mp3s essays

mp3s essays As we are approaching the 21st century communications is becoming a vital key in business and home computing. As a result we are constantly inventing new ways in order to make communications easier for the user to access in our daily lives. Therefore the information superhighway has sparred awareness in home technology or lack of home technology. The abbreviation MP3 stands for MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) layer 3, which is a standard format for storing compressed music. An MP3 file is an audio file that has been compressed (anywhere from 1/5th to 1/17th of its original size) without any noticeable loss in sound quality. That means a great sounding file, in a package small enough that it can be downloaded and/or stored on your PC (MP3 files can be identified by their file extension, .mp3.). The basic idea is that music digitized at CD quality has information that can be suppressed with little or no quality loss, as perceived by most people. Thanks to this and some mathematics, it is possible to compress a digitized track to about 8 percent of its original size, or a compression ratio of 12:1. This means that, while a regular music CD can contain about one hour of music (74 minutes, actually), a similar CD used to store mp3 files can contain almost 12 hours of music. MP3 is used particularly for music distribution over the Internet, but is also used for other purposes such as real-time digital audio transmissions over ISDN (used by reporters). How is it possible to do this you ask? Well, I won't get into the technical details, but basically the MP3 encoder removes the parts of the sound not audible to the human ear. This means that MP3 is a 'loss' type of compression (comparable to JPEG in the graphics area). This means that what comes out from your CD or Wave file is NOT the same thing that comes out of the MP3 that has been created from the CD/Wav. The sound data that has been lost will not be returned if the MP3 is...

About the National Security Agency

About the National Security Agency The National Security Agency is a highly specialized and vital unit of the American intelligence community that works to create and break secret codes, a science known as cryptology. The National Security Agency, or NSA, reports to the U.S. Department of Defense. The work of the National Security Agency is done in secret and in the name of national security. The government did not even acknowledge the NSA existed for some time. The National Security Agencys nickname is No Such Agency. What the NSA Does The National Security Agency gathers intelligence by conducting surveillance on its adversaries through the collection of phone-call, email and Internet data. The intelligence agency has two primary missions: preventing foreign adversaries from stealing sensitive or classified national security information from the United States, and collecting, processing and disseminating information from foreign signals for counterintelligence purposes. History of the National Security Agency The National Security Agency was created on Nov. 4, 1952, by President Harry S. Truman. The intelligence agencys foundation has its genesis in the work U.S. forces conducted during World War II in breaking German and Japanese codes, which it describes as a crucial factor in the Allied success against German U-Boats in the North Atlantic and victory at the Battle of Midway in the Pacific. How the NSA is Difference From the FBI and CIA The Central Intelligence Agency deals mostly with gathering intelligence on Americas enemies and conducts covert operations overseas. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, on the other hand, operates within the U.S borders as a law-enforcement agency. The NSA is primarily a foreign intelligence agency, meaning that it is authorized to collect data to prevent threats from foreign countries. However, in 2013 it was revealed that the NSA and FBI had allegedly been collecting phone-call data from Verizon and other information from servers operated by none U.S. Internet companies including Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, AOL, Skype, YouTube, and Apple. Leadership of the NSA The head of the National Security Agency/Central Security Service is appointed by the secretary of the Department of Defense and approved by the president. The NSA/CSS director must be a commissioned military officer who has earned at least three stars. The current director of the intelligence agency is U.S. Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander. The NSA and Civil Liberties The surveillance activities of the NSA and every other intelligence agency often raise questions about civil liberties, and whether Americans are being subjected to unconstitutional invasions of privacy. In a statement published on the NSAs website, agency deputy director John C. Inglis wrote: Im often asked the question, Whats more important – civil liberties or national security? Its a false question; its a false choice. At the end of the day, we must do both, and they are not irreconcilable. We have to find a way to ensure that we support the entirety of the Constitution – that was the intention of the framers of the Constitution, and thats what we do on a daily basis at the National Security Agency. Still, the NSA has publicly acknowledged that it has inadvertently collected communications from some Americans without a warrant in the name of national security. It has not said how often that happens, though. Who Oversees the NSA Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court Government surveillance agencies are also subject to review by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which was created by Congress in 2004.

Research Topics with Explanations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research Topics with Explanations - Assignment Example Furthermore, the existence of various regulations regarding the use of cell phones especially while driving in the various states in the country is a major cause of confusion. As such, the research investigates the nature of the regulations in various states and analyzing the effects of such disparities. The audience for the research will include road users and legislators who make laws in the country. The research argues that standardizing the regulations will enhance uniformity thereby improving road safety (Sturnquist, 2006). The outbreak of measles in numerous states within the United States has been a major source of concern for both parents and legislators. The refusal by most parents to take their children for vaccination further heightens the safety concern especially in such public places as schools among any others (Link, 2005). The research investigates the most probable ways of encouraging and compelling parents to take their children for the vaccination (Wells, 1984). The audiences for the research are school administrators, parents and legislators among many other interested parties (Levine, 1997). The research argues that the government should adopt a radical measure such as banning unvaccinated pupils from attending public schools. The United States is the leading democracy and economy globally. Additionally, the country is a leading champion for the improvement of the treatment of such vulnerable groups as children, women and the LGBT community. As such, the country has a role to play in encouraging the adoption of fair labor laws globally (Jackson & Management Information Service, 1985). The adoption of fair labor laws is the surest way of enhancing the economic freedom of such communities. Such laws protect employees thereby creating a conducive environment for the employees to work and enhance their productivity. The research investigates the appropriate ways for the American

Compare and contrast federalism in Canada during the Keynesian era and Essay

Compare and contrast federalism in Canada during the Keynesian era and federalism in the neoliberal era - Essay Example ion’s flexibility has been responsible for finding solutions to public policy along with assisting it to rise to the challenges faced (â€Å"Canadian Federalism†, 2007). To put it simply, the country’s federation has been a common strength in identifying divergences and overcoming them thereby constructing a stronger nation (â€Å"Canadian Federalism†, 2007). The two centers of focus of the Canadian federal experience signify cultural dualism, the desire and ability of French and English speaking Canadians to survive as such along with the use of institutions of the government which they respectively dominate, and the other is public action to satisfy the material aspirations of individuals and groups living within an economy in which burdens and benefits are ascertained by the economic policies of successive federal administrations (Smiley, 1965). Canadian federalism exhibits the trend of decentralization (Lecture 17, n.d.). In spite of facing huge challenges the Canadian federation has made it work towards this trend (Lecture 17, n.d.). Early judicial decisions showed an inclination towards provincial power in Canada after 1867 (Lecture 17, n.d.). The election victory of 1896 marked he reversal of Macdonald’s centralism by Laurier (Lecture 17, n.d.). Both World War I and World War II brought interruptions in the movement (Lecture 17, n.d.). However, it spite of some federal states opting to move more towards centralized over time, Canada has remained persistent in its trend of decentralization of authority (Lecture 17, n.d.). Due to the influence of Great Depression (1929-1939), the Rowell-Sirois Commission revealed inclination towards economic management and social welfare from provinces to federal level (Lecture 17, n.d.). Reorganization of taxing functions was advised to favor federal assumption of new spending priorities and to enhance redistributive measures to offer national standards from coast to coast (Lecture 17, n.d.). However, the orders of the

The Asch Phenomenon and Consumer Behavior Essay Example for Free

The Asch Phenomenon and Consumer Behavior Essay Imagine yourself sitting in a room with seven of your peers. You are asked a question and given a choice of three different answers: A, B, or C. You know the answer is C, yet every single person before you confidently states that the answer is B. Do you stick with your answer, or eliminate the fear of being wrong and embarrassed in front of your peers and go along with the group? This is the exact dilemma faced by subjects in the famous Asch experiment. The Asch phenomenon can be defined as the effect of a reference group on individual decision making that occurs because of a perceived pressure to conform to the stated opinions of the group members. As consumers, we should recognize the great impact this phenomenon can have on our buying behaviors. While interacting in a group setting, we may make choices that are different from what we would do when alone. Marketers and salespeople may use this idea to their advantage when presenting a product to potential customers. If they can get a few people to voice a positive opinion toward their products, it is likely that others will follow. As consumers, we should be aware of when this idea may be used unethically in order to protect our individual interests. For example, a salesperson may try to sell a product to an audience of potential consumers. However, some people working for the salesperson may be planted in the audience posing as naive consumers in order to influence the purchase behaviors of the other members of the audience. Also, marketers may use individuals’ insecurities to pressure them to go along with the group, even when it is not in a person’s best interest. An ad showing a man being ridiculed for buying a less expensive television set may unethically lead a consumer to think he needs to buy something unaffordable to fit in with his friends. Explanation of the Topic The Asch phenomenon is a concept derived from the findings of a study conducted in 1951. Solomon Asch (1907 1996) originally conducted this experiment to explain conformity to majority-established norms (Moghaddam, 1998). The subjects involved in the study were brought into a room with seven other students (who were all working for Asch and were instructed on what to do) and seated second-to-last around a table. The subjects were told that the experiment was concerned with accuracy and visual perception, and that their task was to choose which of the three bars on the right matched the length of the bar on the left and to give their answers aloud. The confederates in the study were instructed to give incorrect answers 12 out of 18 times in order to see whether or not the subject would go along with the crowd after hearing their incorrect responses (â€Å"Conformity Experiments Asch: Social Pressure†). A Test of Perception [pic] Which line in Exhibit 2 is the same length as the line in Exhibit 1? A series of experiments by Solomon Asch, testing the effects of social pressure on individual perceptions, showed that some people in some situations will go against the evidence of their own senses if the people around them seem to perceive something different. Thirty-seven of the fifty subjects conformed to the majority at least once, and fourteen of them conformed on more than half of the significant trials (â€Å"Conformity†). Overall, 35 percent of the subjects’ responses conformed to the group’s incorrect judgments. This is surprising because the control group achieved near perfect accuracy, showing that the task was not inherently difficult. In addition, when the experiment was duplicated allowing the subjects to write down their own judgments privately after hearing the incorrect responses of the group, conformity was drastically reduced (Baxter). The reasons why subjects gave in to group influence hold important ideas for salespeople and marketers. People conform for two main reasons: because they want to be liked by the group and because they believe the group is better informed than they are (â€Å"Conformity†). In this study, Asch reported that most of the participants yielded to group pressure because they assumed the majority was right and they were wrong, rather than because they wanted to be accepted by the majority (Levine, 1999). This difference is what separates the Asch phenomenon from the concept of peer pressure. Peer pressure tends to operate more in primary groups in which normative and identification group influences are at work, rather than informational group influences. A brief example may explain the differences between these three types of influences. Informational influence is at work when a person thinks, â€Å"I should buy that brand of cereal because my health-conscious friends recommend it as part of a nutritious diet. † Normative influence is at work when a person thinks, â€Å"I should buy that brand of cereal so that my friends think that I am also health-conscious, or so they won’t make fun of me for eating badly. † Finally, a person reacting to identification influence would think, â€Å"I should buy that brand of cereal because I am a member of Weight Watchers, and all of us value that brand. Asch’s findings support more of an informational influence, particularly because the conforming subjects did not even know the other members of the group. They just assumed that the group must know something that they did not know, or decided it was easier and safer to go along with the group. The Asch phenomenon occurs even when there is only a perceived pressure to conform. That is, if members go against the group they will not experience any negative consequences. However, when dealing with peer pressure, often individuals who do not conform are ridiculed, humiliated, or excluded by his/her peers. Looking at the Asch study, you can see that while a significant proportion of people conformed, the majority did not. This suggests that some people may be more susceptible to the phenomenon than others, and that certain situations may create this pressure to conform more than others. There are five determinants of reference group influence. If there is visible usage, high relevance of a product to the group, low individual purchase confidence, strong individual commitment to the group, and it is a non-necessary item, people are much more likely to be influenced by the opinions of the group members (Hawkins, 2004). Imagine shopping by yourself as opposed to shopping with a group of your fashion-conscious friends. You notice a red shirt on the rack, but don’t really care for it. One of your friends later picks up the shirt and says, â€Å"This shirt is absolutely fabulous. † The other members of the group agree, and soon you find yourself agreeing that you also love the shirt. You do this not only because you want to be accepted by the group, but because you assume the others know more about fashion than you do. In addition, if the shirt is a reasonable price and you are looking for something to wear to a party where everyone will be dressed fashionably, the opinions of the group members will affect your purchase decision even more. The Asch phenomenon has been demonstrated in a variety of settings. In one study, 58 percent of college students were persuaded to agree to the statement that â€Å"the right of freedom of speech should be suspended when the Government feels threatened,† even though not one of these subjects held this view privately (Baxter). In another study, students’ perceptions of the nutritional value of a new diet food were influenced by the opinions of other members of a group. When the other students of the group were seen as â€Å"experts,† meaning they claimed to be majoring in and had work experience with nutrition, members changed their initial responses to conform to the group even more (Lascu, 1995). Clearly, this phenomenon should not be ignored when advertising a new product or designing a sales campaign, when potential consumers’ opinions are more likely to be swayed. The technique would be useful when potential consumers see others as having greater expertise about the product than they do. However, a great deal of risk in purchasing may cause a consumer to seek out information himself rather than go off of what others say. Therefore, the Asch phenomenon may work ideally in low-expertise and low-involvement situations. Examples Examples of the Asch phenomenon can be found throughout the media. When members of a group voice their positive opinions about a product, people are more willing to go along with this stated opinion. For example, Ford Motor Company uses the Asch phenomenon to build greater brand loyalty by providing a section on their website dedicated to personal stories with Ford vehicles. By reading all of the positive stories about Ford cars and trucks, consumers may also feel pressure to think the same way about Fords. Another example of the influence group members may have on individual purchasing decisions comes from the use of infomercials in which a product is displayed to a group of potential customers. At first, the consumers are skeptical that a product could be so easy to use, so convenient, or so inexpensive. However, a consumer is instructed to use a product, is impressed by the product, and says, â€Å"Wow, I really can feel my legs and abs getting stronger† or â€Å"Wow, this vegetable chopper really does make it easy. † Soon after, other members of the group are going along with the stated opinions of the original users, and people at home begin to agree with the group too, possibly to the point of purchasing the product. Specific companies using this technique include Ronco, Body by Jake, and Tae-bo. Pampered Chef kitchen shows work in a similar way, and depend on stated opinions of kitchen experts and groups of friends. As the host displays and uses a variety of kitchen products, showing how helpful, easy, and fun to use they are, other members of the group may try them out and voice similar opinions. A person who may not have otherwise been excited by a cooking stone or apple corer/peeler/slicer soon finds these products as amazing as the other members of the group, and has ordered them without giving a second thought as to when she will actually use them. People often find it very difficult to go against the positive opinions of movie critics and reviewers. When showing commercials for films, the previews include such statements as â€Å"The funniest movie of the year,† â€Å"Absolutely phenomenal† or â€Å"The best drama since (fill in the blank). † Claims such as these, especially from credible critics and publications, are difficult to disagree with and tend to sway people to go see the movie. For example, a person sees a movie on opening day before it is heavily advertised. This person thinks the movie is ok, but does not recommend it to any friends or family to see. However, after watching several ads on television in which positive claims are made about the movie, the person may change his/her opinion to go along with these claims. Suddenly, the movie seems better, and the individual finds him/herself agreeing with the critics and recommending the movie to others. This may be because he/she does not want to be the only one who thinks differently, or because the critics have greater expertise on movies.

Leadership In Ancient Civilizations Essay -- essays research papers

During the period of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, different leaders exhibited different styles of leadership and employed different political strategies. In addition, these leaders came to power and maintained their control in their own unique ways. Each leader seemed to have his own agenda, which set the tone for that era. Five prominent leaders of this time period were Agricola, Augustus, Julius Caesar, and the brothers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. The point to be made with respect to these particular men is related to the obvious correlation between the nature of a leader’s agenda and the impact of his reign. In the end, a ruler’s fate was dependent not on his agenda, but on style and strategy with which he pushed his agenda. Those leaders whose methods were completely altruistic were heralded as great leaders, while those with devious and/or unethical methods of pushing their agendas were hastily assassinated. First consider Tiberius Gracchus. It is imperative to analyze his style of leadership and his political strategies. During his term as tribune, Tiberius’ major goal was to pass a land reform bill. This bill was biased toward the masses. Tiberius tried fairly and squarely to gain the support of the Roman senate, but this effort was to no avail. Tiberius then resorted to unfavorable tactics when he impeached another tribune, Octavius, the major opponent of Tiberius’ bill. Thus Tiberius willingly destroyed the long-held and quite favored notion of an immune tribune. However, this is what the common people wanted. Tiberius’ big mistake was blatantly opposing, thus disrespecting the Roman senate. As a result, the senate assassinated Tiberius. The lesson to be learned here is not that Tiberius’ agenda was constructed out of self-interest or greed. Tiberius simply wanted to help the common people. However, Tiberius’ methods were not proper for that time in that place. And it is probable that Tiberius could easily have been persuaded to compromise. Thus, Tiberius’ downfall was not his agenda, but his style and political strategy. A different example of the same principle is summed up with the story of Tiberius’ younger brother, Gaius Gracchus. Gaius worked not to appease the senate, but to appease the people. Although this seems quite noble of him, it was still a mistake to oppose the senate. Granted, this notion is counter-intuitive. One wo... ...in accordance with the main point we have been discussing, he did so with a particular style and political strategy, so as not to offset social order. He ruled very subtly. He saw to it that he got what he wanted, yet he did so with such caution that it was disguised as interest in providing for the good of the citizens. Therefore, Augustus’ reign supports the theory that a ruler can drive a selfish agenda, yet as long as the style and political strategy of the leader in question is favored by the people, then the leader can still be considered a good ruler.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Therefore, upon considering the lives of Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, Julius Caesar, Agricola, and Augustus Caesar, it is clear that people in the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire considered a leader’s particular actions more that his agenda when deciding whether or not a leader is worthy of being called â€Å"great† or being assassinated. Obviously, a leader’s agenda and accomplishments are important factors, but we have seen with these five particular leaders that sometimes accomplishments do not matter. What matters greatly are the steps taken by a leader to obtain goals or satisfy certain needs.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

I think the most predominant subject that comes to mind involving the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U. S. Constitution centers around â€Å"same-sex marriages. † The argument in this issue centers around whether a gay couple who gets married in Massachusetts would/should be recognized as legally married in any other state they move to. I am sure the framers of the Constitution could never have imagined that some 200+ years later, that the original intent of Article IV Section 1 of the Constitution, the â€Å"Full Faith and Credit Clause,† could possibly undergo the scrutiny it has had to endure in recent years. The word â€Å"marriage† means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word â€Å"spouse† refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife. The Constitution specifically delineates that no State shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of any other State, or any right or claim arising from such relationship. If â€Å"same-sex marriages† have become legally acceptable in some states, then those couples should enjoy those benefits in the states in which they are considered to be legal. States are granted the right to determine those laws that have effect on their own citizens, and, should a gay married couple wish to reside in a state where same-sex marriages are not legal by law in that state, then they must accept the law in that state as binding on them. Any state that chooses to not recognize same-sex marriages within their own constitution certainly has that right under the Full Faith and Credit Clause. Until at such time someone finds a way to challenge the constitutionality of the Clause, gay couples will have to resign themselves being able to practice their chosen lifestyle, but without the benefits of such union in states where it is deemed illegal. In further support of this issue, I believe that the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) (1996) is unconstitutional on its face. DOMA violates principles of equal protection and due process. A strong case can also be made that DOMA abuses the Full Faith and Credit Clause and contravenes fundamental principles of federalism. Since there are relatively similar laws enacted in all 50 states, with only small differences between most of them, I see no reason that the Full Faith and Credit Clause should be held applicable to the issue of same-sex marriages. I find it difficult to imagine how the Court could find excluding same-sex couples from the definition of marriage unconstitutional without creating a constitutional requirement that same-sex couples be allowed to marry. Therefore, I believe that the Constitution guarantees each and every one of us the right to choose to marry the one we love. The fact that they are of the same sex should not deprive those individuals of the same rights and privileges of other citizens merely because it violates some individuals morals or beliefs. Since the Constitution itself does not actually delineate the definition of marriage, I believe that all attempts that deprive gay people certain rights not otherwise deprived of other individuals violates the spirit of the Constitution, and abuses the Full Faith and Credit Clause therein.

Performance Measurement Paper Essay

In the world of business there are many cliche’s about how performance measurements are implemented and what they actually do such as â€Å"if your company doesn’t measure results then you can’t tell success from failure. † http://www. balancedscorecard. org/Home/tabid/36/Default. aspx The key focus on strategic objectives should always articulate precisely what the organization wants to accomplish which is the key to finding accurate, true, strategic measurements. The strategic performance measures will allow the organization to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the operational efficiency. The best performance measures will provide a way to monitor and see if that strategy is actually working. Focusing on the importance of the employee’s contribution to the success of the organization is another important measure that can be added along with providing a common language for the communication of everyone. Performance measurement is so vital in the structure of an organization because it is an ongoing and constant reporting and monitoring of accomplishments. Typically the program is implemented by agency management. The different program activities are measured by this system as well. A program may be considered any project, activity, or function that has a set of objectives. The three types in which will be compared and contrasted begins with the output type of performance measures which indicates a specific workload that is processed throughout a period of time. The next type of performance type of selection is the efficiency type, which indicates the different ratio’s of the resources to work the product. The resources of this particular type are primarily considered budget dollars. The final performance measurement type that will be under contrast is the outcome type which tells the results over a period of time from work which was performed by the organization in order to benefit the people receiving the service. (EOM) or enterprise output management is a practice used in information technology dealing with the organization of data that is created for banking systems, insurance database systems, customer relationship management, as well as many others. Output distributed management is defined as middle ware that threatens to drive out the process originally supported in order to implement an auto mated one. EOM output managment could potentially reduce the cost of traditional printing because it uses digital output channel such as fax and email. The potential of this is depends on how the concept is adopted by the targeted customer group. Management information systems allow organizations to get right people the correct information at a timely and efficient manner. The efficiency type of performance management works by pulling together information. Therefore improving the products and expanding the customer base at the same time. A manger with a good management information system can eliminate redundant miscues that waste time and may instead focus on what actually works for the betterment of the organization. If an MIS is added into the equation then the amount of time saving that will benefit the organization will be tremendous because there is more time being focused on the specific task at hand. The computer program can collect data from employees much faster than the alternative time consuming method of not taking advantage of the technology. The over-all term performance management is defined as the output of employees and groups individually. The employees may be divided into groups and departments within the organization as a whole. Therefore the performances can be evaluated much more effectively by knowing what everyone’s production levels are and by gathering this information will definitely help to improve the quality of production in the organization which will lead to good things for everyone. In order for the performance management procedures to be put in place and do the job that they are needed to do there should be a performance definition done as soon as humanly possible because this knowledge will help drive the rest of the tasking in sequence for what needs to be done for the organization.

THE AGE OF EXPLORATION essays

THE AGE OF EXPLORATION essays THE AGE OF EXPLORATION HAD LASTING EFFECTS ON EUROPE AND THE NEW WORLD. THREE EFFECTS WERE, ECONOMIC CHANGES, SOCIAL CHANGES AND CULTURAL CHANGES. THE ECONOMIC CHANGES HAD TO DO WITH TRADE. COUNTRIES TRADED AMONGST EACH OTHER FOR THINGS THEY WERE LACKING IN EXCHANGE FOR THINGS THEY HAD SURPLUSES OF. EUROPE, AFRICA AND AMERICA ALL TRADED WITH EACH OTHER AS WELL AS OTHER COUNTRIES. WHEN COUNTRIES TRADED THEY WOULD GET THINGS SUCH AS POTATOES AND SPICES. THEY COULD PLANT THE POTATOES AND GROW MORE ON THEIR OWN. TRADING ADDED TO PEOPLES ECONOMY, A FOOD CHAIN IS AN EXAMPLE. PEOPLE ALSO ADVANCED SOCIALLY. SOCIAL CHANGES WERE ALSO EFFECTS OF EXPLORATION. AS PEOPLE STARTED COMING IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER WHILE TRADING THEY GOT MANY NEW IDEAS FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND COUNTRIES. MANY PEOPLE BEGAN TO BEFRIEND PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH WOULD GREATLY INCREASE TRADE. THIS LEAD TO CULTURAL CHANGES. CULTRAL CHANGES ALSO EFFECTED EUROPE DURING THE AGE OF EXPLORATION. WHEN PEOPLE CAME IN CONTACT WITH OTHER CULTURES AND COUNTRIES IT LEAD TO CULTURAL DIFFUSION. PEOPLE GOT NEW IDEAS FROM OTHERS AND ADOPTED THEM INTO THEIR OWN SOCIETY. WHEN EXPLORERS SUCH AS CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS OR VASCO DE GAMA FOUNDED NEW COUNTRIES THEY NEVER KNEW BEFORE EXISTED, THEY BROUGHT THEIR IDEAS AND WAYS OF LIVING TO THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE NEW COUNTRIES. THIS HAPPENED CONTINUOSLY. IN CONCLUSION SOCIAL CHANGES, ECONOMIC CHANGES AND CULTURAL CHANGES IN AFRICA, AND AMERICA BOTH HAD A SPECIFIC EFFECT ON EUROPE DURING THE AGE OF EXPLORATION WHICH ADDED AND INCREASED THE PRODUCT OF THE GOLDEN AGE AS WELL. ...

Martin Van Buren - Eighth US President - Fast Facts

Martin Van Buren - Eighth US President - Fast Facts Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) served one term as president. During his time in office, no major events occurred. However, he was criticized for his handling of the Second Seminole War.   Here is a quick list of fast facts for Martin Van Buren.For more in depth information, you can also read the: Martin Van Buren Biography Birth: December 5, 1782 Death: July 24, 1862 Term of Office: March 4, 1837-March 3, 1841 Number of Terms Elected: 1 Term First Lady: Widower. His wife, Hannah Hoes, died in 1819. Nickname: Little Magician; Martin Van Ruin Martin Van Buren Quote: As to the Presidency, the two happiest days of my life were those of my entrance upon the office and my surrender of it. Additional Martin Van Buren Quotes Major Events While in Office: Panic of 1837 (1837)Caroline Affair (1837)Second Seminole War (1835-1842) Van Buren is considered by many historians to be an average president. No major events occurred during his term of office. However the Panic of 1837 did eventually lead to an Independent Treasury. In addition, Van Burens position about the Caroline Affair allowed the US to avoid open warfare with Canada. The Caroline Affair occurred in 1837 when a US steamship called the Caroline travelled to a site on Niagara River. Men and supplies were being sent to Upper Canada to help William Lyon Mackenzie who was leading a rebellion. There were a number of American sympathizers who wanted to help him and his followers. However, in December of that year, Canadians came into US territory and sent the Caroline adrift over Niagara Falls, killing one US citizen. Many Americans were upset over the incident. The Robert Peel, a British steamship, was attacked and burned. In addition, a number of Americans began raiding over the border. Van Buren sent General Winfield Scott to help stop Americans from retaliating.  President Van Buren was responsible for delaying the admission of Texas to the Union in order to help maintain sectional balance.   However, Van Burens administration was criticized for their handling of the Second Seminole War. The Seminole Indians resisted the removal from their lands, even after Chief Osceola was killed in 1838. The continued fighting led to the death of thousands of Native Americans. The Whig Party was able to use the inhumane campaign in their fight against Van Buren. Related Martin Van Buren Resources: These additional resources on Martin Van Buren can provide you with further information about the president and his times. Martin Van Buren BiographyTake a more in depth look at the Eighth president of the United States through this biography. Youll learn about his childhood, family, early career, and the major events of his administration. Chart of Presidents and Vice PresidentsThis informative chart gives quick reference information on the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, their terms of office, and their political parties. Other Presidential Fast Facts: Andrew JacksonWilliam Henry HarrisonList of American Presidents

1st and 2nd amendments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

1st and 2nd amendments - Essay Example 1st and 2nd amendments The first amendment is very important because it demonstrates the framers intention of making America a truly democratic state by providing several individual rights to its citizens. It first clause makes religion a subject of individual preference and thus coercion to follow the doctrines one particular religion is a state offence. The second clause endorses free speech and makes freedom of speech a legal right of its citizens. The third clause ensures constitutional right to citizens of the states to present a petition to the government to redress their grievances. It also gives them the right to make their protest in group demonstrations, held peacefully. The first amendment thus advocates strongly for freedom of religion and freedom of expression thereby not only making free religion and freedom of speech a legal right but also legitimizing peaceful mass demonstration against any injustice. Watergate Scandal has been one the most famous case where freedom of speech and expression was used by the press to expose President Nixon which resulted in his impeachment. In the famous case Edwards v Aguillard, 1986, the religious doctrines and ideas, called creation-science, were taught in the name of science and scientific facts under the act ‘The Louisiana Balanced Treatment for Creation-Science and Evolution-Science Act’ in complete violation of the amendment. It was challenged by a group of scientists and became one of the landmark cases in the history of Louisiana.

Health sysytems and government response to AIDS in America Essay

Health sysytems and government response to AIDS in America - Essay Example There is a common saying regarding AIDS that â€Å"you are either infected or affected†. This is because when one is infected with AIDS, faces the pain associated with the illness and emotional torture as one feels that unmet goals and objectives in life are no longer attainable; one also feels socially unfit to carry the normal life used to live before the infection. Someone who is free of the virus is affected since has to commit his time and resources in supporting the infected one. More precisely, the individual suffering, household, families, and the economy experience the effects of HIV/AIDS. Ones contributes to the growth of the economy is likely to decline and eventually stop as the stages of the illness progress. This is because the individual is dependent on others and the government on daily bases for food and treatment. The government and health systems have put a lot of emphasis on controlling the disease by establishing Voluntary Centers for testing. Currently there is a huge network of testing centers all over America to provide citizens with free services where they can get to know their status, get guidelines on how to stay free from the virus and if affected, the control and management practices. Although this is a positive initiative, the government does not provide enough well trained nurses to deliver the services; this is a drawback. More so, people have fear for stigma from those who offer the services, therefore the government is working to provide testing kits whereby one can perform the test within his privacy and convenient time. (Augustus 43). The government has identified that most youths are at high risk to contract (Chris 490) AIDS due to idleness and lack of employment. With the high rates of inflation and unemployment, many people lack employment hence in order to sustain their daily lives, they indulge in irresponsible sexual activities. This increases the rate of AIDS infections. The government has stepped in to offer technical trainings and job opportunities to encourage the youths not involve themselves in such risky behaviors. The government has also established rehabilitation centers for sex addicts where they get support and guidance on reformation. Commercial sex workers have higher chances of contracting AIDS due to the sexual association with many people. Such centers offer them information on how to change their behaviors and how get finances from moral activities. The government and other health systems have responded to the AIDS epidemic by establishing children homes for both HIV positive children and orphaned children due to AIDS. These children are offered free education and home care. Although this is a very essential