Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Anger in America essays

Anger in America essays Anger in America. Detroit Free Press. 17 Oct. 2004, Editorial In the Editorial listed above, the author, who has not signed to the article, discusses the recent problems facing Americans today. A Muslim activist mentioned in the article, Eide Alawan, says that, it is hard to tell what Americans might do when they get angry. With the recent string of events occurring throughout the past five years there is a lot of animosity going around. Alawan discusses the ever growing fear among the Arab American community since the September 11th attacks of 2001. They fear that a reliving of the Japanese Camps back in World War II will occur in the present. Americans, he says, have an ugly history of seeking scapegoats for its troubles. The country suffers from all kinds of tensions including this one. Perhaps the upcoming presidential election is proving to be quite a great deal of stress on the American people. He states that our country seems to be separated in many ways and the best job the next president can do is to reunite this country. We are divided by a number of things including race, politics, ethnicity, and even class. Americans want what is beneficial to themselves before opening the door unto others. Alawan tells readers that sure we have a lot to be angry about; job insecurity, terrorism, the increased traffic, soaring gas prices, and so many other hassles, but it takes so much more energy to be mad about something. Anger comes from misunderstanding and insecurity and the past should have taught us by now, that the future leads to even more regret to add to our problems. The type of anger found in this country is based on something completely different than in others. Anger is brought on by a lot of built up tension. At first one ignores minor details until they all begin to pile on. Eventually, frustration overcomes all. Americans are a nation of people who get angry at lea ...

Friday, November 22, 2019

How Your Learning Style Affects How You Learn Spanish

How Your Learning Style Affects How You Learn Spanish Whats your learning style? Knowing and adjusting your studying accordingly could pay off for learning Spanish- and other subjects as well. All of us learn in our unique ways, but in general there are three common types of learning styles: Visual Auditory Kinesthetic As is probably obvious, visual learners can learn best when they see what theyre trying to learn, and auditory learners do best when they can listen. Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing or when learning involves their hands or other parts of their body. Everybody uses all of these methods at one time or another, but most of us find some methods easier than others. An auditory student may do quite well listening to plain lectures, while a visual student appreciates having explanations put on the blackboard or displayed on an overhead projector. Examples of Putting Learning Styles to Work What does all this have to do with learning Spanish? By finding out your preferred learning style, you can tailor your studies to emphasize what works best: Visual learners more often do well using books, and flashcards for rote memorization. If they also dont have a strong auditory aptitude, they may struggle with developing conversation skills. One way they can boost their listening skills is to use computer programs or video devices to provide subtitles or other visual clues to what theyre hearing.Auditory learners may have the easiest time developing conversation skills. They benefit more than other types of learners by listening to instructional tapes, watching Spanish TV, listening to Spanish radio, or listening to Spanish music.Kinesthetic or tactile learners often need to use some sort of physical activity to help themselves learn. For many, merely taking notes during class or from a textbook can help. They also do well to speak their lessons out loud, or use software that encourages interactivity. Of course, some learning methods can come two or even all three approaches. Turning on the Spanish-language subtitles for a Spanish-language TV show can benefit both visual and auditory learners. Visual-kinesthetic learners might try models or perhaps pets they can touch to learn the names of objects or components such as body parts. Visiting a place, such as a market, where Spanish is spoken might reinforce all three learning methods. In general, focus on your strengths as you learn- if more than one of these approaches works, combine them. Personal Examples Ive seen the differences in learning styles in my own home. Im a strong visual learner, and as such I found learning to converse in Spanish much more difficult than learning to read, write, or learn grammar. I also appreciate diagrams and charts as an aid in learning and am a naturally good speller simply because words spelled wrong look wrong. My wife, on the other hand, is a strong auditory learner. She has been able to pick up some Spanish simply by listening to my conversations, a feat that seems almost incomprehensible to me. Shes one of those people who knows the words to a song after the first time she hears it, and that auditory aptitude has served her well in picking up foreign languages. In college she would spend hours listening to German tapes, and years later native German speakers were surprised to find out she had never visited their country. Kinesthetic  learners can have the most difficulty learning, because schools as they are traditionally operated dont take them into account as much as they do auditory and visual learners, especially past elementary age. I have a son who is a kinesthetic learner, and it showed from an early age. Even when beginning to read he would prefer to do so while walking around the house, as if the motion of walking would somehow help him read. And more than any other child Ive seen, during the age of primary school he was prone to act out stories with his toys, something his siblings never did. Two Students’ Experiences In a forum once associated with this site, heres how one Spanish student named Jim explained his learning method that focused on an auditory approach: Many years [after high school], borne from my desire to learn, I got a Spanish/English dictionary, started watching Spanish TV every day, started listening to Spanish radio. I started learning about the great Latin music artists and culture. I used translation websites, downloaded lyrics from bilingual artists like Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Estefan. I talked with my friends who are fluent, bought People magazine in Spanish. In short my method is total immersion.In a year and a half, native Spanish speakers say my Spanish is very good. Im still striving for fluency, but Im at a good level of understanding. Of all I do find the television especially beneficial because you both see and hear. With a new television you can have the words on the screen, which really helps as well. Another adult Spanish student, named Mike, explained his combination approach like this: During my daily three hours of commuting, I listen to Spanish radio, listen to mà ºsica latina (a good two-thirds of my CDs are Latin), listen to Spanish books-on-tape, and any other audio material I can get my hands on. Id watch Spanish-language TV except that what passes for a cable company around here doesnt offer any Spanish channels.If theres a book I want to read, I try to find it in Spanish. This task has become considerably easier in the last couple of years, as publishers and booksellers in the U.S. have finally awakened to the potential of the Spanish-speaking market.I think in Spanish as much as I can, and when I talk to myself, its in Spanish. (The latter is usually advisable only while alone. One more item for the commute.)I translate, both for work and for fun.I participate with some like-minded people in a series of group tutoring sessions conducted by a Chilean lady several times a year, for six weeks at a time, with the sessions being held at a group members home. S he brings some study material and assigns some homework, but its mainly an opportunity to get together and practice our Spanish in a guided way. Much more fun than formal classes, especially since you seldom get to study with a margarita in your hand in a class! Ive downloaded and installed the Spanish-language interface for Internet Explorer and for any other program I use that has it available. At home and at work. Good practice, and remarkably effective in discouraging the monolinguals from borrowing my computer. Remember, no one learning style is inherently better than another; each has advantages and drawbacks, depending on what youre trying to learn. By adapting what you want to know to your learning style, you can make learning easier and more enjoyable.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Corporate finance 501 case assigment 5 Mergers and acquisitions Essay

Corporate finance 501 case assigment 5 Mergers and acquisitions Oracle-Sun Merger - Essay Example The paper will firstly deal with the impact of this merger on the shareholders of each of the companies. The paper will also provide a brief overview of how the financial condition of both the companies has improved post the merger. The paper will further deal with how the two companies together prove to be more profitable than each of them individually and how the companies prove to be more successful. The merger of the two companies has proven to be very helpful and beneficial to the shareholders of both the companies. Issues that have been prevalent in the organizations individually are now being treated and improved. These improvements simply mean more sales and higher revenue which in turn simply means that the shareholders earn more. The businesses provide the shareholders with a high return and together the two companies are able to beat the tough competition that they faced from companies like Microsoft. Hence with the increased availability of resources and a combination of excellent products, the company will be able to generate higher revenues thereby providing the shareholders with better results and returns. In a presentation by Sun, the company has listed out a few of the benefits for the companies individually as well as in a partnership. The report stated that for the Sun customers, ‘Oracle plans to protect, extend and enhance customers’ investments after closing’ (Sun). The company also expects that there will be higher investments and innovation in the research and development and also extended value for better and more rounded off products. Also the Sun customers will be able to use the global systems and services of Oracle. In the case of the oracle customers, ‘Reduces integration costs while improving performance, reliability and security of the system’ (Sun). The customers would also gain a complete and integrated line of standards based products as

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Power and politics strategy planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Power and politics strategy planning - Essay Example Hence, I would argue that the effectiveness of power and politics strategy planning determines the sustainability of an organization. To begin with, a firm follows specific byelaw that coordinates different business activities. Since an organization consists of large number of employees with different cultures and socio-economic backgrounds, it is not practical to frame organizational laws that would satisfy the personal interests of every employee. For the smooth running of a firm, the company management must make sure that all employees comply with the common rules of the organization. While dealing with this issue, the management employs power in order to promote obedience, discipline, and thereby cohesion within the organization. Power is the conventional tool used by organizations in order to enforce their basic byelaws; organizations have been effectively employing this tool for centuries. However, the way organizations exert power is highly crucial. When the management applies excessive power over employees, a feeling of resistance may grow among them. The resistance in turn, would impede the production process and the long term objectives of the organization. ... In other words, business houses must heed enough attention to planning power exertion strategies. It is a common fact that employees are obedient to their employers on the ground of fear rather than love. When an employer shows a liberal attitude to his employee, the employee may hesitate to take his maximum efforts as the situation does not cause any threat to his employment. On the other hand, the employee will be more sincere and responsible if the management imposes certain restrictions on him. For instance, many of the IT companies demand their employees to work for more than 12 hours. These companies also appoint an efficient supervising team to evaluate the work done by their employees. Under such circumstances, employees are forced to employ their maximum capabilities. In contrast, if these employees are given the opportunity for their work options, it will certainly impede company’s profitability. Therefore, power is an inevitable element in the strategic management o f an organization. As discussed earlier, the impact of strategic planning would be adverse if this process is not organized properly. The application of power must meet employees’ basic requirements. When an organization employs power over its employees, the management must ensure that the firm does not hurt employees’ individual rights and sentiments. Similarly, the firm management must avoid biased decisions while deploying its various powers. It has been identified that legitimacy and uncertainty are two important sources of organizational power. In the opinion of Rainey (173), many of the scholars are of the opinion that some thoughtless rules and restrictions imposed on public organizations by external forces such as

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Ultradian Rhythms Essay Example for Free

Ultradian Rhythms Essay Ultradian rhythms are bodily rhythms that last less than 24 hours. The most obvious ultradian rhythm is the different stages of sleep, existing within the ciradian rhythm of the sleep-wake cycle. Sleep is dived into cycles, each lasting about 90 minutes. During these cycles, we will experience 5 different stages of sleep- the first four being characterized as non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM), and the last stage being characterized as rapid eye movement sleep (REM). When human beings are awake, the electrical activity in their brain usually takes the form of fast, erratic brain waves. These waves are known as beta waves. During stage 1 of sleep, the brains electrical activity begins to change, with the brain waves becoming more slow and regular. This demonstrates that the persons mind is beginning to relax, and these waves are known as alpha waves. The presence of alpha waves in the brain can usually be used to indicate that the onset of sleep has occurred, and that the person is no longer awake. As well as a change in electrical activity, the persons core body temperature will also drop and their heart-beat slow down. As the sleeper goes into Stage 2 of sleep, their brain waves become even slower and a greater amplitude. These are called theta waves. This shows that the brain is becoming increasingly more relaxed. During this stage of sleep, it is common to experience sudden bursts of brain activity: known as K complexes and sleep spindles. Stages 1 and 2 of sleep are commonly referred to as being as being light sleep. This means that people in these stages of sleep can be easily awoken by external factors such as noise. Stages 3 and 4 of sleep are characterized by even slower brain waves, known as delta waves. Stages 3 and 4 are often referred to as being slow-wave sleep (SWS)- and sleep during this time is far more deep than in the previous two stages. However, the sleeper has not reached a state of unconsciousness, and can still be woken up by certain external factors (eg. Parents being woek nby the sound of their baby crying). These are the stages of sleep where most of the bodies physiological repair work occurs. It can also be associated with biochemical changes, such as the release of growth hormone taking place during this time. In these first four stages of NREM sleep, dreams have been shown to be unlikely to occur. During a study by Dement and Klietman, in which participants were woken up when their brain waves indicated certain stages of sleep, it was shown that only around 7% of participants had reported having dreams when their brain activity had indicated the stages of NREM sleep. Stage 5 of sleep, the final stage in the sleep cycle before it repeats, is known as REM sleep. This the stage of sleep where brain activity is most like that of the awake brain. It is also the stage of sleep where most dreams are likely to occur.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Commincation Today :: Essays Papers

Commincation Today The business world today is more challenging than it ever has been. Effective communication is one of the many qualities one must have to succeed. It helps one present ideas, manage employees, and handle customers. Presenting ideas is what makes businesses grow and evolve. An idea, being a formulated thought or opinion, is hard to put into words at times. Knowing how to transfer one’s thoughts into words can become the most effective aspect in communication. For example, if one was to stumble over words and fill sentences with long pauses during a business proposal, that person is not as likely to close the deal as one who speaks fluently with a steady flow of thoughts and words. Communication also helps one to manage employees. Today’s work environment is filled with many types of people. One must know how to adapt to different races, languages, and cultures to effectively communicate. If an employee were deaf, it would be necessary to communicate using sign language so that person could fully comprehend the directions given. In addition to helping manage employees, communication also helps one to deal with customers. Customers vary in ways more than employees. Customers are not in a controlled environment and are accustomed to one adapting to their specific needs and wants. Depending on the specific wants at the time, some customers may be extremely irate or hostile. One must handle this type of customer with care and know that a different approach must be taken. Doing things such as talking in a soft voice may calm the customer down, thus enabling the customer to be more reasonable. Knowing simple things such as using a calmer voice enables one to effectively take control of the situation.

Monday, November 11, 2019

E-Commerce Revenue Model

E-Commerce revenue models specifically describe different techniques used in generating income from the publisher's websites. As the e-commerce progress, the traditional revenue model of sales is expanded to more variety of revenue options and e-commerce business model. All of the large-scale hotel such as Shangri-La, Sheraton Seoul D-Cube City Hotel and others are more focus on e-commerce revenue models in order generate revenues from multiple income streams.Thus, all of these hotels were successful to use the e-commerce as a marketing strategy to increasing their customers. For the purpose to become a large scale hotel, Cube Hotel required to planning the e-commerce revenue as good as possible. With e-commerce, we can start a website and engage in the selling of our services, via the Internet. All online companies generate revenues from multiple income streams such as advertising, subscription, affiliate marketing.Consequently, we would like to discuss different of e-commerce reven ue model which can implemented on the internet in order to earn revenue, produce profits, and produce a superior return on invested capital. First of all, Cube Hotel can generate revenue from sales revenue model. Sales model is sales of goods, merchandise information and services provided in the publishers' websites. Sales model is one of the revenue models that more suitable for our hotel to earn profits. We sell our own service directly without any third parties in transaction process.We must efficiency to introduce our hotel in website in order to easier our customers to booking without third parties and could make decision to booking any rooms without any complex process. Our hotel website should not be looks outdated compared to the competition because we need to use our website to attract more customers to launch its. Hence, we must create a window to our business that highlights the difference between our and our competitors. For example, our website must full of contents suc h as upload new information, photo of our hotel environment, catalogue and others.This is because appealing content causes a site to be â€Å"sticky† – meaning that it keeps visitors clicking on links within our site, staying at our site instead of getting bored or dissatisfied, and going to another site. We do not same others companies who used e-marketplaces such as e-bay, Google, amazon. com to sell their own products or services indirectly. For example, Dell. com is generating sales revenue from its notebooks, Amazon. com is selling books, ABC Consultant may be generating income from their consultancy services online.Besides that, our revenue will increase in the future because our website gives customers the ability to preview our services before making a purchase. Services online may benefits for our customers because they can save their time to online booking, get new information about our hotel and may more understand our hotel in different perspective. Thus, c ustomers would choose online services rather than go to the physical storefront to purchase. Consequently, this sales strategy and program will be very profitable for Cube Hotel to earn based on the sale price.A major percentage of Cube Hotel also can generate by the Internet marketing. Internet marketing, also known as web marketing, online marketing, web advertising, or e-marketing, is referred to as the marketing of products or services over the Internet. Internet marketing is considered to be broad in scope because it not only refers to marketing on the Internet, but also includes marketing done via e-mail and wireless media. Internet marketing ties together the creative and technical aspects of the Internet, including design, development, advertising and sales.Cube Hotel can use internet marketing because we able to captures a wide range of customer information. Each time a visitor accesses a website they leave an information trail that includes how they got to the site, how th ey navigated through the site, what they clicked on, what was purchased, and loads of other information. We may know our customers need when they give comment to our hotel. Thus, knowing a customer's behavior and preferences opens up tremendous opportunities to cater to customer's needs and, if done correctly, the customer will respond with a long-lasting loyalty.Another most important reason why our hotel needs to have an active Internet marketing strategy is because of the transformation that has occurred in how customers seek information. While customers still visit to our hotel or look through magazines, and talk to friends to gather product information, an ever-increasing number of customers turn to the Internet as their primary knowledge source. Consequently, internet marketing is its reach ability of internet around the globe and its mass appeal. No other traditional media such as print and broadcasting can reach that number of population and if does that, it can`t attain tha t pace of reach.Through Internet marketing, targeting is possible with accuracy and efficiency. It gives us options to target customers with various available choices mainly depending upon their demographic, age, interests and need. In conclusion, no business can exist without top line revenues from sales, no matter how well the other functions are handled. Our business plan must detail how our plan to price and sell our services, and how much money we plan to make. The basics should cover three broad aspects: our selling tactics, our revenue model, and our sales cycle.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

A Brief Analysis on the Film King of Masks

The film King of Masks deals with and challenges the feudal idea that men are superior to women; this ideology, as the film portrays, results in alienation, tragedy and bitterness for girls in Chinese society and particularly the protagonist Doggie. In contrast, out of darkness, corruption, and poverty, the goodness of humanity and the human love sprung up from the master-apprentice relationship between Wang and Doggie will ultimately reign over narrow and backward traditional notions.Evidence that everyone desires a boy can be found throughout the film. In fact, preference for boys over girls is not just a fad but rather deep-rooted in Chinese society. Feudal ideas that men superior to women is embedded and prevails in Chinese culture as early as the end of the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B. C. ) during which Confucian teachings advocates and fosters gender inequality (Jiang 229). Under influence of Confucianism, women are given low status and expected to be obedient to husban d.This produces a sequence of expectations for men and women: men are expected to work outside and support family living while women only stays home and take care of family and household. This is also the reality in King of Masks, in which almost every man has a job: Wang is a street performer; Master Liang is an opera performer; Wang’s friend is a liquor dealer. However, the occupation of women is not clearly revealed. Notable examples are the crowds of women joining the parade and women from TianCi’s family whose main role is taking care of the child.It is worth noting that Master Liang plays as a female impersonator. Despite its name, a female impersonator is played by a male in traditional Chinese opera because women are believed to corrupt men on stage and thus banned from performing (Johnson 380). The storyline of the film is triggered by Wang’s quest for a male heir to pass on his secret ancestral art of BianLian or its literally meaning of changing faces . In Wang’s conversation with Master Liang, he firmly states,† only a son may inherit [the skills]. It is an ancient rule. In fact, only son has the right inherit property including all Chinese secret skills and medical prescription. Also, in Chinese tradition, boys are expected to carry on the family line and occupation whereas girls leave and separate from the family after marriage. It is then not surprising that Wang worries that his secret skill may leak out and insist on passing it to a boy. The gender inequality that feudal and Confucian ideas bring about and gender biased Chinese traditions underlies the cruelty and unfair treatment from which girls and particularly Doggie suffer.In the opening scene, the background music immediately creates a strong sense of melancholy and sadness. As Master Liang boldly admits that â€Å"no one values girls†, the society undeniably treats girls harshly. In the back alley black market, desperate parents beg to sell their daughters for very little value and yet still no one wants them. The fact that Wang paid ten dollars for Doggie is because he craves for a boy. When Doggie confesses that she was abused and sold seven times by different owners because they don’t like girls, audience can feel the bitterness and sympathize with her.Indeed, girls like Doggie experience alienation and estrangement from society and its people, including the protagonist Wang. To further illuminate, we observe a sharp change in Wang’s attitude towards Doggie after he finds out that she doesn’t have â€Å"a little tea spout! † Since their encounter, Wang enjoys being called â€Å"grandpa†; however, he asks Doggie to call him â€Å"Boss† when he feels betrayed by her. The intimacy between them dissolves; instead, emotional alienation and detachment begin to emerge. Doggie’s status changes from a beloved grandson to whom Wang determines to inherit his skill to a servant who onl y does housekeeping.Also, the pitiless gender inequality contrasts strongly with the colorful and joyful settings like opera, firework, festival, and pipe-smoking ceremony. Aside from the pain that Chinese girls bear, King of Masks also reveals poverty, hardship, corruption, and darkness that Wang and Doggie experience in the world that they live in. The mist in opening scene and overall color tone of grey suggests that Wang is paddling into a world of dullness. With his houseboat- his only sanctuary- Wang travels around to make a living by performing Bianlian in return of donation from people who appreciate his art on the street.Desperation and poverty are not only accompanying people in the slave market but also Wang: his wife left him after the death of his son; his only companion is not a human but a monkey. Master Liang’s confession that â€Å" we all have our own sorrows† reflects the folk artists fate of twists and turns and bitterness. During one performance, W ang is intimidated and oppressed by soldiers, but he can only chant woefully â€Å"The dragon in the shallows is toyed with by the shrimp†. Many proverbs like this in the film convey to audiences his hardship and helplessness.Government corruption is also disclosed in the movie when Wang is falsely charged of all kidnap cases and imprisoned. In his quest for an heir, Wang visits Buddhist temple to pray and buys a Buddha to worship in the hope that it may gift him a son. All Wang’s spiritual sustenance is on the Buddha body. This showed Wang’s inner weakness and helplessness towards his own destiny. Nevertheless, out of the darkness in this world, we witness the goodness of human nature. When Master Liang invites Wang into his theater troupe, Wang excuses himself from joining. This shows that Wang is man of independence and principle.Besides, Wang scolds Doggie for stealing a bottle of wine, also showing his integrity. In the film, Master Liang is a popular opera star cherished by his followers; nevertheless, he upholds humbleness, and just like his stage name, Master Liang is indeed a â€Å"Living Buddha† with kindness and sympathy to Wang and Doggie throughout. It is also him who offers help and plays a key role in rescuing Wang out of prison. Even some insignificant character shows the goodness of human nature: the liquor dealer offers alcohol when Wang wounds; the prison guard allows Doggie to visit Wang.King of Mask also portrays the sentimental love between an unrelated grandpa and unwanted child. In their early encounter, Wang treats Doggie as a treasure by buying new clothes, performing BianLian to entertain her, and telling her that â€Å"this is all yours† during a meal. We can also feel the sorrow and anguish in Wang’s heart when he knows that Doggie is abused by her previous owners. Along with the soothing music, when Doggie first attempts to scratch Grandpa’s back, the goodness of relationship immedi ately manifested.At the same time, Wang shows his commitment to love as he throws his scratcher into water. In fact, their relationship develops not without some complications of the storyline. This initial intimacy between grandpa and grandson almost breaks when he feels betrayed by Doggie’s lying as a boy. Despite this, he jumps into the freezing water without hesitation to save Doggie and allows her to stay. While he trains Doggie of aerobics and Doggie does the housekeeping, he gradually learns that Doggie- without â€Å"a teapot spout†- is as competent as boys.However, as one film reviewer describes, â€Å"throughout, sadness permeates [Doggie]'s every move, a reminder that acrobatic flexibility means nothing to a child throughout, sadness permeates. † Indeed, what Doggie longs for is love and recognition. Throughout, Doggie wholeheartedly tries to please Wang. Even though there is some misunderstanding in place, she appreciates Wang’s love and carin g by bringing the boy TianCi for him. As for Wang, he also cannot hide his missing of Doggie. He runs out immediately searching for Doggie.When Wang is put into jail, Doggie is panicked and desperate, she begs for help by kneeling down in front of Master Liang’s house all night long. The film reaches its climax when Doggie ventures to sacrifice herself by performing an acrobatic feat that finally touched the heart of the military official. When Wang is condemned to death, Doggie comes to visit him in prison. In that scene, Wang and Doggie are physically separated by bars between them, but the camera moves closer to doggie as if death cannot separate them now.This is soon followed by a touching moment when Wang and Doggie cries and hugs each other. It is not surprising that King of Masks finish with happy ending in which Wang inherits BianLian to Doggie and they live happily after. Beyond the surface, King of Masks reveals both the dullness and the goodness of human nature. Th rough the interaction between characters, audience can truly appreciate Master Liang’s saying â€Å"the world is a cold place but we can bring warmth to it†. Last but not least, the film praises the sentimental love between Wang and Doggie that touches the heart of every audience.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

USS Utah (BB-31) in World War II

USS Utah (BB-31) in World War II USS Utah  (BB-31) - Overview: Nation:  United States Type:  Battleship Shipyard:  New York Shipbuilding, Camden, NJ Laid Down:  March 9, 1909 Launched:  December 23, 1909 Commissioned:  August 31, 1911 Fate:  Sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor USS Utah (BB-31) - Specifications Displacement:  23,033  tons Length:  521  ft., 8 in. Beam:  88  ft., 3 in. Draft:  28  ft., 3 in Propulsion:  Parsons steam turbines turning four propellers Speed:  21  knots Complement:  1,001  men​ Armament 10 Ãâ€" 12 in./45 cal.  guns16 Ãâ€" 5  in.  guns2 Ãâ€" 21 in. torpedo tubes​ ​USS Utah (BB-31) - Design: The third type of American dreadnought battleship after the preceding  - and  classes, the  Florida-class was an evolution of these designs.   As with its forerunners,  design of the new type was  significantly influenced  by war games  conducted  at the US Naval War College.   This  was due to the fact that  no dreadnought battleships were yet in use when naval architects began their work.   Close to the  Delaware-class in arrangement, the  new type  saw the US Navy  switch from  vertical triple expansion steam engines to new steam turbines.   This change led to a lengthening of the engine rooms, removal of the after boiler room, and widening of the  remainder.   The larger boiler rooms led to an enlargement in  the overall beam of the  vessels which improved their buoyancy and metacentric height. The  Florida-class retained the fully-enclosed conning towers employed on the  Delawares as their effectiveness had been demonstrated at engagements such as the  Battle of Tsushima.   Other aspects of the superstructure, such as the funnels and lattice masts, were altered to some degree  relative to the  earlier design.   Though designers initially desired  to arm  the ships with eight 14 guns, these weapons were not  sufficiently developed and  naval architects  instead decided to  mount ten 12 guns in five twin turrets.   Placement of the turrets followed that of the  Delaware-class and saw  two situated forward in a superfiring arrangement (one firing over the other) and three aft.   The after turrets were arranged with one in a superfiring position over the other two which were located back-to-back on  the deck.   As with the preceding  ships, this layout proved problematic in that turret  Number 3  could not fire astern if Number 4 was trained forward.   Sixteen 5 guns were arranged in individual casemates as a secondary armament. Approved  by Congress, the  Florida-class consisted of  two battleships: USS  Ã‚  (BB-30) and USS  Utah  (BB-31).   Though mostly  identical,  Floridas design called for the construction  of a large, armored bridge which contained space for both directing the ship and fire control.   This proved successful and was utilized on later classes.   Conversely,  Utahs superstructure employed a traditional arrangement for these spaces.  The contract for building  Utah  went to New York Shipbuilding in Camden, NJ  and work commenced on March 9, 1909.   Building  continued over the next nine months and  the new dreadnought  slid down the ways on December 23, 1909, with Mary A. Spry, daughter of Utah  Governor William Spry, serving as sponsor.   Construction progressed over the next two  years and on August 31, 1911, Utah  enter commissioned with Captain William S. Benson in command. USS Utah (BB-31) - Early Career: Departing Philadelphia,  Utah  spent the fall conducting a shakedown cruise which included calls at Hampton Roads, Florida, Texas, Jamaica, and Cuba.   In March 1912, the battleship joined the Atlantic Fleet and commenced routine maneuvers and drills.   That summer,  Utah  embarked midshipmen from the US Naval Academy for a summer training cruise.   Operating off the New England coast, the battleship returned to Annapolis in late August.   Having completed this duty,  Utah  resumed peacetime training operations with the fleet.   These continued until late 1913 when it crossed the Atlantic and embarked on a goodwill tour of Europe and the Mediterranean. In early 1914, with tensions rising with Mexico, Utah  moved to the Gulf of Mexico.   On April 16, the battleship received orders to intercept the German steamer SS  Ypiranga  which contained an arms shipment for Mexican dictator Victoriano Huerta.   Eluding American warships, the steamer reached Veracruz.   Arriving at  the port,  Utah,  Florida, and additional warships  landed seamen and Marines on April 21 and, after a sharp battle, began the US occupation of Veracruz.   After remaining in Mexican waters for the next two months,  Utah  departed for New York where it entered the yard for an overhaul.   This complete, it rejoined the Atlantic Fleet and spent the next two years in its normal training cycle. USS Utah (BB-31) - World War I: With the US entry into World War I in April 1917, Utah  moved to the Chesapeake Bay where it spent the next sixteen months training engineers and gunners for the fleet.   In August 1918, the battleship received orders for Ireland and departed for Bantry Bay with Vice Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet,  aboard.   Arriving,  Utah  became flagship  of Rear Admiral Thomas S. Rodgers Battleship Division 6.   For the final two months of the war, the battleship protected convoys in the Western Approaches with USS Nevada  (BB-36) and USS Oklahoma  (BB-37). In December,  Utah helped escort President Woodrow Wilson, aboard the liner SS  George Washington, to Brest, France as he traveled to the peace negotiations at Versailles. Returning to New York on Christmas Day,  Utah  remained there through January 1919 before resuming peacetime training with the Atlantic Fleet.   In July 1921, the battleship crossed the Atlantic and made port calls in Portugal and France.   Remaining abroad, it served as flagship of US Navys presence in Europe until October 1922.   Rejoining Battleship Division 6,  Utah took part in Fleet Problem III in early 1924 before embarking General John J. Pershing for a diplomatic tour of South America.   With the conclusion of this mission in March 1925, the battleship conducted a midshipman training cruise that summer before entering Boston Navy Yard for a significant modernization.   This saw its coal-fired boilers replaced with oil-fired ones, the trunking of its two funnels into one, and the removal of the aft cage mast.    USS Utah (BB-31) - Later Career: With the completion of the modernization in December 1925,  Utah  served with the Scouting Fleet.   On November 21, 1928, it again sailed for  sailing South America.   Reaching Montevideo, Uruguay,  Utah  brought on board President-elect Herbert Hoover.   After a brief call at Rio de Janeiro, the battleship returned Hoover home in early 1929.   The following year, the United States signed the London Naval Treaty.   A follow-on to the earlier Washington Naval Treaty, the agreement placed limits on the size of the signatories fleets.   Under the terms of the treaty,  Utah  underwent a conversion into an unarmed, radio-controlled target ship.   Replacing USS  Ã‚  (BB-29) in this role, it was re-designated AG-16.    Recommissioned  in April 1932,  Utah  shifted to San Pedro, CA in June.   Part of Training Force 1, the ship fulfilled its new role for the majority of the 1930s.   During this time, it also took part in Fleet Problem XVI as well as served as a training platform for anti-aircraft gunners.   Returning to the Atlantic in 1939,  Utah  participated in Fleet Problem XX in January and training with Submarine Squadron 6 later that fall.   Moving back to the Pacific the following year, it arrived at Pearl Harbor on August 1, 1940.   Over the next year it operated between Hawaii and the West Coast as well as served as a bombing target for aircraft from the carriers USS  Lexington  (CV-2), USS  Saratoga  (CV-3), and USS  Enterprise  (CV-6).    USS Utah (BB-31) - Loss at Pearl Harbor: Returning to Pearl Harbor in the fall of 1941, it was berthed off Ford Island on December 7 when the Japanese attacked.   Though the enemy focused their efforts on the ships moored along Battleship Row,  Utah  took a torpedo hit at 8:01 AM.   This was followed by a second which caused the ship to list to port.   During this time, Chief Watertender Peter Tomich remained below decks to ensure that key machinery continued to operate which allowed  the majority of the crew to evacuate.   For his actions, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor.   At 8:12 AM, Utah  rolled to port and capsized.   Immediately thereafter, its commander, Commander Solomon Isquith, could hear trapped crewmen banging on the hull. Securing torches, he attempted to cut as many men free as possible. In the attack,  Utah  suffered 64 killed.   Following the successful righting of  Oklahoma, attempts  were made to salvage the old ship.   These proved unsuccessful and efforts were abandoned as Utah  had no military value.   Formally decommissioned on September 5, 1944, the battleship was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register two months later.   The wreck remains in place at Pearl Harbor and is considered a war grave.   In 1972, a memorial was constructed to recognize  the sacrifice of  Utahs crew. Selected Sources: DANFS: USS  Utah  (BB-31)NHHC: USS  Utah  (BB-31)MaritimeQuest: USS  Utah  (BB-31)

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Ice Breaker for Classrooms - The Name Game

Ice Breaker for Classrooms - The Name Game This icebreaker is ideal for almost any setting because no materials are needed, your group can be divided into manageable sizes, and you want your participants to get to know each other anyway. Adults learn best when they know the people surrounding them. You may have people in your group who hate this icebreaker so much they’ll still remember everyone’s name two years from now! You can make it harder by requiring everyone to add an adjective to their name that starts with the same letter (e.g. Cranky Carla, Blue-eyed Bob, Zesty Zelda). You get the gist. Ideal Size Up to 30. Larger groups have tackled this game, but it becomes increasingly harder unless you break into smaller groups. Application You can use this game to facilitate  introductions in the classroom or at a meeting. This is also a fabulous game for classes involving memory. Time Needed Depends entirely on the size of the group and how much trouble people have remembering. Materials Needed None. Instructions Instruct the first person to give his or her name with a descriptor: Cranky Carla. The second person gives the first person’s name and then his own name: Cranky Carla, Blue-eyed Bob. The third person starts at the beginning, reciting each person before her and adding her own: Cranky Carla, Blue-eyed Bob, Zesty Zelda. Debriefing If you’re teaching a class that involves memory, debrief by talking about the effectiveness of this game as a memory technique. Were certain names easier to remember than others? Why? Was it the letter? The adjective? A combination? Additional Name Game Ice Breakers Introduce Another Person: Divide the class into partners. Have each person talk about himself to the other. You can offer a specific instruction, such as tell your colleague about your greatest accomplishment. After switching, the participants introduce each other to the class.What Have You Done Thats Unique: Request each person introduce himself by stating something hes done that he thinks no one else in the class has.  If someone else has done it, the person has to try again to find something unique!Find Your Match: Ask each person to write two or three statements on a card, such as an interest, goal or dream vacation. Distribute the cards so each person gets someone else’s. The group has to mingle until each person finds the one who matches their card.Describe Your Name: When people introduce themselves, ask them to talk about how they got their name (first or last name). Perhaps they were named after someone specific, or maybe their last name means something in an ancest ral language. Fact or Fiction: Ask each person to reveal one true thing and one false when introducing themselves. The participants have to guess which is which.The Interview: Pair up participants and have one interview the other for a few minutes and then switch. They can ask about interests, hobbies, favorite music, and more. When finished, have each person write three words to describe their partner and reveal them to the group. (example: My partner John is witty, irreverent, and motivated.)

Saturday, November 2, 2019

The Separation of Church and State Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Separation of Church and State - Essay Example The Separation of Church and State The separation of church and state is distancing the relationship of the organized religion and the nation. The second reason is that the church might harm the state by starting a war because of wrongful religious convictions. The state also can harm the church when it dictates on religious ceremonies or by forcing religious leaders on civic matters that offend the church. There are 4 kinds of power: Physical, wealth, influence and authority. These powers can be misused in controlling others and can be dangerous when combined. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely hence no one should have this kind power hence the need to separate the two entities. With the separation of church and state, religious leaders should not have no right to interfere in policy decisions made by the government. It is actually inappropriate for policies by the government to be based solely on religious beliefs and doctrines. This does not mean that officials in the government should abandon their faith to take part in the political process or that it is wrong to take up moral and religious values in politics. Moral dimensions also exist in both social and public policies including budgets which are inherent moral documents. Decisions such as tax increments and public spending affect the society and reflect a community’s priorities. Policy decision that affects peoples’ lives such as laws condemning murder and theft are rooted from religious teachings and are shared broadly across secular and religious lines. However, a public official has no right to base decisions or cite religious beliefs as a reason for failure to uphold the duties and responsibilities of their office. Religious leaders should only advice or be consulted but not having a seat at the decision table. They can comment, condemn or support the policies but only as the church’s opinion and not as the general public†™s. The Family brought a fresh perspective on influential evangelists such as Charles Finney, Jonathan Edwards and Billy Graham. The book also gives a new understanding of leaders including Senators Sam Brownback and Hillary Clinton and former senator Dan Coats, Jack Kemps and religious right leaders Chuck Colson, Ted Haggard and Bill Bright. In the book, we learn how the legislative precedent for George Bush’s faith initiative was brought up by ideas from The Family and was sponsored by Family members, Republican Senators Ashcroft and Coats with assistance from Hillary Clinton. According to Sharlet (29), the author of The Family, members of this organization rarely step out of the shadows but only on one public event, the Prayer Breakfast which is annually hosted in the Whitehouse. When the government is lobbying efforts of most religious institutions, their activities are usually done in the darkness even as people of numerous influences routinely pressure lawmakers on is sues ranging from international relations to healthcare or abortion rights to poverty. This was designed by the government when congress passed the Lobbying Disclosure Act in 1995 (Sharlet 15). The act provided a few exceptions including lobbying communications done by a church. The separation of state and the church is very important to the American government, but it is usually vague and murky. Americans want their legislators to pass good laws that result in a good society and good citizenship. Religious leaders do not have two perspectives of good, one secular and one religious. A legislator has to believe in the