Sector of Economic Activities

The primary sector of the economy extracts or harvests products from the earth. The primary sector includes the production of raw material and basic foods. Activities associated with the primary sector include agriculture (both subsistence and commercial), mining, forestry, farming, grazing, hunting and gathering, fishing, and quarrying. The packaging and processing of the raw material associated with this sector is also considered to be part of this sector. In developed and developing countries, a decreasing proportion of workers are involved in the primary sector. About 3% of the U. S. abor force is engaged in primary sector activity today, while more than two-thirds of the labor force were primary sector workers in the mid-nineteenth century. Secondary Sector The secondary sector of the economy manufactures finished goods. All of manufacturing, processing, and construction lies within the secondary sector. Activities associated with the secondary sector include metal working and smelting, automobile production, textile production, chemical and engineering industries, aerospace manufacturing, energy utilities, engineering, breweries and bottlers, construction, and shipbuilding. Tertiary Sector The tertiary sector of the economy is the service industry. This sector provides services to the general population and to businesses. Activities associated with this sector include retail and wholesale sales, transportation and distribution, entertainment (movies, television, radio, music, theater, etc. ), restaurants, clerical services, media, tourism, insurance, banking, healthcare, and law. In most developed and developing countries, a growing proportion of workers are devoted to the tertiary sector. In the U. S. , more than 80% of the labor force are tertiary workers.

Comparison Of Different Waste Management Techniques Environmental Sciences Essay

Like incineration, gasification is a thermic procedure that uses high temperatures to interrupt down waste. It is still classed as incineration in the European Unions Waste Incineration Directive and has to run into the compulsory emanation bounds that it sets. Gasification is a procedure in which stuffs are exposed to some O, but non plenty to let burning to happen. The ensuing gas mixture of C monoxide, H and methane ( with smaller measures of C dioxide and N ) is called syngas and is itself a fuel. It has a calorific value so can be used as a fuel to bring forth electricity or steam or as a basic chemical feedstock in the petrochemical and refinement industries. The calorific value of the syngas will depend on the composing of the input waste waste to the gasifier. Both gasification and incineration are capable of change overing hydrocarbon-based risky stuffs to simple, nonhazardous by-products ( A Comparison of Gasification and Incineration of Hazardous Wastes Final Report Prepared for: U.S. Department of Energy March 30, 2000. There is non much indifferent informations available on gasification but the companies developing gasification claim the engineering has important advantages over traditional incineration of waste. These are as follows The procedure uses less oxygen significance that fewer air emanations may be produced incorporating possible pollutants. Less C dioxide is produced intending less impact on planetary clime alteration. Any C dioxide produced during gasification is present at much higher concentrations and at higher force per unit areas than in watercourses produced from conventional burning, doing them easier to capture ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/gasification/basics/2.html ) The workss are are made up of little units ( modular ) which can be added to or taken off from as waste watercourses or volumes change ( e.g. with increased recycling in state ) and are hence more flexible and can run at a smaller graduated table than mass burn incinerators They are quicker to construct than conventional incinerators The procedures are claimed to bring forth a more utile merchandise than standard incineration that can be used as a fuel ( syngas ) The syngas may be used to bring forth energy more expeditiously, if a gas engine ( and potentially a fuel cell ) is used, while incineration can merely bring forth energy less expeditiously via steam turbines. ( Source – Eunomia Research and Consulting ( 2008 ) . Greenhouse gas balances of waste direction scenarios – study for the Greater London Authority ) .The syngas produced by gasification can be converted into many valuable merchandises, runing from electricity and steam to liquid fuels, basic chemicals, and H. Integration of multiple merchandises of gasification into industrial applications increases chances for added grosss The energy produced from gasification may be eligible for more Reclamations Obligations Certificates ( ROC ‘s ) than conventional incineration therefore increasing the possible income The treated fluke gas from an incinerator goes straight out into the ambiance. The treated syngas from the gasification works is used as a fuel in itself. When solid waste is incinerated one of the by merchandises is bottom ash which so has to be disposed of or treated and so disposed of depending on the content. When solid is processed in a gasifier, scoria is produced which can be can be sold, used as feedstock in chemical production processes, or recycled in other in-plant procedure operations. Sulfur compounds ( H2S and COS ) in the particulate-free syngas, usually a by-product of liquid gasification are typically removed and recovered utilizing conventional gas intervention engineerings from the refinery and natural gas industries. The ensuing by-product is high-purity liquid S which can so be sold and reused. ( A comparasion of gasification and incineration of risky wastes. Concluding Report. Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy. March 2000 ) Emission degrees of SOx, NOx, and particulate from gasification systems are reduced significantly compared to incineration systems. In an oxidative incineration environment, S and N compounds in the provender are converted to SOx and NOx. In contrast, syngas killing systems for modern gasification systems are designed to recover 95 to 99 % of the S in the fuel as a high-purity S by-product A comparasion of gasification and incineration of risky wastes. Concluding Report. Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy. March 2000 )The factors impacting the pick of bag filters or ESP in waste incinerators.Factor one: The type of waste being incinerated It all depends on what is being incinerated. . The features of the dust produced by the incineration plays a function in the pick as the combustibleness of some all right stuffs regulations out the usage of electrostatic precipitators. Bag filters are really efficient at roll uping all right particulates but non so good at big particulates so it depends on the merchandise of the incineration. ( Source Should I replace my Electrostatic Precipitator with a fabric filter, I. Fanthom, C. Cottingham. ) Most common ESP filtration is best used for ambient gaining control of light atmospheric dust. Unless a hob cleaning electrostatic precipitator is used, beginning gaining control or direct ducting from a heavy dust bring forthing incineration will rapidly make full up the aggregation plates. Heavy dust aggregation requires storage for a big volume of dust. The surface country of bag filters is much greater than surface country of electrostatic aggregation home bases and work better for dust gaining control of heavy dust bring forthing incineration than ESP would. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.dustcollectorexperts.com/electrostatic/ ) Factor two: Features of the airstream The features of the airstream can hold important impacts on the aggregator system. For illustration cotton cloth bag filters can non be used where air temperatures exceed 82 grades centigrade. Besides condensation of steam or H2O vapors can blind bags doing them uneffective. Assorted chemicals created in the airstream can respond with the H2O in the airstream and signifier caustic liquids such as sulfuric acid which can eat any metal in the bag i.e. if it is rearward jet bag filter with a metal coop. ESP ‘s can defy caustic stuff doing aggregation possible. The individual most of import factor act uponing the Elecrostatic precipitator is the electric resistance of the gas being caught. Fabric filters take dust from a gas watercourse by go throughing gas through a cloth and go forthing dust on the surface of the cloth. It is hence non sensitive to dust electric resistance. A fabric filter can work on emanation degrees of 10-20 mg/NM3 whereas an ESP needs to be sized to suit demands. Factor three – Cost With most designs of ESP ‘s they have to close the line down in order to keep them which incurs a cost. With most bag filters they can be changed online, non incurring a cost of closing down. The power ingestion utilizing a bag filter is higher than utilizing an ESP, evidently incurring more costs for more power. Bag filters need to be changed more often than an Electrostatic Precipitator. Typically bags need altering every 4 old ages. An ESP needs a full service every 20-30 old ages. Bag filters are extremely efficient and cost effectual due to the dust bar which is formed on the surface. ( ( Source Should I replace my Electrostatic Precipitator with a fabric filter, I. Fanthom, C. Cottingham. ) They can accomplish a aggregation efficiency of more than 99 % for really all right particulates. The ESP ‘s are more expensive to put in than the bag filters Dust tonss may be needed to be reduced before the Electrostatic Precipitation procedure ( precleaner may be needed ) hence adding to the cost. Factor four – Features of the dust. Hygroscopic ( i.e. a stuff which attracts wet from the ambiance. If non protected from contact with the ambiance ( by being stored under vacuity or under a dry gas ) some hygroscopic stuffs will finally pull so much H2O that they will organize solutions ) and these can blind bag filters doing them ineffective. Factor Five – Conformity with Environmental ordinances and jurisprudence. In 1990the Environmental protection Act ( EPA ) introduced Integrated Pollution Control ( IPC ) necessitating higher control of emanations in most industries. More late the waste Incineration Directive was introduced and has imposed important alterations on any procedure combustion waste stuffs. For illustration the entire emanation value for Cd is 0.05 mg/Nm3. ( Source the Waste Incineration Directive ) . Hence the type of intervention demands to be chosen in order to fulfill these ordinances. It will besides depend how near the waste incinerator is to edifices and the type of edifice i.e. is it near a residential country. Hence more ordinances need to be considered sing public wellness. Factor Six- Space How much infinite is at that place for the installings. ESP ‘s are larger than bag filters and therefore take up more infinite.Methods for cut downing heavy metals in landfill leachate.There are assorted methods for cut downing heavy metals in landfill leachate -biological, biodegredation utilizing anaerobiotic and aerophilic procedures and chemical and physical methods. One such biological intervention that has been investigated is utilizing vertiver grass ( N. Roongtanakiat, T.Nirunrach, S.Chanyotha, D. Hengchaovanich. Uptake of heavy metals in landfill leachate by vertiver grass ‘ Natural Science 37: 168-175. 2003 ) . They investigated the workss ability to uptake heavy metals from the leachate. The Surat ecotype vertiver workss were planted in pots and treated with landfill leachate. The vertiver grass took up more heavy metals as the strength of the leachate increased and the heavy metals were equally distributed in the shoot and the root. The consequences of the field test at the landfill site besides indicated that vertiver could be used in rehabilitating landfills and nearby countries. The vertiver workss were shown to decease after 80-85 yearss if 100 % leachate was used so they could non e straight used on immature landfills, but could be used on immature landfills if limited leachate were used. The shoot of the works should be harves ted sporadically in order to take the heavy metals from the contaminated dirt and to excite new growing for more consumption. Artificial wetlands combined with aerophilic interventions have besides been studied as a remotion method for heavy metals in leachate. The survey was undertaken at Alback landfill site in Sweden In 2003. ( Source – hypertext transfer protocol: //warrr.org/168/ ) . The leachate intervention system consists foremost of an aeration measure, followed by several wetlands with different deepnesss and flora, intermediate commixture and aeration in a ditch, and eventually deposit in a pool. An approximative sum of 120,000 M3 of leachate base on ballss through the intervention stairss yearly. Leachate samples were collected at different phases along the intervention way during a period of two months and the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, nickel, lead and Cr were studied. The leachate samples were filtered with three different membranes with different pore sizes. Lead and Cr could non be detected at all in the leachate. The entire rates of decrease in the whole wetland system for Cd, Cu , and Zn concentrations were on mean – 83 % 74 % and 68 % severally. Nickel passed unchanged through the wetlands. The largest sum of metals in the leachate was already reduced during the first few metres in the wetland system, provided by deposit and aeration. Consequences of fractional process indicate that Ni and copperoccurred chiefly complex-bound to humic substances. Which are difficult to entree automatically or biologically. Zinc occurs largely in different ionic signifiers or bonded to atoms in the H2O. Harmonizing to environmental quality standards for natural Waterss in Sweden controlled by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, metal concentrations in the treated leachate are low and give rise to no or small hazard of biological effects. Further betterment to the wetland system ‘s heavy metal remotion rates is likely limited since a big sum of the metals appear as composites, which are difficult to entree automatically or biologically. ( Source  œ Persson, K. M. , Van Praahg, M and Olsberg.G, E. ( 2007 ) Removal of Heavy Metallic elements From Landfill Leachate by an Artificial Wetland During a Nordic Autumn. In: Eleventh International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, 1-5 October 2007, S.Margherita di Pula – Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy. hypertext transfer protocol: //warrr.org/168/ ) Aerobic intervention can be used where leachate is recirculated through the waste mass and air is injected into the waste mass. An probe by M.Sartaj, M. Ahmardifar, A.Karmi Jastini ‘ ( Assessment of unmoved aerophilic intervention of municipal landfill leachate at research lab degree – Persian Journal of Science and Technology, Transaction B, Engineering. Vol 34 No.Bl. Pp107-116 2010 ) found that the remotion efficiency for Magnesium, Iron, Lead and Zinc was 93 % , 90 % , 43 % and 76 % severally. Leachate was collected in a container at the underside and pumped into another container at the top, from which leachate was recirculated back into the waste mass into which air was injected. Bacterias can be used to handle leachate for heavy metals. Bacterial floc on the on the leachate surviving in an aerated system with O degrees maintained above 5mg/l. The heavy metals are taken in by the bacteriums and incorporated into their cell biomass. ( Source – Arden Quarry Landfill – www.drydenaqua.com/leachate/leachate/leachpapers/123pdf ) Chemical intervention is besides used – Three armored combat vehicles are used in which pH is adjusted, metal precipate atoms coagulate and are flocculated and foods are added to promote microbic growing The usage of ferric and ferrous oxides as coagulates separate and clot the heavy metals leting remotion. The usage of oxidizers such as H peroxide or K permanganate react with the heavy metals and pull them out of the leachate leting remotion. Simple pH accommodation of the leachate causes the heavy metals to precipitate from the leachate and therefore be removed. ( Source – www.epa.gov/nrmrl ) Other methods include revolving biological contractors, drip filters, aerated lagunas, up flow anaerobic sludge cover reactors, chemical oxidization, surface assimilation, deposit, floatation, rearward osmosis and air denudation.Techniques for the separation of plastic types originating from municipal wastesPlastics can be separated by their rosin designation codification, a method of classification developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry in 168. See below Pet Polyethylene phenolphthalein – Fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready repast trays. HDPE High-density polythene – Bottles for milk and washing-up liquids. Polyvinyl chloride Polyvinyl chloride – Food trays, cleaving movie, bottles for squash, mineral H2O and shampoo.LDPE Low denseness polythene – Carrier bags and bin line drives. PP Polypropylene – Margarine bath, microwaveable repast trays. PS Polystyrene – Yoghurt pots, foam meat or fish trays, beefburger boxes and egg cartons, peddling cups, fictile cutter, protective packaging for electronic goods and playthings. OTHER Any other plastics that do non fall into any of the above classs. – An illustration is melamine, which is frequently used in plastic home bases and cups. ( Source hypertext transfer protocol: //www.wasteonline.org.uk/resources/informationsheets/plastics.htm ) The first point of separation can be at the clip of aggregation. The rosin codification is identified, as seen above, by a trigon formed by three trailing pointers with a figure indoors. This system allows segregation by what is desirable for a municipal recycling segregation system and what should non be included. Other types of separation include: DRY SEPARATION, utilizing the following techniques: Air classifiers -Air separation is used to divide different plastics, or even the same plastic, by the difference of the ratio between the surface of the flake and its mass. This is done by an air counter-flow, – an air flow lifts up plastics of light denseness material and the high denseness plastic corsets down utilizing gravitation. Mechanical classifiers -These are used on flakes of plastic and are largely used to divide flakes by size. Classifiers can be round, level, inclined, with slow or high frequence quivers etc. NIR ( Near Infrared Rays ) – These give a certain measure of energy to every individual piece of plastic and step the response ; this happens in footings of msecs. Its bound is the fact it can be used merely on crystalline points ( chiefly to screen PVC from PET bottles and flakes ) Laser spectral analysis -This penetrates the surface and steps emission spectra which depends upon heat capacity and thermic conduction so color does n't count. The response clip is long on this method so it is non mostly used. Polarized visible radiation -This used to look into differences of crystallinity and applies chiefly to the sorting of PVC from PET bottles but it can be used to screen any mixture of two plastics. UV light – This is used to divide polymers that exhibit different UV induced fluorescence. To human eyes, PET will remain clear while PVC turns black therefore this is a really common manner to manually screen bottles. Electrostatic separation is a system to pull or repel different plastics harmonizing to their charge.–WET SEPARATION, utilizing the following techniquesHydro cyclones heighten the difference of specific weight by centrifugal force, so seperating the plastics. It can be used on plastics of really similar weightsSink-float by preferable solvent soaking up is used when two polymers with same specific weight demand to be separated ; a dissolver ( intoxicant, ketone, etc ) makes one of the two lighter hence they can be separated. Hydrophobicity is the disfavor of H2O ; some polymers react in a different manner when traveling into H2O under certain conditions therefore separation becomes possible.Froth floatation means air bubbles attach to one solid advancing natation in a liquid and leave the other ( s ) to drop. Chemical Separation can besides be used including Hydrolysis, Glycolysis, hydroglycolysis .PyrolysisA new separation technique for assorted plastics using selective wetting features has been developed. The surface of specific plastics can be selectively changed from hydrophobic to hydrophilic by utilizing a wetting agent. Then, when little air bubbles are introduced into a separation cell, they adhere to the surface of the hydrophobic plastics and drift them to the H2O surface. The new separation technique is wholly different from conventional methods based on lone differences in denseness. Plastics with the same denseness can be separated by this procedure. The fictile centrifuge can be used for many intents: for dividing plastics from mixtures, riddance of foreign affair such as paper, fibres, aluminum foil, Cu wire french friess, sand, and glass from plastics ; elucidation of waste H2O incorporating all right rosin pulverization ; etc. ( Source K.Saitoh, I. Naguna, S.Izuni. ‘ New Separation technique for waste plastics. Central Research Laboratory, Mitsui Mining and Smelting Company. 1976 )

Final Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Final Summary - Essay Example That is why Organizational psychologists are trained in using statistics and empirical data instead taking and judgmental decisions. Organizational psychologists do not design any therapy for workers as done by clinical psychologists. In stricter sense, they are not counselors as some psychologists help organization and its employees in the matter of drug or alcohol abuse. They are differentiated from other branches of psychology by virtue of their reliance on scientist-practitioner model. Organizational psychologists work as scientist-practitioners by applying their research findings so as to enhance the organizational effectiveness working directly on people. Organizational psychology is constantly gaining popularity because they are found to exert a positive impact on the lives of people. The reason being people spend one-third of their time in their job every day. Happiness on the job is of paramount importance to the people as it will have a residual effect on other aspects including family and leisure life (Aamodt, 2012). Effective Organizational Performance is a key to success and extremely important in this highly competitive arena. Right Management (2010) suggests several measures to achieve organizational effectiveness. They are described as strategy, leadership, people systems and processes, culture and values, structure and capability, employee engagement and customer experience. Strategy summarizes the work of the organization in terms of the role, purpose and strategic direction. Leadership is important because effective leadership has capacity to convert any business into success. Proper systems and processes create consistency and trust by making well-informed decisions across all the section of business. Cultures and values align all the employees of the organization to a common business strategy making the work process smooth and devoid of any conflict. Right structure and the work assigned as per

Comparing the Qualities of Jacob and Joseph in the Bible Essay

Comparing the Qualities of Jacob and Joseph in the Bible - Essay Example diplomatically, either. When he had a series of dreams that showed in symbols his brothers and parents bowing down to him, he hastened to let them know about it. This arrogance inflamed his brothers further (The old testament). Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah. For twenty years they lived happily together. But like Abraham and Sarah, they had no children. Isaac pleaded with the Lord that he would bless them. So God gave them twins. Finally the big day came when the twins were born. The first came out red, and all hairy like an animal skin. They named him Esau. As Esau was born they noticed that the next child was being born holding onto Esau's heal. They named this son Jacob. As the boys grew up, Isaac seems to love Esau more than Jacob. One day Jacob was cooking up a nice lentil stew and some bread. But, before he ate it Esau came by on his way home from a hunting trip. Esau was very hungry and very tired. He had been hunting for a long time and caught nothing. Esau was starving so he begged Jacob to let him eat his nice stew. Jacob thought for a moment, and then said he would sell it to Esau for the birthright. The birthright was all the major possessions that a man owned that was always given to the oldest son. Esau was so hungry he thought that if he did not get something to eat right now he would die, so what difference would it make if he agreed to give Jacob the birthright. So Esau agreed to sell his birthright to Jacob for some bread and lentil stew. Jacob made Esau swear an oath on this agreement, and he did (Jacob and Isaac). Isaac was growing old, and he could not see well. He thought he was going to die soon, so he called Esau to him to give him the birthright blessing. While Esau was away to seek a deer, Jacod pretended to be Esau in front of his dying father and was able to get his father birthright blessings (Jacob tricks Isaac). Jacod not only took his brother's birthright, but also their father's birthright blessing as well, in those days, birthright blessing can only be given once. Even though Isaac realized later on that he gave the birthright blessing to the wrong son, he can no longer get it back. Jacob was a dishonest man due to his longing for earthly things. He tricked both his brother and father. He's actions where always governed by the flesh and its carnal desires. Jacod made two great mistakes: Firstly, he convinced his brother Esau to renounce his birthright. He has done this when Esau was so hungry and begging for food. Esau had no choice then but to submit to Jacob's condition in order not to die from hunger. Secondly, Jacob tricked his father Isaac. In order to get the birthright blessing from his father rather than to his brother, who is the oldest son. This made Esau very angry and planned to kill Jacob. The story of Joseph is what seems to be the other side of the coin. Joseph was the 11th son Jacob whom he loved the most. This made Joseph's brothers jealous and cruel with him. One day when they were all away from home, the bad brothers threw Joseph into an empty well after tearing off his coat which his father had given him. While Joseph was in the empty well, a caravan of merchants passed by. They picked him up and took him with them to Egypt as a prisoner

Take a Stand Letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Take a Stand Letter - Essay Example I am a nursing student currently residing in Washington, D.C. I have observed some of the facts regarding nurses and their problems. I have witnessed the work of American Nursing Association about protection of nurses and their insurance. For a considerable length of time, the American Nurses Association has been supporting the social insurance changes that might provide insurance facilities to a wider segment of population to gain access to high caliber medical services. Due to the emergence and adoption of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), a large number of individuals with different health conditions, now have improved insurance coverage along with improved accessibility to essential and preventive utilities (Goodson, 2010). American Nursing Association (ANA) establishes that the level headed discussion of social insurance is still continuing and stays bound to instructing the nurturing open as to how the modifying framework affects the lives and health of the wider society. I am in a position to write to the government agency that regarding education of nurses, funds need to be raised as number of nurses required to maintain nursing workforce is being increased as proved by following: Countrys 3.1 million enrolled registered nurses (RNs) are the essential source of service to patients during the times of illness in their lives (Brewer & Rosenthal, 2008). Almost each individuals health awareness experience includes a RN. Any interaction of a common individual with the health care providers remains incomplete without the services of nurses. Accordingly, a sufficient supply of attendants is basic in furnishing our countrys requirement of providing adequate health care services. Medical attendants are needed to play an even greater part sometime later. But, nurture need to battle to get the assets they require. If the basic needs of this group of care-providers are not taken care of, there is a chance that the depiction of this sector

Reaction Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Reaction - Movie Review Example The training video covers array of issues including effective communication. Effective communication is an important factor in the development of powerful and effective groups. Communication within the groups is vital because it facilitates the development of harmony and understanding. Several factors affect communication within the groups by affecting the characters and behaviors of the team. The understanding of the problems affecting cross cultural communication and working towards overcoming the problems will ensure successful group development. Language use is important for the development of effective group. The language variation in the various conversations that took place is significant. The age, relationship and nature of conversation changes the language used. For official conversation, the use of a higher degree of politeness and well-structured sentences is vital. The conversation between friends such as the Facebook chat has a level simple and casual language use. The degree on for gestures use in the conversation on the street is high due to the age and the desire for need of emphasis by the use of gestures. The effective nature of training will be reflected on the way employees communicate. Training on issues of communication and development of implementation plan will facilitate faster growth of the organization. The coverage of the movies is accurate and effective because it addresses the various challenges in human resource field. In fact, it covers up-to implementation of training schedules with the focus be ing on the various training models, which include; - on-job training, lectures, programmed learning, audiovisual, simulated and distance training. The implementation of the set training modules depends on the ability of the HR to understand the needs of the organization. In addition, the challenge of training is presented in the video effectively through sequenced presentation in the video. The video presents ideas using

Terrorism over the world Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Terrorism over the world - Essay Example Instead, governments are busy gearing up defences against faceless terrorism. World had been sceptical about the 'intelligence' which saw things that never existed in Iraq and intelligence failure is considered to be one the main problems in terrorism. It is interesting that highly equipped, well endowed intelligence agencies have miserably failed in areas like Afghanistan and Iraq. There is a practical reason behind it. Western intelligence cannot employ westerners who are stunningly conspicuous and agencies are forced to employ locals. Some of the locals mislead purposely, or due to lack of co-ordination, training, language disabilities, information goes awry. Intelligence agencies have to rely upon them for their sources in alien countries. Failure in collecting relevant, timely and genuine information had been the root cause of many problems, including Iraq Conducting wars on terror in far-flung lands, adjusting to local conditions and weather, making decisions independently in unfamiliar atmosphere as against the abundant knowledge of inhabitants that local terrorists possess, had been not only expensive, but also erroneous, uncertain and at times deplorable. Poverty, deprivation, and thwarted aspirations had been main reasons to respond to the siren song of extremism, though many thinkers negate this assumption. Without containing these problems, controlling extremism cannot be long-lasting. Unless the extreme injustice, deprivation and inequality of fellow human beings are addressed, terrorism cannot be controlled completely. But this could be tackled only through a long drawn plan and definitely impossible to be applied as a yard stick, because the results we need should happen now. The disliking of America and Europe as a result of wrong policies, racism, colonialism, history and economic highhandedness that accumulated for nearly a century and more, has not made the white race exactly popular and even actions taken backed by the best interests are looked down upon with suspicion, hatred and cynicism. Failure in building an international cohesive front against terrorism, ignoring United Nations and sensible voices belonging to leaders of small countries too have additional negative effect. Eliminating the fertile ground upon which terrorism thrives had been impossible even in a country like Pakistan, which is totally under control of US, but works as a vast University for budding terrorists. This shows the futility of trying to contain it in unfriendly countries. Problem areas like Palestine, Lebanon, Kashmir, internal problems of Sri Lanka between two ethnicities and ruthless leadership of Prabhakaran, LTTE supreme, Osama and his clout amongst fanatic Muslims, rise of Hamas and Hezbollah, unending extremism in Iraq, all these issues keep smouldering, continuously feeding into terrorism. A miracle could not be expected unless there is a genuine addressing of these issues. It is impossible to ignore the carelessness with which West, especially America, allowed many opportunities to slip through its fingers. Terrorist activities should be deprived of media attention and as long as media creates heroes and role models out of terrorists, it is tough to be eradicated. "To be sure, because terrorism, however local, is by its very nature a world-wide theatrical attraction, it tends to encourage

The Gettysburg Address Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Gettysburg Address - Essay Example They constituted the last line of defense between Lee and the Union capital of Washington D.C. On the third day, the Confederate Army’s frontal assault was repulsed and the Battle of Gettysburg was won by the Union forces. This was the only battle waged in the North and resulted in 23,000 causalities for the Union Army. The Confederates lost 28,000 (BookRags Web site). In the aftermath of the battle, the dead lay unburied, or were hastily bundled into makeshift graves in the fields. Pennsylvania’s Governor, Andrew Curtin, commissioned a reputed local Attorney, David Wills, to purchase land to serve as an appropriate cemetery for the Union dead. This resulted in the acquisition of the 17 acres of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. While the work of reinterring the Union dead from the field graves to the cemetery was still in progress, the cemetery was formally dedicated on 19 November, 1863. At present, the cemetery is home to over 6,000 American service men who died in t he Civil War, Spanish-American War, the World Wars and the Vietnam War (Gettysburg.com Web site). On 19 November, 1863, President Lincoln, members of his Cabinet, Governors of the Northern States and Civil and Military Officials gathered at Gettysburg, along with a crowd of about 15,000 citizens. A crude platform had been constructed on the battlefield, with journalists seated on one side and the dignitaries on the other. The keynote speaker at the dedication ceremony was Edward Everett from Massachusetts, an ardent Unionist and renowned Orator, who was considered one of the best speakers of the time.

CRJS350(4) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CRJS350(4) - Research Paper Example The investigator may also need an expert with analytical skills during post-scene investigation, for examination of documents, financial data or other reports, to identify, confirm or analyze theories or conclusions. Law enforcers may also be needed to keep the public away from the scene, as well as medical experts for first aid and counseling of victims and family members. The fire investigators should also get training to enable them evaluate fire spread, ignition dynamics, as well as fire detection. As a Metropolitan Arson Squad training and logistics officer, I articulate the training and equipment needed for arson scene investigations. There are several tools and equipment needed during and after an arson investigation. The most essential include a barricade tape to keep the public away from the scene, camera and spare batteries for photography of the scene to preserve evidence as well as a tape recorder (IAAI, 2011). Communications equipment is also important to get in touch wi th other agencies, for instance, the police or medical experts. Catalytic combustion detectors that speed oxidation reactions from certain chemicals and fuels are also important for the investigators. Photo-ionization detectors are also important for detecting the presence of hydrocarbon vapors. ... Training is important for the unit to carry out satisfactory investigation of the scene. For instance, training on several accelerants such as gasoline and kerosene and others is important to educate on their effect of speeding up the growth and spread of fires (IAAI, 2011). Most accelerant liquids have unique characteristics as seen in fire development and after the fire is out. The same also goes for chemicals, fuels and other ignitable materials. The investigator should know what to collect in terms of importance. Photography training for the investigators is important, as evidence inside and outside will be needed before excavation can be done. Pieces of evidence recovered should also be photographed. Training should also be done on how to collect trace evidence which will be used in the investigation. This includes skin, blood and hair, from which DNA can be identified. Fingerprints can also be taken from accelerant containers and devices. There are personal items that the inves tigator should carry. These include identification cards, uniform and badges for identification and their own protection (IAAI, 2011). Flash lights would be used to light the scene so as to facilitate the investigative process. A good dependable flashlight can be used by individual investigators but it cannot light up the whole scene. Thus a larger lighting device is needed. Electrical generators can be used if the main power supply has been interrupted. If a gasoline generator is used, it must be kept away from the origin of the fire and all cords must be examined to ensure the scene is not contaminated with hydrocarbons (Schottke, 2013). Inverters, though not as strong as generators, can

Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

Business - Essay Example The environment, as a result, is influenced in a negative way. On the other hand, globalization has a positive impact on poverty reduction and wealth generation of the nations, thus proving them with a wider range of opportunities for sustainable development. Introduction Globalization, as a process of unification of global markets, has been much discussed in the recent years. There exist different opinions on the issue – some view globalization as a positive thing, while others – as a negative. However, a general common opinion is that globalization is one of the principal vehicles for economic growth and wealth generation. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to research and analyze the role of globalization in the modern world as that of the driver of economic growth and wealth generation. In addition, the relationship between globalization and sustainable development will be assessed and analyzed in order to determine compatibility of the two concepts. The analysis will be based on current examples in areas such as poverty alleviation and environmental protection. ... le development and how the two principles can be used on practice with the goal of achieving a sustainable competitive advantage in the global marketplace. In order to achieve the set goals the meaning of both concepts – globalization and sustainable development – should be defined in the first place. Definitions Knight (2000, 12) defines globalization as a â€Å"growing interdependence of national economies - involving consumers, producers, suppliers, and governments in different countries.† As a result, boundaries between foreign and domestic markets are loosing their significance and businesses have more freedom to operate in foreign countries. Among the results of the process of globalization is, as Dunning (1993, 43) outlines, intensification of competition. As an economic term, globalization refers to the increasing integration of global economy caused by â€Å"incessant flows of goods and services, capital, technology and information across national borde rs† (Lucas 2004, 1). At the same time, globalization stimulates international communication and intercultural exchange. So, in a broad sense globalization can be called a continuous process of internationalization that increases interdependence of world countries in such aspects as economy, politics and culture, among others. As for sustainable development, it can be defined as a system’s desire or tendency to continuously improve and achieve certain social objectives, such as social wealth and health, improved education, increased volume of resources or increased number of social freedoms (Pearce, Barbier, and Markandya 1990, 2). Though such an improvement within the system does not have any time limits, the term implies that the changes taking place always lead to improvement and benefits the system

United States and Israel Essay Example for Free

United States and Israel Essay The Israeli government, unlike the United States, is a multiparty Parliamentary Republic. It runs as nonfederalist government and acts as the central government in Jerusalem. The ultimate authority does not lie in the Constitution like most democratic countries nor the executive branch. The ultimate authority in Israel is the legislative branch—the Knesset. The country has no written Constitution. Government activities and policies are guided by the basic laws passed by the Parliament. The government has three main branches: the executive, the legislative or the Knesset and the judiciary. Unlike a democratic state, these three branches of the government do not hold equal powers. The President has limited power and is not even elected by the people. The President is elected by the Knesset and may serve for a maximum of two terms, each having five year duration. He serves as head of the state but only holds ceremonial functions such as opening the Knessets first session and receiving diplomatic representatives from other countries (MSN Encarta Online Encyclopedia n. pag. ). The judiciary on the other hand decides cases and sees to it that justice is met. The legislative on the other hand is the most powerful body of government. They create the law and control all government processes. It is composed of 120 members who serve on a four year term. Its main function is to determine the members’ confidence in the government. A vote of no confidence is enough to topple the government, however, in Israels history, a vote of no confidence has only happened once—1990 (Jewish Virtual Library n. pag. ). The election process in Israel is not as liberal as in the United States. National elections in Israel happen once every four years and on the municipal level, once every five years. All Israelis who are 18 years old and above have the right of suffrage. However, unlike in the United States where specific individuals are voted for, the Israelis are only allowed to vote for a party. Every party that desire to run for the elections comes up with a list of their candidates and the people choose which list they prefer. The number of candidates from a party that would enter the House of Representatives or the Knesset is proportional to the percentage of votes received by the list. So representation in the Congress is dependent on party support and not really on individual support. In the United States, representation in Congress is not dependent on a certain party list. For someone to claim a seat in the US Senate, he must be at least 30 years old, and resident of the state where he is elected, among others, for the House of Representatives, he must be a resident of the District where he was elected. The US Constitution provides that the Senator and the Congressmen represent the cause of the people within their sector, the members of the Knesset on the other hand do not share the same responsibility. They were not voted to represent a certain district or state, they were voted to create the basic laws for the country and hold the greatest power in the land. In the United States, the powers of Congress are determined by their Constitution. In Israel, the powers of the Knesset are determined by the representatives themselves, the Declaration of Independence and the basic laws of the land (Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia n. pag. ). The citizens in the United States participate freely in the political process as they are granted such right by their Constitution. The Israelis do not enjoy the same right because the Knesset controls the political process. They create the law and give the people limited rights to meddle in the political process, even the Executive branch and the judiciary have limited powers when it comes to the countrys political affairs. Due to the lack of Constitution that will protect their rights, the people of Israel do not have an access to an established and equitable system rule of law. They only have access to the basic laws which were created by the Knesset. This kind of law does not guarantee protection at all times because they are still subject to the whims and caprices of the Knesset. They can easily be abolished and replaced anytime unlike if they have a Constitution, they will have greater rights because it will take a more rigorous process before this law can be amended. A Constitution provides the basic rights of every citizen and equalizes the power of everyone. No one in the Constitution has more power as compared to the other and the implementation of rights provided therein is not subject to the caprices of the law makers. Its stability makes the people more secure that their rights will be protected at all times. The United States, having a Constitution of its own, the people have an access to an established and equitable system of law. However, the absence of a Constitution does not mean that all the rights of the people are already unavailable. The people of Israel exercise the freedom of expression and belief. There is no law that attempts to filter the news that the media conveys, in fact, freedom of the press is deeply enjoyed by communicators. The Declaration of Independence mentions the principle of freedom of expression and secured in the basic law created by the Knesset. Public scrutiny is prevalent in Israeli news. Before 1993, media outfits were government owned but the government decided to change this policy and opened it for private ownership. There are around thirty daily newspapers in Israel, half are written in Hebrew and the other half are written in other languages (MSN Encarta Online Encyclopedia n. pag. ). The media in Israel enjoys the same freedom as the media in the United States. They can report on all aspects and can freely criticize the failings of the government. Arab journalists in Palestine or the Middle East do not enjoy the same rights. The country also hosts people a rich mixture of religious groups and each religion has its own school, councils and courts that decides on domestic issues such as marriage and divorce (Jewish Virtual Library n. pag. ). The Israelis also enjoy the freedom to assemble and to associate. They are not prohibited by the government to air out their sentiments to government policies through rallies and protests (Jewish Virtual Library n. pag. ). Socially, Israelis also enjoy freedom. They provide full equality for women they are not discriminated as compared to other Arab countries. They also recognize the differences of sexual orientation. Unlike most societies, homosexuality is not a sin in Israel. People are respected the way other people express themselves or perceive themselves to be. There is also no discrimination in jobs. The Israeli Arabs can be employed to menial jobs and even as Supreme Court Justices (Jewish Virtual Library n. pag. ) In terms of purchasing private property, the government does not restrict its purchase. Contrary to the speculations of some journalists, an Arab or a Jew may buy private property in Israel. There is no discrimination as to race or belief. However, the government prohibits the purchase of state land or those that are owned by the state to both Arabs and Jews. The prohibition is applicable to all. Some journalists and analysts, however, believe otherwise (Middle East Quarterly n. pag. ). Works cited â€Å"Fact Sheets† n. d. Jewish Virtual Library 11 May 2008 http://72. 14. 235. 104/search? q=cache:oI9BaF-Sxd4J: www. jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/talking/36_liberal. html+freedom+to+assemble+and+associate+in+Israelhl=tlct=clnkcd=3gl=phclient=firefox-a â€Å"Israel† n. d. Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. 11 May 2008 http://encarta. msn. com/encyclopedia_761575008_8/Israel. html â€Å"The Israeli Government—How Does it Work? † n. d. Jewish Virtual Library. 11 May 2008 http://72. 14. 235. 104/search? q=cache:d_6PPHEkj0sJ:www. jewishvirtuallibrary. org/jsource/Politics/how_govt_works. html+The+Israeli+Government+How+Does+It+Work%3Fhl=tlct=clnkcd=2gl=phclient=firefox-a Safian, Alexander. 1997 December. â€Å"Can Arabs Buy Land in Israel? † Middle East Quarterly. http://72. 14. 235. 104/search? q=cache:1bvrvPsLhg4J:www. meforum. org/article/370+private+property+purchase+in+Israelhl=tlct=clnkcd=1gl=phclient=firefox-a â€Å"US Congress† n. d. Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. 11 May 2008 http://encarta. msn. com/encyclopedia_761554908_2/Congress. html â€Å"US Government. † n. d. Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopeda. 11 May 2008 http://encarta. msn. com/encyclopedia_1741500781/United_States_Government. html

Process Of Encoding And Decoding English Language Essay

Process Of Encoding And Decoding English Language Essay The main purpose of any classroom teaching in English is to improve the communicative abilities of the learners. To improve the communicative abilities, the classroom teaching has to be necessarily skill oriented. English language is widely used for communication purposes and so competence in language skills has become necessary to improve the communicative abilities specially listening, speaking, reading and writing (LSRW). Among these four skills, both listening and reading are called as receptive skills or passive skills and the other two skills, namely speaking and writing are called as productive skills or active skills. It is important to note that these skills are interconnected in order to achieve the overall objectives of communication. Every thing takes place and develops within the linguistic, cultural and social boundaries of the concerned society in which the particular language is spoken. It is the curriculum, syllabus; text book, teaching methodologies under the efficient functioning of the teacher in the classroom, those students are shaped in communicative competence. 2.4.1 Listening Skills Listening is the capacity to process information coming from an aural source. Such information is first filtered by the perceptual processes of the listener and absorbed into the short-term memory. Selected information is then stored into the long-term memory for retrieval at a later stage, if and when required. Listening is the first and foremost language mode that children acquire which provides the basis for the other language arts (Lundsteen, 1979). The activity of listening plays an important role in the process of acquiring/learning language whether it is first or second language. The linguistic items like phonemes, morphemes, lexical items, grammatical items, syntax and semantics are taught to listen in order to develop other modes of language viz; speaking, reading and writing. Listening is a conscious act. It is a complex, multi step process by which spoken language is converted into meaning in the mind (Lundsteen, 1979.1) Wolvin and Coakly (1985) have identified three steps in the process of listening which are receiving, attending and assigning meaning. In the first step, listeners receive the aural stimuli or the combined aural and visual stimuli presented by the speaker. In the second step, listeners focus on or attend to select stimuli while ignoring other distracting stimuli in the classroom. In the third step, listeners assign meaning to or understand the speakers message. The Process of Encoding and Decoding An act of communication requires encoder- the speaker and decoder- the listener. The speaker encodes the concept or message through a set of code. The listener decodes the concept or message from the set of code used by the speaker. That is, on the one hand, the act of encoding involves hearing the sounds into words, words into sentences, sentences into discourses. On the other hand, the act of decoding involves identifying the sounds, understanding the utterances and their meanings, and recognizing the prosodic features like tone, intonation, pitch, stress etc. used by the speaker. Listening comprehensive process Richards (1990) draws two way process of listening comprehension; top-down and bottom-up processing. In top-down processing, the listener gets an overall or general view of the text. This is facilitated in the listeners schemata allow him/her to have appropriate expectations of what he/she is going to come across. In bottom-up processing, on the other hand the listener focuses on individual words and phrases and achieves understanding by putting the detailed elements together to build up a whole (Harmer 2001). According to Harmer it is useful to see acts of listening texts as interactions between top-down and bottom-up processing. The Speaker-Listener Polarity For the effective exchange of information, both the speaker and the listener are expected to be equipped with the competence of the language which is used. That is, the same level of competence is expected from the listener and the speaker as well. Any short- coming in the linguistic competence of the listener or the speaker would affect the communication. So, both the polarities should be more or less equally equipped with the linguistic competence of that language for effective and efficient communication. Types of Listening Cralvin (1985) (as cited by Chidambaram, (2005) has identified eight categories of listening with due general purpose. Translational listening-learning new information (speeches, debates, political conventions). International listening-recognizing personal component of message (new pieces of speech, report). Critical listening- evaluating reasoning and evidence (news broadcast). Recreational listening- approaching random or integrated aspects or event. Listening for appreciation- information, making critical discriminations or selection. Selective listening- Selecting certain features at a time (phonetic features) Intensive listening- for details (vocabulary, grammar) Extensive listening- (general idea stories, rhymes, songs). Relationship between Speaking and Listening Speaking and listening are interdependent processes. The activity of speaking requires at least a listener, an individual or an audience. The speaker speaks keeping certain objectives in his or her mind. That is, speaking involves conveying meaning using a code and listening involves understanding the meaning with the help of code the speaker used. If it is a transaction, one way listening, the speaker does not receive feedback, but if it is interaction, two- way listening the speaker receives feedback for the listener. In transactional or conversational discourse, sending-receiving and receiving-sending are alternative phenomena. Purpose of Listening While listening to various texts, one applies different skills to process the text, depending on the purposes for which one is listening. Listening is the only medium through which one access the sounds of a language and all the supra segmental features of the language, such as tone, pitch, stress, pause, etc. Hence, listening is a pre-requisite for speaking and at a later stage, for reading. Without knowing how a language sounds, one cannot engage confidently in speaking in the language, and without knowing how the sound patterns of the language function, reading its graphics serves little purpose. Teaching discriminative listening helps the learner to comprehend the language. Listening can be a major source of pleasure and relaxation. Listening to the sounds in nature can be very soothing. Listening to someone reading stories aloud or poem is a pleasurable activity. Listening is also an important social skill. People listen to allow a speaker to talk through a problem. Children, as well as adults, serve as a systematic listener for friends and family members. Sub-Skills of Listening Each skill of language comprises a large number of sub skills, whose value and relevance vary from one situation to another. Rosts (1990) has distinguished two kinds of clusters of micro skills of listening. Enabling skills (those employed in order to perceive what the speaker is saying and to interpret what they intended to mean) and Enacting skills (those employed to respond appropriately to the message). Enabling Skills Perception Recognizing prominence within utterances, including: Discriminating sounds in words, especially phonemic contrasts. Discriminating strong and weak forms, phonetic change at word boundaries. Identifying use of stress and pitch (information units, emphasis, etc). Interpretation Formulating content sense of utterance, including: Deducing the meaning of unfamiliar words. Inferring implicit information. Inferring links between propositions. Enacting Skills Making an appropriate response including: Transcoding information into written form. Identifying which points need classification. Integrating information with other sources. Providing appropriate feedback to the speaker (Adapted from Rost, 1990. 152 153). (As cited by Chidambaram, 2005). Difficult Factors in Listening There are five major factors that researchers believe affect listening comprehension. Text characteristics (Variation in a listening passage / text or associated visual support. Interlocutor characteristics (Variation in the speakers personal characteristics. Task Characteristics (Variation in the purpose for listening and associated response). Listener Characteristics (Variation in the listeners cognitive activities and in the nature of the interaction between speaker and listener). Teaching Listening Comprehension Listening comprehension involves a number of language skills, though the listening may be the specific focus. Teaching listening can be categorized into two modes. The first one is teaching linguistic nuances like phonemic variations, discrimination of similar sounds in words, recognizing word boundaries, recognizing morphemes, distinguishing grammatical and lexical items in a sentence, etc. The second one is teaching how to listen to a context, how to deduce meaning for an unfamiliar word, how to recognize them over a discourse. These two modes are important and inseparable for teaching of listening comprehension. If any shortcoming is found in teaching of either of this mode, its consequences will be seen in other skills of language. Testing listening skills Listening tasks should aim at helping students arrive at the meaning of words and provoking an examination of the given material. The test items include: Dialogue, news, railway announcement, sentence, words, word pairs, numbers, telephone numbers, years, days were used to test listening comprehension of the students understudy. These test items aim at evaluating the ability and skills of listening such as: predicting text based on information, deducing meaning of unfamiliar words, recognizing prominence with in utterance including: Discriminating sounds in words especially phonemic contrasts, phonetic changes, deducing the meaning of unfamiliar words, recognizing grammatical errors in sentences, recognizing word boundaries, etc,. Conclusion Here, the emphasis is on the importance of addressing the differences between spoken and written texts in the teaching of listening skills. It is only when learners are aware of the unique characteristics of authentic listening input that they can be equipped with the skills to handle real life communication. 2.4.2 Speaking Skills Language is the basic form of communication between human beings and in a society. As human beings, they always need communication to express their ideas to do everything; whats more as students or learners they have to speak to express their ideas to their teacher as long as learning process takes place. Speech is the first and foremost form of communication. It occupies a predominant position in enlightening the minds of the people. Information is understood and processed easily through speech rather than writing. Speech is biologically endowed behaviour of human beings. Spoken language has wider range of functions to perform than the written language. They start from casual spontaneous conversations ending with formal speeches and so on. Written language tends to serve rather specialized functions at the formal level. In the process of learning spoken mode of second language, learner encounters difficulties because of inter and intra-lingual factors, language shock, cultural shock and so on. However, difficulties and problems are inevitable in the process of learning spoken or written mode of the L2. Process of Communication Communication is a process of exchanging verbal and non-verbal messages. It is continuous process. This process can be termed as human communication or oral communication. The activities of the communication maintain eco-balance, co-operation, and tolerance and bring the people in a common line. The complete communication process is the hierarchical arrangement of the various components of communication. They are as follows: Intended message Encoder Signals Decoder The received message Feedback Message is the key idea that the sender wants to communicate. Messages can be abstract ideas and feelings of speaker who wishes to communicate. Encoder is a person who sends the message in the form of words and gestures. Signal is a means used to exchange or transmit the message in the form of the mechanical impulse. Channel is the medium through which a signal travels. Decoder is a person for whom the message is intended/aimed. Decoder receives communication signals into meaning and ideas. Received message is the result of decoding communication signals. Feedback helps the sender in confirming the correct interpretation of message by the decoder. Psychologically speaking after receiving the message, the nervous system of the receiver is activated and subsequently interpreted and appropriate meanings are assigned to the received codes to make the communication process complete. Communicative Competence The term communicative competence is coined by the anthropological linguist Dell Hymes (1967, 1972). Light (1997. 63 ) has described communicative competence as Being able to meet the changing demands and to fulfill ones communication goals across the life span. Communicative competence is the ability to send messages which promote attainment of goals while maintaining social acceptability. The term all modes of communication'(Hymes, 1962) can further be explained as the language competence that has total comprehension, and total verbal exposition in all modes of society, which includes group interactions inter-personal interaction involving different dialectal areas. As it is evident from the above, one thinks of two different types of competence, namely grammatical competence and communicative competence. Grammatical competence is the ability to recognize and to produce distinctive grammatical structures of a language and to use them effectively in communication. Whereas, the communicative competence can be achieved by exposing oneself both to the structure of the language as well as the social behaviour which pivots around certain conventional rules as put forth by the society. Teaching/Learning Speaking Effective communication depends on ones ability to express oneself in speech clearly, accurately and fluently. The development of spoken language involves the development of pragmatic usage in addition to the development of pronunciation, constructing words, phrases, sentences and discourses. Discourse in learning of second language plays a vital role. The stages of learning the speaking skills of L2 are same as learning of speaking L1. The problems encountered by the learners in the process of learning subtle, and detailed knowledge, show the gradual development of spoken language. The purpose of learning the second language fulfills when the learners use language with the real people for real purpose. Communication Strategy Zheng (2004) suggests that communication strategies are feasible and to some extent inevitable for language learners to use in their oral communication. These strategies can enhance language learners confidence, flexibility and effectiveness in oral communication. Tarone (1980. 420; 1983.65) defines communication strategies as a mutual attempt of two interlocutors to agree on a meaning in situations where requisite meaning structures do not seem to be shared. In addition, Canale (1983) and Bygate (2000) argue that communication strategies are used not only to cope with any language related problems of which the speaker is aware during the course of communication, but also to enhance the effectiveness of communication even if there is no problem or difficulty involved in an oral communication. Thus, it can be said that communication strategies are commonly used not only to bridge the gaps between the linguistic and sociolinguistic knowledge of the second language learners and those of the interlocutors in any communication situation but also to keep their talk flowing within their available linguistic knowledge, and eventually manage their oral communication. And also the learners adopt the strategies wherever they encounter problems at all the levels of language like phonological, morphological, syntactical and discourse. Cook (2001) says communication strategy of L2 learners will enhance the learning; and the learners strategy indicates that the learners are encountering the linguistic problems in the process of learning. The learners knowingly or unknowingly use the intra and inter lingual strategies to convey their message to others. By using the strategy they get satisfaction, assuring that they have conveyed the meaning completely to the questions by the researcher. Learning Strategy Learning strategies are defined by Oxford and Crookall as Steps taken by the learners to aid the acquisition, storage and retrieval of information (404). Strategic competence is the way learners manipulate language in order to meet communicative goals (Brown, 1994, 228). It is the ability to compensate for imperfect knowledge of linguistic, sociolinguistic, and discourse rules (Berns, 1990). With reference to speaking, strategic competence refers to the ability to know when and how to take the floor, how to keep a conversation going, how to terminate the conversation, and how to clear up communication breakdown as well as comprehension problems. The strategy of learning differs from learner to learner. However Oà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²malley and Chamot (1990) have defined three types of strategy used by L2 students: Meta cognitive strategies which involve planning and thinking about learning, such as planning ones learning, monitoring ones own speech or writing and evaluating how well one has done. Cognitive strategies which involve conscious ways of tackling learning, such as note taking, resourcing (using dictionaries and other resources) and elaboration (relating new information to old). Social strategies mean learning by interacting with others. Such as working with fellow students or asking the teachers help. Strategy process Language processing involves the retrieval of words and phrases from memory and their assembly into syntactically and propositionally appropriate sequences. Effective speakers need to be able to process language in their heads and put in coherent order so that it comes out in forms that are comprehensible and convey intended meaning. Process being used with reference to the systematic series of steps by which the learner arrives at the same usage overtime. Bialy Stock (1978) distinguishes process from strategies by the criteria obligatory/optional. Similar criteria are used by Fravefelder and Porqurer (1979) who classify process as universal, strategies as optional mechanism employed by individual L2 learners. Other researchers also defined process as continuing development involving a number of changes. Testing Speaking In second language research, a great deal of attention has been paid to related area of communicative behaviour. So, this part of the chapter concentrates on communication strategies of the L2 learners. Here, it is a tactic followed by the learners to conceal a gap in their communication. Hence, it is a test given to identify when and how the learners make use of such strategies in speech.

Challenging The Validity Of Fingerprint Evidence

Challenging The Validity Of Fingerprint Evidence The reliability of fingerprint evidence as a means of identification for purpose of court continues to be generally accepted by academia and the criminal justice system. However, despite a long tradition of forensic identification to individualize prints there have been some recent challenges as to the scientific basis for fingerprint evidence. These challenges stem from valid concerns about the potential for human errors in fingerprint matching. A major factor in trying to establish the validity of fingerprint evidence is the theoretical framework as to the physical aspects of forensic science. The psychological aspect of forensic science (the preparation of physical evidence for purpose of court) is also a potential Achilles heel as to the validity of fingerprint evidence in particular in countries with an adversarial legal system where the function of counsel is largely to undermine the credibility of the evidence presented. Key words: prints, marks, reliability, validity, probability, error, bias Introduction A [finger]print is a record taken by police of a (usually) known individual under controlled conditions. A mark is an impression found at a crime scene. The role of fingerprint examiners (dactyloscopists) is to analyse marks (individualize marks) to determine whether it/they match the print/s of a known individual. Fingerprints are routinely used by police in order to identify suspects and victims of crime (e.g. homicide) and fingerprint evidence remain one of the most trusted forms of forensic evidence used in a court of law. Despite this, the various techniques used by fingerprint examiners have neither been scientifically tested nor published in scientific peer reviewed journals. The reliability of dactyloscopy techniques as a means of identification (individualization) is based on a theoretical framework as to the physical aspects of forensic science, including: persistence, uniqueness and transferability of prints and marks for purpose of identification. Until recently there had been no scientific studies conducted to validate fingerprints as physical evidence of identification. Despite this significant gap in the science of fingerprint evidence, the evidential value of fingerprint identification remains unquestioned. The reliability of dactyloscopy techniques as a means of identification continues to be generally accepted by academia and the criminal justice system. However, the use of fingerprint identification as evidence at court inevitably leads to interactions between science and the law where basic assumptions are frequently challenged. There are two different kinds of issues which may arise when presenting fingerprints as evidence at court: (i) the lack of scientific rigour in the techniques used, and; (ii) the influence of cognitive biases on expert evidence. The evidential value of fingerprint identification Fingerprint identification as its used in the criminal justice system is typically done by comparing and attempting to match a mark (latent fingerprint) found at a crime scene with a print taken from a known suspect. The various techniques used by fingerprint examiners in matching two prints are different from e.g. biometric fingerprint checks introduced by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) in 2009 as a means of identification to improve on airport security. The lack of scientific rigour in the techniques used Whilst the evidential value of fingerprint identification remains unquestioned, even by its critics, it is often assumed that its the theoretical framework as to the physical aspects of fingerprint evidence, such as the uniqueness and transferability of fingerprints, which make fingerprint identification well suited as forensic evidence for purpose of court. However, these theoretical underpinnings are often not backed up by scientific evidence and the validity of the theoretical framework of forensic science is therefore a potential Achilles heel in fingerprint evidence. The influence of cognitive biases on expert evidence Whilst the different techniques and methods used by fingerprint examiners vary from those used in automated biometric fingerprint checks, the theoretical underpinnings of fingerprint identification are the same as for biometric fingerprint checks (such as uniqueness and transferability). The results from automated biometric fingerprint checks would not however be suitable as forensic evidence at court. The main reason is that apart from the physical aspects of fingerprints, the evidential value of fingerprints is primarily based upon the expert opinions of fingerprint examiners and governed by the rules on circumstantial evidence. Highlighting the lack of objectivity in the analysis and matching of fingerprints, Stoney (1991:198) notes: In fingerprint work we become subjectively convinced of identity; we do not prove it. And this works just fine. For fingerprints. The evidential value and admissibility of fingerprint expert evidence The Law Commissions report on admissibility of evidence 2008 and 2011: The opinion evidence of an expert witness is admissible only if the court is satisfied that it is sufficiently reliable to be admitted. The opinion evidence of an expert witness is sufficiently reliable to be admitted if: the evidence is predicated on sound principles, techniques and assumptions; those principles, techniques and assumptions have been properly applied to the facts of the case; and the evidence is supported by those principles, techniques and assumptions as applied to the facts of the case. It is for the party wishing to rely on the opinion evidence of an expert witness to show that it is sufficiently reliable to be admitted. This means that guilt cannot be determined by expert evidence alone and that trust in the validity of fingerprint evidence requires a leap of faith. (Broeder, 2006, p. 154) Challenging the Validity of Fingerprint Evidence The validity of fingerprint evidence is dependent upon: the credibility of expert witnesses; validity of the theoretical framework of forensic science, and; the accuracy of procedures and techniques used. Despite its lack of scientific evidence, the theoretical underpinnings of fingerprints and reliability of methods used are rarely challenged at court. When the theoretical underpinnings of fingerprints are challenged at court, it also tends to undermine the reliability of methods used in a range of forensic evidence. In Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the US Supreme Court ruled that forensic evidence has to be both relevant and reliable in order to be valid. However, there are no reliability studies for fingerprint evidence and fingerprint evidence should therefore be ruled inadmissible in a US court of law. Pierce (2011) notes that the core issue in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was the validity of deductive reasoning to reach a conclusion. (Pierce, 2011) The validity of fingerprint evidence in effect comes down to an issue of trust and credibility both of which can be undermined. The Daubert case raised the need for a model by which statistically quantifiable measures can be generated to objectively assess the reliability of fingerprint evidence. One method considered reliable by US courts is the ACE-V (analysis-comparison-evaluation-verification) method. (Haber Haber, 2008) Despite the promise of such models, Broeder (2007) argues that: No expert or expert system can provide incontrovertible categorical evidence i.e. absolute proof that a certain trace originates from a particular source. There is no objective or subjective, scientific or alternative method that will enable us to do this. Stoney (1991:198) argues that trying to prove uniqueness by use of statistical models is a ridiculous notion. (Stoney, 1991) Basis for Challenging Fingerprint Evidence Despite significant issues in terms of the validity of both theoretical underpinnings of forensic science and various techniques used, the main reason why fingerprint evidence will continue to be challenged as valid forensic science evidence is that fingerprint matching (recognition, analysis, comparison, and interpretation / evaluation) is ultimately a subjective decision-making process where results and expert evidence can be influenced by contextual and confirmation biases (human error) resulting in false identification. Whilst Stoney (1991) appears to argue that its the subjective nature of fingerprint evidence which give the individualization process credibility, Dror et. al. (2005:800) also note that fingerprint identification involves a decision making process (Dror, et al., 2005) which may ultimately result in human error and in false identification. It is therefore unfortunate that much of the debate is currently focused on attempts to improve on the reliability of fingerprint evidence through advancements in technological innovation. Attempts at improving the physical aspects of scientific evidence indicate that some problems with forensic evidence might one day be overcome by future advances in technological innovation. Whilst technical and scientific evidence are becoming increasingly important for the criminal justice system, Broeder (2006:148) suggests that its difficult for judges and juries to assess the validity of expert forensic evidence. (Broeder, 2006, p. 148) Mnookin (2008:343) argues that the courts have been seduced by superficial arguments as to the reliability of scientific methods. (Mnookin, 2008, p. 343) Considering that fingerprint evidence is ultimately a decision-making process its difficult to see how fingerprint matching could be replaced by advances in technology such as future generations of automatic fingerprint recognition systems (e.g. the ACE-V process/methodology). More effort should perhaps be focused on the social science aspect of expert forensic evidence (in particular psychology) to reduce potential cognitive biases and human error in fingerprint evidence the main basis for challenging fingerprint evidence. Cognitive Biases in Fingerprint Evidence Fingerprint evidence is supported by a general theoretical framework as to the physical principles of forensic evidence. However, fingerprint evidence is ultimately based on a series of decisions formulated by fingerprint examiners through cognitive processes. Whilst Stoney (1991) might argue that becoming subjectively convinced of identity works just fine for purpose of fingerprint matching, as it turns out, fingerprint examiners are highly susceptible to various forms of cognitive biases. Giannelli (2010) describes four different kinds of cognitive biases which may influence decision-making in forensic examination of evidence. Giannelli describes contextual bias as occurring when extraneous information influences a decision, typically in cases of ambiguity. Techniques used to avoid the influence of contextual bias when testing a new drug, include randomized (double blind) clinical trials. A similar process as part of the fingerprint verification process has been proposed by Haber and Haber (2003). (Haber Haber, 2003) Giannelli describes confirmation bias in terms of the tendency to test a hypothesis by looking for instances that confirm it rather than by searching for potentially falsifying instances. Kassin, Dror Kukucka (2013) describe the various contextual influences which may generate bias in forensic evidence, in terms of: Knowing the nature and details of the crime, being pressured by detectives; working within and as part of the police; the use of computer-generated lists that feature some suspects ahead of others; appearing in court within an adversarial criminal justice system. Experiments in cognitive biases The importance of cognitive psychology of expert evidence has been highlighted in a series of experiments conducted by Dr. Itiel Dror (2005) in which he had took the fingerprints from real criminal cases and presented them to the same fingerprint examiners who had previously given evidence at court. By changing the context for the analysis, such as strongly suggesting that a mark had previously been incorrectly matched to a print (or that a mark belonged to a particular suspect when in fact it did not), the examiners came to different conclusions, contradicting their own evidence given at court. Dr. Drors experiments showed the influence that contextual and confirmation biases can have on the outcome of fingerprint analysis. The research found that fingerprint examiners were more likely to make a match judgment on ambiguous fingerprints when exposed to emotional background stories of crimes and explicitly disturbing photographs from crime scenes, as well as subliminal messages. The researchers concluded that examiners were more likely to confirm a match in ambiguous fingerprints when exposed to contextual biases highlighting the importance of cognitive psychology in fingerprint evidence. To further highlight the importance of cognitive psychology in fingerprint evidence, an international panel of fingerprint experts convened to examine errors committed by the FBI which led to the identification of Brandon Mayfield note that the pressure of working on a high-profile terrorism case created an atmosphere which contributed to the misidentification. (US Department of Justice, 2006, p. 177) Error Rates and Probability Error Rates Experiments similar to those conducted by Dr. Dror (2005) have also been conducted by e.g. Ulery et. al. (2012) and Evett and Williams (1995). (Evett Williams, 1995) All such studies find varying degrees of inconsistency. Ulery et. al. found that when the same fingerprint evidence is given to the same examiners, they reach different conclusions approximately 10% of the time. (Kassin, et al., 2013) Ulery et. al. (2012:9) attributed such errors to a lack of quantitative criteria and limited qualitative criteria for decision. (Ulery, et al., 2012, p. 9) Such error rates are only known as a result of research conducted where examiners were themselves the subject of research experiments. Mnookin (2008b) (Mnookin, 2008) as well as (Haber Haber, 2003) and other researchers point to the lack of transparency of crime laboratories in disclosing the results double-blind tests where e.g. one examiner discover an error made by another examiner and that no data exist on the error rate correction resulting from the verification process. Jasanoff (2006) notes the right of US citizens to receive information, including scientific and technical information, in order to effectuate the goal of informed participation. (Jasanoff, 2006) However, considering the increasingly commercial nature of forensic laboratories, such error rate data is unlikely to be volunteered any time soon. Probability Aitken Taroni (2004:126) note that evaluation of fingerprint evidence is based on a statistical model of probabilistic inference. (Aitken Taroni, 2004) Probability may be defined as [a] statistical means of describing uncertainty. (Brenner, 1997, p. 126) Galton (1892:100) raised the problem of estimating the probability of two prints (alike in their minutiae) as having been made by two different persons and attempted to give an approximate numerical idea of the value of finger prints as a means of Personal Identification. Galton (1892:110) calculated the probability of two different individuals having the same fingerprints (Type I error) to be less than 1 to 224 x 24 x 28 or about 1 in 64 billion. Neumann (2012:21) explains the difficulty of probability as faced by fingerprint examiners giving evidence at court: If it is his belief that the mark probably does or almost certainly does or is rather unlikely to match, he is forbidden to say so in court; in those cases, fingerprint evidence, for or against the accused, simply does not appear in the case. (Neumann, 2012) So, how common is it that examiners giving evidence at court arent necessarily 100% certain of the evidence they give at court? According to research by Neuman et.al. it happens in 30% of the all comparisons performed. (Neumann, et al., 2011) Galton notes the effect on probability when matching two or more marks to the prints of a known individual: When two fingers of each of the two persons are compared, and found to have the same minutiae, the improbability of 1 to 236 becomes squared, and reaches a figure altogether beyond the range of the imagination; when three fingers, it is cubed, and so on. [W]hen two, three, or more fingers in the two persons agree to that extent, the strength of the evidence rises by squares, cubes, etc., far above the level of that amount of probability which begins to rank as certainty. Galton (1892:111-112) Case Studies Broeder (2006) notes that there have recently been several highly publicised appeals against criminal convictions around the world where forensic evidence has played a significant role in the identification of suspects. Broeder further notes that these have at least partly been associated with inadequate standards of forensic expertise. The following case studies involve examples of Type I errors (false positives in fingerprint matching) made by examiners. Case Study 1: Shirley McKie In January 1997, DC Shirley McKie attended a crime scene in Kilmarnock, Scotland as part of an investigation into the murder of Marion Ross. A single mark found at the scene was attributed to DC McKie who denied under oath that it could be hers. DC McKie was subsequently charged with perjury. At her trial, two fingerprint experts disputed the mark belonged to DC McKie. A jury later found DC McKie not guilty of perjury. In 2008, the Scottish Government appointed Sir Anthony Campbell to hold a public inquiry into the identification and verification of fingerprints associated with the case of HM Advocate v McKie in 1999. Sir Campbell noted that [t]he community of fingerprint experts is deeply divided over the case of Shirley McKie and that some experts are perceived by others to be so closely associated with colleagues or organisations that have expressed an opinion that they are not universally regarded as being independent. (The Fingerprint Inquiry, 2011) Case Study 2: Brandon Mayfield In 2004, the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified Brandon Mayfields fingerprints as a match to a single mark found on a bag containing explosives used in the Madrid train bombings on 11 March 2004. Mayfields fingerprints had been initially retrieved as a potential match using the FBIs Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). Upon closer examination, three fingerprint experts reviewing the initial result each confirmed that the mark belonged to Mayfield. (Stacey, 2004) The FBI launched a covert operation and Mayfield was subsequently arrested on 6 May 2004. An independent fingerprint expert appointed by the court to review the evidence (who also knew that a positive match had already been made) also concluded that the mark found did belong to Mayfield. Spanish Police informed the FBI that they had identified the mark as belonging to an Algerian national. After examining the prints of the Algerian national, the FBI released Mayfield from custody. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) concluded that the reason for the misidentification was due to the unusual similarity between the [latent print] and Mayfields known fingerprint which had confused three experienced FBI examiners and a court-appointed expert. (US Department of Justice, 2006) Discussion Fingerprint evidence was first used in the UK in 1858 and is the most common form of forensic evidence used at court today. Fingerprint evidence has also been raised as one of the most important categories of forensic evidence admitted at court. However, a study conducted by Baldwin and McConville (1980) found that forensic evidence played a significant role in only five per cent of cases presented at court. Inman and Rudin (2002:1) describe forensic science as an applied science based on the laws of physics and chemistry. (Inman Rudin, 2002) Whilst this might provide an appropriate definition of forensic science, it ignores the importance of psychology in forensic evidence. The reliability of fingerprints as a means of identification (individualization) for purpose of evidence at court continues to be generally accepted by academia and the criminal justice system. Mnookin (2001:16) argues that scrutiny of expert evidence does not take place in a cultural vacuum and infers that fingerprint evidence was accepted too quickly in US courts. In 2013, a US District Court Judge ruled that the process fingerprint identification failed to meet three of the four criteria set for scientific evidence. The technique hadnt been scientifically tested Wasnt subject to scientific peer review Didnt possess a known rate of error The ruling means that whilst the court accepts that the process of fingerprint analysis does not meet the standards set for scientific evidence, the testimony of expert fingerprint analysts may still be admissible as evidence at court. Because the validity of fingerprint evidence is primarily based upon the credibility expert witnesses, challenges as to the validity of fingerprint evidence need to address the psychological aspects of forensic science, in other words the potential cognitive (contextual and confirmation) biases of forensic experts resulting in false identification. Part of this effort might involve simple solutions such as shielding fingerprint examiners from the details of crimes being investigated or having all fingerprint experts directly appointed by the courts. Other requirements might involve a minimum of two marks or more having to match the prints of a suspect before it can be used as evidence at court.

Divine Comedy - Mastery of Language in Dante’s Inferno :: Divine Comedy Inferno Essays

Mastery of Language In The Inferno - Dante’s Immortal Drama of a Journey Through Hell, Dante allows the reader to experience his every move.   His mastery of language, his sensitivity to the sights and sounds of nature, and his infinite store of knowledge allow him to capture and draw the reader into the realm of the terrestrial hell.   In Canto 6, the Gluttons; Canto 13, the Violent Against Themselves; and Canto 23, the Hypocrites; Dante excels in his detailed portrayal of the supernatural world of hell.   In each canto, Dante combines his mastery of language with his sensitivity to the sights and sounds of nature to set the stage.   He then reinforces the image with examples that call upon his infinite store of knowledge, and thus draw a parallel that describes the experience in a further, although more subliminal, detail to the reader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Through his mastery of language, Dante allows the reader to see what he sees, to hear what he hears, and to feel what he feels, and thus experience his sensitivity to the sights and sounds of nature. In Canto 6, Dante introduces the vicious monster, Cerberus and details his grotesque features to the reader.   He states, â€Å"His eyes are red, his beard is greased with phlegm, / his belly is swollen, and his hands are claws / to rip the wretches and flay and mangle them† (66).   This quote vividly depicts the man-beast Cerberus that Dante encountered, and allows the reader to feel present in the scene with Dante.   He further emphasizes the sights and sounds to portray the hellish environment when he states â€Å"Huge hailstones, dirty water, and black snow/ pour from the dismal air to putrefy/ the putrid slush that waits for them below† (66).   This example is one of many that illustrate Dante’s ability to exh ibit the sights that he encounters.   Dante adds another dimension by providing the ability for the reader to hear the sounds present in Circle III of Hell.   An example of this is when he states â€Å"and they (the victims), too, howl like dogs in the freezing storm† (66).   Furthermore Dante greatly describes how the victims are feeling about their whole situation with the statement â€Å"I lie here rotting like a swollen log† (67).   This quote helps the reader to not only understand how the victims of gluttony are feeling, but also to picture them laying in the sodden mush of garbage.

Diabetes Mellitus Essay -- Health, Disease, Medicine

This paper deals about the study of diabetes mellitus, the pathology, types of diabetes, further complications if not controlled and management for the prevention of this disease. Diabetes refers to a set of several different diseases. All types of diabetes result in too much sugar, or glucose, in the blood. To understand why this happens it helps to understand how the body usually works. When you eat, your body breaks down your food into simpler forms such as glucose. The glucose goes into your bloodstream, where it travels to all the cells in your body. Your cells use glucose for energy. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps move the glucose from bloodstream to the cells. Pathophysiology of Diabetes Mellitus further explain the concept how this disease works. Pancreas plays an important role of the metabolism of glucose by means of secreting the hormones insulin and glucagon. These hormones where then secreted by Islets of Langerhans directly to the blood. Inadequate secretion of insulin results on im- paired metabolism of glucose, carbohydrates, proteins and fats which then result to hyperglycemia and glycosuria. Hyperglycemia is the most frequently observed sign of diabetes and is considered the etiologic source of diabetic complications both in the body and in the eye. On the other hand, glucagon is the hormone that opposes the act of insulin. It is secreted when blood glucose levels fall. This is also further explained in the handbook of the Disease Management of Pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus which states the following: â€Å"Glucagon increases blood glucose concentration partly by breaking down glycogen in the liver. Following a meal, glucose is absorbed into the blood. In response to increased blood glucos... ...ss the importance of taking nutritious foods and multivitamins, try to drinking coffee for two or three days. Eating regular well balanced meals. Avoid fast-food lifestyle that can cause great fluctuation in blood sugar. Lastly, the patient will be able to describe the benefits of regular exercise and how regular exercise can improve blood glucose control. They should know the importance of relaxation and exercises, deep breathing which are popular ways to relieve stress and to avoid strenuous physical activity. Meditations, yoga are good ways of relieving stress. Therefore, learning about the concept of diabetes in general is very important to prevent further complications of other critical diseases. It is best to understand and to stress out the importance of good nutrition, exercise, diet, healthy active lifestyle to the improvement for someone’s well being.

Violence and Politics :: Political Government Essays

Violence and Politics Let's talk about absolutely ridiculous pronouncements people make that either ignore simple fact or border on insanity. How about this one: Violence is no way to settle anything! Evidence suggests that violence is a very effective way of settling things. How about a few examples? In 1776, violence settled whether the thirteen colonies would be independent or remain under King George's thumb. In 1865, violence settled whether there'd be a Confederacy and a Union or just a Union. Between 1941 and 1945, violence settled whether Japan would control the Far East and whether Germany would control Europe. Violence settled whether American Indians owned and controlled the land now call United States or whether it would be European settlers and their progeny. In fact, violence has settled the question of land use-rights virtually everywhere. Violence and the threat of violence not only settles questions of land use; it settles other matters as well. For example, I have no problem with paying for the constitutionally mandated functions of the Federal Government - those enumerated in the U.S. Constitution. But I disagree with my earnings being given to dependent farmers, failing banks and poor people. Who has use-rights to my earnings is settled through threats, intimidation and violence. The U.S. Congress in essence tells me, "Williams, if you do not permit us to give your earnings to dependent farmers, banks, poor people, and any one else we deem worthy of your earnings, we will use violence to take your earnings and anything else you possess. Some readers might think that I am being overly hyperbolic. What do you think would be the outcome of the following scenario? I write on my IRS 1040 form: "I gladly accept my responsibility to pay my share of constitutionally mandated functions of the federal government. That share comes to about one-third of what you say I owe. I will not pay for activities not authorized by the Constitution." What happens. The IRS, the agents of the U.S. Congress, levies a fine and demands that I pay all they say I owe. I refuse. Then the IRS says, "We're going to confiscate your house." I say, "No you won't; that's my house." Then they send agents with automatic weapons to take my house. I stand and defend my house. The agents of the U.S. Congress kill me. The truth of the matter is that violence is such an effective and valuable means of settling differences that most governments demand to have a monopoly on its use.