Battle of Talavera - Napoleonic Wars Battle of Talavera - Peninsular War Battle of Talavera

Battle of Talavera - Napoleonic Wars Battle of Talavera - Peninsular War Battle of Talavera Battle of Talavera - Conflict: The Battle of Talavera was fought during the Peninsular War which was part of the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). Battle of Talavera - Date: The fighting at Talavera occurred on July 27-28, 1809. Armies Commanders: England Spain Sir Arthur WellesleyGeneral Gregorio de la Cuesta20,641 British34,993 Spanish France Joseph BonaparteMarshal Jean-Baptiste JourdanMarshal Claude-Victor Perrin46,138 men Battle of Talavera - Background: On July 2, 1809, British forces under Sir Arthur Wellesley crossed into Spain after defeating the corps of Marshal Nicolas Soult. Advancing east, they sought to unite with Spanish forces under General Gregoria de la Cuesta for an attack on Madrid. In the capital, French forces under King Joseph Bonaparte prepared to meet this threat. Assessing the situation, Joseph and his commanders elected to have Soult, who was then in the north, advance to cut Wellesleys supply lines to Portugal, while the corps of Marshal Claude Victor-Perrin advanced to block the allied thrust. Battle of Talavera - Moving to Battle: Wellesley united with Cuesta on July 20, 1809, and the allied army advanced on Victors position near Talavera. Attacking, Cuestas troops were able to force Victor to retreat. As Victor withdrew, Cuesta elected to pursue the enemy while Wellesley and the British remained at Talavera. After marching 45 miles, Cuesta was compelled to fall back after encountering Josephs main army at Torrijos. Outnumbered, the Spanish rejoined the British at Talavera. On July 27, Wellesley sent forward General Alexander Mackenzies 3rd Division to aid in covering the Spanish retreat. Due to confusion in the British lines, his division suffered 400 casualties when it was attacked by the French advance guard. Arriving at Talavera, the Spanish occupied the town and extended their line north along a stream known as the Portina. The Allied left was held by the British whose line ran along a low ridge and occupied a hill known as the Cerro de Medellin. In the center of the line they built a redoubt which was supported by the General Alexander Campbells 4th Division. Intending to fight a defensive battle, Wellesley was pleased with the terrain. Battle of Talavera - The Armies Clash: Arriving on the battlefield, Victor immediately send forward the division of General Franà §ois Ruffin to seize the Cerro even though night had fallen. Moving through the darkness, they nearly reached the summit before the British were alerted to their presence. In the sharp, confused fight that followed, the British were able to throw back the French attack. That night, Joseph, his chief military advisor Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, and Victor plotted their strategy for the next day. Though Victor favored launching a massive assault on Wellesleys position, Joseph decided on making limited attacks. At dawn, the French artillery opened fire on the Allied lines. Ordering his men to take cover, Wellesley awaited the French assault. The first attack came against the Cerro as Ruffins division moved forward in columns. Moving up the hill, they were met with heavy musket fire from the British. After enduring this punishment the columns disintegrated as the men broke and ran. With their attack defeated, the French command paused for two hours to assess their situation. Electing to continue the battle, Joseph ordered another assault on the Cerro while also sending forward three divisions against the Allied center. While this attack was ongoing, Ruffin, supported by troops from General Eugene-Casimir Villattes division were to attack the north side of the Cerro and attempt to flank the British position. The first French division to attack was that of Leval which struck the junction between the Spanish and British lines. After making some progress, it was thrown back by intense artillery fire. To the north, Generals Horace Sebastiani and Pierre Lapisse assaulted General John Sherbrookes 1st Division. Waiting for the French to close to 50 yards, the British opened fire in one massive volley staggering the French attack. Charging forward, Sherbrookes men drove back the first French line until being stopped by the second. Hit by heavy French fire, they were forced to retreat. The gap in the British line was quickly filled by part of MacKenzies division and the 48th Foot which was led into place by Wellesley. These forces held the French at bay until Sherbrookes men could be reformed. To the north, Ruffin and Villattes attack never developed as the British moved into blocking positions. They were handed a minor victory when Wellesley ordered his cavalry to charge them. Surging forward, the horsemen were stopped by a hidden ravine that cost them around half their strength. Pressing on, they were easily repulsed by the French. With the attacks defeated, Joseph elected to retire from the field despite requests from his subordinates to renew the battle. Battle of Talavera - Aftermath: The fighting at Talavera cost Wellesley and the Spanish around 6,700 dead and wounded (British casualties: 801 dead, 3,915 wounded, 649 missing), while the French incurred 761 dead, 6,301 wounded and 206 missing. Remaining at Talavera after the battle due to a lack of supplies, Wellesley still hoped that the advance on Madrid could be resumed. On August 1, he learned that Soult was operating in his rear. Believing Soult to only have 15,000 men, Wellesley turned and marched to deal with the French marshal. When he learned that Soult had 30,000 men, Wellesley backed off and began withdrawing towards the Portuguese border. Though the campaign had failed, Wellesley was created Viscount Wellington of Talavera for his success on the battlefield. Selected Sources British Battles: Battle of TalaveraPeninsular War: Battle of TalaveraHistory of War: Battle of Talavera

The Sky Isnt the Limit

The Sky Isnt the Limit Free Online Research Papers If you have ever seen an episode of the 1960’s cartoon â€Å"The Jetsons†, then you should know all about the almost laughable portrayal of our future society, sporting things such as flying cars and robotic house keepers. However, according to Douglas Malewicki, an inventor as well as aerospace engineer for UniModal Transport Solutions Inc., the idea seems far from a joke. The famous inventor is considered the father of green transportation, responsible for creations like the 156-miles-per-gallon California Commuter cars that hold the Guinness fuel economy records for street-legal vehicles driven at freeway speeds, as well as the highly-aerodynamic human-powered recumbent bicycle. Although both inventions seem to be great contributors to the technological revolution, neither top Malewicki’s latest prototype, the SkyTran. Malewicki patented the SkyTran in 1992 and published several papers on it, including a paper entitled People Pods Miniature Magnetic Levitation Vehicles for Personal Non-Stop Transportation, which was presented to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Future Transportation Conference. The paper describes how Malewicki had built and driven a freeway-legal 154-MPG car in 1981, but realized it could never be safe on a street surrounded by vehicles much larger and heavier; however, elevated tracks would allow a very light vehicle to be safe, hence the concept of the SkyTran. It went on to describe how the SkyTran can squeeze both surfaces of a track simultaneously and brake safely to a stop from 100 miles per hour in just 55 feet. In 1999, Malewicki was invited to present an overview of the invention for the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, hinting to the construction of the SkyTran in the year 2052. Once Malewicki and his partners began making proposals to transit systems, the prototype began to be recognized in popular technology magazines, as well as local and national news articles. So what exactly is the SkyTran? It is a lightweight, two-passenger PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) system suspended from elevated magnetic levitation tracks, estimated to travel around 100 miles per hour with approximately 200 miles per gallon. The special kind of tracks featured with the SkyTran allow it to use natural magnetic fields to counteract the effects of gravity, as well as propelling itself by a linear motor and metal coils built in to the tracks. Because of these unique and innovative railway features, it makes switching on and off tracks at high speeds easier and more efficient as well as requiring little to no maintenance. Ideally, the system would be elevated by standard utility poles 20-30 feet above the ground or attached to the sides of buildings. The tracks are carefully mapped out in a 3D grid of inter-city guideways to avoid intersection accidents as well as derailment, and are able to deliver you within a quarter to half of a mile within your destination. The pod a lso comes equipped with parking wheels, a vertically opening door, and air conditioning or heating to optimize the comfort of the passengers. There is a list of incredible benefits of the SkyTran system, starting with how extremely inexpensive it would be to build compared to other transit modes like light rails and buses. One mile of SkyTran guiderail, including stations and stops, will cost $1 million to $2 million, while the Light rail costs $25 million to $50 million per mile, and SkyTran vehicles will cost approximately $4,000 to $6,000 each while one new 36-passenger transit bus costs $300,000. As far as labor costs go, SkyTran’s operating and maintenance costs are only a fraction of those required to support a light rail and expanded bus system since there are no drivers. Also, consider the savings not only in terms of the tax burden current transit systems put on the public, but in other areas such as no land purchases or neighborhood destruction to provide rights-of-way. Additional benefits include the freedom and convenience passengers will receive with the system because they will not be spending any time in traffic, which will reduce stress as well as their time commuting. It is environmentally friendly because of the 200 miles per gallon it can achieve, as well as the elimination of air and noise pollutants that used to be caused by traffic and gridlock. Last but not least, it will help with the rising number of deaths due to automobile accidents. In the United States each year, there are over six million car accidents and around 40,000 deaths due to how unsafe cars can be, from drunk or irresponsible drivers to car malfunctions; the SkyTran would drastically reduce those numbers. Not only does it keep its riders safe, but heres where SkyTran’s self-driving vehicles really shine. Essentially, there is no risk that an incapacitated driver will crash or endanger other vehicles, but if they can manage to press the vehicle Emergency button in case of a medical situation, such as heart attack or seizure, then an operator will intervene, assess the situation, and re-route you straight to a hospital or emergency room. People with medical conditions can also wear monitors that detect a dangerous event and communicate with the system for them, even if they are unconscious. Malewicki’s intentions for the SkyTran were not to completely replace cars, just eliminate commuter traffic. It is not expected for you to ride the system to your local grocery store or down the street, just lengthy trips into or throughout the city. Although the concept seems beyond brilliant, it has of course been met with criticism. One of the design flaws is the size of the pods. Because they only seat two at a time, it will make it hard for groups or families to travel together, as well as not being able to carry large amounts of stuff, like luggage. Another dangerous possibility to consider is a local area power failure. Imagine hanging in a pod in the middle of winter until the utility company restored power, or until a cherry picker could come by and rescue you; it would not be the best way to spend your morning. To summarize, nowadays we all seem to be obsessed with technology- always having the better cell phone, car or computer, or simply being more advanced than everyone else. The SkyTran could be the one technology that starts a whole other revolution, opening up other scientific discoveries. It could be the future of our transportation system; the advantages obviously outweigh the risks. It is ideal for the every-day commuter- efficient, environmentally friendly, fast, and not to mention extremely aesthetically pleasing. If UniModal actually introduced this advancement into our lives, the possibilities could be endless. Research Papers on The Sky Isn't the LimitLifes What IfsTwilight of the UAWBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfQuebec and CanadaStandardized TestingThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationThe Spring and AutumnOpen Architechture a white paperMind TravelPETSTEL analysis of India

Tuesdays with Morrie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tuesdays with Morrie - Essay Example Morrie Schwartz was the best professor Mitch could ever ask for. He supplemented Mr. Albom with the knowledge and advices in life that will surely help the young one in his future. Their relationship was more of a father and a son than a teacher and a student. When Mitch Albom graduated, Professor Morrie was more than proud of his achievement and he was very happy to see him graduate. During his graduation, Professor Morrie Schwartz embraced Mitch Albom as he was even crying because he was so happy. He only had one wish from his beloved student and that is to keep in touch with even after leaving the school. Mitch Albom promised to do so but he never kept his project. Only after Mr. Albom came across his old professor in one of the television shows that he remembered he was not able to keep his promise and he missed to see Professor Morrie for a long time. When he had the guts to see his professor, he drove to where he lives and after 16 long years, he saw his professor again, now se riously ill with ALS. Professor Morrie was already deteriorating and he was almost too late to see his professor. Despite the long years of waiting for his student, Professor Schwartz was still very happy to see Mr. Albom. The two reunited and Mitch now seeks for his advice again regarding his life, his job and his family life. The professor was very eager to see his student listens again to him. Mitch Albom's life was not perfect and his relationship with his wife is greatly affected by his work. Meeting up with Prof. Morrie Schwartz every Tuesdays, Mitch Albom now became more aware of he missed out chasing the life he thought was what’s best for him and his wife. He now finds himself wondering if he is really happy with what he has and what he had become. He needed more time with his professor to enlighten him and answer his questions about life but he now has little time left with his professor. If only he chose to keep his promise and kept in touch with his professor, he might be happier with his life. He may have chosen a different path with his life. But nevertheless, he had the chance to makeup with the time lost with his dear professor. This is one lesson that we need to consider in our life. We must not take for the granted the important people in our lives. Although they will be there to help us and love us, we must also reciprocate everything and let them feel our love. There will be a lot of opportunities that will come for us as we live, it is very important that we will not take others for granted as we embrace these opportunities. According to Professor Morrie Schwarz, it is very important that we "Love each other or die." (p.163) Make the most of your life In the book, not only did Mr. Albom ditch his promise with Professor Morrie, he also keeps on failing his wife by not keeping his promise to her. Although he knew his wife will stick and wait for him every time he leaves for his job, he still barely spends time with her to check on her or make-up for his absence. His wife only asked for them to have a baby. And yet, for years they have been married, they still don’t have a baby. Time flies so fast and there is a great possibility that his wife will not become pregnant anymore. What will happen if this will be the case? We don’

Are we getting overly dependant on technology Essay

Are we getting overly dependant on technology - Essay Example For this reason, people have become lazy to do go their work thus becoming obese. For an instant, a CEO who does not want to attend a meeting in the office, one can just conduct the meeting in their house by use of a webcam. According to Shenk (1997), people have been so dependent on technology such that they cannot solve a simple calculation without the help of a calculator. The today’s children cannot write in good handwriting because they are used to just using a computer to write whatever they need. They do not have time even to learn to write cursive. Computer and internet are not as perfect as people may think. There are some things these technological devices and media cannot teach (Shenk 1997). If the whole world were to lose power, some people would not be able to do some things. The world would stand still as individuals would have been used to technology doing their everyday activities. Because of the continuous advancement of technology, the ultimate fear is that people will completely rely on technology to run their lives. However, people need to resist this temptation and try to learn some things

Management Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 6

Management Accounting - Essay Example The cost of each Renault car is  £ 12,000 (Crosson, 2011). The company’s expenses will include fixed expenses and variable expenses (Noreen, 2008). On the other hand, the company pays for variable expenses. The variable expenses fluctuate or change in the same direction as the car revenues (DuBrin, 2009). Comparison with Competitor’s Price. The above Table 1 information shows sales prices are pegged on the Skoda car competitor’s selling prices. The above table indicates that the company’s Skoda selling price is lower than the competitor’s car selling price in order to increase customer demand for the Skoda (Hartline, 2011). In the same manner, the company is selling its Renault car at a selling price that is lower than the competitor’s selling price. The lower price is a marketing strategy to increase revenues (Buttle, 2009). Since the prices are lower, the company expects to generate high Skoda and Renault car revenues (UKCardiscount, 2012 ). In addition, the above table 2 data indicates the sales prices of the company’s Renault car in relation to the competitor’s selling price (Chandler, 2011). The above table indicates that the current and future customers can save more money if they purchase the company’s lower priced Renault car, when compared to purchasing the competitor’s car (UKCardiscount, 2012). Further, the table 3 data clearly shows the company’s fixed expenses (Glencoe, 2011). The fixed expenses include the flat rent, electricity, water, telephone, garbage, and other expenses (Levine, 2008). The increase in the car sales normally does not significantly influence the fixed expenses. The fixed expenses are period expenses (City-data, 2012). Furthermore, the table 4 statistical data clearly shows the company’s variable expenses. When the sales increase, the variable expenses also increase (Miltenburg, 2005). In the same manner, when the sales decline from one accounting period to

The Tale of Hong Kiltong | Love Suicides | Analysis

The Tale of Hong Kiltong | Love Suicides | Analysis Gender refers to a range of behavioural, physical and mental characteristics that people use to differentiate masculinity from femininity. The context of definition may take the concept as a synonym to sex, which means the state of being male or female. The term can be used to define social roles and gender identity among different individuals. In the text, The Tale of Hong Kiltong, the story revolves around a man who raises beyond his birth circumstances to prove his masculinity among the people. Masculinity has a much far horizon that just being male or female, as the text reveals. The living circumstances of the young boy, Kiltong, who was not a very famous son, and his father wanted to kill him but when he realized that, he disappears to another land. His life story reveals another side of masculinity when he takes the role of fighting for the unfortunate. The concept of masculinity conveys the fact that ones behaviour is a reflection of whom they are. In the spirit of capitalism, Minister Hong wishes to eliminate his bastard son because he bore him with a maid-servant. This is the concept of masculinity in the society. The man has the power to have affairs with the maid servant without caring about the consequences. The presence of the other main wife does not bother, because women also understand their place as femini ne, in the society. The play, love suicides also depicts aspects of feminism and masculinity regarding the lives of the two protagonists, Jihei and Koharu. By virtue of being a man, the society expects Jihei to be responsible enough to take care of the family, implying that masculinity regards to responsibility. The society also does not criticize Koharu for being a prostitute, but lays emphasis on the reckless life of Jihei who the playwright accuses of being as worthless as a wastepaper (Chikamatsu Shively, 1991). The masculine aspect of being a man eludes Jihei. The reader also gets the feeling that femininity in the society is described as a pleasure provider since the society deems the lifestyle of Koharu as normal. To the society, prostitution is fine as long as it is a woman. In understanding masculinity, there are three basic features that have been widely used, and they are evident in the text The Tale of Hong Kiltong, which Kiltong expresses, rather than by the virtue of just being a male. The first one is a definition feature, for instance, risk taking. Masculinity has been defined in the past and the present as characterized by risk taking. In the text, the aspect of risk taking is rampant, with Kiltong taking numerous risks by stealing from the rich to help the poor. Despite being wanted for the atrocities he commits, risk taking produces him as a man. This implies that masculinity is not only being male, but also having such characters, meaning that there are females who as well manifest masculine characters since there can have been cases of risk-taking female. In the same respect, taking responsibility of situations as a feature can define masculinity. In this case, responsibility over other people was and still is the role of men in most contemp orary societies, although in some societies, women have come up to challenge the believe; hence depicting their masculinity. The text, The Tale of Hong Kiltong opens by talking about the minister, who has responsibility over people, his wife, sons and maid servants. Responsibility is the defining feature of masculinity over femininity. Just like the minister, his son is also a vibrant young man whom despite being waned, takes charge of unfortunate people, and when he takes the government post, the people continue suffering; hence showing that he was directly responsible for the poor people. In the love suicide, Jihei does not fulfil his masculinity duties as a man, and lives recklessly ignoring his wife and children. On the other hand, his brother is responsible and runs around trying to prevent the death of his brother and Koharu. This is a depiction of masculinity. Jiheis wife possesses what the society would refer to as femininity by being remorseful to the extent that she sacrif ices her savings to save the life of Koharu. She is passionate and strong, portraying attributes of femininity and masculinity. Despite being a woman, she takes more responsibility of the family than her husband. This implies that the society had different views about responsibility as a factor of femininity and masculinity. Normative standards of classifying feminists and masculine regards to using the characteristics of what men ought to do and what women ought to do in order to qualify to be in either group. Although this concept is widely accepted, it has a major loophole that masculinity can not be a one minute show. Going by this definition, an individual can depict characters of masculinity in a minute and resume the normal characters. This cannot define the individual as masculine. For instance, the Hong tradition expected the male to have several sexual partners, which led to the Minister having an affair with the maid-servant. This took place for only a day, which bore him a son. The one day affair may not be used to classify the minister as a masculine since he ended up declining the responsibility of taking care of the results of his one day masculinity show. In love suicides, masculinity evades its normative standards if one is to analyse the life of Jihei. The only aspect of Jihei that classifies him under masculinity is the fact that he is the man of the home, but his actions in entirety, for instance, ignoring his family and his wife taking the responsibility, him being broke to the extent that he cannot redeem his lover and leaving it to his wife, among others, are the depictions that he has more of the feminine attributes that the masculine attributes. The final landmark that defines masculinity as a distinct aspect is the semiotic approach, which depicts the symbolic differences between femininity and masculinity. In this case, masculinity is the opposite of femininity, meaning that being masculine is not being feminine. Symbolically, an example is that masculinity is marked by authority whereas femininity lacks the authority. In cultural analysis, this is the definition that was effective in stating the traditional gender roles of both sides. In the text, The Tale of Hong Kiltong, the minister is the symbol of authority and he has the power of command in the territory to the extent that he orders pursuit of his son. Masculinity under this aspect regards to the widely accepted relationships through which male and female accomplish their gendered lives. This implies that masculinity is a place in the relationships and depends on the daily practices that fit them in their gendered lives and the consequences of the practices in terms of bodily experience, culture and personality. The texts also reveal the fact that one can understand gender as a social practice that regards to the bodies and their social functions. This can be widely understood by the fact that the daily conduct is organized in relation to the reproduction sphere regarding to the structures of the body and the reproductive system. Despite this revelation, there is no relationship with the body biology because gender presents itself because of the lack of the link between sociology and biology. This aspect, gender relations, is the major aspect of the entire contemporary societies. Femininity, in the society in love suicides, comes out as a sacrifice for the survival of men. For instance, Magoemon is ready to force a divorce between his brother and Osan in order to source funds to redeem Koharu and save his brother from suicide. Further, Osan is ready to sacrifice her savings to save the life of her husband and his lover. Masculinity and femininity regards to the gender practice configurations, rather than being male or female. Understanding the role of male and female in the text, The Tale of Hong Kiltong, can help elucidate this aspect of gender. Understanding gender can take place through various aspects like understanding the course of individual life and their character, the ideology, discourse or culture, and the institutions in the society such as schools and work places. Therefore, the model of understanding gender can adapt power relations, production relations and cathexis, which regard to the characters surrounding sexual desires and the practices that define it, as the aspect of gender order. The text reveals such aspects of gender through hegemony. The leadership of the Joseon dynasty seems to revolve around the Hong family and the male characters. Masculinity in this aspect is the gender practice configuration embodying an accepted answer to the problem of authenticity of the patriarchy guaranteeing the male dominance and their women subordinating them in their positions. Subordination is also a feature of gender as there are gender relations that are specific in terms of dominance and subordination between groups. An example in the contemporary society is heterosexuality verses homosexuality. Complicity is the complexity of the fact that despite there being few men supporting and maintaining the concept of hegemony, many are beneficiaries of the subordination by their women. This provision does not give men a chance for tensions or risks of being in the frontline to protect their positions. Historically, masculinity and femininity as subsets of gender were distinct from each other by acts of violence and crisis. The structures tend to change with time in response to various factors including external pressures, and sometimes from internal pressures. The conflicts of interest between the two classes of gender have been streamlined by factions like women movements in the past. The socially defined unequal structures, which placed male and female in defensive and offensive positions respectively has met widespread resistance over time. Such battles may not lack violence; hence reducing the aspect of masculinity and femininity as a mere theoretical notion that can erode with changing times. The system of dominance (in this case, male dominance) is characterised by violence and a measure of imperfection. The hierarchal system may not be legitimate, and the perpetrators employ violence in order to maintain the system. Extreme masculinity has proved fatal in the attempts to maintain dominance. There have been cases of sexual harassment, murder and domestic assault in homes and streets. This implies that in gender politics, violence is important in order for one to prove a point to the other group. Femininity regards to the set of behaviours, attributes and roles associated with the female individuals in the society. The concept is a social construct, although it may include the aspect of biological functions. In behavioural traits, femininity included moral characters of empathy, sensitivity to other peoples problems and gentleness. The behavioural traits eliminate the aspect of biological disposition in defining femininity in the contemporary society because either gender has possessed the above character traits at one time or another in a social context. The original context of the definition of femininity encompassed emotional outlook of the female as a distinguishing factor from the male. The texts, love suicides and The Tale of Hong Kiltong present women as emotional characters who, by virtue of their gender roles do not have the audacity to reproach the male for their atrocities. Their emotional outbursts lead to some of them committing suicide for love in the Love suici des. Conclusion The texts provide numerous aspects of masculinity and femininity and depict both as important entities in the social settings of the texts. Femininity and masculinity were respected definitions of the roles of gender in the traditional society. Although the distinctive roles are waning, they remain important concepts in many fields in the contemporary society. Violence and crisis have been characteristics of the gender wars, with the male dominantly staying above the rest by use of violence to maintain their status quo. Feministic movements have arisen over time to challenge the demeaning roles of the gender classes, and through diplomacy, and most times violence, they have succeeded to some degree. The representation of gender in the texts have been characterised by violence and emotional oppression in order to achieve the gender goals by the powerful masculine practices.

The Mirroring Lives of a Jamaican and a Rastafarian Essay -- essays pa

The Mirroring Lives of a Jamaican and a Rastafarian Introduction This paper is a series of two interviews that I had over the course of the semester. I used both of the interviews as a series of research. I then used this research and supported it with published work. The first interview occurred when I was in Jamaica. I randomly crossed paths with Peter. He informed my friends and I that he was a Rastafarian. We spoke with him for about two hours on the beach. He informed us about his religion and his lifestyle. Unaware at the time that I would use this knowledge in my paper I am pleasantly surprised that I was able to transgress this information. The second interview was with Marie Debal. She is one of my sister’s clients. Upon informing my sister about this class and the paper that was due she suggested that I speak with Marie to get information. Marie was the perfect contrast to Peter. She grew up on the island and was raised as a Jamaican woman. Her family traveled a lot with in the island so Marie was very informative about her home land. She came to the United States for college and then stayed to work in New York City working for the Jamaican tourist board. From the interesting aspects that Peter had spoken about I decided to get Marie’s opinion on some of the same topics. I thought these two people would create an interesting contrast to my paper. Today they both live two very different lives but they share very similar backgrounds. Interviewee A background: Name: Peter Age: 30 Home: Jamaica Blue Mountains Occupation: Rastafarian Marital status: none and lives alone Education: self educated by other Rastafarians with in his village Interviewee B background: Name: Marie Debal Age... ...that each of them transgressed into my understanding makes me feel privilege to have even spoken with them. Bibliography Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter, Reggae: The Rough Guide New York: Penguin, 1997. Pinkey, http://web.lexis-nexis.com/univer Barrett, Leonard, The Rastafarians Boston: Beacon, 1997. Manely, Michael, The Politics of Change New York: Natural History Press, 1992. Ie: Garvey,1 Kerr, Madeline, Personality and Conflict in Jamaica London: Collins Pub, 1961. Charlie, Susan, Tourism Continues in Jamaica Newsweek, 1997. Zips, Robert, Rastafari New York: Natural History Press, 1993. Winston, Phillip "Revitalization Movements" London: Associated Press, 1995. Cashmore, Ernest, Rastaman: The Rastafarian Movement in England London, Penguin, 1996. Brown, Samuel E., "The Truth About Rastafarians," The Liberator, vol. 3, no.9 Kingston, 1963.

American War effort in Vietnam Essay

The Vietnam War is viewed by the majority as one of the worst periods in American history. The Americans moved into Vietnam in 1954 under the pretence of fighting against an â€Å"evil and aggressive Communist regime†1. The government stated the Domino Theory as a reason for involving themselves in someone else’s war, whereby if America did not stop Vietnam from falling to Communism then other countries would follow, and American liberty, free enterprise and security would be put at risk. It is hard to define one important reason for the American’s defeat in Vietnam. There are many factors that explain it: restrictions on the military and tactics that the American army employed, coupled with the strength of the North Vietnamese Army. The war also cost a lot of money, which meant inflation, tax rises and America’s economy suffering. The collapse of the home front and the lack of support from the media was cause for the presidents to retreat and was another reason for the undermining of the war effort. This information from home often leaked to the front line and caused the deterioration of troops’ morale, also, the government was often criticised for not understanding the political nature of Vietnam, where no-one really understand or cared about the term democracy. The general consensus by most historians is that the military tactics employed played a large part in determining the outcome of the war. Justin Wintle’s ‘The Vietnam Wars’ concentrates on the military aspects, and suggests that while the Americans had a superior military and equipment, the tactics they used were useless due to the environment in Vietnam – Westmoreland’s search-and-destroy operations would have been an effective opposition to guerrilla combat, ‘or would have done had they been able to take place in a sealed environment ventilated by the Ho Chi Minh Trail’2, proving that the tactics used were inappropriate and not well thought out by the army generals. Even Major John Fenzel in the US Army agreed that defeat was due to tactical failures, which meant that they could not compete with the ‘multi-faceted strategy of insurgency and protraction’3 of the North Vietnamese army. General Bruce Palmer Jr. stated that Vi etnam was ‘†¦a devilishly clever mixture of conventional warfare fought somewhat unconventionally and guerrilla warfare fought in the classical manner’4. It was not just that the American strategy was ineffective; it was ineffective  in the conditions and against a strong North Vietnamese army perfectly adapted to their environment. Due to the absolute strength of American air power, the Americans were lucky enough to keep a good death ratio where the number of Vietnamese deaths heavily outnumbered their own, however the fact that the war dragged on for so long greatly deteriorated the troops’ morale. Obvious tactical failures were the Phoenix Program under Nixon where troops agents infiltrated into Vietnamese peasant districts to detect activists, and while its effect was obvious, its methods were seen to be violent and news of innocents being murdered soon reached home. Operation Apache Snow, where American soldiers attacked Vietcong taking refuge on Ap Bia, now more commonly known as ‘Hamburger Hill’. Troops attacked with fire-fight, hand-to-hand combat and aerial bombardment, however this only served to increase opposition to the war, so ‘Hamburger Hill’ was abandoned, which impelled Senator Edward Kennedy to label the operation as ‘senseless and irrseponsible’5. Morale among the troops was also decreasing. When tactics looked successful, morale was high. But as strategies resorted to a degree of barbarism with innocents being killed and bombing raids, news of lack of support from the home front reached the front line and the drawn out nature of the war ensured that morale soon deteriorated. Also, the experience of war was reasonably comfortable, as Saunders points out in ‘Vietnam and the USA’; soldiers spent a considerable amount of time away from the front line and in Japan or Saigon for ‘Rest and Recuperation’, this obviously led to an ‘air of  unreality and disorientation’6, where drug abuse was common. This lack of morale led to  even more barbarism, one marine unit was known to say- ‘our emotions were very low  because we’d lost a lot of friends†¦so†¦we gave it to them†¦whatever was moving was going  to move no more – especially after (our) 3 days of blood and guts in the mud’7. There were other factors, which led to this low morale. It was often frustrating for some soldiers as men in authority were not always as experienced as them; this meant that there appeared to be little structure to strategies, leading to confusion. They also could not capture the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese, with the hamlet programme set-up by Diem, and the bombing of Vietnam by Americans, the Vietnamese peasants disliked American troops. However, it is easy to understand the Americans lack of reaction to the Vietnamese, as the circumstances of the war were obviously frustrating, and they felt that they were fighting someone else’s war, resenting the American government for sending them. This dislike for those who they were supposed to be helping meant that it was a difficult task for the American troops to win the war. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) on the other hand were very well suited to the surroundings and made the most of their environment. The situation in Vietnam appeared to be, as James Cameron stated, ‘from the moment the US prepared its first bomb in the North of Vietnam, she welded the nation together unshakeably. Every bomb was a bonus for Ho Chi Minh’8. It seemed that whatever hindered the American army only strengthened the Vietnamese. What the Americans did not realise was that the blitzes from firepower united the North Vietnamese. Chinese and Soviet aid meant that the NVA could enjoy modern  hardware: rocket launchers, anti-aircraft batteries, mortars and flamethrowers. The view shared by many historians is that ‘they could be defeated but they could never be vanquished’9, they had great perseverance and their tactics were clearly laid out, in summary: Americans attack and NVA retreat Americans camp and NVA raid Americans tire and NVA attack Americans retreat and NVA pursue The structure of the army also seemed more advanced than that of the Americans. Someone carrying supplies and ammunition maintained each unit. Structure was built upon the idea of ‘cells’ of three or ten men, so if they were discovered or captured, they would not lose large numbers of troops. This also meant that they could move around more stealthily and communication around the cell was easier. The NVA became expert at setting booby traps and it became hard for Americans to effectively fight them as they attacked enemy units and then quietly disappeared into the jungle. The communists were also better at winning over the Vietnamese population. Their combination of brutality and kindness allowed them to gain the support of the Vietnamese peasants. This obviously gave them an advantage over the American Army. The actions of the American Presidents also went some way in undermining the war effort. Eisenhower had restricted involvement in the war, rejecting any idea of bombing the country –  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœyou boys must be crazy. We can’t use those awful things against Asians for the second time in less than ten years.’10. While he did give support to the French in their Vietnam battle,  Eisenhower saw that sending troops in would be unwise. When Kennedy became president, he increased America’s commitment to Vietnam, needing a more adventurous foreign policy  and bigger defence expenditure. The war is seen as ‘Johnson’s War’ as it was Johnson who  started major escalation. With the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, it appeared that the population  was behind Johnson and his efforts to send more troops to Vietnam, but towards the end of his term, public opinion had swayed and their was  pressure to start bringing soldiers back home. Nixon had initially supported the war, but soon he was under a lot of pressure to allow fewer troops out, and bring more back. Nixon soon began to organise secret bombing campaigns so that he could fulfil his own wishes concerning Vietnam without losing the public’s confidence. Nixon was able to manipulate the situation by making announcements of troop withdrawals at times so that it would decrease opposition. Eventually, Nixon ended the war due to public opposition, the realisation that the war was not winnable, the need for a vote-winning action, and opposition from Congress. The main problem with the presidents is that they seemed to have their own personal agenda for Vietnam, knowing little about the actual situation. After a meeting with, Johnson and Kennedy, a State Department expert said – ‘†¦I was asked to say something at the end of the meeting and they looked at me absolutely helpless, the whole group of them. There was not a single person there who knew what he was talking about†¦They simply did not understand the identification of nationalism and Communism’11, this issue was also brought up at a National Teach-In, ‘the obsession of American policymakers with what they see as monolithic Communism has blinded them to the fact that Communism in Asia has adapted itself to nationalism’12. Those in power often fooled the public and therefore undermined American involvement in the war, as there was a good kill ratio, where it looked like the American forces were winning, officials could fool themselves into believing it would be a victory; however the Tet Offensive showed the reality of the situation. Presidents seemed to be set on destroying Communism, being blind to the  fact that building a feasible South Vietnam was outside of America’s power, what was needed was for them to understand Vietnam and ‘work with rather than against this powerful forceâ₠¬â„¢13. The majority of Vietnamese did not ‘even know the difference between communism and democracy’14. The Vietnam War was the first war with free press, so the media played a huge part in undermining the war effort, undermining public opinion and demoralising American troops in Vietnam. The media had started off supporting the American presidents and their decisions about the war,  however, their support soon decreased as news of the brutal reality of the war and the campaigns that had been covered-up leaked to the press. Press coverage was a major factor in ensuring lack of public support, and therefore the retreat of presidents from Vietnam. One notable example is the issue of ‘Life Magazine’, which saw a full edition with two hundred and forty-two photographs of the soldiers killed in Vietnam during just one week of fighting. As well as showing the hardships which Americans had to endure in Vietnam, the media showed ‘footage of the bulldozing of human carcasses into mass graves, the napalming of children, and the ravaging of villages by American soldiers’15, so that the public began to dislike soldiers, causing many men to try to dodge the draft. Not only did the media allow public opposition to spread, it also undermined the military; less people were drafted into the  war, low morale, and secrets were leaked to the press from troops in Vietnam which the media was able to exploit. The NVA would then be able to see this and could expect attacks. The images that were on television were so powerful that they have been used as one of the main reasons why America was defeated due to the impression left on the public. Although, Riddick argues against this analysis – ‘while the media can influence public opinion, inVietnam media reportage merely reflected, and did not create the national mood of  disillusionment’16. The government, however, understood how influential the loss of media  support could be. In February 1968, a CBS reporter, Cronkite, left an aside not meant for broadcast – ‘what the hell is going on? I thought we were winning this war?’ President Johnson supposedly said – ‘If we’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost Mr. Average citizen’. In order to cope with the expansion in Vietnam, US financial aid was greatly increased, Washington had, for example, sent out approximately $2billion worth of aid in the time running up to the Paris Peace Agreement. The war was costing money, and started to interfere with the economy. Johnson,  however, would not admit to the extent of expenditure in case Congress decided to cut budgets on his domestic programmes. In 1965 the government deficit was $1.6billion, in 1968, it was $25.3billion, Johnson had not requested the required wartime tax increases. This resulted in inflation, and eventually taxpayers became indignant and they increased the pressure on Johnson to put an end to the war, or to take a different approach. The war was a great hindrance on America’s economic stature. It denied funds to America and other needs, such as hospitals and education. In the early sixties, Vietnam was popular; patriotism was strong in a confident nation, who assumed that they had the necessary weapons and firepower to assure victory. Opinions on the war differed according to geography and age. The Southern and Mid-West counties were conservative and patriotic whereas coastal counties were liberal and democratic. The older generations supported the war because of the effect of World War II, which had brought prosperity. The younger generations had more liberal attitudes. They were concerned with freedom of speech and self-expression. Conscription also made the war unpopular with young adults, which resulted in low morale in the army and a fall in the number of troops as draft papers were torn up. Further into the sixties, anti-war sentiment was growing in America, the turning point was the Tet Offensive, where the public was able to see the reality of the war and the fact that they were not winning. Soldiers returning home were jeered at and called ‘baby-killer’, and trust in the American government was lacking. At the onset of war, those who opposed it could be split directly into three categories: ‘people with left-wing political opinions†¦pacifists who opposed all wars†¦liberals who believed that the best way of stopping the spread of Communism was by encouraging democratic rather than authoritarian governments’17. The fact that presidents had decided to use chemical warfare especially upset the public as they saw images and heard stories of innocent men, women and children dying as a result. The mid-sixties was also a time of black rights. There were disproportionate numbers of blacks fighting in Vietnam, and it seemed unfair for America to expect blacks to fight this war for ‘freedom’ when they enjoyed little of this at home. Historians saw the blacks as ‘comparing themselves with the Vietnamese: both were, in their view, victims of a  racist government’18. An International War Tribunal was set up and they, along with other critics, claimed that ‘US behaviour in Vietnam is comparable to the atrocities committed by the Nazis in WW2’19. In 1967, the ‘Vietnam Veterans Against the War’ was formed, one member stated ‘I hope that someday I can return to Vietnam and help to rebuild the country we tore apart’20. Also, anti-war leaders claimed that if troops were not withdrawn from Vietnam, the government might  need to bring them home to stop a revolution. Apart from these comments to the government, several protests were taking place. By 1965, organised rallies were being held in approximately forty American cities and a few foreign capitals. There were a lot of students  protests as the younger generations refused to accept the authority of the government. Groups  against the war were dedicated to protesting for the withdrawal of troops, putting a lot of pressure on the government. Violent protests started to become more common as more  atrocities became apparent in the press, specifically the incident of My Lai where about 400  innocents were murdered, which damaged the morale argument about the need to save Vietnam. In November 1965, Norman Morrison imitated the actions of Buddhist monk in Saigon by setting fire to himself out side the Pentagon. A protest at Kent University where four students were killed by open fire brought the message to the public that ‘loss of life as a result of the Vietnam War†¦was no longer confined to Indchina’21. There was still a considerable amount of support for the governments policies, however, even a minority in America can protest vociferously and make a huge difference, especially when figured of respect and authority  speak out. For example, Senator J. William Fullbright spoke out against ‘that arrogance of power which has inflicted, weakened and in some cases destroyed great nations in the past’22, Martin Luther King also spoke out about how ‘the Great Society has been shot down on the battlefield of Vietnam’23. Public pressure meant that in 1968, Johnson had lost confidence in his decisions and his war and he announced he was calling of bombing raids and was prepared to open discussions on the possibilities of peace talks. However, the war was prolonged into Nixon’s term as president, which served only to strengthen the disquiet against the war. As C. Reich stated, ‘the War seemed to sum up the evils of our society: destruction of people†¦environment†¦war by the rich and powerful against the poor and helpless, justification based on abstract rationality, hypocrisy and lies’24. The presidents knew that unless public opinion was swayed towards them and the war, they would not be able to stay in power. By the time Vietnam ended, it was clear that a major reason for withdrawal was down to public opinion. There is no doubt that public opinion went a long way in ensuring that presidents retreated and the war effort undermined. Opposition resulted in a decline in troops and protests throughout America which demonstrated the unrest which politicians had to act on. However, there are other factors which add to this to explain America’s defeat, the failure of the American army against a strong Vietcong force, the role of the media, the economic situation due to mass expenditure, and the blindness of the government to the real situation in Vietnam. Saunders – ‘The USA and Vietnam’ (p.2) 2 Wintle – ‘The Vietnam Wars’ (p. 136) 3 Major John Fenzel – ‘Vietnam: We Could Have Won’ 4 General Bruce Palmer Jnr. – ‘The 25-Year War: America’s Military Role in Vietnam’ (p.176) 5 Wintle – ‘The Vietnam Wars’ (p.165) 6 Saunders – ‘The USA and Vietnam 1945 – 75’ (p.85) 7 Ibid. (p.89) 8 James Cameron – ‘Witness’ 9 Wintle – ‘The Vietnam Wars’ (p.165) 10 Saunders – ‘The USA and Vietnam 1954 – 75’ (p.32) 11 State Department Report 1963 12 National Teach-In – Gettleman – ‘Vietnam: History, Documents, and Opinions on a Major World Crisis’ (p.411) 13 Gettleman – ‘Vietnam: History, Documents, and Opinions on a Major World Crisis’ (p.411) 14 Vietnam Veterans Against the War Statement – John Kerry to the Senate Committee of Foreign Relations – 1971 15 Franklin H. Bruce – ‘From Realism to Virtual Reality: Images of America’s Wars’ (p.441) 16 Riddick – ‘The Vietnam War’ 17 A Vietnam Overview – www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/VietnamWar.htm 18 Higgins – ‘Vietnam’ (p.101) 19 A Vietnam Overview – www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/VietnamWar.htm 20 Ibid. 21 Wintle – ‘The Vietnam Wars’ (p.168) 22 Ibid. (p.157) 23 Ibid. (p.161) 24 C. Reich – ‘The Greening of America’ (p.194)

George Washigton essays

George Washigton essays George Washington played an important role in American history. Hes known as the Founding Father of our countrys government. He is also, the leader who won independence. Who would have thought that the son of a Virginia planter would accomplish so much in such little time? Washingtons journey began early when he met the well known Fairfax family. At this time, he had no knowledge of the excitement that was ahead of him. Nor, did he know the courage he had within him. Although George was fond of action, he wanted to keep peace, if he could, when it came to war. Courage, action, and peace led George Washington to Presidency. He was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia. According to Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, He later moved to Mount Vernon (q.v.), the home of his elder half- brother, Lawrence Washington (d.1752), who was allied with the powerful Fairfax (q.v.) family of Virginia. George eventually came into the possession of the Mount Vernon property when Lawrence died.(446). The Fairfax family owned an enormous amount of land. They wanted George to head west and help survey their property. By going on this journey, he found a love for the land. A few years later he began surveying for others. In 1753 he was appointed adjutant of one of the districts into which Virginia was divided, with the rank of major.(447). This was the beginning of George Washingtons political career. During the French and Indian War, he was a messenger. He took notice of the opposing sides tactics. He searched for any way to find out as much as possible to help. He was a success. Georges next bit of adventure came at Fort Duquesne. At this fort, well over half of the British troops were killed along with their general. This is the battle where guerrilla warfare was used against the British causing a defeat. Washington now i ...

Healthy Snacks Lesson Plan

Healthy Snacks Lesson Plan Title: Investigating Healthy Snacks Goal/Key Idea: The overall goal of this lesson is for students to understand that eating foods that are low in fat is important for their overall good health. Objective: The learner will analyze snack foods to determine if they are high in fat as well as identify snack foods that are low in fat. Materials: Brown PaperPencilsOilGrocery ads Science Words: fatsOilsSnacksLow-fatHigh-fat Anticipatory Set: Access Prior Knowledge by asking students to respond to the question, Why do you think people need to eat healthy snacks? Then record their answers on chart paper. Refer back to their answers at the end of the lesson. Activity One Read the story What Happens to a Hamburger? by Paul Showers. After the story ask students the following two questions: What healthy snacks did you see in the story? (Students may answer, pears, apples, grapes)Why do you need to eat healthy food? (Students may respond, because it helps you grow) Discuss how foods that are low in fat help you develop properly, give you more energy and contribute to your overall good health. Activity Two/ A Real World Connection To help students understand that oil contains fat, and that it is found in many of the snacks that they eat, have them try the following activity: First discuss what foods are high in fat and have a lot of oil.Then have students write the word oil on a brown paper square (cut out several squares from a brown paper bag).Then have students place one drop of oil on the paper.Next, have them think of three snack foods that they like to eat and have them write these foods on three separate pieces of brown paper.Then direct students to rub each paper with the snack name on it and wait a few minutes and observe the paper.Tell students to hold their paper up to the light to see if the oil shined through the paper.Have students compare each paper with the square with the oil, then record their data.Have students answer the questions: How did the oil change the paper, and which snack foods contained oil?   Activity Three For this activity have students search through grocery ads to identify healthy snack foods. Remind children that foods that are low in fat are healthy, and foods that have a lot of fat and oil are unhealthy. Then have students write down five snack foods that are healthy and tell why they chose them. Closure Refer back to your chart on why do you think people need to eat healthy snacks, and go over their answers. Ask again, Why do we need to eat healthy? and see how their answers have changed. Assessment Use an assessment rubric to determine the students understanding of the concept. For example: Did the student conclude what snack foods are low in fat and healthy?Was the student able to distinguish different foods that were low in fat and high and in fat?Did the student choose healthy snack foods? Childrens Books to Further Explore Eating Healthy Snacks Nutrition written by Leslie Jean LeMaster - This book is discusses our bodies nutritional needs. Nutrition: Whats in the Food We Eat written by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent - This book discusses fats and talks about the food groups. Healthy Snacks (Healthy Eating My Pyramid) written by Mari C. Schuh - This book discusses healthy snacks and how to eat healthy using the food plate guide. Looking for more lesson on healthy eating? Try this lesson on healthy vs unhealthy foods.

How are databases used in organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

How are databases used in organisations - Essay Example Another type of databases is distributed databases. These are databases which are scattered and stored over different systems on a network. Object-oriented databases use the concept of classes and subclasses to store and organize data. Databases usually do not exist in isolation but are part of database systems. A database system, besides the collection of records, provides a number of features such as searching for records, accessing them and updating them. Typically databases use the language SQL (Structured Query Language) to access the data and make changes to it. Popular database systems include Oracle, IBM’s DB2 and Microsoft Access. Databases play a vital and indispensible role in organizations today and are of great importance. One of the reasons for this is that they have replaced the old paper files and records. This makes the information become compact and is no longer scattered in paper files. Not only do paper files taka a lot of space, they are also vulnerable of being destroyed by fire etc. Besides saving in the space, the database provides an easier access to data. It allows the users to retrieve data in very little time and to update it easily. Data from a database can be retrieved and sorted in a number of ways depending on the requirements. Databases can provide the same information to a number of users at the same time. A large number of users can access the information and update it simultaneously. This is not possible with manual systems (SQLServer.com). Databases usually contain collection of data records of files related to a common subject or entity. Typically databases are part of information systems. These systems are used for a number of purposes. In a business organization, databases are used for storing information on finance, sales, customer records etc. Similarly, databases are immensely used in banking, healthcare and education industries. In this paper, we shall focus on the use of databases in

Stress response Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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