’s Legalist principles, while making their own revisions to improve China. The Han dynasty also continued the Qin’s start of building roads and canals for trade. Lastly, the H an dynasty followed in the Qin’s footsteps by sending officers to implement policies and maintain order in administrative provinces and districts.The Sui had connections to the Qin too, imposing tight political discipline and having a very centralized government like the Qin. The Tang did not have many connections to the roots of Qin, Han, or Sui. Tang Taizong wanted to create his own separate, unique dynasty, except that they continued the successful Han educational system, Confucianism. There are multiple differences between the dynasties. The Qin got China out of the Warring States Period with Legalism, but after not too long, people started revolting against Qin due to the extremely centralized government and tightly structured rules.Liu Bang and the Han dynasty came after the Qin. Liu Bang wanted a â€Å"middle government† that was not too much like Legalism, but not too unorganized, since that would bring China back to the Warring States Period. The Han was a ver y influential dynasty that lasted for a very long time, excepting a short period of time when the government was usurped by Wang Mang. After Liu Bang came a very good leader, Han Wudi. Wudi changed the Han dynasty to a dynasty that believes in success in Confucianism. Liu Bang was never a very big supporter of Confucianism.Wudi put Confucianism in place due to the lack of education in China. While Liu Bang was in power, there were about 3,000 students. By the time Wudi was gone, there were 30,000 students. The Han improved on Qin principles because Confucianism balanced out the Han unlike the Qin, since the Qin dynasty did not believe in Confucianism. Wudi built a bureaucracy out of China, which relied on Legalist principles. The Sui dynasty was a lot like the Qin, imposing tight political discipline, which is Legalism.Yang Jian was to be in charge of Sui dynasty, and was appointed by a Turkish ruler. Emperors of the Sui dynasty placed a heavy burden on China, making it a very centr alized government. While in office, Jian constructed the Grand Canal, which served as a trading route and a communication route between many lands. The Grand Canal made China very rich, due to all the imports and exports coming in and out from trade. Still, The Grand Canal cost a lot of taxes, and forced a lot of labor on the people. Due to that, the Sui got revolted against and did not last as long as other dynasties.Sui also based their education off of the Confucianism system, which worked relentlessly for them, making the people smarter, and a more educated China. The Tang dynasty survived very long, around 300 years. The Tang was very different than all the other dynasties, and only kept the Confucian based-elections in place from the roots of other dynasties. The Tang dynasty had three main focuses, that kept them effective, powerful, and productive. Those three main focuses were maintaining a well-articulated transportations network, distributing land based on the equal-field system, and relying on bureaucracy.The Tang had fast communications and good trade, due to the high focus on the routes and communication network. Though they thought it would work, the equal-field system did end up hurting the Tang dynasty. The equal-field system stated that everyone would have equal amounts of land, based on their needs. The equal-field system did do a good job of avoiding fighting over land, which was its main focus. The third main focus was bureaucracy, which was to make sure Confucianism stayed around so that the officials elected would be intellectually smart and make the right decisions for China.Tang dynasty also had a very powerful army, taking over lands from nearly every direction. Due to the mass of land size and military successes, the Tang is one of the largest dynasties in history. Han dynasty related to the Tang dynasty because the Tang knew they had to keep strong relationships with neighboring countries, and treat each other nicely. The Song was l ike a swing in the direct opposite way. After the fall of the Tang dynasty, Song Taizu came in and made China into a very weak country.Taizu was one of the most powerful landlords which was part of the reason he got elected as emperor. Basing China on civil administration, industry, education, and the arts more than military, the Song dynasty did not have the strongest of armies. The Song did base their bureaucracy off of Confucianism, but took it overboard. Taizu gave the officials very generous pay and benefits, which eventually drained China’s economy since there was a mass incline in officials. Taizu sent many troops out to war, many of which that never came home because of the lack of military experience and knowledge.Song dynasty lost battles to nomadic people at points due to lack of military. In the long future came along the Mongols and the Yuang dynasty. The Mongols did not like the Chinese, and they were not afraid to show it. The Mongols first imposed that a Chine se person and a Mongol cannot get married. After the ban of marriage, the Mongols then imposed that a Chinese individual is not allowed to learn Mongol, as if trying very much to keep the two cultures separated. Then there were rumors that the Mongols only took China for the need of land for their horses.After all the negatives the Mongols brought to China, they put their own officials into Chinese government so they could financially drain China as a last act. China changed drastically between the Warring States Period, when landlords owned China, and there were fights based on who gets what land. From landlords to Legalism, to Confucianism and bureaucracy, there was a wide variety of similarities and differences for China throughout time. Though some dynasties were more successful than others, China made it through and is now among the biggest places in the world.

Abstract Apple Inc

Abstract Apple Inc. is one of the world’s largest technology companies dealing in computers and consumer electronic products. Founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniack Apple is now a multinational corporate empire who recently boasted a $15. 7 billion in revenue in the third quarter of 2010.This study’s objective is to carry out a strategic analysis of Apple Company using different analysis tools. The study aims to cover factors that exist in its internal and external environment and also evaluate how the company utilizes its resources to maintain competitive advantage in the market.Three different descriptive strategic tools will be used in this study includes SWOT Analysis, PESTLE Analysis and Resource Based View (RBV). The findings from these analyses are used in making conclusions on the study question.From this study it’s clear that Apples extensive brand equity, strong leadership of CEO Steve Jobs, Innovative research & development, fashionable & tre ndy image of its products and the strong branding & customer loyalty forms a great part of its strengths.However this study highlights the rushing of products into the market followed by quick product recalls and the many legal cases the company has been involved in as the major threats. Apple’s ‘iphone’ is the company’s attempt to utilize the available opportunity resulting from the increasing demand for ‘smart phones’.Apple Inc is threatened by poor quality output from its suppliers and the tight market for personal computers. The study recommends product testing be speeded up and the company to find alternatives ways to settle these legal cases to ensure Apple Inc maintains its competitive advantage in the technology market.

The role of education in a juveniles life Essay

The role of education in a juveniles life - Essay Example The years of schooling are extremely vital in an individual life, since they c an make or break the kind of person he turns out to be. Education passes on virtues like leading a disciplines mode of life, being sensitive to the others' emotions, respecting fellow humans and also leading an honest and worthy life. Today, children are being diverted and exposed to hazardous knowledge from numerous sources. This has resulted in the rise in the number of juvenile delinquency cases. Children are being lead astray due to the high penetration of crime into the society and the influence it has on young impressionable minds. This has paved way to increasing crime rates in the age group of below 18. It is here, that one needs to sit back and contemplate on the ways and means to curb this rising delinquency rate. One of the best ways t o exert a crease on such occurrences, is through education, Education helps refine children and their thinking processes. Since they can be moulded easily and brought into a certain fold, imparting education to juveniles is necessary. By doing so, delinquency rates can experience a dip, while also facilitating the rehabilitation of juveniles who have been led on to the wrong path. This paper attempts to explore the Role played by Education, in the process of rectifying a nd rehabilitating the lives of Juveniles. ANALYSIS ROLE OF SCHOOL EDUCATION Schools play a very important role in providing a perspective to children. For instance, if a child is brought up in an atmosphere where he is put down and looked down upon by his peers, he becomes excessively negative in his perspective. Low self-esteem and the illusion that one is not cared for, creeps in and this often propels the student towards self-destruction. Schools play a three-fold effect on the lives of children. They influence a child in various facets of his growth and comprehension. Firstly, schools establish the Process of Learning, in the lives of student. This learning need not be limited to the learning of varied subjects. It extends beyond. For instance, learning about oneself is the foremost step toward knowledge and wisdom and school education sows the seeds towards the attainment of this wisdom. School education helps a child understand the world, learn to adapt to demands of situations and to acquire not only subject matter, but also soft skills, like working in a team, acquiring leadership qualities, etc. This is the most evident impact that school education has, in the process of moulding and making the life of a child. The second influence that school education creates, on the life of young minds, is that of establishing set behavioural patterns. Following school rules and regulations is the primary step in curbing the influence of external forces of distraction. When a child is given the absolute freedom to do as he pleases, the child often does not know what ahs to

Compare Mass Transit and High Speed Railway in China and the US Essay

Compare Mass Transit and High Speed Railway in China and the US - Essay Example ormation from journals, books, newspapers and websites so that comparative data on the performance of the two countries on sustainability can be evaluated. The research found that China , being in a stage of rapid development and economic growth, has identified its mass transit systems as the backbone or as a pillar for growth. This attitude leads to rapid and innovative development of the mass transit system that is financially secure and environmentally sustainable. China also uses investments in mass transit as a propeller for effective and sustainable economic growth over the long term. China has also enhanced scope for continued development and expansion of the mass transit system as more and more regions need to be connected to bring about further growth impetus to the nation. On the other hand, the USA approaches mass transit as a necessary evil that needs to be sustained through subsidies and maintenance so that the public is kept satisfied and there is minimum harm to the en vironment. The lack of focus on the mass transit system makes the USA mass transit financially weak and causes environmental vulnerability. The USA also loses out on actively deploying the mass transit system to regenerate its economy. The research makes several recommendations like imbibing centralized planning and strategy, diversifying financial funding, focus on centralized and targeted environmental monitoring for mass transit and development of service quality. This chapter contains a discussion of the conceptual framework that is used to compare the mass transit systems for the USA and China. The framework is based on the available literature on sustainability of transit systems and consists of financial, environmental, economic sustainability. It next contains a discussion of the sustainability of mass transit systems across the globe, and with a specific emphasis on the USA and China. While the research is aimed at comparing the mass transit systems sustainability between

Aspects of contracts and negligence Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Aspects of contracts and negligence - Assignment Example If it is accepted then a contract is made. In Gibson v Manchester City Council - CA [1978] 1 WLR 520, Manchester City council was being managed by Conservative Party which worked with a policy of selling city council’s premises. Gibson made an application for information of his house and terms of mortgage on the council’s form (McKendrick, 2005; p. 47). The council replied by stating that it was prepared to sell the house at a purchase price of  £2,725 less 20% =  £2,180 which was not to be taken as an offer. Gibson filed in the application form with the exception of the purchase price and took it back to the council. The labor party took over and stopped all the sales where Gibson was informed that he could not complete the contract. Gibson sued the council on claims that the contract was already executable. It was ruled by the House of Lords there existed no contract because the parties had not come to a material agreement of the contract. For a valid contract to be executed, the offer must be accepted by the other party. The acceptance must be conveyed to the offeree, the agreement must be assured and the terms of accepting the offer must be precisely the same to the terms contained in the offer. In Entorres v Miles Far East [1955] 2 QB 327  the plaintiff delivered a telex message from England promising to buy 100 tons of Cathodes from Miles Far East in Holland. A telex message was sent back to the petitioner from Holland to England accepting the terms of the offer (McKendrick, 2005; p. 51). The issue was for the court to determine the point at which the contract was executable. In case the acceptance was valid from the time the telex message was delivered the contract was created in Holland hence Dutch law would come into force. In case the telex message of acceptance took place upon the receipt in England the agreement would be presided over by English law. It was held that; to amount to a valid acceptance the acceptance was required to be

The Second Rich Generation in China Interview Report Essay

The Second Rich Generation in China Interview Report - Essay Example e most expensive private universities in Los Angeles and he is planning to transfer to the University of South California where his father made half-million dollars in contributions. Since Mr. Mo Han falls under the category of the second richest generation in China, he has a good understanding of this group of individuals and the implication of their lifestyles. Although it took me some time to fix the meeting, I was glad that at the end he could spare me an hour to meet him. When the taxi dropped me off, I found out I was in front of a tremendous villa, and there was a brand new white Lamborghini in front of the villa. After I explained to the guard why I was here, he took me to the back of the house, and there was a gigantic swimming pool there. Han was lying on a chair next to the pool with his sunglasses on. â€Å"Hi, I am†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I know who you are, let us get started.† Han interrupted my introduction. To begin, I started by imploring the meaning of the term the SRG that hits most of the media channels occasionally. Han took off his glasses and said, â€Å" a group of people just like me, young and rich, get the money from their family†. A question that emerged from this point was how his parents got that rich while most of the people in China are still worried about how to pay their rent. After flashbacking, Han told me the story of his family. Han’s father operated a small steel factory after he graduated from col lage. After a few years because of the sharp insight, he decided to sell the factory and started doing the real-estate business, and that is the period which Chinese real-estate market just started growing. Han termed this period as the period of â€Å"economic boom† when many investors benefited from a growing public demand. After this, we looked at the negative connotation that the word SRG has come to have in the recent past. In his opinion, this group of people including him has persistently lived a filthy lifestyle. â€Å"We want people to know

Global Issues Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Global Issues - Assignment Example ent is not solely responsible for all the decisions made regarding foreign policies even though he is the primary architect and his participation is very important. The following groups also help in shaping the foreign policies; the senate, congress, intelligence agencies, departments of the cabinet, and the military (Ramachandran, Sita.  40). President Obama’s approach employs targeted force in a way that is of a responsible fashion. He is caring, respectful, confident and respectful. His leadership style is one that is mindful in decision making. He was a senator before his election to presidency. He was give birth in 1961 .He is a Harvard Law School and Columbia university graduate. He was a community organizer prior to graduating. Worked as for civil rights and taught constitution law. Former president George Bush used pragmatic and conservative approach in foreign policies. He was hard working, unpretentious, practical, ambitious, determined and forceful. He was born in 1946, a politician and a business

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 8

Essay Example A randomized control trial or RCT consists of two groups where the subjects are assigned randomly to the following: (1) experimental group, a group who receives intervention being tested, and (2) comparison or control group, the group who receives alternative or conventional treatment (Kendall, 2003). Any differences between the outcomes will be followed up by the researcher, and the trials’ results and subsequent analysis are used in assessing the efficacy of the intervention (Kendall, 2003). Kendall added that the most stringent way of determining the existence of cause and effect between the intervention and outcome are the RCTs. (1) In order to achieve appropriate generalisable results, the sample being studied must be appropriate to the tested hypothesis. Sufficient patients will be recruited in the study to allow it to have probability of clinically detecting important clinical differences between treatments if a difference exists truly. Assume that your recommendation is that the application should not be funded, and explain carefully any faults that you feel the proposal may have. I suggest you concentrate on the methodology for the study and whether it will achieve its aims and answer the research question, and whether the proposed study would be ethical, in terms of what would be done to the participants. If you feel the study will not achieve its aims, state why; if you feel that it is ethically flawed, explain your opinion. After reading the grant application concerning the treatment of back pain by physiotherapists, it is hereby decided that the proposal will not be funded by the regional committee for the following reasons: The researcher did not discuss the basis of doing randomised controlled trial method in the clinical research study. The advantages of using this type of sampling over other types of clinical trials must be clearly indicated in the proposal. It was noted in the study that

POV’s and Traffic Tickets Essay Example for Free

POV’s and Traffic Tickets Essay There are quite a few soldiers in Oahu, Hawaii that own POV’s (Personally Owned Vehicles), but many do not know the risk behind owning such dangerous tools. Yes, a POV is typically used as a form of transportation, but more reckless behavior tends to be the trend among younger soldiers. Reckless behavior such as texting and driving, drinking and driving, eating and driving, sleeping and driving, not wearing seatbelts, but the most dangerous of these behaviors is racing or speeding. As described previously young soldiers tend to show many signs of reckless driving one of which was racing or speeding, but you may ask yourself why racing and speeding? What reason might soldiers, especially younger ones, have for racing or speeding? Well it is quite simple. Many young soldiers have not fully POV’s and Traffic Tickets

Evangelism and my Christian walk Essay Example for Free

Evangelism and my Christian walk Essay Evangelism is a passion of mine and this semester has helped me to develop more as a person and strengthen my passion for evangelism. Usually when you hear the word Evangelism most of the time, you will start to fear because of rejection. During my Christian walk, sometimes I have experienced the fear of rejection as it relates to Evangelism. However, this semester has taught me not to fear. Evangelism is standing up for your faith even if everyone else remains seated 1(Earley and Wheeler p. 32). This semester I have learned and developed new perceptions and challenges about evangelism, which has challenged my way of thinking. At first glance, when you hear or see the word evangelism you immediately think about sharing the gospel and that is true. That is only one part of Evangelism because listening is very important as well. This has caused me to think differently about Evangelism because now I understand how important it is to listen to people while witnessing. Evangelism can be challenging but the way I look at it now is that I have a part in fulfilling the great commission at all cost. Evangelism is about relationship building that involves changing a person ability to trust and receive the gospel. This course has reminded me that Evangelism does not come without great sacrifice. It requires you putting forth effort and work to share gospel with someone that does not believe. Anytime you deal with people and sharing the gospel you have to be patient. It has challenged me to become an effective witness for Christ because as I grow spiritually it is a reflection of Christ. This semester has reminded me that there has to be a balance between the incarnational and information Apologetics. Many people say that Christians are hypocrites because their lifestyle does not line up with what they are professing. My lifestyle should reflect what I am professing in my Christian walk. The scripture tells us in James 1:23-24 and it says: 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 2Therefore, many times people will not pick up a bible and read it but they will look at my lifestyle of a Christian. As you go through a course like this, it will cause you to look within to see if you are doing your part to help further the Kingdom of God. This semester has challenged me in so many ways to seek God more than ever and pay closer attention to the needs of others. God has called each one of us to spread the gospel whether it is in the workplace, community or other countries. Sometimes we forget the importance of evangelism and just leave it to the Pastor or other ministers. However, as part of the body of Christ, I have to be willing to hold myself accountable and be willing to meet the needs of others. Learning to love people where they are is very important and this course has showed me that I have to go where the needs are. Evangelism is investing your time to minister to others and there is a great reward seeing someone gives their life to Jesus. At times, I have taken the need to listen to others for granted but listening is important to the lost. Never underestimate the role of listening in building an evangelistic relationship,3 (Earley and Wheeler, p. 123).The scripture teaches us in James 1:19: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. 4Through this course, I have found that barriers can hinder you from being effective in servant evangelism. As it relates to my Christian walk, I have found that I have to confront those barriers that hinder me in my serving. Sometimes we can think we are super Christians and do not have any problems or need help. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to be transparent to those that do not believe and let them know you can relate to them and love them where they are. This semester has been  a revelation for me in my spiritual walk and building relationships with others. I have taken what I have learned in this class to bless others and encourage them that they can make it because God loves them. During the times of witnessing and servant hood, I have found so, many people that just want someone to listen and love them. My perception of people has changed because now I feel that I am more compassionate now, sensitive to the needs of others, humble, loving, and willing to be servant. My Vision for Evangelism My vision for evangelism is denying self to serve and be reflection of Jesus as I minister and love others. I would like those attributes to be a part of my daily life and walk in the fruit of the Spirit so, that other people will feel the love of God. I have gained so much knowledge from this course that I can take what I have learned and apply it in my own life to become a better person and to help others. In my Christian walk, my vision is to look for ways to be a blessing to others and to make an impact in my family and community. Also, ministering the word of faith thereby, changing mindsets and lives. Therefore, to help equip the believer so that it will cause them to live according to the word of God. However, there are a few changes I feel that I need to make in my life to be more effective as a witness for Christ. Some of the changes include reading the word of God more, seeking Gods way, being obedient, and trusting God. I can make an impact in my family by living the word of God before them and loving people where they are. Sometimes reaching your family can be hard but I believe that if I will be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and trust God, I can make a difference in their life. Evangelism is a way of life for me and it is priceless. I count it an honor to take part in what God is doing in some else life because at some point I was where they were. I remember that someone took time out to witness to me and let me know that there is hope in Jesus. Therefore, I am thankful to God for allowing me another opportunity to change and get on the right course. Role as a servant Servant hood is about demonstrating the character and qualities of God. Taking on the heart of servant requires unselfishness, not looking for promotion or pay, honors God, and reflects Jesus. My role as a servant  requires humilty, sacrifice and it breathes the very heart of God. We can consider the humblest servant of all; Jesus despised, mocked, and rejected. Serving can be hard but it means I am putting Gods plans and purpose above my own. Being a servant can affect my ministry in so, many ways by having these characteristics making myself available to God to serve, do what is needed, even when it is inconvenient, see interruptions as an opportunity to practice serving others, pay close attention to the needs of others, and no task is beneath me. The scripture says in Matthew 23:11-12, 11 but he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.12 and whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.5My attitude as a servant will d etermine how I see things and the effectiveness of my servant hood. You should be able to identify a servant with Jesus because of the lifestyle he or she lives. Another important Characteristic of a servant is that I need to be open and teachable and sharing the gospel with joy. True ministry to others, ministry that was modeled by Jesus Christ, requires you to minister as a servant6 (Leach and Wheeler, p.5) A servant must have a willingness and desire to serve so, do not miss an opportunity to serve and provide some immediate relief for someone else. Many hurting people need what God has placed inside of you so you can be a blessing to others. Vision for future ministry God has placed some abilities in me that I can contribute to ministry, community and the marketplace. My future vision is to teach and empower believers in the state, surrounding areas and the nation in making disciples for Christ. I must lead by example in order to make disciples and it should be the responsibility of everyone to make disciples. I envision more unity in the body of Christ so; we can make an impact as we allow the Holy Spirit to change peoples heart and mind. The Scripture teaches us to tell others about Jesus Christ. In addition, while sharing the gospel is wonderful, it is simply not enough. We should continue to encourage and invest in new believers because many do not know where to begin to seek God. Evangelism will always be a part of my ministry and should be for other ministries as well. The way I look at evangelism is that if we stop evangelizing then the church stops growing both spiritually and naturally. God has commanded each of us to be a witness for him and we should not hesitate at this opportunity  to do his will. Some of my plans for evangelism include going out in the community and building relationships with people and lead them to Jesus. I would like to start a small group that will meet on a regular basis and have a nice fellowship but encourage each other. Sharing the gospel requires us loving as Christ has commanded us to do. I believe I have to stay focus on what God has given me to do. Most people are busy but not effective due to a lack of focus. Therefore, I cannot let someone else negative opinions of me become my reality. That is very important in evangelism because you may not always be received everyone all the time but I must stay focused. In the book Family to Family, it put emphasis on the family and individuals developing their relationship with Christ through some basic principles such as; spending time alone with God, prayer life, studying the word of God, accountability, and discipleship (Pipes and Lee, p.13)7 In conclusion, evangelism is a joyful experience, telling the good news; meeting people and helping them exchange their religion for a relationship with Jesus. It is my desire to spread the gospel with a passion to reach the lost with confidence and love. I believe as I continue to follow Jesus and be humble I can make a lasting impression on someone. I truly, have been blessed by taking this class and interacting with my classmates. Bibliography Earley, Dave, and David Wheeler. Evagelism ISHow to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence. Nashville, Tennessee: BH Academic Publishing Group, 2010. Fay, William, and Linda Evans Shepherd. Share Jesus Without Fear. Nashville, Tennessee: BH PublishingGroup, 1984. KJV Holy Biblbe. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1987. Leach, Richard, and David A. Wheeler. Minister To Others. Nashville, Tennessee: LifeWay Press, 2009. McRaney Jr., Will. The Art of Personal Evangelism Sharing Jesus In A Chaging Culture. Nashville, Tennessee: BH Publishing Group, 2003. Pipes, Jerry Dr., and Victor Lee. Family to Family Leaving A Lasting Legacy. Lawrenceville,Georgia: Jerry Pipes Productions, 1999.

Cylinder Taper and Cylinder Out of Round

Cylinder Taper and Cylinder Out of Round Aditya Patel Equipment Utilized An assortment of hand tools, pullers and specialty measuring tools were used during this assignment Health and Safety Precautions Safety boots and glasses were mandatory in the shop Proper lifting techniques, and getting help lifting was very important Unit Identification GM 3100 Engine References GM 3100 service manual, and our classroom text book were used. Lab notes and internet were used for some of the notes. Method 1. List all the steps needed to measure cylinder taper and out of round. a bore gauge calibration unit was set up by using fixture and calibration unit the bore gauge was placed in this unit and calibrated using the micrometre scale on the unit. To calibrate for specific bore, use the standards. For example, for 4.406 bore, install 4.000+ standard and set the scale to 0.406. Bore gauge is calibrated until the dial shows 0 on it. Or more adjustment should be done. the bore gauge was then placed inside the cylinder at Top thrust surface and rock the bore gauge front and back until dial goes up and comes back. Note the highest reading, the dial reaches. Do same for bottom thrust surface. To measure the cylinder out of round, measure top thrust surface of the cylinder but perpendicular to the first measured. Now compare both reading for top thrust surfaces readings. If the difference between the measured reading is more than 0.0005 then the cylinder is out of round or else, it is good. To measure the taper, subtract the reading of bottom thrust surface from top thrust surface. If the reading is more than 0.0008 then cylinder is not good. Cylinder Taper is the difference of the diameter between top of the cylinder bore under the ridge and bottom of the cylinder Cylinder out of Round is the difference of diameter when measured parallel to crankshaft and then perpendicular to the same at top of the cylinder using bore gauge. Method Continued   Ã‚   2. Document 2 methods of measuring piston to cylinder bore clearance. Feeler Strip Method Remove all compression and oil control rings from pistons Invert the piston and place it back in the cylinder in upside down position with feeler strip. The feeler strip should not be on the piston pin hole. After piston is placed in the cylinder slowly take the filler gauge out. While taking the filler gauge out, if it feels too hard or loose the try different size of the gauge until you get the perfect size. The perfect size of filler gauge should not feel too tight or smooth while taking it out. (Measuring clearance using feeler strip) Calculated Method Measure the diameter of the piston across the skirt with well calibrated micrometre. Note the reading. Now using the bore gauge measure the cylinder diameter under the ridge. Record the reading. Now subtract the piston diameter from cylinder diameter. The measurement achieved is the piston to cylinder clearance. Note that before taking any reading the micrometre should be well calibrated and the surfaces should be cleaned. (Bore gauge measuring the cylinder diameter) (Measuring piston diameter using Micrometre) 3. Construct a chart listing cylinder, piston ring and crankshaft clearances. Located under observations heading 4. Record how to check ring clearances. (side and end) Side Clearance Remove all compression and oil control rings from pistons Clean the piston ring groove before measuring. For measuring the ring clearance, the ring doesnt need to be installed in the piston. Gently place the ring in the groove. After placing the ring measure the clearance with the help of feeler gauge between the ring and upper edge of the groove. Compare the measured ring clearance with the manufacturers specification. If the measured clearance is more then the manufacturers specification the change the ring. (Measuring Ring Clearance using Feeler Strip) End Gap Remove all compression and oil control rings from pistons Place the ring in the same cylinder from which piston come out. Using the piston slowly push the ring in the cylinder. Then measure the gap between the two ends of the rings with filler strip. The filler strip should not too hard or too smooth to pass between the two ends of the rings. Then do same for the second ring and note the measurement. Compare this measurement with the manufacturers specification. If the measured end gap is more then the actual specification the change the ring. (Measuring piston ring end gap using feeler strip) 5. Describe 2 methods of measuring crankshaft bearing clearance. Plastigauge Method remove the main bearing caps from the block and clean the surface of the crankshaft journals with a clean rag. Now place a piece of plastigauge according to the width of the journal. Install back main bearing caps on their same position as before. Check that the bearings are in the correct direction. Install the bolts and tighten them with torque wrench at the manufacturers specification. Now remove the main bearing caps and check the spread of plastigauge. Compare with the marking given on the cover of the plastigauge and note the reading. Now compare this reading with the actual specification. Before installing main bearings back, carefully wipe the plastigauge marks. (Measuring the Crankshaft bearing clearance using plasti gauge) Calculated Method Measure the crankshaft journal diameter using a well calibrated micrometre. Measure every journal two times both perpendicular at each other. Note every reading. Now put the bearing journals back on. Use torque wrench to tight the bearings with specified torque. Using inside micrometre or bore dial gauge measure the diameter of the bearing. Note the reading. To measure bearing clearance, subtract the crankshaft journal diameter measurement from bearing journal diameter. The allowable clearance for crankshaft is between 0.0008-0.0025. 6. Explain what causes cylinder taper and cylinder out of round Cylinder Taper is caused by wear caused by friction and combustion cause the bore to be cone shaped. Cylinder Out of Round is caused by pressure created by piston rings to the cylinder walls. Observations Cylinder Measurements Cyl #1 Cyl #2 Cyl #3 Cyl #4 Cyl #5 Cyl #6 (Thrust Surface Under Ridge) A 0.0016 0.0018 0.0018 0.0015 0.0015 0.0014 (Thrust Surface Bottom) B 0.0013 0.0014 0.0012 0.0014 0.0011 0.0013 (90  ° Under Ridge) C 0.0012 0.0015 0.0012 0.0013 0.001 0.0011 Taper (Subtract B from A) Measurements Cyl #1 Cyl #2 Cyl #3 Cyl #4 Cyl #5 Cyl #6 (Thrust Surface Under Ridge) A 0.0016 0.0018 0.0018 0.0015 0.0015 0.0014 (Thrust Surface Bottom) B 0.0013 0.0014 0.0012 0.0014 0.0011 0.0013 Taper 0.0003 0.0004 0.0006 0.0001 0.0004 0.0001 Specification 0.0008 Out of Round ( Subtract C from A ) Measurements Cyl #1 Cyl #2 Cyl #3 Cyl #4 Cyl #5 Cyl #6 ( Thrust Surface Under Ridge ) A 0.0016 0.0018 0.0018 0.0015 0.0015 0.0014 ( 90  ° Under Ridge ) C 0.0012 0.0015 0.0012 0.0013 0.0010 0.0011 Out of Round 0.0004 0.0003 0.0006 0.0002 0.0005 0.0003 Specification 0.0005 Observations Continued Piston Ring Clearance Measurements Specs #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Ring End Gap: Top Ring 0.006-0.014 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.27 0.17 0.19 Second Ring 0.0197-0.0280 0.30 0.16 0.20 0.18 0.16 0.19 Ring Groove Clearance: Top Ring 0.002-0.0033 0.002 0.0025 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 Second Ring 0.002-0.0035 0.002 0.002 0.0025 0.002 0.002 0.002 Bearing Clearance Checks Specs #1 #2 #3 #4 Bearing Bore Dia. (A) 2.6472 2.6502 2.649 2.652 2.648 2.650 Journal Diameter (B) 2.6473 2.6483 2.647 2.646 2.647 2.645 Clearance (A B) 0.0008 0.0025 0.002 0.006 0.001 0.005 Plastigauge Clearance 0.0008-0.0025 0.0015 0.0020 0.0010 0.0020 Conclusions Upon completing the measurements and visual inspections, I would recommend that due to the excessive wear and out of round cylinder, the cylinder should be bored. While measuring the piston ring clearance we noticed that the piton rings were replaced and were both of same size on one piston.      

Dust Over The City :: essays research papers

An Essay on "During A Son’s Dangerous Illness" Death can strike at anytime, sometimes expected, but too often unannounced. Denise Levertov wrote a poem entitled "During a Son’s Dangerous Illness" about the unmerciful side of death. This poem emphasied on emotions, visualization, and a consice structure that symbolizes how perplexing and awful death can be. It is a poem of desolate mood and brought a horrifiying feeling to me. In my opinion, works of literature like this that bring a sense of awarness to the world to cherish every moment, for it could be your last. The beginning of the poem starts with a very powerful line: "You could die before me". The fact of the matter is, however, no matter what the circumstances, young, old, rich, poor, white, or black; you can be here today and gone tommorrow. It is very evident at the beginning of the poem that the author is coming from personal expierence. The author speaks of how her younger sister passed away and how heartbroken their mother was. Now it seems she is faced with her first born possibly dying in an untimely manner. Instead of devoting the poem to just simply her pain, anguish, and suffering, she broadens the topic of death and applies it to society and the environment in a way that cause me to reflect. She asks questions regarding what will happen if all life dyies, all creatures, signifing how death effects everyone and has is nondiscriminant in its quest. Questions arise about the past and future and, when something dies, what possibly becomes of that potential future or, in fact, there ever was one. Is it all some master plan, is it all for nothing, do loved ones have a say? I believe part of the answer is no, we have no say in who gets taken from us, at least for the most part. The future that could’ve been, was only a future we, the loving hopefuls, had anticipated. The amount of drain of energy is amazing when someone is deathly ill. When one is not in control of fate and can’t easily accept this lack of control, it can produce a feeling of confusion that takes over ever y aspect of one’s life. That is what this poem is saying. Something else that really interested me was how the author compared how an outsider might feel about a tragic death as compared to the person directly affected by the death of a loved one.

Guns, Germs, and Steel :: History, European Dominance

All through history, there is a ubiquitous theme. In life’s perpetual cycle, the Europeans always manage to overshadow the other civilizations. Why is it that the Europeans dominated the other races? Throughout Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond desperately attempts to answer Yali’s question asking â€Å"Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own† (Diamond, p. 14)? In the Epilogue, Diamond summarizes his answer to Yali’s question essentially attributing the environment for the success of the Europeans and discredits racial superiority of any sort (Diamond, p.405). Although other factors contributed to the rise of the European civilization, the environment was the main factor. Some specific factors falling under environment that affected the European civilization are geography, food production, and diffusion and population. The geography of Europe contributed to its dominance over the other civilizations. The Chinese appeared to have it all. They had a rise of food production, the largest human population in the world, and developed writing and most of all they were unified country (Diamond, p.411). The European coastline was highly indented with five large peninsulas which all evolved independent languages, ethnic groups, and government. China has a much smoother coastline with land that is less scattered compared to Europe (Diamond, p.414). â€Å"Europe’s geographic balkanization† and discord among the states developed hundreds of competing, and ambitious states (Diamond, p.416). States were kept on their toes to try to out due what another state had previously accomplished because they knew â€Å"if one state did not pursue some particular innovation, another did, forcing neighboring states to do likewise or else be conquered or left economically behind† (Diamond, p.416). Chinaà ¢â‚¬â„¢s unification based on geography led to their demise. Their government isolated them from the outside world and rejected all imports including technologies leaving them dramatically underdeveloped in a world of technologies (Diamond, p.416). Food production also affected Europe’s dominance over the other civilizations. As stated in chapter 18, â€Å"the former absence of food production in [the Americas] was due entirely to their local paucity of domesticable wild animals and plants, and to geographic and ecological barriers that prevented the crops and the few domestic animal species of other parts of the Americas from arriving (Diamond, p.356). Domestication of animals varied among the continents because of differences in continental areas and the Late Pleistocene extinctions.

Secret Life of Bees Book Report

Some girls grow up without a mother, but they don’t know how lucky they are that they don’t have to live with the feeling of guilt and remorse that Lilly Owens has to live with everyday. Everyday, since the age of four, Lilly has to deal with the regret of killing her own mother, Deborah. On December 3, 1954, in the small town outside of Sylvan, South Carolina, a normal day turned tragic. Deborah Owens was trying to escape from home with Lilly in her hands, hoping to abandon her abusive husband, T. Ray. [pic] The situation turned physical when T. Ray tried stopping Deborah from leaving.Lilly saw that her beloved mother was in need of help. In an effort to aid her, she retrieved the gun. Lilly picked it up and BANG! The noise exploded, and ended Deborah’s life. The whole town found out about how Deborah Owens died and looked at Lilly a different way. She was neglected by her father, and teased by several schoolmates. Her father continuously told her how her mother was leaving Lilly that devastating night. Although she refused to believe T. Ray’s accusation, Lilly felt unloved by everyone: her father, her friends, and even, at times, her deceased mother.Her only friend was her black maid, Rosaleen. After getting into trouble, she and Rosaleen, ran away. Lilly tried to find the true story of what happened that night her mother died. R. I. P. Deborah Owens, December 3, 1954. Mother of Lilly Owens, wife of Terrence (T. Ray) Owens. In 1964, the Civil Rights Movement allowed for African Americans to speak up against injustices and demand equality. Although this movement allowed for African Americans to vote, they had a lot of trouble doing so. [pic] In The Secret Life of Bees, Rosaleen, Lilly’s black maid, decided to vote for the first time.Two white southerners stopped Rosaleen in her path, and began taunting her. After spitting â€Å"snuff† on their shoes, Rosaleen was beaten up and demanded to apologize. Rosaleen refused to apologize, landing her in jail with stitches and several injuries from the white men. Although the Civil rights acts tried to give equality to African Americans, many white’s refused to acknowledge these new laws. The South was known for outbursts from white people, who tried to hinder African American’s search for equality. The 1960s was a time for change, whether our nation was ready or not.

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is one of the most common eating disorders highly prevalent among the teenagers.   Anorexia Nervosa is a condition which affects individuals who are looking for perfection of their body shape, but which has devastating psychological and the physiological effects on the individual. It is usually characterized by extreme low body weight and distortion of the body image.Most of those who become anorexic have an obsessive fear of gaining excess weight resulting to various voluntary easting disorders including starvation, purging, excessively engaging in physical exercises to create a negative energy balance, and other measures like diet pills or the use of diuretic drugs.The condition has also shown a gender dimension where female adolescents are mostly affected although research shows that about 10% of anorexia condition has been diagnosed in males.  The condition comes with various neurobiological, psychological, and sociological effects which may lead to the death of the victim. While individuals may have an obsessive fear of gaining weight, anorexia nervosa may have severe negative effects more than what can be attributed to being overweight.What is anorexia nervosa?While the battle ranges on fighting the rising case of overweight, there are more efforts directed on the opposite direction.   The rising cases of anorexia nervosa especially among our teenagers has been a matter of concern   to health experts promoting action on some social events like modeling competition which promote anorexic conditions especially one teenage girls (Ellison, 1999).Anorexia nervosa, which is simply referred to as anorexia, is eating disorder which affects individuals who have obsessive fear of becoming overweight.   It is a psychological disorder which goes beyond eating disorder. Apart from fearing begin overweight, it is also an unhealthy way of trying to cope with various emotional problems, perfectionism and the desire to have control.Anorexic indi viduals usually equate themselves with how thin they are.   While it starts out as a simple way to diet, the condition may spill out of control and become chronic therefore difficult to overcome (Simpson, 2002).  Anorexic individual tend to maintain a body weight that is far below their normal body mass index, which is a ratio of individual height and weight, and which is used to assess the weight status of individuals.   In some extreme cases, individuals becoming skeletally thin although due to psychological disorder they think they are still fat and therefore continue losing more weight. This extreme thinning comes with various health effects including psychological and physiological effects.Causes of anorexia nervosaAlthough there is no known cause of anorexia nervosa, it is postulated that biological, psychological and social cultural factors at play which leads to development of the condition.  Ã‚   Let us look at these factors.Biological predisposition is one of the l eading factors which lead to development of the condition. Research has found out that teenagers with parents or older siblings who have developed the condition are at a higher risk.   This may indicate a genetic link to the development of the condition (Ellison, 1999). Studies of twins have been used to support this possible genetic link.There is a probability that individual have genetic component towards perfectionism, sensitivity and perseverance which are traits associated with the condition.   However, there is no evidence that serotonin, which is the hormone associated with depression, has a role in development of the condition.Psychological factors have been explored far and wide.   It is postulated that it is possible that people with anorexic individuals have psychological and emotional characteristics which may predispose the individual to the condition.These individuals tend to have obsessive-compulsive personality traits which may influence them to stick to a stri ct diet despite their continued hunger (Ellison, 1999).   They may also have an extreme drive to perfectionism.For social cultural factor, research has found out that the modern western culture reinforces the desire to have a thin body.   The media has created the desire to have waif-like images of models and actors who become role model for the teens.   Peer pressure may also have a factor to play (Simpson, 2002).How does Anorexia Nervosa evolve?Anorexia nervosa is a chronic condition which evolves in different stages.   An understanding of these stages is important to assist physicians to identify the most appropriate intervention that will be appropriate intervention.The first stage is the identification of weight problem, which is an obsessive problem although the individual may not be overweight. At this stage the individual begin dieting. The stage may last four to six months. The mind of the victim is occupied with the need to lose weight and control the body. Close f riends and family members are helpless to the victim.The next stage is the stagnation stage. At this juncture, the weight loss reaches its bottom and the individual cannot lose more weight (Lucas, 2005).   This is a long period which is usually filled with frustrations individuals want to lose more weight which they cannot and at the same time they are not ready to gain weight.The third stage is regaining of weight.   In this period, the individual fails to gain more control of her body as body cells respond to starvation. This is usually one of the most terrible periods for the individual as one cannot have more control of the body.The individual may have bulimic episodes but continued weight gain makes one frustrated and unhappy which is followed by self hate and sometimes depression (Lucas, 2005). The individual seems to improve physically but psychologically feels incompetent setting in the paradox of anorexia.The last stage is confronting the reality.   At this stage, the individual is physically correct and their weight become normal again and has no more bulimic episodes or if present they are less intense. At this stage, individuals are able to accept themselves but with help from counselors, friends, and family members. (Lucas, 2005)

Describe Commodus Essay

Commodus changes for the worse. He is innately devious and this is not resolved throughout Gladiator. He identifies his main adversary as Maximus, his father’s favourite, but in reality it is his own lack of moral fibre that is his greatest enemy. Maximus’s fallicious death triggers a surge towards a more confident, vehement Commodus, but when Maximus resurfaces there is a resumption of his initial personality. As any emergence any improvement retracts. Maximus’s strengths are Commodus’s weakenesses. Commodus realises this and holds Maximus in contempt. Maximus is everything Commodus aspires to be. Whilst Maximus’s glass is full of orthodox qualities, Commodus’s is almost empty, apart from a few unvirtuous qualities he embodies. It is this emptiness that makes his lack of moral fibre so transparent. Marcus Aurelius sees through the glass and intends to deny Commodus succession by reverting Rome to a Republic. It is here in Commodus’s murder of his father that we see the true extent of his destructive capacity. Maximus has the love of Lucilla, in which Commodus intensley desires. Maximus has the love of Aurelius, the kind of filial love Commodus has always longed for. Maximus has acceptance, the kind Commodus will never achieve because he is an effete. Maximus is loved, respected and is in commands of power, whereas Commodus is not. It is these intangible commodities that motivate Commodus to aspire to metaphorically become Maximus. He acknowledges Maximus’s charisma as an obstacle and sets out to eradicate Maximus accordingly. He is however, unsuccessful in his plight. Commodus indicts others as the cause of his deficency. He fails to recognise that his greatest obstacle is his inner-self. If he had identified the key to success as self-discovery, then he may have acheived his goals. Commodus does not however; and makes no growth positive growth as a character. He remains immoral, fearful, ambitous, greedy, weak, and shrouded in consuming jealousy. These qualities are expressed in his actions and inter-relations with others. Thriving on death and blood, seen in the gladiatorial games, he mistakes violence for power. He is willing to cheat, threaten and murder to obtain it. He instigates himself as the protector of Rome, seen in his  speech to the Senate: â€Å"I am the father of Rome and they are my children.† Attempting to appoint the adulation that comes with a virtuous hero upon himself, an unvirtuous tyrant. The greatest hindrance to Commodus is his all consuming jealousy. It motivates corruption, disallowing Commodus the ability to recognise his own character and to also expand on it. Instead he is entangled in a perpetual reminder of what he is not. This is his pestilence. This jealousy is augmented when Maximus still comands adoration even as a gladiator, when it should be directed towards Commodus; the emperor. It is here that Commodus realizes the trickery he has employed to could his absence of virtues, to gain the love of Rome, has not prospered. The antithesis of virtue is denied admiration. In an attempt to demonstrate power; Commodus challenges Maximus in the battle arena; which signifies his desperation. Maximus is a conquering general and a gladiatorial champion, whereas Commodus is a skillfull swordsman, but he is weak due to his cowardess, and they are unequally matched. This encounter could have been a growth point for Commodus, by way of conquering fear; but he utilizes his insidious qualities and inflicts a mortal wound before the battle begins; to give himself an unfair advantage. Victorious he is not, and death awaits Commodus. Commodus could never find success with the detainment of vices. It would go against the definition of the conquering hero. Commodus as a hero would distort the structure of Gladiator. Commodus is the antagonist; the one in which unvirtuous qualities are shown; to enthrall a sense of moral code in the film and to also display the virtues that compile a hero; Maximus. From the moment Commodus murders his father, Aurelius, he is doomed not to discover success, unless he redeems himself from the wrong-doing he has committed. This redemption does not occur, and illustrates that Commodus is prepared to change for the worse. Commodus carries out more treacherous acts; such as ordering the murder of Maximus and his family. It is here in the killing of innocence that Commodus spirals out of control; and becomes the epitome of immorality. Commodus faces great conflict and motivation to change his ways. He does  change, he becomes worse. It is crucial to his role as the antagonist that he does not learn from his mistakes; otherwise; he would shift to being a protagonist. The tragic hero is one who faces much adversity; but after a journey of discovery finds redemption; and usually death. The negative growth of Commodus is essential to the plot line of Gladiator. Commodus offers a comparison by which Maximus can be measured; and the two share a symbiotic relationship in the way they need each other for the personality of the characters to be fully recognised. Commodus remains trapped in a downward spiral of unvirtue; disallowing himself from experiencing redemption; the redemption that would have made him a tragic hero. This entrapment in vice is however crucial to the narrative of Gladiator.

Pollution control and waste management Essay

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (‘the Department’) has recognised that they are not always successful in policing and enforcing environmental laws. However, the Department is making strides to meet these challenges and to ensure that our laws are practically implemented. In March 2000, the Department published its White Paper on Integrated Pollution and Waste Management (‘the White Paper’). The White Paper proposes a number of tools to implement the objectives of the waste management policy it sets out. The promulgation of new pollution and waste legislation such as the amendments to the Environment Conservation Act, 73 of 1989 (‘ECA’) comprise one such tool. The objective of the Environment Conservation Act: Amendment Bill, 2003 (‘the Amendment Bill’) is to facilitate government’s general policy on integrated pollution control and waste management so as to give effect to waste management as proposed in the White Paper. The Amendment Bill will amend the ECA in three separate ways: †¢ the management of waste sites will be transferred from the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry to the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (‘the Minister’); †¢ the Minister will have the power to make regulations for the imposition of compulsory charging for identified waste streams (for example, plastic bags) and deposit systems (for example, second-hand non-reusable tyres); and †¢ the Minister will have the power to make regulations regarding products which, by their nature, may pose a hazard to the environment and/or human health if and when they reach the waste stream (for example, asbestos products). Transfer of power The ECA governs environmental waste pollution. In particular, the ECA provides for the permitting and related control measures for the operation of waste landfill sites. The ECA specifically stipulates that the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry should administer these facilities. In accordance with the government’s philosophy on integrated pollution control and waste management inherent in the White Paper, the amendment transfers the administration of these facilities from the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry to the Minister. Economic incentives In order to promote recycling and waste minimization in respect of certain waste streams such as plastic bags, glass and tyres, certain additional regulatory powers will be allocated to the Minister. The Amendment Bill proposes a financial incentive approach which will complement the existing traditional ‘command and control’ approach to controlling pollution. Whereas the command and control approach relies either on administrative sanctions (for example, permitting requirements on scheduled emissions) or criminal measures (for example, fines or imprisonment if such permit conditions are breached) to regulate pollution emissions, the amendment will give the Minister the power to make regulations to encourage the re-use, reduction and recycling of specific waste types. To this end, the proposed amendment to the ECA provides that the Minister may make regulations with regard to waste management, concerning the imposition of compulsory charging, deposits systems and levies on certain waste types or specified items in waste types. The intention is that the revenue raised from such charges will be used to encourage recycling and a compulsory deposit system will promote the collection and return of types of waste. A compulsory charge on a particular waste will encourage its re-use, for example, the controversial compulsory charge on plastic bags has promoted re-use. The Minister intends to use these mechanisms to impose a deposit scheme on second-hand and unusable tyres and glass. Regulating products Currently, the ECA does not give the Minister or the Department regulatory power over products, materials or substances that may cause harm to the environment or human health should these enter the waste stream (for example, asbestos, which is found in building material, friction material and other elements). The Department does not have regulatory powers over such substances until the relevant material becomes waste. The Amendment Bill will give the Minister the power to make regulations with regard to the prohibition, control or regulation of products that may have a detrimental effect on the environment or on human health if and when they reach the waste stream.

A peaceful woman explains why she carries a gun

Now days world is not safe. According to the CDC, â€Å"non-contact unwanted sexual experiences† are the most prevalent form of sexual violence in the Unites States. Every 2 minutes, someone in the U. S. is sexually assaulted. According to the online studies by Stop Street Harassment, 99% of respondents said that they had been harassed at least a few times. â€Å"A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries a Gun† by Linda Hasselstrom exemplifies a use of having a gun for protection as a last resort. Hasselstrom was justified for her need to own a gun as she wanted to be protected, safe and have a peace of mind. Desire to be protected justified Hasselstrom to get a gun; however, she considered other means of protection first. To begin with, Hasselstrom used improvised means for protection. For example, she had her own â€Å"gun† (spray cans of deodorant) which did not have to be registered. However, one night while camping, the author and her friend, harassed by two young men, decided not to tempt fate and use their â€Å"improvised mace†, but simply leave the camping area. When improvised means of protection did not work, Hasselstrom considered another option- a citizens band radio, a system of short-distance radio communications between individuals which does not require a license. However, she rejected this method of protection providing an example of a woman who got beaten and raped using a CB radio to get help with a flat tire. The last method Hasselstrom considered as a mean of protection was self-defense. For her, kung fu class was a smart decision because on the top of her self-preservation, her height and weight did not give her any benefit. Therefore, looking for protection, Hasselstrom provided the readers with justified steps she took prior to the extreme measure of protection- a gun. Also, the author was well-grounded for her need of a gun because she wanted safety. Firstly, she did not feel safe on her land. While Hasselstrom lived on a ranch in secluded area 25 miles from the nearest town, she, somehow, managed to have uninvited guests on her property. For example, one day she noticed an armed man on her land who wanted to shoot ducks. As a result, she could not feel safe even on her territory. Secondly, as the author was vulnerable even while driving her car, her possession of a gun was reasonable. Hasselstrom provides the readers with examples to prove her right. In one of the examples, an unknown car was following her on her way home, and made her stop by flashing a blinding spotlight in her face. Another example depicts a man who was playing cat-and-mouse with Hasselstrom within 30 miles when she was driving in a desolate part of Wyoming. Thirdly, the fact that Hasselstrom did not feel safe even in public places justified her to own a gun. She provided an example of her and her friend being harassed and scared by men while camping in the West. Moreover, looking for some help from the local rangers, she had to face with their carelessness and unwillingness to protect and help. In addition to Hasselstrom’s desire of protection and safety, there is a desire of peace she was looking for which justified her to possess a weapon. First of all, she could not get a peace of mind being harassed on a daily basis. Whether she was among people or on her property, she faced acts of harassment or danger which took her further away from a peace she was searching for. Then, she could not find a peace of mind if she was constantly stressed out, suspicious and scared about everything. One day the author found deep tire ruts in her yard and garbage in her driveway. More likely, that fact would lead a person like her to suspect that someone unfriendly had an intention to hurt or do her harm. Third of all, Hasselstrom lived in the environment where women did not stand much for a chance of not being harassed. Men in her area worried her, and their harassment would not stop until stronger measures were taken. However, Hasselstrom did not want to be either daily harassed, be another victim of rape or permanently stressed out and scared. Threfore, she believed that having a gun handy would lead her to a peace of mind she was looking for. In conclusion, relying on Hasselstrom’s examples provided in the article, she was justified for her need to own a gun. She had no choice but to use it in dangerous situations to protect herself. When used responsibly, women in the same situation as the author would live protected, safe and with peace of mind they desire. What Hasselstrom’s message was in this article is that no one, man or woman, should live in fear. And in her situation, owning a gun gave her that security.

Reflection paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 9

Reflection paper - Essay Example The truth is that by the end of the buildout phase most of the opportunities to get ahead of competitors are all but gone. One of the benefits of IT is that is can be easily transferred. Not surprisingly the cost of IT has also decreased greatly over the years in conjunction with its increased usage. Outsourcing is an important issue in our economy because there are pros and cons to be argued for its relevance. I can see why so many firms turn to outsourcing, and that is to reduce costs. This is naturally the number one goal of any organization, making the option to outsource work all the more appealing. On the downside, when outsourcing occurs overseas it can evoke strong reactions in home country customers. I think that outsourcing can be a high risk activity, and it is for this reason that it must be done very carefully. In a globalized world IT governance takes on increased importance, as it is often vital to the organizational success of a firm. Managers must understand IT governance because if done correctly it can reduce costs and risks but also help the company to gain a competitive business

Support of President Obama's Jobs Bill Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Support of President Obama's Jobs Bill - Essay Example While touring the nation in the recent weeks, President Obama had repeatedly demanded that Congress passing the bill intact; thus, the Senate’s vote to impede the measure signified a serious setback and occurred after leaders of his own party had modified the measure to comprise surtax on revenue of not less than $1 million to summarize additional Democratic votes. Following this setback, the president condemned the Republicans fro shying away from a measure, which entailed ideas they had previously supported (DeMint 65). In a statement before the vote, the president told the Senate that the vote did not signify the end of this fight since days were coming when members of Congress will be required to take a stand about the bill after carefully analyzing the benefits it brings especially to those who are poorly paid like teachers, policemen and firefighters (DeMint 46). According to Senate Democratic aides, votes on parts of the bill could start this month, or even as early as next week; with party leaders saying that they required to consult their conclave before deciding on the timing or choosing the conditions to be reflected on separately (DeMint 38). There were a number of Democratic senators who asserted they might connect with a few Republicans in looking for job-creation proposals, which might achieve bipartisan support; this is an alarming contest in a chamber whereby comity appears to worsen weekly. On the other hand, House Republican leaders have asserted that they have no intentions of taking the president’s bill in its entirety; rather, they accept the sign from the White House, which indicates that the administration might be ready for a piecemeal effort (Kent). Eric Cantor, who is the House majority leader, as well as the Republican of Virginia, alleged that he was hoping that the president would dismiss his all-or-nothing methodology and start working with the Congress on issues of commonality, comprising of initiatives, which could uphold hiring along with economic growth. Mr. Cantor added, â€Å"We are willing to take up the things we can agree on.† This job’s bill is a combination of public works expending, as well as temporary tax cuts, whose intention are to counter what Mr. Obama refers to as an economic disaster and an emergency. Senate Democrats attempted to make the president’s bill more acceptable by attaching a surtax of 5.6 percent, beginning in 2013, on revenue in surplus of $1 million. As the Senate headed for the vote, Mr. Reid was overheard making allegations that Republicans were in opposition of the president’s jobs bill due to political reasons since they desired for the economy to continue being in poor shape. Mr. Reid claimed that Republicans thought that if the economy gets better, then this might assist President Obama, and that is why they campaign for the economy to fail by opposing every effort of improving it (DeMint 30). Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who i s the Senate Republican leader, replied in saying that Democrats had prepared this bill for failure, hoping that anyone voting against it will be perceived as a bad person; and that the exercise in its entirety is only a charade, which is meant to offer Democrats with a political edge in the forthcoming

AUCA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

AUCA - Essay Example As the author puts it, Florence was a no gone city. Death almost became inevitable to all those who contracted the plague. Dead bodies spread all over the city until churches ran out of space for burying the dead bodies. The solution was to adopt mass graves. Neighbours avoided each other for the fear of contracting the diseases. In fact, some citizens decided to leave the city. It was simply devastating. However, Boccaccio’s choice to introduce his work by this vivid eyewitness account leaves a lot to question especially that the rest of the characters are fictional. In my view, Boccaccio’s decision to introduce Decameron with an eyewitness account was to give the narrative its setting, both time and place. It was certainly written in medieval period and in Florence. This eyewitness account was also to justify the reasons for his characters to leave their city and base their stories in another place. In addition, this eyewitness account serves to add credibility to the author’s stories. For example, it would have been very difficult for him to set grounds as to why the seven women and the three men had to leave their Florence into another city. Furthermore, since this society was traditionally patriarchal, it would have been so hard for Boccaccio to convince his readers the reason as to why the men decided to give up their powers so that they could be ruled by the women. Therefore, the eyewitness account served to exemplify how the plague affected the social set-up of the society such that there was even a reversal of gender roles. The story revolves around Saladin, an Islam sultan and Melchizedek who was a wealthy Jew. Saladin was both generous and easy to lead his people into war. This attributes caused his treasury to run short of money. Saladin only option was to approach Melchizedek in the hope that he would bail him from bankruptcy. Unfortunately, Melchizedek was miser and he would hardly lend Saladin

Accounting Fraud in an Organization Research Paper

Accounting Fraud in an Organization - Research Paper Example Simply put, accounting is a field that involves financial operations which record information about the financial status of a company. Accounting, when it is moral and professional at the same time, provides a lucid financial picture of a company and enables the accountants to formulate well-versed decisions that aim at securing the profit of the company. The accounting system may be as simple as involving a simple register and may be as sophisticated as a computerized system that records all financial activities providing information about every monetary detail like a current business trend and future vision. Accounting deals with three types of information: operating information, financial accounting information and Managerial accounting information (MoneyInstructor, 2005). Operating information is the largest portion of accounting information. The company needs this information on a routine basis like employees’ salaries, a record of loans rendered, sales, inventory, and so on. Financial accounting information enables the managers, shareholders and the like to make well-informed decisions about their investment, shares, money taken or given as the loan, and etcetera. Managerial accounting information enables managers to make decisions about budget and formulate plans to supervise the financial activities. Businesses and organizations are sometimes very much under the pressure, due to market competition may be, to make them appear profitable to the investors and clientele in order to draw them. But they need to know that practicing counterfeit accounting activities to fulfill this purpose is not only unethical but also can bring disastrous consequences.  

Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 5

Proposal - Essay Example But, these people will be able to fulfil this role if they have the requisite knowledge about the diet principles and the requirements of nutrients. The healthy diet includes solid as well as liquid food items. In order to compete with European and American teams the Saudi footballers will have to make good use of healthy food items. While carrying out a study for Business Insights, Siddika Jaffer (2008), find that the overall market for sports and energy drinks has seen immense growth in the European and US markets and this growth is expected to continue at a rate of about 5 percent till 2011. The study points out that the during the period 2001-06, the Spanish market for sports and energy drinks has witnessed the highest percentage of growth pegged at more than 13 percent. Nutrients help in sustaining the long term needs of training and short-term needs of competition (Hassapidou et al, 2003). It is believed that formal training with proper dietary intervention leads to a number of advantages in enhancing the performance of an athlete in aspects like physical performance, better protection against injuries, maintaining a stable stamina, and proper muscular growth. Therefore having updated information regarding the dietary principles suitable for sportspersons provides an edge to the coach. This study is an effort to analyse the knowledge level amongst the football players and the coaches in Saudi Arabia in general. Literature review not only helps in going through the findings and conclusions of earlier researchers, it also helps in shaping a direction for the present research activity as well, because the researcher tends to get fair idea about the areas requiring particular focus. In this case also we are bound to come across a number of research papers about the necessity and usage of rich energy diets for sportspersons in general. It will our endeavour to go through some

Australian Values Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Australian Values - Essay Example roup characterized by common residence, economic cooperation, and reproduction." Murdock states that the families universally perform certain functions in the society in order to be of existence. He identified four critical functions that families ought to fulfill, namely the sexual, reproduction, educational and economic function (Bottomley, 1985). However, through industrialization and development in technology, the family in the present modern society is undergoing alterations. In this essay, we will discuss the changes in respect to Murdochs theory of the four functions the family performs. The sexual function claims that two individuals set up a family as the family is a legitimate platform for the bearing and rearing of children, and marriage is the accepted union for sexual relationships between two adults in society (Aspin, 1982). This is proclaimed to be beneficial to social order as the family allows sexual expression between a couple and regulates sexual activity in ways that foster a disciplined society (Bessant and Watts, 2002). However, improved methods of contraception allow people to indulge in sexual activity even when they are not in a marriage. Also, there seemed to be greater acceptance to de facto relationships, as noted from the increase in cohabitation between Australian couples. Statistics shows that in 1975, only 16% of couples cohabitated prior to marriage, the figures then increased to 27% in 1983 and in the year 2003, it shot to an alarmingly 75% (ABS, 2004). In deviance to Murdocks claim, sexual activity is no longer confined to a legalized uni on. The willingness of couples to live together in a sexual relationship without the formality of a marriage contract marks a major shift in family patterns (Briggs, 1994). People are resources to the society and people are the constitutes of a society. The family enables the making of a society by producing and rearing children to substitute people who die off (Strong and Devault, 1986). The

Personal Statement of Purpose for MA in Criminal Justice to Loyola

Of Purpose for MA in Criminal Justice to Loyola University of Chicago,IL - Personal Statement Example This foundation I suppose bears enormous impact on my decision to pursue further studies involving criminal justice system. Through my work as a manager of a commercial department back in Russia, I obtained profound realization of the immense worth there is in building people’s confidence at work. I used to supervise six people at this stage and treating each of them with fair amount of reward or sanction deserved became essential as it reminds every person that justice does exist. During my undergraduate years prior to this, I studied diligently and was also conscientious of taking academic details in account so that as early as this period I had already practiced even distribution of energy to each scholastic assigned task besides wise management of time. At school, I made sure that I could get my points across with adequacy in any aspect without offending the other party and in return, allowed others to be listened to sincerely. Such endeavor has not ceased to this age and even while I took up Management in Social Sphere which was another huge step in my learning to adjust with different kinds of people and value deep human relations where everyone is synergistically encouraged to express diverse opinions with respect to social matters that tap into politics and economy in general.

Observation Paper Essay Example for Free

Observation Paper Essay Conformity is behavior change designed to match the actions of others. During my research, I found many examples of conformitive behavior. I often related conformity to adolescents due to the fact that they usually do their best to try and fit in when it comes to group settings. This type of behavior can be seen in college students attending educational facilities away from home. Those that are in dorms tend to indulge in drinking even if they aren’t â€Å"big drinkers†. They do this to conform to that of others and to be included in the fun and try and fit in. One last example that I will discuss prior to getting into my own observation, was the study that was done my Crandall in 1988 which examined normative social influences involving bulimia in college sororities. Sororities are the true definition of conformity and those that don’t conform are usually not allowed to continue to pledge. In the particular sororities that were examined, Crandall found that it had its own norm when it came to the â€Å"right† amount of food to eat and the popularity within the sorority was associated with adhering to this norm. Those that wanted to be a part of the sororities needed to conform to the â€Å"norm† and fell into a bulimic state. These girls had to of known this was not healthy for them yet they wanted to continue to become of part of this group and follow the â€Å"norm† that was set out. To me, this is just ridiculous. Some of us have issues with conforming and I believe I’m one of those people. The observation that I decided to conduct was that of a military setting. I decided to do this based on the fact that when I was in the military, there were times when I struggled with those appointed over me because I knew the tasks that they were giving me were wrong. I wasn’t willing to conform when I knew it wasn’t right. This is where my â€Å"issue† with authority came into play. The military is one of, if not the largest, organization that requires conformity to the fullest. Those that don’t conform will be punished. During my reading I found a Japanese saying that really hit close to home. â€Å"The nail that sticks up gets hammered down†. What that means to me is that it’s better to not stand out in the group but rather conform and fall amongst them. Prior to the start of my observation, I had a background of the military setting so I guess we could call that an unfair advantage because maybe I didn’t go into this assignment with open-mindedness. I had the assumed idea that those being observed would  conform to the standards set forth by the military official in charge of them regardless if they thought that it was right/wrong. I envisioned that normative pressure would come into play since those that are in authoritative position are respected and looked up to. So, in order to support my assumption, I decided to have my wife, who is currently active duty and a Division Officer, assist me. She didn’t do this by choice, but I had her conform ï Å  I asked her to give personnel in her division orders that they would know were wrong. For instance, she gave three separate Sailors (2-E3, 1-E4) direction to go to McDonald’s to get her something to eat while in a duty status. Then, she briefed all of them at duty section muster that no one was authorized to leave the confines of the ship on their duty for any reason to include going to get something to eat. They all were aware this wasn’t allowed but being that she told them, they thought that it must be right. There was no questioning attitude, just a â€Å"yes Ma’am† by every single one. I wanted her to take it one step further so I asked her to do something that would affect the safety of Sailors and see how they responded. Would they conform? So, all her Sailors are required to wear protective head gear and glasses due to the dry dock environment and the hazards associated. She went to quarters and directed them all to come back tomorrow with only their hard hats. She stated glasses were no longer required. Not one person said anything when she gave this information out. No one questioned her but simply just went on about their days. The next day, over 75% of her personnel showed up without glasses. This was clearly a safety violation and could potentially have an impact on their individual safety but because she was an authoritative figure, they accepted that risk and conformed to what she stated. It wasn’t right but they did it anyway. After it was completed, she let them know that it was ok to question things that you thought weren’t right. She informed them about the study and stated that she was surprised so many had not followed their instincts and did the right thing. I wasn’t quite so shocked by the results. I saw a lot of Sailors do things that aren’t necessarily right because someone higher ranking told them and instead of questioning them, and possibly getting in trouble, they just did it. So, the results she got didn’t surprise me. In the military, it’s like the unspoken rule†¦just conform. Overall, this study was exactly what I thought it was going to be. In many  situations, we are uncertain how to think or act/react to those around us especially when it’s not the socially accepted â€Å"norm†. We tend to use the behavior and actions of others to dictate what were going to do. Informational social influence occurs because we conform using others as a source of information. That’s exactly what happened in my observation. No one stood up and said it was wrong so being that my wife told them it was right (she was the source of information), they did it! Was it right, no! This is where I think change needs to happen. Stand up for what you believe. Don’t just be rebellious because you can but have a reason and stand by it. Find people who believe in the same thing that you believe in and take a stance. Her Sailors should have confided in one another and they all should have worn their glasses to muster knowing that it was their safety that they were protecting. All of them should have stood up to protect themselves!

Worlds lone superpower

Worlds lone superpower In order to answer this question successfully we must answer it in four distinct sections. In the first section we will examine the debate over whether the United States is a hegemonic power or an imperial power. In the second section we will look at the main sources of Americas strength, examining the extent of its military power as well the power of its economy and the extent of its soft power. In the third section we will examine the nature of American weakness in the international arena, pointing to the Iraq War of 2003 and the War on Terror as two areas that expose American weakness clearly in todays world. In the fourth and final section we will analyse the rise of China, considering the arguments that this can be seen either as a threat or an opportunity. We will conclude that the United States is the worlds lone superpower and that the rise of China need not be viewed as a threat. According to Nexon and Wright modern international relations scholars operate with the assumption that whether the United States is an empire, the preeminent power in a unipolar system, or the leader of a hegemonic order, (this) shapes the basic dynamics of international politics[1]. Some have even gone as far as to suggest that the United States is simply a modern day imperial power. Hardt and Negri argue that imperial tendencies go right to the heart of the American constitution. They offer us the concept of imperial sovereignty and suggest that perhaps the fundamental characteristic of imperial sovereignty is that its space is always open[2]. They examine the constitutional history of the United States and find that each phase of its constitutional history marks a step toward the realisation of imperial sovereignty[3]. Hill has observed that this is a fundamental difference between the United States and China. It is commonplace to observe that the United States, for example, has c onsistently believed that its own values should be exported, whereas China has never felt the need to proselytise, despite its own conviction of superiority[4]. Hardt and Negri argue that the constitution of the United States has strong imperial tendencies and that this means that the United States is well placed in terms of acquiring a large Empire. However, these imperial tendencies are fundamentally different from previous imperialist nations. It is imperial because the U.S. constitutional project is constructed on the model of rearticulating an open space and reinventing incessantly diverse and singular relations in networks across an unbounded terrain[5]. The new imperialism is based upon open spaces and integrated networks, by which they refer primarily to the globalised world economy and it is the lead that the United States offers in this sphere that provides her with the power to stand at the head of the international community. Empire today does not mean anything like what we have always meant by empire. It occupies no lands; it has no center (not even in Washington); it doesnt depend on tightly controlled satellite governments; it is a postmodern entity[6]. Chalmers Johnson offers us another theory of the relationship between the US and Empire. Chalmers argues that the United States has not sought to actively conquer territories. In more modern times, unlike many empires, we did not annex territories at all. Instead we took (or sometimes merely leased) exclusive military zones within territories, creating not an empire of colonies but an empire of bases[7]. Chalmers goes on to show that the Department of Defence has admitted to the existence of some 725 overseas bases, but that many of these bases are ill equipped indeed to actively participate in any war. Instead these bases are the headquarters for our proconsuls, visible manifestations of our imperial reach[8]. We can see therefore that for Chalmers the imperialism of the United States is most tellingly portrayed by the extensive reach of the American military base, not as an active fighting force but instead as a way for the United States to spread its imperial tentacles. However, n ot all scholars agree that the term Empire or imperialism is valid in depicting the role of the United States in the world. Andrew Hurrell agrees that notions of informal empire provide some analytical purchase[9] when looking at the type of power that the United States exhibits in the modern world. However, Hurrell is reluctant to use the term Empire when referring to the United States. It is analytically more useful to understand the United States as a hegemonic rather than an imperial power, because doing so forces the analyst to focus directly on the crucial questions of negotiation, legitimacy and followership'[10]. Even if the United States is not an Empire, its sources of strength are clear. Brookes and Wohlforth have argued that the sources of American strength are so varied and so durable that U.S. foreign policy today operates in the realm of choice rather than necessity to a greater degree than any other power in modern history[11]. Unquestionably the military might of the United States is one critical factor. After the end of the Cold War America invested heavily in building up its military strength. The Americans were determined to increase their military strength to such a level that the United States would be able to overcome any enemy or combination of enemies. In 1999 the United States declared that its military expenditures now are larger than all other countries combined[12] and this attitude encapsulated the mood of the public and of Capitol Hill with regard to the military. After the Cold War, the measure of adequacy was no longer simply military strength; it had become military supremacy, a position endorsed by liberals as well as conservatives, Democrats as well as Republicans[13]. However, some have argued that the importance of military strength in defining the extent of a nations relative power in the international system is declining. The factors of technology, education, and economic growth are becoming more significant in international power, while geography, population and raw materials are becoming somewhat less important[14]. Fortunately for the United States it is well placed in all these new areas as well as continuing to exert more traditional forms of hard military power. The economy of the United States for example is still one that is immensely powerful and it accounts for over one-fifth of the world gross product. Joseph Nye has argued that as the nature of power undergoes transformations in the modern world traditional notions of hard power are becoming intertwined with the idea of soft power. A state may achieve the outcomes it prefers i n world politics because other states want to follow it or have agreed to a situation that produces such effects. In this sense, it is just as important to set the agenda and structure the situations in world politics as to get others to change in particular cases[15]. One important area of this soft power is the extent to which the United States is considered to be the legitimate world leader, not only the moral leader of the world but also its undoubted trend-setter. The pervasive influence of the United States cannot only be felt in the power of its military or in the strength of its economy but in its ability to inspire the peoples of other nations to strive for the same ideals for which it strives. On this viewing the cultural influence of the United States is just as important as its other sources of power. Unquestionably globalisation has allowed many non-Western people the chance to get their hands on many Western products and ideas. The important part of this is that many o f these people voluntarily choose to embrace Western ideas and products and this is undoubtedly an important source of strength for the United States. Despite such overwhelming strength some scholars do point to sources of weakness. Michael Ignatieff has argued that the Iraq War of 2003 is a turning point in American history. He claims that the war is imperial in its character but that an imperial war goes against the very heart of American values. A role once played by the Ottoman Empire, then by the French and the British, will now be played by a nation that has to ask whether in becoming an empire it risks losing its soul as a republic[16]. The American nation was born in the struggle against Empire and if it itself turns imperial then this could prove to be a source of weakness for the United States as it would heavily dilute its national character. The United States would then be vulnerable of falling into the same traps as many Empires throughout history and it is only by maintaining its anti-imperial character that the nation can guard against this slide into Empire. Since the demise of the Soviet Union, which constituted an active threat to the United States, the greatest threat for the United States has clearly come from terrorism. Since the attacks on September 11 the level of this perceived threat has only escalated and it led George W. Bush to declare a war on terror. This war on terror has exposed some fundamental sources of American weakness. It has shown that despite the awesome military strength of the United States establishing order in the aftermath of the Iraq war was very difficult. In fact, September 11 showed that at times the United States was not even able to guarantee the safety of its citizens within its own borders, despite its enormous power, strength and resources. The war on terror has also raised questions about the ability of the US military to deal with the Al-Qaeda threat, which certainly cannot overwhelm the US military but at the same time the military cannot defeat the terrorists and their guerilla tactics when they encounter them. Indeed many have argued that the invasion s of Afghanistan and Iraq have been highly counterproductive in combating terrorism. Michael Scheuer, a 20-year CIA veteran has argued that US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have left both countries seething with anti-U.S. sentiment, fertile grounds for the expansion of Al-Qaeda and kindred groups. He adds that the invasions were exactly what bin Laden and his associates had hoped for, since they gave new evidence to Muslims that Americans were the new crusaders, foreign infidels bent on conquest[17]. This is a major problem for the United States, because even though it does not affect Americas military power it has led to a loss of soft power for the United States. The invasion of Iraq in particular led to splits in the Security Council and has impeded the efforts of the United States to act as the worlds moral authority and thereby set the worlds agenda. Other actions such as the creation of Guantà ¡namo Bay and the abuses at Abu Ghraib have further damaged the credi bility of the United States to proclaim itself as the worlds greatest champion of human rights. This has created a backlash against American values, especially in the Islamic world and has led to the perception that American influence is corrupting and negative. Another potential source of weakness for the United States is the precarious nature of its current economic condition and the doubts about the long-term sustainability of public and private debt levels. If the United States loses its position at the top of the global economy this could have serious implications for the extent global power that the United States can wield. Let us now turn to examine the rise of China. Few countries are poised to have more impact on the world over the next 15-20 years than China. If current trends persist, by 2025 China will have the worlds second largest economy and will be a leading military power[18]. The question is whether the United States will view the expansion of Chinese power as a threat or whether the Americans and Chinese can build a positive and mutually beneficial partnership. If they are able to do the latter then one could argue that China does not stand in the way of continued US global hegemony. The two nations could engage to a significant extent and create sustained worldwide economic growth, solve regional disputes and also work together to combat the threats posed by rogue states and terrorism. However, if tensions between the two Pacific powers worsen, the whole of Eastern Eurasia could become divided in a new cold war, and the prospects for confrontation and conflict would seem certain to rise[19 ]. Webber and Smith have shown that the Bush administration certainly recognised the potential threat that an increasingly powerful China could pose. In March 2001, Donald Rumsfeld, the Secretary of Defence in the Bush administration, presented a strategic assessment which suggested that China was to be regarded as Americas principal potential adversary and that greater priority, consequently, needed to be given to long-range power projection forces capable of deployment in the Asia-Pacific region[20]. Indeed a report from the United States Congress has shown that the threat from China is not solely confined to the field of the military, but that the vast growth of the Chinese economy and the manner in which it conducts trade with America could also have potentially harmful effects upon the American economy. Another concern are the large and growing U.S. trade deficits with China, which have risen from $10.4 billion in 1990 to an estimated $232 billion in 2006, and are viewed by man y Members as an indicator that China uses unfair trade practices (such as an undervalued currency and subsidies to domestic producers) to flood U.S. markets with low-cost goods and to restrict U.S. exports, and that such practices threaten American jobs, wages, and living standards[21]. Peerenboom has argued that this view of China as a threat and the resulting containment strategy is highly likely to backfire. US policy will have to abandon neoconservative policies that seek to contain China, which is the surest way to bring about the kind of military conflict and economic trade war that all hope to avoid. Portraying China as a threat that must be contained fuels animosity and undermines those constituencies in China working to ensure that Chinas rise to power is peaceful[22]. Indeed, Peerenboom argues that for all the possible sources of conflict, there are many areas where the interests of both parties are aligned[23]. Despite the assessments by the Bush administration Friedberg convincingly argues that the relationship between the United States and China is more likely to be characterised by both co-operation and conflict in the future as it has been since 1989. The fundamentally mixed character of the U.S.-China relationship will not change very much, perhaps o scillating within a fairly narrow range, with periodic shifts toward greater cooperation or increased competition, but without a clear trend in either direction[24]. If this is indeed the case then the prospects for continued US global hegemony look promising. The signs are that the two countries should be able to work together effectively to tackle the worlds problems and this will mean that the United States will be likely to be the senior partner in the relationship. The ability of the United States to continue to set the global agenda will be vital in its quest for continued hegemony. In Conclusion, we have seen that the United States continues to be the worlds lone superpower. The extent of its military power is staggering and unseen in the worlds history to this point. However, the United States continues to be the worlds lone superpower because allied to this awesome military strength is a powerful economy and soft power that can shape the dictates of policy across the world. Clearly the United States has areas of weakness and not only that but they are exposed often and frankly in todays media and in academic circles. The invasion of Iraq and the War on Terror have shown that even overwhelming military, economic and political power are not sufficient to win the battles of the 21st Century, that are often as much about winning hearts and minds on Arab streets as they are about beating Islamic fundamentalists based in caves in Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, despite these obvious deficeiencies there is no question that the sources of American strength are so overwhelming that it continues to be the worlds lone superpower. It is for this reason that the United States does not need to fear the rise of China, even if some in the Bush administration did view China as a threat. Friedberg is right to argue that the relationship between the two countries will be characterised by conflict and co-operation, but the attitude of the United States towards China will be a critical factor in determining whether the 21st Century is marked by cooperation or another Cold War. If the United States manages to deal with China effectively to tackle the worlds problems, then it will continue to be the senior and most influential partner in the relationship between the two countries. Bibliography Hill, Christopher, The Changing Politics of Foreign Policy (2003) Webber, Mark, Smith, Michael, Foreign Policy in a Transformed World (2002) Hurrell, Andrew, On Global Order (2007) Nexon, Daniel, Wright, Thomas, Whats at Stake in the American Empire Debate?, The American Political Science Review, 101 (2) (2007), pp.253-271 Hardt, Michael, Negri, Antonio, Empire (2000) Wohlforth, William Brookes, Stephen, American Primacy in Perspective, Foreign Affairs, 81 (4) (2002), pp.20-33 Bacevich, A.J., American Empire: The Realities and Consequences of U.S. Diplomacy (2002) Nye, Joseph, Soft Power, Foreign Policy, 80 (1990), pp.153-171 Friedberg, Aaron, The Future of U.S.-China Relations: Is Conflict Inevitable?, International Security, 30 (2) (2005), pp.7-45 Johnson, Chalmers, The Sorrows of Empire (2004) Mann, Michael, Incoherent Empire (2005) Peerenboom, Randall, China modernises (2007) Websites: http://www.dni.gov/nic/PDF_2025/2025_Global_Trends_Final_Report.pdf http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=455 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B03E6DA143FF936A35752C0A9659C8B63sec=spon=pagewanted=1 http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33604.pdf Nexon, Daniel, Wright, Thomas, Whats at Stake in the American Empire Debate?, The American Political Science Review, 101 (2) (2007), pp.253 Hardt, Michael, Negri, Antonio, Empire (2000), pp.167 Hardt, Michael, Negri, Antonio, Empire (2000), pp.168 Hill, Christopher, The Changing Politics of Foreign Policy (2003), pp.18 Hardt, Michael, Negri, Antonio, Empire (2000), pp.182 http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=455 Johnson, Chalmers, The Sorrows of Empire (2004), pp.23 Johnson, Chalmers, The Sorrows of Empire (2004), pp.24 Hurrell, Andrew, On Global Order (2007), pp.262 Hurrell, Andrew, On Global Order (2007), pp.262 Wohlforth, William Brookes, Stephen, American Primacy in Perspective, Foreign Affairs, 81 (4) (2002), pp. 30-31 Bacevich, A.J., American Empire: The Realities and Consequences of U.S. Diplomacy (2002), pp.126 Bacevich, A.J., American Empire: The Realities and Consequences of U.S. Diplomacy (2002), pp.126 Nye, Joseph, Soft Power, Foreign Policy, 80 (1990), pp.154 Nye, Joseph, Soft Power, Foreign Policy, 80 (1990), pp.166 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B03E6DA143FF936A35752C0A9659C8B63sec=spon=pagewanted=1 Mann, Michael, Incoherent Empire (2005), pp.xvii http://www.dni.gov/nic/PDF_2025/2025_Global_Trends_Final_Report.pdf:, pp.29 Friedberg, Aaron, The Future of U.S.-China Relations: Is Conflict Inevitable?, International Security, 30 (2) (2005), pp.8 Webber, Mark, Smith, Michael, Foreign Policy in a Transformed World (2002), pp.124 http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33604.pdf Peerenboom, Randall, China modernises (2007), pp.276 Peerenboom, Randall, China modernises (2007), pp.276 Friedberg, Aaron, The Future of U.S.-China Relations: Is Conflict Inevitable?, International Security, 30 (2) (2005), pp.37