Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Juvenile Incarceration Linked to More Crime

Juvenile Incarceration Linked to More Crime Juvenile offenders who are incarcerated for their crimes are more likely to have significantly worse outcomes in their life than youngsters who commit the same crimes, but receive some other form of punishment and are not incarcerated. A study of 35,000 Chicago juvenile offenders over a 10-year period by economists at the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management found substantial differences in outcomes between kids who were incarcerated and those who were not sent to detention. Those who were incarcerated were much less likely to graduate from high school and much more likely to wind up in prison as adults. A Deterrent to Crime? One might think that it would be a logical conclusion that teens who commit crimes bad enough to be incarcerated for will naturally be more likely to drop out of school and wind up in adult prison, but the MIT study compared those juveniles with others who committed the same crimes but happened to draw a judge who was less likely to send them to detention. Approximately 130,000 juveniles are incarcerated in the United States each year with an estimated 70,000 of them in detention on any given day. The MIT researchers wanted to determine if jailing juvenile offenders actually deterred future crime or it disrupted the childs life in such a way that it increases the likelihood of future crime. In the juvenile justice system, there are judges who tend to hand out sentences that include incarceration and there are judges who tend to mete out punishment that doesnt include actual incarceration. In Chicago, juvenile cases are randomly assigned to judge with different sentencing tendencies. The researchers, using a database created by the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago looked at cases in which judges had wide latitude in determining sentencing. More Likely to End Up in Prison The system of randomly assigning cases to judges with different approaches to sentencing set up a natural experiment for the researchers. They found that juveniles who were incarcerated were less likely to return to high school and graduate. The graduation rate was 13% lower for those who were jailed than offenders who were not incarcerated. They also found that those who were incarcerated were 23% more likely to end up in prison as adults and more likely to have committed a violent crime. Teen offenders, especially those around age 16, were not only less likely to graduate from high school if they had been incarcerated, but they were also less likely to return to school at all. Less Likely to Return to School The researchers found that incarceration proved to be so disruptive in the juveniles lives, many dont return to school afterward and those who do go back to school are much more likely to be classified as having an emotional or behavior disorder, compared with those who committed the very same crimes, but werent jailed. The kids who go to juvenile detention are very unlikely to go back to school at all, said MIT economist Joseph Doyle in a news release. Getting to know other kids in trouble may create social networks that might not be desirable. There could be a stigma attached to it, maybe you think youre particularly problematic, so that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The authors want to see their research duplicated in other jurisdictions to see if the results hold up, but the conclusions of this one study seem to indicate that incarcerating juveniles does not act as a deterrent to crime, but actually has the opposite effect. Source: Aizer, A, et al. Juvenile Incarceration, Human Capital, and Future Crime: Evidence from Randomly Assigned Judges. Quarterly Journal of Economics February 2015.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Definition and Examples of Relative Pronouns in English

Definition and Examples of Relative Pronouns in English In English grammar, a relative pronoun is a  pronoun that introduces an adjective clause (also called a relative clause).   The standard relative pronouns in English are which, that, who, whom, and whose. Who and whom refer only to people. Which refers to things, qualities, and ideas- never to people. That and whose refer to people, things, qualities, and ideas. Examples and Observations One of the smaller girls did a kind of puppet dance while her fellow clowns laughed at her. But the tall one, who was almost a woman, said something very quietly, which I couldnt hear. (Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969)Spaghetti at her table, which was offered at least three times a week, was a mysterious red, white, and brown concoction. (Maya Angelou, Mom Me Mom, 2013)Wilbur was what farmers call a spring pig, which simply means that he was born in springtime.(E.B. White, Charlottes Web, 1952)On the plus side, death is one of the few things that can be done just as easily lying down. (Woody Allen, The Early Essays. Without Feathers, 1975)An atheist is a man who has no invisible means of support.(attributed to John Buchan)[T]o hurt innocent people whom I knew many years ago in order to save myself is, to me, inhuman and indecent and dishonorable. I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this years fashions.(Lillian Hellman, letter to the chair of the U.S. House Committee on Un-American Activities, May 19, 1952) He was a Frenchman, a melancholy-looking man. He had the appearance of one who has searched for the leak in lifes gas-pipe with a lighted candle; of one whom the clenched fist of Fate has smitten beneath the temperamental third waistcoat-button.(P. G. Wodehouse, The Man Who Disliked Cats)The people who had it hardest during the first few months were young couples, many of whom had married just before the evacuation began, in order not to be separated and sent to different camps. . . . All they had to use for room dividers were those army blankets, two of which were barely enough to keep one person warm. They argued over whose blanket should be sacrificed and later argued about noise at night.(Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston, Farewell to Manzanar, 1973)In the office in which I work there are five people of whom I am afraid.(Joseph Heller, Something Happened, 1974)Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Moms. Never sleep with a woman whose trou bles are worse than your own.(Nelson Algren, quoted in Newsweek, July 2, 1956) Franz Ferdinand would have gone from Sarajevo untouched had it not been for the actions of his staff, who by blunder after blunder contrived that his car should be slowed down and that he should be presented as a stationary target in front of Princip, the one conspirator of real and mature deliberation, who had finished his cup of coffee and was walking back through the streets, aghast at the failure of himself and his friends, which would expose the country to terrible punishment without having inflicted any loss on authority.(Rebecca West, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: A Journey Through Yugoslavia. Viking, 1941) That and Which in American English Interestingly enough, American usage manuals and US editorial practice for almost a century now have been based on the fiction that a clear functional separation between that and which should exist- which is either an interesting case of a collective illusion taking hold among educated members of a speech community or a  modern-day revival of the 18th-century impulse to bring natural language into line with logic and thus remove its perceived defects. Whatever its motivation, prescriptive teaching, in this case, has not been without effect: a comparison between British and American databases . . . shows restrictive which to be seriously under-represented in American English in comparison to British English.(Geoffrey Leech, Marianne Hundt, Christian Mair, and Nicholas Smith, Change in Contemporary English: A Grammatical Study. Cambridge University Press, 2012) Who, Which, That, and the Zero Relativizer Three relative pronouns stand out as being particularly common in English: who, which, and that. The zero relativizer [or dropped relative pronoun] is also relatively common. However, . . . the relative pronouns are used in very different ways across registers. For example: In general, the relative pronouns that begin with the letters wh- are considered to be more literate. In contrast, the pronoun that and the zero relativizer have a more colloquial flavor and are preferred in conversation.(Douglas Biber, Susan Conrad, and Geoffrey Leech, Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Pearson, 2002) That and zero are the preferred choices in conversation, although relative clauses are generally rare in that register.Fiction is similar to conversation in its preference for that.In contrast, news shows a much stronger preference for which and who, and academic prose strongly prefers which.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Melation and Aging Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Melation and Aging - Research Paper Example The level increases up to optimum when we are youths and latter starts declining. Many theories such as that from Hajak et al. (2003) have been put forward to explain the relationship between aging process and melatonin but none has explicitly explained the connection. This paper will explore some of the major issues involved in the hypothesis that melatonin can prolong and bring back the youthful memories. But in my findings, melatonin is just but a drug which can boost the melatonin hormone level in our body but not able prolonging or supplementing age. Introduction Melatonin is a hormone secreted in the brain from the amino acid tryptophan within the pineal. It is a naturally occurring compound and found in animals, human beings, plants and microbes. It was discovered in 1958 by Aaron Lerner and his colleagues. It is also called hormone of darkness simply because it is produced in darkness, highest percentage produced during night hours at bed side. It aging on the other hand mean s or it refers to post-maturational process that leads to decrease in homeostasis and increased vulnerability of the organism more so diseases. There has been close study on the relationship between the melatonin and the aging whether it improves or not. Zhdanova et al. (2006) claim that melatonin percentage in the body decreases as we grow old and their claims are just based on mere observation that older people do sleep less compared to younger ones. Their study also has explored other functions of melatonin not only the hypothesis but also what they termed as â€Å"a supplement to the aging but as a medicine to boost sleeping in aged people and also as treatment in† (pp. 899–907). Melatonin and Aging People all over the world wish to remain youthful and the issue of aging brings many problems and any solution to it will be gladly welcomed. Dollins et al. (2006) agree that theories and speculations relating melatonin and aging have been put forward but none of them h ave fully or clearly given their relationship. This compound no doubt is very vital in human life and one of study in the university of Granada, Spain carried out by Stone (2005) has proved that melatonin assist in controlling weight gain, also improves the blood lipids profile by reduction in triglycerides which increases level of good cholesterol HDL and at the same time lowering negative cholesterol called LDL. The general levels of melatonin vary greatly throughout one’s life span. The first time melatonin is created is when a child is three months old and that is when most people start to sleep. There is a rapid increase in the level and it peaks between the age of three and four years of age, this level fall back to a plateau and it remains constant throughout adulthood. The level starts to decline as we age up. The graph below shows circadian profiles of serum melatonin concentrations in human at various ages. Areas marked with black indicate period of darkness. By the time we are approaching seventies, the melatonin level decreases in our body to about a quarter of the original normal level when compared with time when one is young. It is thought that the drop may be associated with calcification of the pineal gland as we age

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

African American Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

African American - Research Paper Example In response to that issue, a number of things were done such as the enactment of laws that prohibited the exclusion of African Americans from a number of important things. The constitution was amended to prohibit the state and national government from denying the United States citizens their right of voting on the account of color, race or earlier situations of servitude (Cross 6). This period is referred to as the progressive reforms. The spirit of reform got strength in the late 1800s and progressed in the early 1900s. The reformers also called progressives had confidence in their capability to enhance the quality of life and the government. In unit 2, the African Americans faced discrimination both in the South and North. Although they were officially free, the African Americans were out rightly deprived of their basic rights and they were restricted to citizenship of the order second class. The period also witnessed the rebirth of Ku Klux Klan in Georgia in 1915; Ku Klux Klan terrorized the African Americans during the Reconstruction. The new Klan wanted to reinstate the white Protestant America (Adams 630). In response to discrimination, the African Americans started fighting for equal opportunities. They were joined by other minorities who assisted the African Americans to battle for their own opportunities and justice. The African Americans had the quest to achieve equality and thus rose to the challenge of accomplishing it (Adams 631). The outcome of the fight was the development of a number of associations and organizations and success in a number of professional fields (Adams 632). In unit 3, the African Americans lived free of oppression and the period is referred to as the Great Migration. The social challenge at that time was the racial discrimination. Majority of the African Americans lived in the South and a bigger percentage of them worked in agriculture. In the

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Psychology Of Writing Essay Example for Free

The Psychology Of Writing Essay In September 2004, I embarked upon a career opportunity that – I believed – was beyond my reach and capabilities.   It was for the well-being of my family that I accepted the challenge.   Almost immediately after starting the work, I was assigned a task that I truly believed I would fail at: it was the task of completing a technical solution that outlined the design installations of one of the countrys most secure facilities. I was required to not only learn the technical specifications of hundreds of communication devices, but also to describe that function in a manner in which any person from off the street, with or without a technical background, could pick up the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and completely maneuver the Network Operation Center (NOC), even though I myself had come from an Information Technology (IT) background.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A lot of my knowledge was gained through careful observation, question asking, and note taking.   I worried each and every day about the consequences which would arise if I were unable to deliver.   As one may assume, numerous meetings were conducted by the customers, expressing precisely the type of systems necessary to provide them with advanced applications and maximum flexibility for the capabilities of integration of tomorrows technologies.   I learned a lot just by listening and recording staff meetings which were unclassified, so that I could take what I had learned and research the type of equipment needed to meet the customers requirements. I would then ask questions of more skilled individuals.   For instance, â€Å"How would you do this?†.   Or, â€Å"How would you do that?†Ã‚   I also asked many a â€Å"Why?†Ã‚   Since I was, in reality, lacking the proper academic background to execute these tasks, I used what I was good at: research and problem-solving.   I began to put my facts down on paper, utilizing the manufacturers technical notes, the data received by more skilled persons, and information I had found using a tool that every household now uses, Google, to derive a Technical Solution and Installation Plan that received much praise and even a promotion!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I apologize if this sounds like a happy ending story, because its not.   The research, and rewrite upon rewrite, and multiple revisions of even these   Looking back, I wonder if the methods I employed would have been different if I had completed my education.   But in the modern world in which we live, technology had given modern man many methods by which to learn and perform tasks once thought to be completely unavailable to people like myself.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I remember the day I first arrived in Colorado Springs.   I only had a short visit scheduled, so I had to make the most of the trip.   My flight landed just before midday on a Friday.   I believe it was August, as the weather was pleasantly cool and sunny.   Because I was sat in a window seat, I was able to get a good look at the city upon approach.   From above the city, still in the air, what you first notice is what I like to refer to as â€Å"cookie cutter communities†.   The scenery of the different neighborhoods looks as though God Himself once pressed a cookie cutter into the ground.    Due to the altitude of â€Å"The Springs†, as the locals call it, the air-craft inadvertently provided a touristic view of the city.   One could not miss the world-famous Pikes Peak.   If you recall your American Folk Song, â€Å"America†, then you know â€Å"Purple Mountains Majesty†.   Well, Pikes Peak is what the song is all about, and I must admit that it is breathtakingly topped with snow-crested peaks even in July!   As the plane continued its descent, â€Å"The Garden of the Gods† came into view, the large rocks seeming like giant clay boulders somehow naturally arranged in balance – as if by God.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Colorado Springs is not very large.   The main road, IH-25 (or, as the locals call it, the â€Å"I†) is the only way in and out when traveling by car, and during the wetter months I have seen it closed from Trinidad (70 miles to the south) to Denver (70 miles to the north).   The area is more for outdoorsy people, who enjoy skiing, fishing, hunting, and the same such.   However, if your interest is in military history, you wont be let down.   The Springs is home to three military bases, as well as the Air Force Academy, and also â€Å"NORAD†.   Most people who are new to the area, or just visiting, find it much more rewarding simply driving to see it.    For instance, taking the â€Å"I† to 24W up into the mountains, you climb up to Manitou, a Norman Rockwell-type of picturesque town nestled into the scenery.   This is one of my favorite places to go.   Its old-time square consists of brick- and wood-fronted shops which melt into the scene like a painting.   As you continue to travel west on 24, Pikes Peak Highway is just a few minutes ahead.   Believe it or not, Santa is said to have a summer home here.   To promote good behavior, parents are often heard exclaiming, â€Å"Santa can see you†!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At the beginning of my career, I decided that I wanted to do things that were not so common.   The ambition to undertake such a mission was driven by the attitude that there is nothing like changing the world.   To lay the foundation, I entered the military and successfully completed boot camp.   Thereafter, I was sent to Ft. Benning, Georgia to begin â€Å"Jump School†.   This is where you are sent to learn to become a paratrooper, the first step to sky-diving or, as it is otherwise referred to in the Military, â€Å"High Altitude Low-Out HALO†. The regimented course is approximately four weeks and consists of enduring hours of physical training, ground tower, and jump weeks.   The curriculum involves various tasks which teach you the correct way to land, how to maneuver the chute while airborne, and much more.   Each recruit is required to complete five jumps before he or she graduates and is allowed to pin on their jump wings.   This event in particular was one of the key steps that propelled my career, as it in turn took me to Israel – one of my favorite places in the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Israel appeared like Mohammed in the desert.   Herzliya, located on the central coastal strip, is a breath-taking city on the Mediterranean Sea.   It does not take too long after arrival to begin to understand the way of life there – cameras are mounted everywhere, police presence is widespread, there are heavily-armed IDF forces on each and every corner, and Apache patrols go along the coastline every 15 minutes.   However, taken through the eyes of the locals, the city is alive with the old and new worlds living in harmony.   During my time there, I was able to visit Tel Aviv, Eilat, and Jerusalem.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Most alluring was the beauty of being surrounded by water.   This permitted me to do a good amount of scuba-diving and fishing.   Although Im no expert, the waters of the Middle East are by far, to me, the most enjoyable on that side of the world.   The crystal-clear seas are closely regulated by the government, which prohibits commercial fishing within two miles of the shore and only allows freight shipments and related traffic on one side of the peninsula in order to avoid spills that would contaminate the surrounding outlets.    Looking back on these memories, it was not uncommon for all the mates to chip in and rent a boat to take out for a day of fishing and diving.   Open-sea fishing may feel the same in all warm waters, but the difference with the Middle East is the ability to see 80 – 100 feet into the depths and watch the fish as they toy with your bait; not to mention that there is an upfront view of the unfamiliar predators of the Mediterranean!   Having used mostly shrimp for bait, we caught a few different species and deep-fried them as soon as we returned to dry land.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The advantages of taking an online course are pretty straight-forward: not having to deal with traffic or parking, the ability to study from home or wherever an internet connection is located   But, for me, the disadvantages are more abundant.   For instance, in subjects that I am poor at (like this course), one is unable to link up with the instructor for assistance in acquiring a better understanding of what is being asked of you.   Another disadvantage is not getting to know any classmates.   There has always been an advantage in face-to-face study groups.   I have found that sometimes you are able to get a better feel for a subject when working with your peers.   For me, an online courses major benefit is convenience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Online studies have revolutionized the education system, taking study to wherever the student is, but for those of us that have a long absence from school, online classes may not be the best choice.   I find it very difficult on so many levels, not to mention very stressful, and seek only a passing grade, instead of the usable knowledge of the class.   In conclusion, as you may have already gleaned from my essay, I find that the drawbacks outweigh the advantages.   However, in pursuit of academic recognition, one does what one has to, in order to ameliorate ones life and that of ones family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Institutes of higher education have transcended their traditional image as local and regional points of interest for audiences across national, international, and global arenas.   This extended outreach poses a direct correlation in which the business of education has become an integrated asset in the business of doing business.    The introduction of global business ventures (such as Wal-Mart, Ikea, and Starbucks) have reinvented the traditionally local marketplaces and introduced super market places.   One case in point is the â€Å"Super Wal-Mart† stores which cater to every need, from groceries to a department store with a pharmacy, vision center, portrait studio and hair salon.   How exactly does this all tie into the business of education?   I will address two significant elements: technology and management.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These colossal superstores are upheld, literally and figuratively, by an infrastructure of communication networks.   These networks include information systems that facilitate everything from inventory to purchasing.   The ability to maintain these networks requires specialized, and in most cases, certified persons.   The individuals, whether in-house or contracted, hold qualified certifications specific to such areas as computer science, networking, and database engineering.   With the extent to which technology is driving the business of globalization, the business of education is directly impacted as students seek to arm themselves with the credentials necessary to secure a job within the overwhelming support service industry. An industry so competitive that, in order for the key players to secure the worthwhile contracts, recruitment of the most qualified is a must.   These individuals are à ©lite students out of college and universities, or experienced professionals.   Once employed, they must remain current with certifications as technologies grow and expand.   This is why they engage in continuing education.   Likewise, a clients infrastructure may grow and expand, thus calling for the support service to educate personnel accordingly.   The realm of any business, big or small, is always changing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Management, the second element, runs rampant amidst the entire scheme of it all.   In order for businesses to be successful, much less remain on par, knowledgeable supervisors, managers, and directors are required.   For these individuals, like their support service counterparts, to ensure progress and efficiency, their skills need to be constantly nourished.   This capability has an impact on al business models, as employers must take into consideration incentive programs, such as â€Å"tuition reimbursement†, should they wish to sustain the attention of highly-skilled employees.    As students become workers, this benefit is a key point of interest during the job search.   Employees who are not viewed as influential and are looking to advance skills may not be able to readily fund the costs of educational endeavors on their own.   Should their duties and responsibilities be impacted by technological advancements, not being able to fully comprehend and take to the new changes can run the risk of losing their jobs.   In turn, companies are faced with a dilemma in stream-lining the guidelines for qualification of educational reimbursement, while educational institutions are faced with the means of offering tuition assistance in order to attract students.   Thus the pursuit of high learning has become a highly evolved business, dependent on the very same support service personnel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Like the superstores, schools are revamping their own infrastructure of communication networks and entering the business of globalization via online and virtual classrooms, courtesy of the most rampant network to date – the Internet.   In essence, the effect of education absorbed by a business creates a boomerang effect, reciprocating the prospects for institutions across the entire academic spectrum.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Sending Your Child to a Day Care Center Essays -- Essays Papers

Sending Your Child to a Day Care Center Abstract Sending your child to day care is a tough decision to make. Parents most look into various ideas when picking a day care center. They also must think about what is best for their child’s development whether it be social, physical or cognitive. There are various pros and cons to sending your child to day care and decide if it is right for your child and family. â€Å"As they stepped into Ms. Couchon's office, the mother, a nurse, burst into tears. Her husband, a software engineer, had just lost his job,† she explained, leaving the family strapped. â€Å"I gave her a hug and let her cry,† Ms. Couchon says. She also refused the mother's request to drop her two preschoolers from the center's roster, telling her she would cut their tuition until her husband got a new job.† (Shellenbarger, 2000). Parents want to send their children to daycare even though it costs them a great deal of money. It is hard to tell if parents should send their children because of how expensive it is. Parents are even becoming stressed that the child day care centers are taking care of the parents as well as the children. There are many things to consider when deciding if you are going to send your child to day care or not. As shown in the situation above, there is a great deal of stress and money that comes along with sending your child to daycare. At Needham Heights KinderCare, in Massachusetts, where Ms. Couchon is the director, parents walk in to soothing classical music in the reception area. They are even encouraged to take a few minutes to relax, knowing how stressed they are. There are phone calls that are made during her lunch hour for paren... ...local variation. Children & Society, 15(3) pp170-181. Retreived March 27, 2004 from Acedemic Search Premier. Sethi, A. (n.d.). The Daycare Dilemma. Retrieved May 6, 2004, from http://www.parenting.com/parenting /article/0,19451,9367,00.html Shellenbarger, S. (Apr 9, 2000). Now, Day-Care Centers Have Started Helping Stressed Parents, Too. The Wall Street Journal, pp B1. Retrieved March 27, 2004 from http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.882004&resdat=xri:pqd&rft_valfmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&genre=article&rft_dat=xri:pqd:did=000000052730101&svc_dat=xri:pqil:fmt=text&req_dat=xri:pqil:pq_clntid=41150 Yan, W. & Lin, Q. (2004, February 24). The effect of Kindergarten program types and class size on early academic performance. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 12(7). Retrieved March 26, 2004 from http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v12n7/.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Asquith’s poem, ‘The Volunteer,’ and the extract from Shakespeare’s ‘Henry V’ Essay

How effectively do Asquith’s Poem, ‘The Volunteer,’ and the Extract From Shakespeare’s ‘Henry V’ Promote the Idea That it is Heroic to fight and Die For One’s Country? What Alternative View, is Offered by Wilfred Owen in ‘Dulce et Decorum Est?’ The Volunteer is a Pro-War poem written by Herbert Asquith. Asquith uses roman imagery to invoke a feeling of greatness and honour. Asquith begins his poem by describing the miserable, mundane life of a clerk, working in a ‘city grey’. He opens with the words ‘Here lies†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ that are normally used to begin writing on a gravestone. This ‘epitaph’ – style opening gives the idea that the clerk has now passed away and the poem will concentrate on events beforehand. We are told the clerk has spent ‘†¦half his life†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ doing boring work (‘..Toiling at ledgers..’), his days drifting away. There is a distinct lack of fulfilment in his life, ‘..With no lance broken in life’s tournament†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (‘Lance’ is roman imagery) And yet he dreams of ‘..The gleaming eagles of the legions..’ and horsemen ‘..thundering past beneath the oriflamme..’ (or battle flag.) Asquith cleverly uses the expression ‘..The gleaming eagles of the legions..’ to conjure up ideas in the reader’s mind of great gleaming roman soldiers. This adds to the ideology that war is a glamorous and noble thing. In his second stanza, Asquith tells us that ‘..those waiting dreams are satisfied..’ Obviously, the clerk has joined the army. He talks of ‘..waiting dreams..’ giving the impression that the clerk has dreamt of this for a very long time. He goes on to say ‘..From twilight to the halls of dawn he went..’ I think what he means is that the clerk has gone from his dull city to a new, brighter beginning. And although he died he is happy. ‘..His lance is broken but he lies content..’ Because in that ‘high hour in which he lived and died’ he achieved something he had dreamt of forever. Asquith also mentions that the man needs no reward for his actions (‘..he wants no recompense†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢). In his last two lines of the poem, Asquith writes: ‘..nor need he any hearse to bear him hence, who goes to join the men of Agincourt†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ What he is saying is that he who fights for his country needs no other honour in death for fighting is his reward. This poem is very pro-war and is remarkably influential in using roman imagery to sway the reader’s judgement in his favour. Overall, it is written quite effectively. Another pro-war poem is Henry V. It is actually a speech from Henry V by William Shakespeare. It is his interpretation of what Henry V would have said to his men in an effort to inspire them before they fought at Agincourt. The writer uses the idea that the men will be remembered as heroes and become famous to enthuse them. He begins his speech by naming the day ‘the feast of Crispian.’ He goes onto declare that ‘..He that outlives this day†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ shall stand taller (‘..Stand a tiptoe†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢) on this day in the future. This will make the men that fight feel superior; and more importantly it will make those who don’t fight feel inferior. The words ‘feast’ and flowing cups’ are also used. These give the imagery of a better life with plenty of food and drink. (possibly that of a king.) He goes on say that every year the man who fought: ‘..will strip his sleeve, and shows his scars, And say – These wounds I had on Crispin’s day†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This quote fits in with the thought that scars are a notable accessory and that they will impress people. The men who fought will have the image in their minds that they will be able to show them off to people and feel courageous. He also pronounces to the brave soldiers that they will undoubtedly become famous. ‘..Our names†¦ familiar†¦as household words..’ stating that the names of those who fought will be as famous as ‘..Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot..’ these were all extremely well known and respected figures. Now the men have the belief that for fighting this battle they will be remembered as kings, fame will be theirs. This fame pattern continues with ‘..this story shall the good man teach his son†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ giving the idea that their story will be passed down for generations and generations. They will become role models as such for young boys, helping them to become good people. He continues to make the men feel unique with ‘..We few, we happy few..’ Repetition of the word ‘few’ makes the men feel that they should be glad to be a part of something that so few people have the opportunity to be a part of. He goes on to promote this idea of uniqueness with the words, ‘..we band of brothers..’ as if the men have become family through fighting for their country. Henry then proclaims that: ‘..he†¦that sheds his blood with me†¦shall be my brother..’ He has stated that each man is his equal, making them feel honoured. The poem is rounded off with the thought that ‘..Gentlemen in England, now abed..’ would feel accursed that they weren’t here fighting with us. And they would ‘..hold their manhoods cheap..’ whenever anyone speaks who fought on Saint Crispin’s day. He is making the men feel that they are superior to those who didn’t fight, and that men in England would give anything to be them right now. The poem promotes heroism very effectively, using images of fame and kings to inspire the men. This poem was obviously extremely effective because these men won the Battle of Agincourt against extraordinary odds. Although, in Dulce et Decorum Est, written by Wilfred Owen there is a completely different message conveyed. ‘Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori’ is Latin for: ‘it is sweet and honourable to die for one’s country.’ It is a strongly anti-war poem in which Owen describes events from personal experience. In the first stanza, Owen depicts a group of soldiers as they march. He describes their gaunt appearance, speaking of ‘lost boots’ and lost senses. He goes on, in the second stanza to illustrate the reaction of the men to the cries of: ‘gas! GAS!’ There is ‘An ecstasy of fumbling..’ One man, possibly known by Owen is slow to respond. Owen recalls the horror of his death toward the end of the stanza and subsequently writes his next stanza, consisting only of two lines, about the terrible dreams he has about the experience. This leads Owen on to comment bitterly and vividly about the incident, finishing his final stanza off with: ‘ The old lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori’ If Owen is to achieve his desired effect, he has to be as vivid and evocative as possible. In the first stanza, Owen begins with two similes in the first two lines, describing soldiers as ‘old beggars under sacks’ and ‘hags.’ Likening the soldiers to old beggars under sacks gives the reader an indication of the sheer weight of what had to be carried, while likening them to hags, completely dehumanising them. This stanza paints a picture of what it was like for these young men; using words like ‘trudge’ to suggest heavy movements. We get a zombie like impression as ‘..Men marched asleep.’ from the exhaustion of body and mind. Also, it suggests that the men march without point i.e. all hope has been lost, as the ‘five-nines’ (bombs) fall behind. In the second stanza there is a clear change in tempo, (it begins with a command) ‘Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!’ There is ‘an ecstasy of fumbling’ showing that it seemed to take a long time to fit the ‘clumsy helmets.’ Here, the helmets are personified to help to describe the awkwardness of the things. Water imagery is used to show what mustard gas was like. Phrases like misty panes, green sea and drowning do this very effectively. The third stanza is very tense as it goes on to explain how Owen dreams of the man choking to death as he stands helpless. Again, water imagery is used as the man ‘plunges’ at Owen in desperation while Owen must watch him ‘..guttering, choking, drowning.’ In the final stanza, Owen asks you to ‘pace behind the wagon that we flung him in.’ the use of the word ‘flung’ suggests casualness and insignificance. Owen involves the reader with phrases like ‘you’ and ‘you too.’ There is alliteration of the letter ‘w’ as he asks the reader to ‘..watch the white eyes writhing in his face..’ He describes ‘His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin†¦obscene as cancer†¦ incurable sores on innocent tongues..’ a description to horrify the most unsympathetic of persons. He addresses the reader as ‘my friend’ showing bitter irony, and states that ‘you would not tell with high zest to children†¦The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori’ This poem is extremely effective in making the ideology that war is an honourable and dignified thing disappear using horrific, vivid images to do so. To sum up, I feel that all three poems are effective in their own styles. However, some are more effective than others. Henry V is more effective than The Volunteer in supporting the ideology that war is honourable and dignified. This is so in my opinion due to the way it cleverly gives off the impression that the men fighting will be remembered as heroes by comparing them to kings. Also, it concentrates more on what the men will do when they return home, not if they return home. The Volunteer uses images of death and an epitaph style opening to convey the message of a valiant death. I don’t think that making the reader think of death will inspire him or her to fight for their country at all. Dulce est Decorum Est is the most effective poem of the three. It’s usage of vivid and horrific imagery could make any patriotic citizen think again before going to war. The structure of the poem is extremely well thought out because it begins to get extremely shocking in the final stanza, almost certainly making the reader sway away from the honourable image he or she had of war before reading. It then finishes with labelling Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori a lie. This is intelligent because the reader is at his most easily influenced after reading the horrific description in the final stanza and therefore is more likely to agree with this point.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Habitat for Humanity Essay

Habitat for Humanity originated at Koinonia Farm, which is a small Christian farming community located outside of Americus, Georgia. Clarence Jordan brought the idea to Millard Fuller, who is the founder and president of Habitat for Humanity International. They developed the idea of â€Å"partnership housing,† calling for families in need of a home to partner with volunteers to build affordable homes. In 1975 Fuller and his wife Linda established Habitat for Humanity with one clear vision in mind â€Å"a world where everyone has a decent place to live.† Habitat’s ministry is based on the conviction that to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ we must reflect Christ’s love in our own lives by loving and caring for one another. Our love must not be words only – it must be true love, which shows itself in action, this is the full forces that lead Fuller and his wife to establish this organization. Habitat provides an opportunity for people to put their faith and love into action, bringing diverse groups of people together to make affordable housing and better communities a reality for everyone. The idea of Habitat for Humanity is to work in partnership with God and people to build decent, affordable, houses in which people can live and grow into all what God has intended. The Fuller’s vision has become a successful reality that has presently helped build over 500,000 homes and helped over 2.5 million people worldwide. Habitat for humanity is operated based on two main sources: donations and mortgage payments of the homeowners. Donations generate from individuals, foundations, and businesses – their monies are used to purchase land and materials. The no-interest mortgage payments made by current Habitat homeowners greatly contribute to support the construction of additional Habitat homes. Some organizations such as Ameri-Corp may pay their volunteers with school courses and materials in return for their time. Habitat for Humanity’s crucial point is not just to build a house and help people to be under a roof, but their main goal is to build a clean, dece nt, and stable house for families: these families can provide stability to their children, the sense of dignity and pride grows for these families; health, physical safety, and security improves, educational and job prospects. My experience at Habitat for Humanity was a powerful and passionate one. Amazingly, one of the most precious gifts we can give one another is – time. A couple of hours or days can translate into a lifetime of hopefulness and commitment to strive and I had the opportunity to experience this reality, throughout my experience at the Habitat. I have learned what the meaning of passion is mainly because I’ve had the genuine sentiment to finish the work I’ve started, along with many other people that shared this experience with me. The other thing that I discovered about passion is how easy it is to be a family with people you have met for the first time if you open your heart to them and let them be part of your life. The other thing I found about passion is the skills that I have that would help to repair the universe. In this experience I found something that has deepened my faith that God created each one of us uniquely with specific skills that not everybody has; therefore, this experience helped me to find skills that I am going to use to help building the world again with passion and also the experience and realize that the simple usage of my hands can a the life of a family. The people that I met at Habitat for Humanity were dedicated to their jobs. As I approached the job site, I noticed several groups of people who were putting their time and organization into this home-building project. They invested hundreds of hours of sweat into building houses to help low income families. Some days, community volunteers spend more than eight hours working on the houses. To complete their jobs, volunteers overcame obstacles such as: lack of supplies, unusable wood, and lack of enough workers. The employees and volunteers I met were motivated to overcome obstacles to help families in need. Though they may not have had the best materials, they used what they had in order to complete the job. Many of these materials come from the Re-Store; this store sells donations mostly given by the community. The funds collected are used for materials and other services that are required. Volunteers must be willing to work in the heat and endure a lot of intense physical labor. Wall-framing, installing dry wall, plumbing and roofing are skills that the organization needs from volunteers. The volunteers I worked with were willing to endure the heat and physical labor in order to help low income families who need a home. If you are looking for a place where you can make a huge impact on society, Habitat for Humanity is the place. People of all backgrounds, races, and religions are invited to build houses for people in our community. Habitat for Humanity is capable of working with each volunteer’s skill level. Don’t be afraid of hard work. No matter what goes on in your life, you will always remember all of the positive things you have done to help out in your community. In conclusion, Habitat for Humanity does such essential work and by that work they recognize the concept of passion and Christianity, and the other thing about them is they recognize that there are needs in the world and these needs should be met with their work. My experience helped me change my idea about service and the real meaning of service, and it let me be familiar with the big three R’s- restoration, reparation, and reconciliation – that are the keys for service. The three R’s were spoken among many of the volunteers that I met, indeed the R’s simply describe this experience, the other thing I found is that dedicating myself is another important part of service because without dedicating myself, the work that we need to do to repair the universe would not be as perfect as how it should be.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free Essays on Expectations and Society

Expectations and Society The question of the matter is whether you should do something or not because you’re expected to. Whereas its really a question of how you view our society. Take, for instance, the boy who sees these big guys going off to war carrying big weapons. He’s probably going to dream about being in the army. Then some day when he gets old enough he’s going to go off to war and get killed because society gleams on the fact that if you go to war your going to be a hero. Now if you say went to Vietnam, people just where disgusted at you because of the mindless slaughter. Where the fact is that none of the people rally wanted to get dragged into the war in the first place. Another example is tipping; you should tip if the waiter or waitress is a good server. Except for that most people just tip because society deems it right. Then there are the people that are saying â€Å"well its figured into there pay.† What about the McDonalds workers getting dirt pay. What about them. What society is saying is that tip these people but don’t tip this person. Who is society to say who should get tipped and who shouldn’t? Look at it this way, all men are created equal right? Well what about those who are in the same line of work and don’t even get the benefit of tips. That doesn’t sound very equal to me. A movie states this clearer than I probably could. This movie name is â€Å"Reservoir Dogs.† Rent it some time and you will see what I mean. Steve Buscemi renders this point. (From â€Å"Fargo†, â€Å"Con Air†, â€Å"Big Daddy†, and many others.) There you have my view on who decides what we should or shouldn’t do.... Free Essays on Expectations and Society Free Essays on Expectations and Society Expectations and Society The question of the matter is whether you should do something or not because you’re expected to. Whereas its really a question of how you view our society. Take, for instance, the boy who sees these big guys going off to war carrying big weapons. He’s probably going to dream about being in the army. Then some day when he gets old enough he’s going to go off to war and get killed because society gleams on the fact that if you go to war your going to be a hero. Now if you say went to Vietnam, people just where disgusted at you because of the mindless slaughter. Where the fact is that none of the people rally wanted to get dragged into the war in the first place. Another example is tipping; you should tip if the waiter or waitress is a good server. Except for that most people just tip because society deems it right. Then there are the people that are saying â€Å"well its figured into there pay.† What about the McDonalds workers getting dirt pay. What about them. What society is saying is that tip these people but don’t tip this person. Who is society to say who should get tipped and who shouldn’t? Look at it this way, all men are created equal right? Well what about those who are in the same line of work and don’t even get the benefit of tips. That doesn’t sound very equal to me. A movie states this clearer than I probably could. This movie name is â€Å"Reservoir Dogs.† Rent it some time and you will see what I mean. Steve Buscemi renders this point. (From â€Å"Fargo†, â€Å"Con Air†, â€Å"Big Daddy†, and many others.) There you have my view on who decides what we should or shouldn’t do....

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Fries Rebellion of 1799

Fries Rebellion of 1799 In 1798, the United States federal government imposed a new tax on houses, land, and slaves. As with most taxes, nobody was very happy to pay it. Most notably among the unhappy citizens were Pennsylvania Dutch farmers who owned lots of land and houses but no slaves. Under the leadership of Mr. John Fries, they dropped their plows and picked up their muskets to launch Fries’ Rebellion of 1799, the third tax rebellion in the then-short history of the United States. The Direct House Tax of 1798 In 1798, the United States’ first major foreign policy challenge, the Quasi-War with France, seemed to be heating up. In response, Congress enlarged the Navy and raised a large army. To pay for it, Congress, in July 1798, enacted the Direct House Tax imposing $2 million in taxes on real estate and slaves to be apportioned among the states. The Direct House Tax was the first – and only – such direct federal tax on privately-owned real estate ever imposed. In addition, Congress had recently enacted the Alien and Sedition Acts, which restricted speech determined to be critical of the government and increased the power of the federal executive branch to imprison or deport aliens considered â€Å"dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States.† John Fries Rallies the Pennsylvania Dutch Having enacted the nation’s first state law abolishing slavery in 1780, Pennsylvania had very few slaves in 1798. As a result, the federal Direct House Tax was to be assessed throughout the state based on houses and land, with the taxable value of houses to be determined by the size and number of windows. As federal tax assessors rode through the countryside measuring and counting windows, strong opposition to the tax began to grow. Many people refused to pay, arguing that the tax was not being levied equally in proportion to the state’s population as required by the U.S. Constitution. In February 1799, Pennsylvania auctioneer John Fries organized meetings in Dutch communities in the southeastern part of the state to discuss how to best oppose the tax. Many of the citizens favored simply refusing to pay. When residents of the Milford Township physically threatened federal tax assessors, preventing them from doing their job, the government held a public meeting to explain and justify the tax. Far from being reassured, several protestors, some of them armed and wearing Continental Army uniforms, showed up waving flags and shouting slogans. In the face of the threatening crowd, the government agents canceled the meeting. Fries warned the federal tax assessors to stop doing their assessments and leave Milford. When the assessors refused, Fries led an armed band of residents that eventually forced the assessors to flee the town. Fries Rebellion Begins and Ends Encouraged by his success in Milford, Fries organized a militia, which accompanied by a growing band of armed irregular soldiers, drilled as an army to the accompaniment of drum and fife. In late March 1799, about 100 of Fries’ troops rode toward Quakertown intent on arresting the federal tax assessors. After reaching Quakertown the tax rebels succeeded in capturing a number of the assessors but released them after warning them not to come back to Pennsylvania and demanding that they tell U.S. President John Adams what had happened. As opposition to the House Tax spread to the rest of Pennsylvania, federal tax assessors in Penn resigned under threats of violence. Assessors in the towns of Northampton and Hamilton also asked to resign but were not allowed to do so at the time. The federal government responded by issuing warrants and sending a U.S. Marshal to arrest people in Northampton on charges of tax resistance. The arrests were made largely without incident and continued in other nearby towns until an angry crowd in Millerstown confronted the marshal demanding that the marshal not arrest a particular citizen. After arresting a handful of other people, the marshal took his prisoners to be held in the town of Bethlehem. Vowing to free the prisoners, two separate groups of armed tax rebels organized by Fries marched on Bethlehem. However, the federal militia guarding the prisoners turned away the rebels, arresting Fries and other leaders of his now-failed rebellion. The Rebels FaceTrial For their participation in Fries’ Rebellion, thirty men were placed on trial in federal court. Fries and two of his followers were convicted of treason and sentenced to be hanged. Swayed by his strict interpretation the Constitution’s often-debated definition of the crime of treason, President Adams pardoned Fries and the others convicted of treason. On May 21, 1800, Adams granted general amnesty to all participants in Fries’ rebellion stating that the rebels, most of whom spoke German, were â€Å"as ignorant of our language as they were of our laws† and that they had been duped by the â€Å"great men† of the Anti-Federalist Party who opposed granting the federal government the power to tax the personal property of the American people. Fries’ Rebellion was the last of three tax revolts staged in the United States during the 18th century. It was preceded by Shays Rebellion from 1786 to 1787 in central and western Massachusetts and the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 in western Pennsylvania. Today, Fries’ Rebellion is commemorated by a state historical marker located in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, where the revolt began.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Economic Policies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Economic Policies - Essay Example Such happened after the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) permeated 36 billion yuan (or HK$45.2 billion) to be fed to its banking system via bills and forward bond repurchase agreements which motivated short term loans in the market that was scaled up last month (Reuters, 2013, p. 1; The Economist, 2013, p. 1). Banking sector current condition While they are hopeful that the money market rates will be normalized by July, but economists began to note that the bond repurchase in seven days slumped to 69 bps to 4.76 % since June, the zenith period for liquidity squeeze (Reuters, 2013, p. 1). The overnight repossession rate dropped 63 bps to 3.79 % and the 14-day rate lurched nearly 100 bps to 5.09% based on reports (Reuters, 2013, p. 1; The Economist, 2013, p. 1). ... 1; The Economist, 2013, p. 1). Critics pointed that China lacked the capacity exercise the standard monetary policy and governance pointing the lack of better stimulus packages that is best exercised by the Japanese government (The Economist, 2013, p. 1). It is most poised for deleveraging its system noting how its credit system grows expediently than its annual growth domestic product (GDP) (The Economist, 2013, p. 1). The total social financing lowered its ratio hence, affecting its interbank fiscal condition with the cash at critical situation. Need for reform Some critics recommended that structural reform should be undertaken for Chinese banking system, suggesting the need to undertake initiatives to liberalize the interest rates and to raising prices of utilities. The problem is further exacerbated by the heavy public spending and tax cuts (Dobson & Kashyap, 2006, pp. 103-108). Its economy is likewise heavily dependent on exports and its government needs to grapple with its hig h level economic issues with its neighbours and with countries with which they have trading relations (Dobson et al., 2006, pp. 103-108). The credit ratio of the country also scaled up, higher than what they have from its monetary conditions in the past. While it’s admitted that increasing credits for domestic entrepreneurs of China could help improve the resource needs of these small businesses but the returns remained undertrained, and so is the payment (Dobson et al., 2006, pp. 103-108). It is not likewise certain if these entrepreneurs possessed such credit worthiness that would warrant fast and expedient repayment of loans and interests, especially so that most

Friday, November 1, 2019

How Does Nikes Questionable Manufacturing Practices in Asia Affect Dissertation

How Does Nikes Questionable Manufacturing Practices in Asia Affect Their Brand Image - Dissertation Example Critics accuse Nike for malpractices and gaining fame and success without any Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in its own manufacturing plants. Instead of improving the working conditions in its manufacturing plants the company spends more on marketing by using faces of high profile celebrities such as Michael Jordan to popularize its brand and attract customers (Mujtaba et al. pg. 1, 2005). With Jordan, the company’s sales went through the roof. After him a number of celebrities were heavily paid to endorse the brand. These included Tiger Woods, Ken Griffey Jr., Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi (Sporting Goods Companies: Nike, n.d.). The issue of malpractices by Nike was disclosed in the 90s decade. The issue of low paid foreign factory workers first became prominent when the world renowned celebrity, Kathy Lee Gifford, was accused for endorsing garments that were manufactured by low wages workers in the developing countries. Gifford promised to participate in improving the condi tion of the workers. The famous brand, Nike, also became a subject of similar controversy. Nike was accused of having sweatshops in the developing countries where workers were paid even below the minimum wages standard (Mujtaba et al. pg. 1, 2005). ... The social activists criticized the unethical practices of the firm in public and exerted pressure on the firm to take a look at their corporate responsibility. Nike customers all over the world criticized the malpractice by the firm. Social activists called on the customers to boycott Nike products until necessary actions were taken by the firm to improve the working conditions of the workers all over the world, especially in Asia (Mesarosch, pg. 1. 2008). While these charges might be true or simple perceptions, the accusations did affect the brand image of Nike in a negative way as not being a socially responsible firm. Since then Nike has been battling with such charges and trying to improve its image as a socially responsible firm (Mujtaba et al. pg. 1, 2005). The aim of this paper is to highlight how Nike has suffered due to its malpractices in Asia. I shall also discuss in brief the history of the brand and the malpractices for which it received criticism. For that matter relev ant literature and peer reviewed articles will be explored to evaluate the situation. Towards the end a conclusion shall be made which will be based on the research. Nike and Its Brand Image: Nike is a massive billion dollar firm that produces sports products. It factories are situated all over the world and likewise its products are sold all over the world. Since 1990’s Nike has expanded its product range and has started producing clothes, watches, bags and golf gear. It has also gained partnership with an electronic company to produce Nike electronics. Nike has achieved tremendous success which is evident from the fact that it has taken over ALL STAR CONVERSE which was one of the biggest rivals of the firm (Hossain, pg. viii, 2010). For the past four decades,