The Geography of Crimea

The Geography of Crimea Crimea is a region of the southern area of Ukraine on the Crimean Peninsula. It is located along the Black Sea and covers almost the entire area of the peninsula with the exception of the Sevastopol, a city that is currently being disputed by Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine considers Crimea to be within its jurisdiction, while Russia considers it a portion of its territory. Recent severe political and social unrest in Ukraine led to a referendum on March 16, 2014, in which the majority of Crimea’s population voted to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. This has caused global tension and opponents claim that the election was unconstitutional. History of Crimea Throughout its very long history, the Crimean Peninsula and present-day Crimea have been under the control of a number of different peoples. Archeological evidence shows that the peninsula was inhabited by Greek colonists in the 5th-century BCE and since then there have been many different conquests and invasions. Crimea’s modern history began in 1783 when the Russian Empire annexed the area. In February 1784 Catherine the Great created the Taurida Oblast and Simferopol became the center of the oblast later that same year. At the time of Taurida Oblast’s establishment it was divided into 7 uyezds (an administrative subdivision). In 1796 Paul I abolished the oblast and the area was divided into two uyezds. By 1799 the largest towns in the territory were Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yalta, Yevpatoria, Alushta, Feodosiya, and Kerch. In 1802 Crimea became part of a new Taurida Governate that included all of Crimea and a portion of mainland areas surrounding the peninsula. The Taurida Governate’s center was Simferopol. In 1853 the Crimean War began and much of Crimea’s economic and social infrastructure was badly damaged as most of the war’s large battles were fought in the area. During the war, native Crimean Tatars were forced to flee the region. The Crimean War ended in 1856. In 1917 the Russian Civil War began and control of Crimea changed around ten times as various political entities were set up on the peninsula. On October 18, 1921, the Crimean Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic was established as a part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (SFSR). Throughout the 1930s Crimea suffered from social problems as its Crimean Tatar and Greek populations were repressed by the Russian government. In addition, two large famines occurred, one from 1921-1922 and another from 1932-1933, that exacerbated the region’s problems. In the 1930s, a large amount of Slavic peoples moved into Crimea and altered the area’s demographics. Crimea was hit hard during World War II and by 1942 much of the peninsula was occupied the German Army. In 1944 troops from the Soviet Union took control of Sevastopol. During that same year, the region’s Crimean Tatar population was deported to central Asia by the Soviet government as they were accused of collaborating with Nazi occupation forces. Shortly thereafter the region’s Armenian, Bulgarian and Greek populations were also deported. On June 30, 1945, the Crimean Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republic was abolished and it became the Crimean Oblast of the Russian SFSR. In 1954 control of the Crimean Oblast was transferred from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. During this time Crimea grew into a large tourist destination for the Russian population. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Crimea became a part of Ukraine and much of the Crimean Tatar population that was deported returned. This led to tensions and protests over land rights and allocations and political representatives from the Russian community in Crimea sought to strengthen the region’s ties with the Russian government. In 1996 Ukraine’s constitution specified that Crimea would be an autonomous republic but any legislation in its government would have to work with Ukraine’s government. In 1997 Russia officially recognized Ukraine’s sovereignty over Crimea. Throughout the rest of the 1990s and into the 2000s, a controversy over Crimea remained and anti-Ukrainian demonstrations took place in 2009. In late February 2014 severe political and social unrest began in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, after Russia suspended a proposed financial aid package. On February 21, 2014, Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yanukovych agreed to accept a weakening presidency and hold new elections by the end of the year. Russia however, refused the deal and the opposition escalated their protests causing Yanukovych to flee Kyiv on February 22, 2014. An interim government was put into place but further demonstrations began to take place in Crimea. During these protests, Russian extremists took over several government buildings in Simferopol and raised the Russian flag. On March 1, 2014, Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, dispatched troops to Crimea, stating that Russia needed to protect the ethnic Russians in the region from extremists and anti-government protestors in Kyiv. By March 3rd, Russia was in control of Crimea. As a result of Crimea’s unrest, a referendum was held on March 16, 2014, to determine whether Crimea would remain a part of Ukraine or be annexed by Russia. The majority of Crimea’s voters approved secession but many opponents claim that the vote was unconstitutional and Ukraine’s interim government claimed that it would not accept the secession. Despite these claims, lawmakers in Russia approved a treaty on March 20, 2014, to annex Crimea amid international sanctions. On March 22, 2014, Russian troops began storming air bases in Crimea in an effort to force Ukrainian forces from the region. In addition, a Ukrainian warship was seized, protesters seized a Ukrainian naval base and pro-Russian activists held protests and rallies in Ukraine. By March 24, 2014, Ukrainian forces began to withdraw from Crimea. Government and People of Crimea Today, Crimea is considered a semi-autonomous region. It has been annexed by Russia and is considered a part of Russia by that country and its supporters. However, since Ukraine and many western countries deemed the March 2014 referendum to be illegal they still consider Crimea a part of Ukraine. Those in opposition say that the vote was illegal because it â€Å"violated Ukraine’s newly re-forged constitution and amounts to †¦ [an attempt]†¦by Russia to expand its borders to the Black Sea peninsula under a threat of force. At the time of this writing, Russia was moving forward with plans to annex Crimea despite Ukraine’s and international opposition. Russia’s main claim for wanting to annex Crimea is that it needs to protect the ethnic Russian citizens in the region from extremists and the interim government in Kyiv. The majority of Crimea’s population identifies themselves as ethnic Russian (58%) and over 50% of the population speaks Russian. Economics of Crimea Crimea’s economy is based mainly on tourism and agriculture. The city of Yalta is a popular destination on the Black Sea for many Russians as are Alushta, Eupatoria, Saki, Feodosia, and Sudak. The main agricultural products of Crimea are cereals, vegetables, and wine. Cattle, poultry and sheep breeding are also important and Crimea is home to a variety of natural resources like salt, porphyry, limestone, and ironstone. Geography and Climate of Crimea Crimea is located on the northern part of the Black Sea and on the western part of the Sea of Azov. It also borders Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast. Crimea occupies the land making up the Crimean Peninsula, which is separated from Ukraine by the Sivash system of shallow lagoons. Crimea’s coastline is rugged and made up of several bays and harbors. Its topography is relatively flat as most of the peninsula is made up of semiarid steppe or prairie lands. The Crimean Mountains are along its southeast coast. Crimea’s climate is temperate continental in its interior and summers are hot, while winters are cold. Its coastal regions are milder and precipitation is low throughout the region.

USS Langley (CVL-27) - World War II

USS Langley (CVL-27) - World War II USS Langley  (CVL-27) - Overview: Nation:  United States Type:  Aircraft Carrier Shipyard:  New York Shipbuilding Corporation Laid Down:  April, 11, 1942 Launched:  May 22, 1943 Commissioned:  August 31, 1943 Fate:  Sold for scrap, 1964 USS Langley (CVL-27) - Specifications Displacement:  11,000 tons   Length:  622 ft., 6 in. Beam:  109 ft. 2 in. Draft:  26 ft. Propulsion:  Four boilers powering 4 General Electric turbines, 4 Ãâ€" shafts Speed:  31 knots Complement:  1,569 men USS Langley  (CVL-27) - Armament 26 Ãâ€"  Bofors 40 mm guns Aircraft 30-45 aircraft USS Langley (CVL-27) - Design: With  World War II raging in Europe and rising tensions with Japan, US President Franklin D.  Roosevelt became worried over the fact that the US Navy did not expect any new aircraft carriers to join the fleet prior to 1944.   As a result, in 1941 he asked the General Board to investigate whether any of the cruisers then under construction could be converted into carriers to supplement the fleets  Lexington-  and  Yorktown-class  ships.   Completing their report on October 13, the General Board offered that while such conversions were possible, the amount of compromise required would badly reduce their effectiveness.   As a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Roosevelt pushed the issue and directed the Bureau of Ships (BuShips) to conduct a second study. Responding on October 25, BuShips stated that such conversions were possible and, while the ships would have reduced capabilities relative to existing fleet carriers, they could be finished much faster.   After the Japanese  attack on Pearl Harbor  on December 7 and US entry into World War II, the US Navy accelerated the construction of the new  Essex-class  fleet carriers and decided to convert several  Cleveland-class light cruisers, then being built, into light carriers.   As conversion plans were finished, they offered more potential than initially hoped.    Featuring narrow and short flight and hangar decks, the new  Independence-class required blisters to be attached to the cruiser hulls to aid in offsetting the increased weight topside.   Maintaining their original cruiser speed of 30 knots, the class was significantly faster than other types of light and escort carriers which allowed them to sail in company with the US Navys fleet carriers.   Due to their smaller size, the  Independence-class carriers air groups often totaled around 30 aircraft.   While initially intended to be an even mix of fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers, by 1944 air groups were often fighter heavy. USS Langley (CVL-27) - Construction: The sixth ship of the new class, USS Crown Point (CV-27) was ordered as the  Cleveland-class light cruiser USS Fargo (CL-85).   Prior to construction commencing, it was designated for conversion to a light carrier.   Laid down on April 11, 1942 at New York Shipbuilding Corporation (Camden, NJ), the ships name was changed to Langley that November in honor of USS Langley (CV-1) which had been lost in combat.   Construction progressed and the carrier entered the water on May 22, 1943 with Louise Hopkins, wife of Special Adviser to the President Harry L. Hopkins, serving as sponsor.   Re-designated CVL-27 on July 15 to identify it as a light carrier, Langley entered commission on  August 31 with Captain W.M. Dillon in command.   After conducting shakedown exercises and training in the Caribbean that fall, the new carrier departed for Pearl Harbor on December 6. USS Langley (CVL-27) - Joining the Fight:        Ã‚   Following additional training in Hawaiian waters, Langley joined Rear Admiral Marc A. Mitschers Task Force 58 (Fast Carrier Task Force) for operations against the Japanese in the Marshall Islands.   Beginning on January 29, 1944, the carriers aircraft began striking targets in support of the landings on Kwajalein.   With the capture of the island in early February, Langley remained in the Marshalls to cover the attack on Eniwetok while the bulk of TF 58 moved west to mount a series of raids against Truk.   Replenishing at Espiritu Santo, the carriers planes returned to the air in late March and early April to strike Japanese forces in Palau, Yap, and Woleai.   Steaming south late in April, Langley aided in General Douglas MacArthurs landings at Hollandia, New Guinea. USS Langley (CVL-27) - Advancing on Japan: Completing raids against Truk in late April, Langley made port at Majuro and prepared for operations in the Marianas.   Departing in June, the carrier began launching attacks against targets on Saipan and Tinian on the 11th.   Helping to cover the landings on Saipan four days later, Langley remained in the area as its planes aided the troops ashore.   On June 19-20, Langley took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea as Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa attempted to disrupt the campaign in the Marianas.   A decisive victory for the Allies, the fighting saw three Japanese carriers sunk and over 600 aircraft destroyed.   Remaining in the Marianas until August 8, Langley then departed for Eniwetok. Sailing later in the month, Langley supported troops during the Battle of Peleliu in September before proceeding to the Philippines a month later.   Initially in place to protect the landings on Leyte, the carrier saw extensive action during the Battle of Leyte Gulf beginning on October 24.   Attacking Japanese warships in the Sibuyan Sea, Langleys aircraft later took part in the action off Cape Engaà ±o.   Over the next several weeks, the carrier remained in the Philippines and attacked targets around the archipelago before withdrawing to Ulithi on December 1. Returning to action in January 1945, Langley provided cover during the Lingayen Gulf landings on Luzon and joined its consorts in conducting a series of raids across the South China Sea.    Steaming north, Langley launched attacks against mainland Japan and Nansei Shoto before aiding in the invasion of Iwo Jima.   Returning to Japanese waters, the carrier continued to strike targets ashore into March.   Shifting south, Langley then assisted in the invasion of Okinawa.   During April and May, it split its time between supporting troops ashore and mounting attacks against Japan.   In need of an overhaul, Langley departed the Far East on May 11 and made for San Francisco.   Arriving on June 3, it spent the next two months in the yard receiving repairs and undergoing a modernization program.   Emerging on August 1, Langley departed the West Coast for Pearl Harbor.   Reaching Hawaii a week later, it was there when hostilities ended on August 15. USS Langley (CVL-27) - Later Service: Pressed into duty in Operation Magic Carpet, Langley made two voyages in the Pacific to carry American servicemen home.   Transferred to the Atlantic in October, the carrier completed two trips to Europe as part of the operation.   Finishing this duty in January 1946, Langley was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia and decommissioned on February 11, 1947.   After four years in reserve, the carrier was transferred to France on January 8, 1951 under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.   Re-named La Fayette (R-96), it saw service in the Far East as well as in the Mediterranean during the 1956 Suez Crisis.   Returned to the US Navy on March 20, 1963, the carrier was sold for scrap to the Boston Metals Company of Baltimore a year later. Selected Sources ​DANFS: USS  Langley  (CVL-27) NavSource: USS  Langley  (CVL-27)WW2DB: USS  Langley  (CVL-27)

Journals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Journals - Essay Example Once arrested in 2000, his computer using rights were severely restricted and he was denied access to the Internet. Mafiaboy's motivation was nothing but entertainment for himself and a proof of his capability. The authorities later found that he didn't even have the genius skills that other hackers possess. But he was someone who wanted to prove to himself that he could pull off something major. Crime hurts society and while in some rare cases motivation for crime may find ethical justification, in most cases the societal and economic damage far outweigh any ethical justification. In this case for example the boy slowed down the website which is accessed by millions around the world every second. The website contains vital information on world affairs and by denying people a right to access the website in a timely fashion, this boy caused economic as well as societal damage with loss of time and money. It is amazing that in most computer crime cases, system managers fail to detect the crime because of their subtleness. A third-party or the offender normally reports these crimes. It is very likel y that the same thing happened with this case as well where users reported the slow respond they received when accessing the site instead of the system managers detecting it.

Final work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final work - Essay Example We detail phonemic inventories, phonotactics, Inflectional morphology and simple sentences in the language studied. We also discuss about pragmatics of wordplay and question formation strategies. The language chosen here is called Pitjantjatjara. It is from central Australia and it is a dialect of the Western Desert Language (Andrew).this is because of its interestingness and its similarity to my language Sei. My consonant inventory consist bilabial, labiodental, alveolar, retroflex, palatal, velar, uvular, and glottal. There is Glottal, Uvular and Labiodental in my language which are not there in Pitjantjatjara. However both Pitjantjatjara and Sei do have Plosives, Nasals and Bilabials. It has 20 constants, 20 vowels from front to back and from close to open. In â€Å"sei†, onsets are required and complex onset are allowed. For instance, the word [Ê‹É ¸y], which means water in English can be CCV and CC is the onset is the nucleus. In this case complex onsets are allowed in â€Å"sei†. Polar questions are the questions want more complex answers other than yes or no. Content questions are the questions that use â€Å"what† to ask the question (Bischoff and Fountain). In my language, polar questions are similar to those in English. However, content questions in my language we put â€Å"what† in front of the sentence instead of the beginning. For example: In this paper my goal was to understand linguistics and I have focused on the key aspects of linguistics. I have focused on the sound system, morphology and syntax and question formation and pragmatics. From these chapters I feel I know linguistics and I realize that every language is dynamic and

The Popularity of Mixed Martial Arts Essay Example for Free

The Popularity of Mixed Martial Arts Essay For many fight fans, the allure of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has surpassed a traditional boxing match in terms of action and excitement even though Mixed Martial Arts is nothing new. In a sense, all martial arts styles have guided us to the creation of what we now refer to as MMA. Along with this and for quite some time, possibly before history was ever documented, fighters of all levels and styles have been practicing and testing their skills. But with change in time, so did the sport in many aspects. Through the many years of evolution, Mixed Martial Arts is currently the most popular and the fastest growing sport in the world. Having started around 648 B. C. in Greece, the most primitive contact sports or martial arts with few rules or a â€Å"no-holds-barred† concept was called pankration, placing itself amongst the other sports in the Olympic games. (Rousseau) It was an aggressive sport, a combination of boxing and wrestling techniques. In the 1800s, â€Å"no-holds-barred† events occurred when wrestlers who represented various martial styles competed throughout Europe. â€Å"Merikan† fighting in the early 1900s, which featured boxing versus Jiu Jitsu masters. Bruce Lee was significant having influencing MMA as he conquered in boxing, karate, judo, and other styles and combined them to develop a form of fighting greater than any other. His contributions have not gone unnoticed, as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White has gone so far to call Lee, â€Å"the father of mixed martial arts. † (â€Å"Mixed Martial Arts Timeline†, 2007) With a new legion of fighters who train in various styles, the sport of MMA has greatly come together, to include the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993, which quickly became an overnight success. Mixed Martial Arts has â€Å"achieved a high level of popularity around the globe in recent years† thanks to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, especially being supported in Japan and the United States. With stars such as Chuck Liddell, Rampage Jackson, Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans, and Wanderlei Silva leading the way, the sport was venerable to a break through and achieved mainstream popularity. Regular coverage on ESPN and promotion in the pages of such popular publications has shown mixed martial arts continuing its spectacular rise having â€Å"surpassed boxing in popularity and poised for bigger and better things†. Megamass). Besides being a real show of entertainment, MMA is a sport of high-performance. As was the case with most martial arts at the time, fighters were typically skilled in just one discipline and had little practice when facing opponents with different skills. When the Ultimate Fighting Championship first started, there were few rules, no division of weight classes, time-sensitivity, or security equipment. For example, Keith â€Å"The Giant Killer† Hackney, with a 9† height difference and 400-pound weight difference, faced Emmanuel Yarborough at UFC 3. â€Å"UFC History†) Many martial artists held that having the skill could overcome such advantages, that a â€Å"skilled fighter could use an opponent’s size and strength against him. † (â€Å"UFC History†). It was quickly proved with the many defeats by 170-pound Royce Gracie that the outcome is not always determined by the size of a person. The UFC hit success on Pay-Per-View and home video almost instantaneously due to the originality, realism, and wide press coverage, even though not all of it was positive. The blood and brutality of the sport generated a loud and powerful backlash. The disposition of the rapidly increasing sport hastily brought attention to the authorities. UFC events were then banned in a number of States. In order to subsist, the UFC improved its cooperation and collaborated with the state athletic commissions and deliberated its rules to eliminate the less acceptable elements of fights, while preserving the core elements of striking and grappling. Weight classes were established, and gloves became mandatory. Then there was the introduction of restrictions on permissible striking areas, barring head butts, groin strikes, strikes to the back of the neck and head, kicks to an opponent who was down, small joint manipulation, pressure point strikes, and hair pulling. When the time limit of five-minute rounds was introduced, the UFC had become acknowledged as a sport rather than an act or spectacle. By 2001, the UFC â€Å"brand† had completely restructured Mixed Martial Arts into a highly systematic and controlled combat sport. With Mixed Martial Arts booming with popularity, training centers and dojos are filling up with new students everyday. Many of the professional fighters have opened gyms where they train the next generation of fighters to become the next champion. Amateur fight nights are organized all the time in order for the more novice fighters to work their way on getting recognized for a chance to go professional. Shows like Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV is an example of up and coming professional fighters training and fighting to win a chance at a professional contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. If not for the next championship title, many people fight for the fun nature of the sport. Combat sports, even now with the rules and regulations, is still and always will be a popular blood sport. The fans are intrigued to see strength and skills prevail in fights. Adrenaline runs through the roaring crowds as they cheer on their best contenders. From the days of the Coliseum to â€Å"the Octagon† at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the quick rise in gym openings and more live-aired Pay-Per-View events, Mixed Martial Arts has become a prominent commonplace in both the martial arts world and the entertainment industry.

Pi and Richard Parker in Life of Pi Essay example -- Yann Martel

Pi gives two renditions of his 227 days on the ocean. His second version, instead of involving animals, claims that other survivors from the ship are present. Pi witnesses and takes part in cannibalism, going against his vegetarianism and human nature. Pi also commits murder in this adaptation of his story, killing his mother’s murderer, a reality that is hard for Pi to come to terms with. Since this event is easier for him to cope with if is not the one directly involved in the killing, he replaces himself with Richard Parker. Thus, as shown by Pi’s creation of others in order to suppress guilt, the mind can invent or distort memories in order to preserve one’s sanity and spiritual survival. The same mechanism of self preservation of the mind is shown in the movie Castaway (2000). In the movie, Chuck is the only survivor of a plane crash and he must survive a island. Humans cannot bear isolation. To cope with his loneliness, Chuck creates Wilson, a volleyball with a face drawn with blood, and treats Wilson as if he is an individual. To Chuck, Wilson is someone to engage in conversation with and a close friend. Wilson’s creation illustrates how humans will do anything to cope with loneliness, prevent insanity, and ultimately survive. â€Å"I must say a word about fear. It is life's only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life,† (Martel, 203). On his trek, Pi faces a multitude of different fears and overcomes each one of them in order to survive. One of Pi’s greatest fears is Richard Parker, the deadly Bengal tiger. Pi realizes that he has to cope with Richard Parker, regardless of his natural fear, since they are in the lifeboat together. Pi cannot run away, he must take action. He states, â€Å"I couldn’t always be runnin... ...s, a group of stranded schoolboys show their need for each other’s company. The first thing the boys do is seek each other out once they arrive on the uninhabited island. The boys are young and cannot tend to their needs alone, thus it is necessary for them collaborate in order to survive. Within the group, a hierarchy of leadership is established. One person is viewed as their chief, someone of considerable wisdom and charisma to guide them. The main focus of their group is survival, however, there are two philosophies on how to survive within the group. This causes the group break into factions. Even though there are disagreements between individuals, they continue to stick together and form groups. This illustrates how collaboration between individuals is essential for survival in dire situations and how people will work together if their existence depends on it.

School Dress Code Standards

Most schools impose regulations on how students should dress. The sole intent is to keep students safe and get focused on academics. A well centered dress code couple with other appropriate interventions can have a position impacts on the fraternity of the school’s social environment (Hanks, 2004). School Dress Code Standards The supporters of the dress codes have come up with a list of advantages of standardized dress code in school. First, a sincere concern about safety is an overriding impetus towards the implementation of dress code policies. If everyone in school dresses alike there will be less violence in schools. There is a definite connection between clothing style and violence in schools. This is because many students will associate an image or sometimes a stigma to certain styles mostly gang-style clothing (Hanks, 2004) In many cases students have become targets of unintentional violence simply because of wearing a certain color combination which can be afflicted to a certain gang. An example is a popular style where boys wear baggy pants and oversized shirts. This image is closely associated with inner-city gang members who wear such loose fitting clothes so as to better hide weapons or drugs, which can also be carried to schools (Hanks, 2004). The students hunger to be fashionable is another dimension connecting clothing style and school violence. In this case students may envy other children’s clothes due to the lack of financial resources to purchase similar clothes and get abreast with style. Subsequently students’ have been injured or even get killed for their designers’ clothes or the professional sport-team paraphernalia. When students feel safe and secure they tend to perform better academically. Hence, enhancing academic performance is another argument that favours dress code policies (Feiler, 2004). Dress code in general helps children to follow on their school work instead of paying attention to what they and others are wearing. Imposing a dress code will prohibit wearing of clothing that can be disruptive. The other benefits attached t uniforms that can help enhance performance, includes; enhanced displine, respect for teachers, fewer distractions and improved classroom behavior. The other point to make on dress code in schools is the peer pressure. Middle school students’ can sometimes become cruel. In this case, if a child does not wear the right brand or style of clothing other student can make life a difficult for that student (Feiler, 2004). By removing the status depicted by clothing labels uniform becomes a great equalizer. The income of the child’s family is also concealed by the uniform which can thus eliminate a mark of distinction or shame. If the school uniform is attractive it promotes school spirit and self image the same way an athletic team uniform promotes spirit and unity (Feiler, 2004). If a dress code is instituted, many families will realize the great benefit of not having to buy so many expensive clothes for their children who maybe fashion conscious. With some comparisons the cost of uniform is significantly less compared to the cost of the latest fashions. Parents will also welcome uniforms because they have an added peace to the home. This means that if the school imposes what to the students should wear to school it will become one less battle to fight in the morning (Feiler, 2004). Dressing seductively poses a great distraction to the opposite sex. This makes sense why it’s important to put restrictions to what can worn in school. Sexual thoughts are frequent in middle school and in high school and hence most students do not need visual aids because their imagination is active enough. Uniform makes school not to be the appropriate avenue to express oneself especially in terms of clothing. The student should use his mind and voice so as to appropriately express his thoughts opinions and questions. Uniform and dress codes should be used as a part of life. Most of jobs have certain kind of restrictions that pertains to dress. Children and students should be made to adhere to simple roles such as those of dress codes while in school (Craik, 2005). Attendance is improved by imposing school uniform because the student will always have something acceptable to wear. Sometimes students may miss school just because they do not have something cool to wear or because their shirt that was cool was wet to wear to school. How we dress matters a lot as even for the entrepreneurs that work out of their home tend to feel that their working is more productive if they dress appropriately other than working in pajamas (Craik, 2005) Conclusion Students should dress respectively when in school. They can be allowed to wear what they want but only to a certain extent. They should not be allowed to wear their pants around their knees or miniskirts. This is sloppy and does not show self respect or self confidence. Also there is no business that wants to hire a man with pants down her knees. If one wants a good job, then one needs too wear properly, as this shows respect. There are many reasons to why schools should impose dress codes its not for the hindrance of individuality but to promote a better life and one’s self-confidence. If you want to have a good education and a well paying job you have to dress for it (Craik, 2005)

After Twenty Years Essay

â€Å"After Twenty Years† by O. Henry, is a great story. It is about two men who are great friends; they schedule a meeting so they can meet after twenty years, hence the title of the story. This story illustrates that people change but that does not necessarily mean in a good way! I had many friends when i changed schools and none of the friends i had changed in a good way, they now smoke and dress inappropriately. â€Å"After Twenty Years† really grabs the reader’s attention and O. Henry made a surprise ending that caused the story to end with a BANG! it truly was an amazing story. Bob and Jimmy were great friends and scheduled an appointment to meet after twenty years in front of an old restaurant. BY the time the day comes, the restaurant is now a shop. Bob was waiting in front of the locked doors that night when a cop approaches him and right away, Bob explains why he is there to assure the cop its okay for him to be there. To me, it seems a little suspicious to explain right away. The cop listens and planned to stay. Then he lights a cigar and the cop got glimpse of his face. After hearing the story he walks away. Twenty minutes later, JImmy shows up. They go walking and talk about how Bob is wealthy and that he lives out West. Jimmy listens for a bout ten minutes then Bob notices his nose. â€Å"Twenty years is a long time but not long enough to change a Roman into a Pug.† He explains concerned. Then the under cover cop explains and hands him a note. The note said, Bob, I was at the appointed place on time. when you lit the cigar i saw the face of a man wanted in Chicago, i knew i couldn’t arrest you myself so i sent and under cover officer, Jimmy. The ending really surprised me and it was a good story. My friends may have never robbed anything from the West but they were bad. Do you have anyone who changed? Perhaps yourself?

Discuss individual differences in musical functioning with regard to social and biological influences. The WritePass Journal

Discuss individual differences in musical functioning with regard to social and biological influences. Introduction Discuss individual differences in musical functioning with regard to social and biological influences. ) describes music as an art that entails thinking with sounds. Music is played all over the world in churches, homes, funerals and many other places. It is part of humanity introduced at birth with lullabies and continues throughout the course of life up to death with the funeral march (Hallam, Cross    Thaut, 2016).   It is a language that resembles speech in many aspects and has no borders. Sense of sound and rhythm are essential elements of musical functioning (Gruszka, Matthews, Szymura, 2010). Music is significantly influenced by culture in terms of content and style. As such it evokes the same emotions within members of the same culture. It has two main components (rhythm and pitch) that it uses to pass the intended message and one has to be able to understand the two in order to appreciate music (Jones, Fay Popper, 2010). Human beings are born with ability to understand and appreciate music and that is why young children appreciate lullabies. However the music potential and preferences vary from one person to the other. People have different musical preferences and this influences the amount of time and resources that they spend listening to music. This study investigates the individual differences in musical functioning with regard to social and biological influences. Individual differences in Musical Functioning Individual differences in musical functioning or musicality refer to the differences in the strength of music preference (Kern Humpal, 2012). These differences are among the most intricate psychological issues in music. An individual may be fine without music while another one may need music so much so that he or she would use huge resources to attend music concerts. The source of such differences is a major concern to psychologists. According to Deutsch (2012), the strength of music preference is a function of the role that music plays in the life of an individual. People use music for different purposes like regulating their mood and emotions, promoting self-awareness, communicating, fostering social relations, distractions, and physiological arousal. Music plays an important role in the lives of many people across the world, and many people depend on music for different purposes. The availability of music on portable devices has increased the use of music with many people making it an ubiquitous companion (Theorell, 2014).   Therefore music has a profound effect on the lives of many individuals as it influences their thinking, feelings, behaviour and perception. These factors influence the lives of individuals depending on the level of dependence on music and the specific type of music (Haas Brandes, 2009). As such it is important to ascertain the factors that influence music preference. Individual differences in musical functioning belong to an area in psychology that still remains largely unexplored (McPherson, 2016). People like certain artists, tunes, and styles more than the others. The other individuals also have different musical preferences. This is what is termed as style/genre preferences under music preference. In addition to this, individual differences also exist in terms of the extent to which people listen to music. The extent to which people love and enjoy music differs from one individual to the other (Gruszka, Matthews Szymura, 2010). The knowledge on why people form preferences on certain types of music still remain fragmented partly because music plays different roles in the lives of people (Theorell, 2014). This is what is termed as the strength of preference under musical preference. The major issue of concern to psychologists is the source of these individual differences in strength and genre/style. Strong music preference is an indication tha t an individual spends a lot of time listening to music, going to concerts and buying music. The decision to invest time and money to listening to music is a sign that music is useful to the lives of these people. Individual differences in musical functioning are a multifaceted phenomenon that has continuously eluded psychologists, researchers and musicologists (McPherson, 2016). However, some factors that affect musical functioning have been identified and they include exposure, musical characteristics, genre and personality. The factors that affect musical preference can be grouped into two broad categories namely extrinsic and intrinsic factors. The intrinsic factors are inherent and they include melody, structure and timbre. The extrinsic factors on the other hand include social influence, personality and emotions. Social influence on Musical Functioning Social influence is one of the factors that influence the development of individual preferences in music. This starts at the adolescence stage and continues late into adulthood (Zelazo, 2013). Adolescents often have a strong desire to do the same things that their peers are doing in order to belong.   They also tend to dislike the things that their peers dislike. As such they will tend to like the same music that their peers like (Theorell, 2014). They listen to music to create an impression, develop self-image and please their friends. According to McPherson (2016), the teenagers often desire to identify themselves with certain groups that they consider as being â€Å"cool† and distance themselves with those that they regard as being â€Å"old-fashioned†. Therefore they tend to develop musical preferences that are similar to members of their group and avoid those of the other groups that they regard as â€Å"not being cool†. This implies that musical preferenc es are partly created for the purpose of serving a function of group differentiation (Damon Lerner, 2006). According to Juslin Sloboda (2010), individuals often tend to like the music that was popular during the years that they reached maturity age. The music preference developed at this point is often a function of the songs that are popular among the friends. However, the events that occur in late adolescence and early adulthood often shape the music preference for the rest of adulthood. When individuals first leave home and start being independent, they are often influenced by their peer groups. They spend a lot of time with their peers and tend to like what their peers like and dislike what their peers dislike (Damon Lerner, 2006). They will like the same songs as they go to concerts together and spend most of their free time doing the same things. For instance the people who fail to acquire higher education tend to like songs that depict a care free attitude to justify their condition. Therefore social perceptions significantly influence the type of music preferred by people. Accor ding to the social learning theory, people learn through observation (Lehmann,   Sloboda,   Woody, 2007). When people are rewarded for certain behaviours like listening to a certain genre of music, others tend to learn from it and are likely to imitate the behaviour in order to reap the same benefits. People tend to use music socially as a way of reinforcing their self-image. For instance conservative people are more inclined to listen to music that is conventional. Furthermore, people use music to communicate to the world by expressing their ideal self-image. The preferences of society may increase or inhibit the spread of certain music genres thereby influencing their potential to be preferred by individuals (Feezell, 2008 and Gruszka, Matthews Szymura, 2010). For instance when it was discovered that Mozart music positively affected spatial IQ , more people started listening to classical music. This exposure increase the preference for classical music as it was considered es sential for children (Hallam, Cross    Thaut, 2016). This indicates the power of society to influence music perception and preference. Therefore the influence of society is one of the most significant factors that influence individual music preferences. The type of music that people are exposed to from childhood is highly dependent on what the society considers popular and appropriate. For instance the mainstream media may prefer playing certain music over the others thereby influencing the preference of individuals. Biological influence on Musical Functioning Music Cognition A series of processes is often activated when listening to music; these processes include melody recognition, memory of the music, recognising the lyrics and emotional response (Lehmann, Sloboda,   Woody, 2007). These basic processes are often integrated by complex mechanisms in the brain where various neural circuits take part simultaneously and some in succession. Identifying the specific tasks involved in processing music and the various interactions requires theoretical models. According to the functional architecture model proposed by Peretz and Coltheart, perception of monophonic tunes is organised by two independent systems working simultaneously (Sloboda, 2004).   The melodic system aids in processing melody whereas the temporal system processes tempo. The melodic system processes all information on melody and differentiates the two main components (i.e. note and intervals). All the perception mechanisms are required for processing melodic contour. Melodic processing is done in right superior temporal gyrus (Lehmann, Sloboda,   Woody, 2007). Both the melodic and temporal systems work in coordination with each other and as such a damaged brain may lose its ability to perceive music. Both the melodic and temporal systems relay information to musical lexicon to generate musical repertoire. Musical lexicon includes music repertoire and has a perceptual representation of all the things that an individual has be exposed to (Kern Humpal, 2012). Furthermore, it also contains a memory that stores new music to aid in the recognition of melodies that are both familiar and non-familiar. As such if damage occurs to the musical lexicon, an individual becomes unable to perceive familiar melodies or even record new ones. Information from the musical lexicon is often relayed extemporaneously or immediately after stimulus reception to different areas depending on the required action (Haas Brandes, 2009). Phonological lexicon is often activated to aid in the retrieval of lyrics, phonological and articulation prepares an individual for singing, motor functions are responsible for producing music, and the multimodal associative memories are used for retrieving information that is not musical (Jones, Fay Popper, 2010). The perceptual modules are linked to the memory processes and emotional pathways to aid in music recognition and emotional experience. Non emotional processing and emotional processing are independent and as such damage to one may not damage the other. Any impairment to these connections often leads to difficulties in being able to integrate musical processes. Influence of Biological Factors on Individual Differences According to Sloboda (2004).  , music has rarely been studied from the biological perspective as it is mostly perceived as a function of culture. However, biological factors significantly influence musical preferences (Feezell, 2008). The ability of an individual to process and appreciate music is dependent on cognitive functions. Individual differences in self-perception and personality influence musical preference. Therefore people may opt to like music that will allow them to express themselves to the others on how they would like to be perceived. Moreover, individual differences influence the purpose for which people listen to music (Zelazo, 2013). One of the reasons why people listen to music is to regulate their emotions and help them cope with the daily challenges in life. The differences in musical preference and reasons for listening to music are indications that intelligence and personality partly influence how people use music. Personality and intelligence influence the type of music people listen to, how often they listen to it and the reasons for listening to music (Sloboda, 2004). For instance the intellectuals like those with high IQs are more inclined to like conventional/ reflective music and as such are likely to use it for their intellectual purposes rather than for emotional consumption (Juslin Sloboda 2010). This is because of their higher cognitive ability. This is clearly noticeable in their preference for jazz or classical music not because they do not elicit emotions but because the complexity of the genre is more inclined to suit the interests of people seeking experiences that are intellectually stimulating. On the other end are extraverts who may rely on music to stimulate their activity level when carrying out monotonous tasks like doing dishes or jogging. This implies that the role music plays in the life of an individual is partly determined by the level of arousal (Lilienfeld, et al 2011). This is particularly evident for thos e with high or low level of arousal average. The interference caused by background music on cognitive processes is higher in introverts than extraverts (Rickard McFerran, 2012). Damon Lerner (2006), claim that the association between musical use and other traits remain largely unexplored although some relationship may be expected. For instance people who suffer from emotional instability and regularly experience negative emotions are more likely to use music to regulate their emotions. Cognitive research has established that these people listen to music more for the purpose of managing their emotions (Rickard McFerran, 2012). Furthermore, they are more sensitive to the emotions elicited by music and as such find music essential for regulating their emotions. Conscientious people on the other hand react differently to music. Conscientious people are those that have traits which are inversely correlated to psychoticism and creativity (Lilienfeld, et al 2011).   Conscientious peop le are less likely to use music for regulating their emotions as they are likely to use it for other purposes. Conclusion The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of biological and social factors on individual musical functioning. The findings show that individual musical preferences and use of music is influenced by both social and biological factors. The social factors mostly influence the type of music people prefer to listen to whereas the biological factors influence the reasons for listening to music. The major social factors that influence the choice of music that people listen to are peers and the society as they determine the kind of music that is played regularly. The biological factors on the other hand influence the purpose for which people listen to music. The purpose for which people listen to music is closely associated with the frequency of listening to music than the choice of music (Hallam, Cross    Thaut, 2016). Therefore biological factors are also responsible for the amount of time and resources people spend to listen to music. However, it is important to note that b oth the biological and social factors significantly contribute to the individual differences in musical functioning. References Damon, W. Lerner, R. M., (2006).  Handbook of child psychology. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley Sons. Deutsch, D. (2012).  The psychology of music. London : Academic Press. Feezell, J. T. (2008).  Stereotype: The influence of music preferences on political attitudes and behaviour. Santa Barbara, Calif.: University of California, Santa Barbara. Gruszka, A., Matthews, G., Szymura, B. (2010).  Handbook of individual differences in cognition: Attention, memory, and executive control. New York: Springer. Hallam, S., Cross, I.,    Thaut, M. (2016).  The Oxford handbook of music psychology. Oxford : Oxford University Press Haas, R., Brandes, V. (2009).  Music that works: Contributions of biology, neurophysiology, psychology, sociology, medicine and musicology. Wien: Springer. Jones, M. R., Fay, R. R., Popper, A. N. (2010).  Music perception. New York: Springer. Juslin, P. N., Sloboda, J. A. (2010).  Handbook of music and emotion: Theory, research, applications. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Kern, P., Humpal, M. E. (2012).  Early childhood music therapy and autism spectrum disorders: Developing potential in young children and their families. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers Lehmann, A. C., Sloboda, J. A., Woody, R. H. (2007).  Psychology for musicians: Understanding and acquiring the skills. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Lilienfeld, S. O., Lynn, S. J., Ruscio, J., Beyerstein, B. L. (2011).  50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology: Shattering Widespread Misconceptions about Human Behavior. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons. McPherson, G. (2016).  The child as musician: A handbook of musical development. Oxford : Oxford University Press Rickard, N. S., McFerran, K. (2012).  Lifelong engagement with music: Benefits for mental health and well-being. Hauppauge, N.Y: Nova Science. Sloboda, J. (2004).  Exploring the musical mind: Cognition, emotion, ability, function. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Theorell, T. (2014).  Psychological health effects of musical experiences: Theories, studies and reflections in music health science. London: Springer Zelazo, P. D. (2013).  The Oxford handbook of developmental psychology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Levels and Scales of Measurement in Statistics

Levels and Scales of Measurement in Statistics Level of measurement refers to the particular way that a variable is measured within scientific research, and  scale of measurement refers to the particular tool that a researcher uses to sort the data in an organized way, depending on the level of measurement that they have selected. Choosing the level and scale of measurement are  important parts of the research design process  because they are necessary for systematized measuring and categorizing of data, and thus for analyzing it and drawing conclusions from it as well that are considered valid. Within science, there are four commonly used levels and scales of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. These were developed by  psychologist Stanley Smith Stevens, who wrote about them in a 1946 article in  Science, titled On the Theory of Scales of Measurement. Each level of measurement and its corresponding scale is able to measure one or more of the four properties of measurement, which include identity, magnitude, equal intervals, and a minimum value of zero. There is a hierarchy of these different levels of measurement. With the lower levels of measurement (nominal, ordinal), assumptions are typically less restrictive and data analyses are less sensitive. At each level of the hierarchy, the current level includes all the qualities of the one below it in addition to something new. In general, it is desirable to have higher levels of measurement (interval or ratio) rather than a lower one. Let’s examine each level of measurement and its corresponding scale in order from lowest to highest in the hierarchy. The Nominal Level and Scale A nominal scale is used to name the categories within the variables you use in your research. This kind of scale provides no ranking or ordering of values; it simply provides a name for each category within a variable so that you can track them among your data. Which is to say, it satisfies the measurement of identity, and identity alone. Common examples within sociology include the nominal tracking of  sex (male or female),  race  (white, Black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, etc.),  and class  (poor, working class, middle class, upper class). Of course, there are many other variables one can measure on a nominal scale. The nominal level of measurement is also known as a categorical measure  and is considered qualitative in nature. When doing statistical research and using this level of measurement, one would use the mode, or the most commonly occurring value, as a  measure of central tendency. The Ordinal Level and Scale Ordinal scales are used when a researcher wants to measure something that is not easily quantified, like feelings or opinions. Within such a scale the different values for a variable are progressively ordered, which is what makes the scale useful and informative. It satisfies both the properties of identity and of magnitude. However, it is important to note that as such a scale is not quantifiable- the precise differences between the variable categories are unknowable. Within sociology, ordinal scales are commonly used to measure peoples views and opinions on social issues,  like racism  and sexism, or how important certain issues are to them in the context of a political election. For example, if a researcher wants to measure the extent to which a population believes that racism is a problem, they could ask a question like How big a problem is racism in our society today? and provide the following response options: its a big problem, it is somewhat a problem, it is a small problem, and racism is not a problem. When using this level and scale of measurement, it is the median which denotes central tendency. The Interval Level and Scale Unlike nominal and ordinal scales, an interval scale is a numeric one that allows for ordering of variables  and provides a precise, quantifiable understanding of the differences between them (the intervals between them). This means that it satisfies the three properties of identity, magnitude,  and  equal intervals. Age is a common variable that sociologists track using an interval scale, like 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. One can also turn non-interval, ordered variable categories into an interval scale to aid  statistical analysis. For example,  it is common to measure income as a range, like $0-$9,999; $10,000-$19,999; $20,000-$29,000, and so on. These ranges can be turned into intervals that reflect the increasing level of income, by using 1 to signal the lowest category, 2 the next, then 3, etc. Interval scales are especially useful because they not only allow for measuring the frequency and percentage of variable categories within our data, they also allow us to calculate the  mean, in addition to the median, mode. Importantly, with the interval level of measurement, one can also calculate  the standard deviation. The Ratio Level and Scale The ratio scale of measurement is nearly the same as the interval scale, however, it differs in that it has an absolute value of zero, and so it is the only scale that satisfies all four properties of measurement. A sociologist would use a ratio scale to measure actual earned income in a given year, not divided into categorical ranges, but ranging from $0 upward. Anything that can be measured from absolute zero can be measured with a ratio scale, like for example the number of children a person has, the  number of elections a person has voted in, or the  number of friends who are of a race different from the respondent. One can run all the statistical operations as can be done with the interval scale, and even more with the ratio scale. In fact, it is so called because one can create ratios and fractions from the data when one uses a ratio level of measurement and scale. Updated  by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.

Human Relations Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human Relations Case Study - Essay Example Introduction: Organizations are very important in the day to day life. One of the most basic and fundamental aspects of organizations is that it involves human resources. The word â€Å"organization† comes from the word â€Å"organize†. This word suggests a sense of order and management of human resources to bring about or achieve an intended result. Literature review Management is an umbrella word. It means controlling and harmonizing resources so that the organization can achieve its goals and targets. The word management clearly points to leadership of the organization. This is where the human resource begins. Leadership determines the quality of the organization almost directly. This is because it is charged with the responsibility of coming up with decisions that shall lift the quality of the organization. Poor leadership leads to unnecessary mistakes which end up in costing the organization a lot of resources. The quality of leadership is reflected through the org anizational leadership structure. Under the leadership structure various managers are assigned with different responsibilities which are viewed as pillars to the organization. This is to make sure that the growth of an organization is all round and evenly distributed. ... This includes coming up with the required standard of qualifications of the prospective workers. This also includes developing skills through training and creation of incentives. The aim of these activities is to come up with a strong workforce that shall work with high level of professionalism. The reward system of the organization is one of the most sensitive areas to the workers. This is because it can nurture talent or even demoralize the workers. This department does not exclude dealing with the cases of indiscipline among workers. In some large organizations, the human resource department is divided into many other smaller departments. These departments deal with specific matters within the organization. While still having a look at the human resource department of an organization, there are times when highly trained workers become involved in cases of indiscipline. These manifest in multiple ways. Some workers are fond of over drinking. This causes many of them to come to work when they are drunk. To illustrate this, our case involves a management trainee called Gary. Although he has full potential, he is not able to be fully helpful to the organization because of his drinking habit. Those who know Gary when he was studying at the university, say he was used to drinking a little too much. He was always late for classes and sometimes never showed up for classes at all. When called upon to be accountable, he had convincing excuses that left the lecturers and other concerned people with satisfaction. Somehow, that was able to cushion him from trouble as long as he was a student. However, when he joined the professional field as a management trainee, he initially thought the same excuses would work in the new work place. However, his bosses became

Audit Committee Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Audit Committee - Essay Example It assists a business to achieve the aim through fetching methodical, closely controlled advance towards appraisal as well as develop efficiency of risk management, control, and governance processes. The Code of Ethics is essential as well as suitable in favour of the career of internal auditing, originated since it is resting on faith placed in its aim promise regarding governance, risk management, and control (Beattie & Fearnley, n.d.). The Codes of Ethics used by internal auditors is likely in the direction of affect as well as support the subsequent standards: These are the main objectives of ethics that are to be followed in every case for being in the area of code of ethics. Integrity Objectivity Confidentiality Competency Independence and External Part of Audit Committee The Audit Committee is answerable, used for making certain it analysis’s at least once a year the credentials, presentation and sovereignty of auditors. Also, the Audit Committee shall analysis a ceremo nial printed declaration clearing up every relation among The External Auditors as well as Parent Company as well as its subsidiary. The Audit Committee will sustain a dynamic discussion with the autonomous auditors, casing a few revealed relations or checks so as to might force their neutrality and sovereignty. The Audit Committee will evaluate every future take on by company or its subsidiary of administration point or senior persons previously working through the sovereign auditors who offered checks towards the corporation. The Audit Committee will get, or counsel The Board of Directors so as to it takes, suitable measures towards managing the sovereignty of company’s External Auditors. To have an efficient association among the Audit Committee and External Audit, here exists a system contained to assist a release as well as guileless trade of information among Committee Members as well as External Audit all the time. Audit Committee members must exist inside an arrangeme nt, talented to frankly talk about subjects of attention in a responsive way with External Auditors within several areas enclosed through the Committee’s function (Beattie & Fearnley, n.d.) External audit committee coverage The Audit Committee is supposed to be briefed on the projected External Audit reporting as well as completely believe on subsequent given terms by the company: the financial report regions of audit focus, appraisal of entity risks, as well as related fees; projected performance audit coverage; Some possible duplication among internal audit coverage. It can be predictable so as to the Audit Committee will evaluate every considerable association from External Audit about Intended Audit, Audit in development, accomplished audit, as well as widen a ranking incitement for the External Auditor to live there next to every committee summit meant for every schedule matter (by means of the omission of members-only gatherings so as to the Committee might grasp occasi onally). Present there on every summit as a witness permits the external auditor to get a improved perceptive of an organizations functions as well as dangers along with, between other belongings, allows external auditor to offer a standing information lying on Audit doings furthermore to present contribution in favor of the committee’s consideration (BPP, 2011). Question 2: Audit and