Printable ACT Practice Tests PDFs 6 FREE Official Tests

Printable ACT Practice Tests PDFs 6 FREE Official Tests SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips No matter how you prep for the ACT- whether you have a tutor, take a class, or study by yourself- you must get access to official, printable ACT tests. These tests are released by ACT, Inc., and contain real questions given to actual students on previous test dates. Although all of these questions have been removed from circulation (meaning you won't ever see them on the real ACT), their quality is second to none when it comes to realistic ACT practice. In this post, I'll tell you where you can find all official, printable ACT practice tests with answer keys. I'll also give you key strategies to help you make big improvements on each practice test. 6 Free, Printable ACT Practice Tests Below are all six currently available PDFs for official ACT tests. Even though some practice tests are old (dating as far back as 2005), the format of the ACT hasn't changed much since then (except for the introduction of a redesigned Writing section in 2015), so you're basically still taking the same test from more than a decade ago. ACT Printable Practice Test 2018-2019 (Form 74FPRE) Test: p11-55. Answer key: p57-60. ACT Printable Practice Test 2015-16 (Form 72CPRE) Test: p11-55. Answer key: p57-62. ACT Printable Practice Test 2014-15 (Form 67C) Test: p11-51 (ignore the essay). Answer key: p56-62. ACT Printable Practice Test 2011-12 (Form 64E) Test: p13-56 (ignore the essay). Answer key: p60-65. ACT Printable Practice Test 2008-09 (Form 61C) Test: p13-55 (ignore the essay). Answer key: p60-64. ACT Printable Practice Test 2005-06 (Form 59F) Test: p13-55 (ignore the essay). Answer key: p60-65. Each test includes a full answer key so you can grade your test. Notice a few years missing? That's because ACT, Inc., often duplicates the same practice test in consecutive years. For example, the 2015-16 test is identical to the 2016-17 and 2017-18 tests. We've included the form ID for each test (in parentheses) so that you can check what's the same and what's different (the ID is located in the bottom-left corner of each page). Once you've downloaded a PDF practice test, I recommend printing it out and working through it on paper using official time limits (more on this in a moment). Note that these tests are not a cure-all for your ACT problems. To use them effectively, you'll need to learn what they do and don't do. You'll also need to make sure you're using ACT practice tests at an optimal frequency (in other words, don't take one too close to your ACT test date!). But how else can you utilize official practice tests in your ACT prep? 6 Strategies to Get the Most Out Of ACT Practice Tests When you set aside four hours for an ACT practice test, it's important to try to get the most out of your time and energy. Using our six critical tips below as you take your ACT tests can help you prepare more effectively for test day. #1: Print Out the Test and Work Through It on Paper You're going to take the actual ACT on paper (as opposed to a computer), so it's best to emulate this format by taking each practice test on paper, too. Do your scratch work directly in your "test book" (in other words, not on separate pieces of scratch paper- remember, you won't get any extra paper on test day, though you are allowed to take notes directly on your test!). If you're taking the Writing (essay) section, be sure to use the lined essay paper (included in each PDF above) to write out your essay by hand. #2: Keep Strict Timing on Every Section Many students struggle with time pressure on the ACT. Going over a section's time limit by just two minutes can make a noticeable difference in your score since you're essentially giving yourself the chance to answer two or three more questions. This is why it's so important to adhere to the official time limits. Not only will this help you get used to the test structure, but it'll also let you learn how to identify your weaknesses. Here are the official time limits on the ACT as well as approximately how long you should aim to spend per question on each section: ACT Section Time per Section Time per Question English 45 minutes 36 seconds Math 60 minutes 60 seconds Reading 35 minutes 52 seconds Science 35 minutes 52 seconds Writing (Optional) 40 minutes 40 minutes Last but not least, the ACT isn't without breaks, so make sure to rest during your test, too! #3: Take the Test in One Sitting, If Possible The ACT is a marathon: it lasts about four hours, and you have to take it on a Saturday morning. Thousands of students have told me how difficult it is to stay focused during the whole exam and how easy it is to make careless mistakes at the end of the test. Just like training for a marathon, you need to ensure you've got enough endurance to be able to succeed on the ACT. And the best way to do this is to take a practice test in one sitting- just as you will on test day. If there's no possible way for you to take an ACT test in one sitting (for example, maybe you're an athlete and have practice every day that completely wears you out), it's OK to split up the test over multiple days- just as long as you're obeying each section's time limit exactly. In the end, it's better to do some practice than none at all! #4: Review Your Answers and Mistakes The main point of taking ACT practice tests isn't just getting to do a lot of questions- it's being able to learn from your mistakes. For every test you take, review all of your mistakes as well as every question you got right. If you don't know why you missed a question, don't gloss over it! Doing this means you won't learn from your mistakes and will keep making them over and over again, thereby lowering your score. Ultimately, learn to prize study quality over quantity. It's better to take three ACT practice tests with detailed review instead of six practice tests with no review. #5: Take At Least 4 Practice Tests Before Test Day Based on my experience with thousands of students, I've found that taking four practice tests makes you extremely comfortable with the ACT in all respects: timing, endurance, and even stress. While you can definitely take more than four tests if you want, you'll need to balance this practice with some focused prep on your weaknesses so that you can make faster progress. #6: No Score Improvement? Supplement Your Practice Tests Some students are great at using practice tests to study by themselves- they'll see a mistake they made, instantly realize why they made it, and then avoid making it in the future. That said, most students need additional help with pinpointing their weaknesses and getting down key test-taking skills and strategies. Some of the best options for prep help include hiring a tutor, buying a comprehensive ACT prep book, and taking an online ACT prep course. Our dedicated guide can help you figure out which ACT prep method works best for you. What's Next? Ready to get a perfect ACT score? Read our famous guide on what it takes, written by an expert 36 scorer. If you're aiming for top scores on all four sections of the ACT, read our in-depth strategy guides on how to get a 36 on ACT English, ACT Math, ACT Reading, and ACT Science. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Maya Angelou - Poet, Author, Actress, Playwright

Maya Angelou - Poet, Author, Actress, Playwright Maya Angelou was an African-American author, playwright, poet, dancer, actress, and singer.  Her illustrious 50-year career included publishing 36 books,  including volumes of poetry and three books of essays. Angelou is credited for producing  and acting in several plays, musicals,  movies, and TV shows.  Ã‚  She is best known, however,  for her first autobiography,  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969). The book depicts the  tragedies of Angelous traumatic childhood,  detailing a brutal rape at 7 1/2,  and an early  adulthood encumbered by teenage pregnancy. Dates: April 4, 1928 to May 28, 2014 Also Known As:   Marguerite Anne Johnson (born as), Ritie, Rita A Long Way From Home Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Anne Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri,  to Bailey Johnson Sr., a porter and navy dietitian,  and Vivian Bibbie Baxter, a nurse. Angelou’s only sibling, one-year-older brother Bailey Jr. was unable as a child to pronounce Angelou’s first name, Marguerite, and thus nicknamed his sister Maya, derived from My Sister. The name-change proved useful later in Mayas  life. After her parents separated in 1931, Bailey Sr.  sent three-year-old Maya and Bailey Jr. to live with his mother, Annie Henderson, in segregated Stamps, Arkansas. Momma, as Maya and Bailey called her, was the only black female storeowner in rural Stamps and was highly respected. Despite the fact that severe poverty abounded, Momma prospered during the Great Depression and World War II by supplying basic staples. In addition to running the store, Momma took care of her paralyzed son, whom the children called â€Å"Uncle Willie.† Although smart, Maya was extremely insecure as a child, viewing herself as awkward, unwanted, and ugly because she was black. At times, Maya sought to hide her legs, greased them with Vaseline, and dusted them with red clay   deeming any color  was  better than black. Bailey, on the other hand, was charming, free-spirited, and extremely protective of his sister. Life in Stamps, Arkansas Momma put her grandchildren to work in the store, and Maya watched the exhausted cotton-pickers as they trudged to and from work. Momma was the chief stabilizer and moral guide in the childrens lives, giving them valuable advice in picking their battles with white people. Momma warned that the slightest impertinence could result in lynching. The daily indignities manifested through entrenched racism made life in Stamps  miserable for the displaced children. Their shared experience of loneliness and longing for their parents led to a strong dependence on each other. The childrens passion for reading provided a  refuge  from their harsh reality. Maya spent every Saturday in  Stamps library, eventually reading every book on its shelves. After four  years in Stamps, Maya and Bailey were surprised when their handsome father appeared driving a fancy car to take them back to St. Louis to live with their mother.   Maya watched curiously as  Bailey Sr.  interacted with  his mother  and brother, Uncle Willie making them feel inferior  with his boasting. Maya did not like it, especially when Bailey Jr. the splitting image of his father acted as if this man had never abandoned them. Meet Me in St. Louis Vivian was devastatingly beautiful and the children instantly fell in love with her, especially Bailey Jr.  Mother Dear, as the children called her,  was a force of nature  and  lived life to the fullest, expecting everyone else to do the same.  Although Vivian had a nursing degree, she made  a nice  living playing poker in gambling parlors. Landing in St. Louis during Prohibition, Maya and Bailey were introduced to underworld crime figures by their maternal grandmother (â€Å"Grandma Baxter†), who entertained them. She also had clout with the citys police. Vivians father and four brothers had city jobs,  rare for black men, and had a reputation for being mean. But they treated the children well and Maya was awed by them, finally feeling a sense of familial belonging. Maya and Bailey stayed with Vivian and her  older boyfriend, Mr. Freeman. Vivian was strong,  vibrant, and independent like Momma, treating her children well. However,  she was dispassionate and Maya could not establish a close relationship. Innocence Lost Maya craved her mothers affection so much that she began confiding in Vivians insecure  boyfriend. Mayas 7 1/2-year-old innocence was shattered when Freeman molested her on two occasions, then raped her- threatening to kill Bailey if she told. Although he was found guilty at a hearing and sentenced to one year in jail, Freeman was temporarily released. Three weeks later, Maya overheard police telling Grandma Baxter that Freeman had been found beaten to death, presumably by her uncles. The family never mentioned the incident. Thinking she was  responsible for Freemans death by testifying, confused Maya resolved to protect others by not speaking. She became mute for five years, refusing to speak to anyone except her brother. After a while, Vivian was unable to deal with Mayas emotional state. She sent the children back to live with Momma in Stamps, much to Baileys discontent. The emotional consequences caused by the rape followed Maya throughout her lifetime. Back  to Stamps and a Mentor Momma wasted no time getting Maya help by introducing her to Bertha Flowers, a beautiful,  refined, and educated black woman.  The great teacher exposed Maya to classic authors, such as Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and James Weldon Johnson, as well as black female authors. Flowers had Maya memorize certain works by the authors to recite aloud- showing her that words have the power to create, not destroy.   Through Mrs. Flowers, Maya realized the power, eloquence, and beauty of the spoken word. The ritual  awakened Mayas passion for poetry,  built confidence, and slowly goaded  her out of silence. Once reading books as a refuge from reality,  she now read books to understand it. To Maya, Bertha Flowers was the ultimate role model- someone she could aspire to become. Maya was a great student and graduated with honors in 1940 from Lafayette County Training School. An eighth-grade graduation was a big  occasion in Stamps, but the white speaker  insinuated that  the black graduates could only succeed in sports or servitude, not academics. Maya  was inspired, however, when the class valedictorian led the graduates in Lift Evry Voice and Sing,  listening for the first time to the songs words. Its Better in  California Stamps, Arkansas was a town entrenched in severe racism. For instance, one day, when Maya had a severe toothache, Momma took her to the only  dentist in town, who was white,  and  to whom she had loaned money during the Great Depression. But the dentist refused to treat Maya,  proclaiming that he would rather stick his hand in a dogs mouth than in black Mayas. Momma took Maya outside and stamped back into the  mans office. Momma returned with $10 she said the dentist owed her in interest on his loan and took Maya 25 miles to see a black dentist. After Bailey came home terribly shaken one day,  having been forced by a white man to help load a black mans  dead, rotting body onto a wagon, Momma  prepared to get her grandchildren  away from further dangers. Never having traveled more than 50 miles from her birthplace, Momma left Willie and her store to take Maya and Bailey to their mother in Oakland, California. Momma stayed six months to get the children settled before returning to Stamps. Genuinely glad to have her children back, Vivian  threw  Maya and Bailey a welcoming  party at midnight.  The children discovered their mother was popular and fun-loving, with many male suitors. But Vivian  chose to marry  Daddy Clidell, a  successful businessman who moved the family to San Francisco. Upon Mayas entrance into Mission High School, she  was  advanced a grade and later transferred to a school where she  was one of only three blacks. Maya liked one teacher, Miss Kirwin, who treated everyone  equally. At 14, Maya received a full college scholarship to the California Labor School  to study drama and  dance. Growing Pains Daddy Clidell was the owner of several apartment buildings and pool halls, and Maya was enthralled  by his quiet dignity. He was the only true father figure she ever knew, making Maya feel like his cherished daughter. But when  Bailey Sr.  invited her to stay with him and his much younger girlfriend Dolores for the summer, Maya accepted. When she arrived, Maya was shocked to discover they lived in a low-class trailer  home. From the outset, the two women didnt get along. When Bailey Sr. took Maya to Mexico on a shopping trip, it ended disastrously with 15-year-old Maya  driving her inebriated father back to the Mexican border. Upon their return, jealous Dolores confronted Maya, blaming her for coming between them. Maya slapped Dolores for calling  Vivian a whore; Dolores then stabbed Maya in the hand and stomach with scissors. Maya ran from the house bleeding. Knowing she couldnt hide her wounds from Vivian, Maya did not return to San Francisco.  She was also afraid that Vivian and her family would cause trouble for Bailey Sr., remembering what happened to Mr. Freeman. Bailey Sr. took Maya to get her wounds wrapped at a friends house. Determined never to  be victimized again, Maya fled the home of her fathers friend and spent the night in a  junkyard. The next morning, she  found  there were several runaways  living there.  During  her month-long stay with the runaways, Maya learned to not only dance and cuss  but to also appreciate diversity,  which influenced the rest of her life.  At summers end, Maya decided to return to her mother, but the experience left  her feeling  empowered. Movin On Up Maya had matured from a timid girl into a  strong young woman. Her brother Bailey, on the other hand, was changing. He had become obsessed  with winning his mothers affection, even beginning to  emulate the lifestyles of the men  Vivian once kept company with. When Bailey brought a white prostitute home, Vivian kicked him out. Hurt and disillusioned, Bailey eventually left town  to take a job with the railroad. When school started in the fall, Maya  convinced Vivian  to let her  take a semester off to work. Missing Bailey terribly,  she  sought a distraction and  applied for a job as a streetcar conductor,  despite racist hiring policies.  Maya persisted for weeks, eventually becoming  San Franciscos first black streetcar operator. Upon returning to school, Maya began to mentally exaggerate her masculine features and became worried that she might be a lesbian.   Maya decided to get a boyfriend to convince herself otherwise. But all of  Mayas male friends  wanted slim, light-skinned, straight-haired girls, and she possessed none of these qualities.  Maya then  propositioned a handsome neighbor boy, but the unsatisfying encounter didnt allay her anxieties. Three weeks later, however, Maya discovered she was pregnant. After calling Bailey, Maya decided to keep her pregnancy a secret. Afraid that Vivian would make her quit school, Maya threw herself into her studies, and after graduating from the Mission High School in 1945  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹confessed her eighth-month pregnancy. Claude Bailey Johnson, who later changed his name to Guy,  was born shortly after 17-year-old Mayas graduation. A New Name, New Life Maya adored her son and, for the very first time, felt needed.  Her life became more colorful as  she worked to  provide for  him by singing and  dancing in nightclubs, cooking, being a cocktail waitress,  a prostitute, and  a brothel madam. In 1949, Maya married  Anastasios Angelopulos, a Greek-American sailor. But the interracial marriage in 1950s America was doomed from the start, ending in 1952. In 1951, Maya studied modern dance under greats  Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham, even  teaming with Ailey to perform at local  functions  as Al and Rita. Working as a professional calypso dancer  at the Purple Onion in San Francisco, Maya was still called Marguerite Johnson. But that soon changed when, at the insistence of her managers, Maya combined her former husbands surname and Baileys nickname of Maya,  to create  the distinctive name,  Maya Angelou. When Angelou’s beloved Momma passed away, Angelou  was sent into a tailspin. Distraught,  but vowing to live fully,  Angelou turned down a contract for a Broadway play, left her son with Vivian, and  embarked on a 22-nation  tour with the opera Porgy and Bess (1954-1955). But Angelou continued to hone her writing skills while traveling, as she found  solace in creating poetry. In 1957, Angelou  recorded her first album, Calypso Heat Wave. Angelou had been dancing, singing, and acting  throughout San Francisco, but then moved to New York and joined the Harlem Writers Guild in the late 1950s. While there, she befriended literary great James Baldwin,  who encouraged  Angelou to  focus directly on a writing career. Triumph and Tragedy In 1960, after hearing civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak,  Angelou wrote along  with Godfrey Cambridge,  Cabaret for Freedom,  to benefit Kings Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Angelou was a great asset as a fundraiser and organizer;   she was then appointed SCLCs Northern Coordinator by Dr. King. Also in 1960,  Angelou took a common-law husband, Vusumzi Make, a South African anti-apartheid leader from Johannesburg.  Maya,  her 15-year-old son Guy, and new husband moved to Cairo, Egypt, where Angelou became an editor for The Arab Observer. Angelou continued taking teaching and writing jobs as she and  Guy adjusted. But as her relationship  with Make came to an end in 1963,  Angelou left Egypt with her son for Ghana. There, she became an administrator at the University of Ghanas School of Music and Drama, an editor for The African Review, and a feature writer for  The Ghanaian Times. As a result of her travels,  Angelou was  fluent in French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Serbo-Croatian, and Fanti (a West African language). While living in Africa,  Angelou  established a great friendship with Malcolm X. Upon returning to the States in 1964 to help him build the newly  formed Organization of African American Unity, Malcolm X was assassinated soon thereafter. Devastated,  Angelou went to live with her brother in Hawaii but returned to Los Angeles during the summer of the 1965 race riots.  Angelou wrote and acted in plays until  she returned to New York in 1967. Hard Trials, Great Achievement In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked Angelou to organize a march, but the plans were interrupted when King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 –  on Angelous 40th birthday. Reeling and vowing never to celebrate the date again, Angelou was encouraged by James Baldwin to overcome her grief by writing.   Doing what she did best,  Angelou wrote, produced, and narrated Blacks, Blues, Black!,  a ten-part documentary series about the link between the blues music genre and black heritage.  Also in 1968,  attending a dinner party with Baldwin, Angelou was challenged to write an autobiography by Random House editor Robert Loomis.  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelous first autobiography,  which was published in 1969, became an immediate bestseller and brought Angelou worldwide acclaim. In 1973, Angelou wed the Welsh writer and cartoonist Paul du Feu. Though Angelou never spoke openly about her marriages, it was  deemed by  those closest  to be her longest and happiest union. However, it ended in amicable divorce in 1980. Awards and Honors Angelou was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1977 for her role as Kunta Kintes grandmother in Alex Haleys television miniseries, Roots. In 1982, Angelou began teaching at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina,  where she held the first lifetime Reynolds Professorship of American Studies. Past presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton requested Angelou to serve on various boards. In 1993, Angelou was asked to write and recite a poem (On the Pulse of the Morning) for Clintons inauguration, winning a Grammy award and  being the second individual after Robert Frost (1961) so honored. Angelous numerous awards include  the Presidential Medal of Arts  (2000),  the Lincoln Medal (2008), the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama (2011), the  Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation (2013), and the Mailer Prize for Lifetime Achievement (2013). Though her educational pursuits were limited to high school, Angelou received 50 honorary doctorates. A Phenomenal Woman Maya Angelou  was highly  respected by millions as  an  astounding  author,  poet,  actor, lecturer, and activist.  Starting  in the  1990s and continuing to shortly before her death,  Angelou made  at least 80 appearances annually on the lecture circuit.   Her comprehensive body of published works include  36 books, seven of which are autobiographies, numerous collections of poetry, a book of essays, four plays, a screenplay- oh,  and a cookbook. Angelou once had three  books- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Heart of a Woman, and Even the Stars Looked Lonesome- on New York Times bestseller list for six consecutive weeks, simultaneously. Whether through a book, a play, poem, or lecture, Angelou inspired millions,  especially women, to  use the negative experiences they survived  as a  catapult to impossible achievements. On the morning of May 28, 2014, frail and suffering from a heart-related  extended  illness, 86-year-old Maya Angelou was  found unconscious  by her caretaker.  Accustomed to  doing things her way, Angelou had instructed her staff to not resuscitate her in such a condition.   The memorial ceremony in  Maya Angelous honor, hosted by Wake Forest University, included many luminaries. Media mogul Oprah Winfrey, Angelous long-time friend and protege,  planned and  directed the heartfelt tribute. The town of Stamps renamed its only park  in Angelous honor in June 2014.

Theories of National Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Theories of National Culture - Essay Example Some of the famous theories of national culture include Hofsdete’s national culture theory, Hamden-Turner and Trompenaars model, and Edward Hall’s theory. It is important here to understand the link between national culture and organisational or corporate culture. Globalisation has reduced boundaries all over the world and this has led to highly diverse organizations. Employees belonging to different cultures and nationalities are working together in pursuit of the same goals. Employees are greatly influenced by their national cultures and their behaviour is an extension of their cultural values. Managers have to handle diversity and create a corporate culture that is flexible enough to accommodate people from different backgrounds. This is the link between organisational culture and national culture.Hofstde’s national culture theory has 5 dimensions and each explains a specific characteristic of national culture (Hofstede, 1983). All the dimensions can help us b etter understand the cultural values and beliefs of people who belong to those cultures. Most of the relevant information required is given by these 5 dimensions. The factors that distinguish national cultures from each other are grouped into 5 clusters. The first dimension of the theory is power distance that explains the distribution of power in a particular culture (Hofstede, 1983). More specifically this dimension is concerned with the degree of equality or inequality that exists in a culture. The second dimension is of individualism that is related to the extent to which individual or collective interests are pursued in a culture. The third dimension is uncertainty avoidance which explains the degree to which ambiguity is tolerated in a culture or a society (1983). The fourth dimension is masculinity which refers to the degree to which traditional masculine roles are accepted in the society. Initially Hofstede came up with four dimensions but later on he added another dimension of long term orientation or Confucianism (Hofstede, 1994). This dimension refers to the long term focus on traditions and values. All these 5 dimensions help us understand a particular culture better as this theory equips us to evaluate a culture on specific dimensions. Hamden-Turner and Trompenaars also gave a model of national cultures that included 7 dimensions (Hamden-Turner &Trompenaars, 2000). Universalism and pluralism is the first dimension that refers to the degree to which law or personal relationships are considered important in a society. The second dimension is individualism vs. communitarianism which is similar to the dimension of individualism of Hofstede’s model. The third dimension is called ‘specific or diffuse’ which explains how responsibilities are assigned in a society. The other dimensions include affectivity vs. Neutrality, inner directed vs. Outer directed, achieved

Management and Information Systems Individual Portfolio Report Essay

Management and Information Systems Individual Portfolio Report - Essay Example First, the contribution of each project to the achievement of the portfolio is considered to justify the adoption of the portfolio. Secondly, the manager examines the performance effectiveness of each project in the portfolio. Thirdly, the developer of the portfolio reviews the negative impact of the project on the performance of other projects in the company (Fritz and Schiefer, 2009). Finally, the manager contemplates the dependent and independent projects in a specific portfolio. Ginsters Company operates in a demanding market due to the increased competition in the region. In addition, the company’s operation costs tend to increase because of the long distribution chain. Development of a reliable and appropriate management portfolio for the distribution channel is essential in enhancing the performance of the organisation (Mail Online, 2010). Ginsters Company produces and distributes Cornish pastry, which is in the food industry. The food industry is among the most sensitive sectors in various economies. Management of various processes in the industry requires an appropriate approach to the ethics. There are various ethical issues in the food industry (Strbac, 2008). First, the manufacturing process of the food should embrace cleanliness and health of the consumers (Laudon and Laudon, 2002). In addition, various manufacturers of food products in the world should embrace good practices in their distribution channels in order to enhance the value of the food. Second, the marketing, manufacturing and distribution of the food product are major ethical issues. In this case, the manufacturing process adheres to various ethics such as cleanliness in the systems and use of appropriate raw materials (Fritz and Schiefer, 2009). In addition, the distribution channel should uphold the freshness of the food product in order to promot e health among the consumers. Thirdly, the environment is a sensitive ethical issue in the food

Romeo and Juliet Annotated Biboliography Essay Example for Free

Romeo and Juliet Annotated Biboliography Essay This Shakespearean classic tells the tale of a young couple who fall deeply in love finding themselves separated from their happily ever after by their family’s century long conflict. Romeo and Juliet meet and immediately fall in love, their relationship progressing rapidly and living under fear of their family’s reactions they make panicky, over-stressed decisions and find themselves digging their grave deeper and deeper. Shakespeare’s inclusion of puns makes the play feel a bit lighter at times adding much needed humor to this tragedy while his use of metaphors makes amplifies the romance and tension of the play. Setting the play in sixteenth-century Verona, Italy added to the drama and exotic nature of the play, showing royalty, foreign laws and customs. This play will keep the reader interested while including characters you grow to love despite their ignorance and often terrible decisions. Although the story is well written and contains a good blend of humor all readers must be warned, it is not a â€Å"light read† but instead stays completely true to its devastating genre. The levels of depth in personality applied to all characters involved gave it the romantic story line modern classics like Stephanie Myer’s Twilight dream of achieving. Although this book is a practically mandatory read, because of the crude and somewhat gore-filled nature of the play I would suggest that it not be read to children under thirteen or so.

Alcohol Consumption :: Health Alcohol Drinking Essays

Alcohol Consumption As we discussed in class, there is a concept that each individual has more than one "self." An individual has both a physical "self" and a mental or emotional "self." I will give you an example to illustrate this concept. Many people who wake up to an alarm in the morning often find it very difficult to get themselves out of bed. They may know that they will be late for class or for work if they stay in bed but their bodies are in need of more sleep. This is an example of a conflict between the two selves. Although there are arguably two selves, they are actually both rooted in the physical. As a result, a chemical change in the body can result in a significant change in the mental/emotional self. Specifically, I will explore how the effects of alcohol consumption can significantly impact one's choices, how causing a physical change by choice can influence a person mentally. The experiment that I designed following the "Time to Think?" lab heightened my interest on how alcohol consumption effects the body and the brain. As I looked into research about alcohol consumption I visited the websites for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the American Medical Association under the assumption that they would provide a significant amount of research regarding the biological effects of alcohol consumption. I actually found a much larger concentration of material covering the dangerous and/or self-destructive actions taken when under the influence of alcohol, specifically as a result of binge drinking. Still, I will begin my discussing the basic biology of what takes place as a result of alcohol consumption. So, what's happening to one's brain as an individual consumes more and more alcohol? If one drinks two drinks in one hour or one reaches a blood alcohol level of .02 - .06% the association area of the cerebrum is progressively affected. This impairs one's ability to reason as well his/her judgement. Symptoms include dizziness, less inhibited behavior, overestimation of skills, and slower reaction time. After consuming two to three drinks in one hour or one reaches a blood alcohol level of .6 - .10% most of the cerebrum is progressively affected. The ability to reason, judgement, one's senses, merit, coordination, vision, and speech are all functions that are affected and/or impaired.

Respiratory Activity

LABORATORY REPORT(Click on the Save a Copy button on the panel above to save your report) Activity: Name: Instructor: Date: Respiratory Volumes Predictions 1. During exercise: TV will increase. 2. During exercise: IRV will decrease. 3. During exercise: ERV will increase. 4. During exercise: VC will not change. 5. During exercise: TLC will not change.Materials and Methods1. Dependent Variable. respiratory volumes 2. Independent Variable. level of physical activity [resting or exercising] 3. Controlled Variables. height; age; sex 4. Which respiratory volume was calculated? Breating rate, TV, ERV, and IRV. 5. What was the purpose of the nose clip? the nose clip was used for the lung function testing to prevent leakage with the nasal compartments when giving respiratory volumes to be tested. Results Table 2: Average Breathing Rates and Lung Volumes Breathing Rate 12. 4 10. 6 11. 1 11. 4 TV(L) 0. 5 0. 5 0. 6 0. 5 Resting Values ERV(L) IRV(L) 1. 3 1. 4 1. 3 1. 3 2. 1 2. 4 2. 4 2. 3 RV(L) 26. 4 29. 5 29. 1 28. 3 Breathing Rate 1. 6 1. 7 1. 7 1. 7 TV(L) 0. 6 0. 7 0. 7 0. 7 Exercising Values ERV(L) IRV(L) 1. 8 1. 9 2 1. 9 1. 6 1. 6 1. 6 1. 6 RV(L) 1. 6 1. 6 1. 6 1. 6 Subject1 Subject2 Subject3 Averages Comparison of Resting and Exercising Lung Volumes and Breathing Rate 1. Did the breathing rate increase, decrease, or not change with exercise? the breathing rate increased tremendously since the subject did exercise and run. 2. Did the tidal volume increase, decrease, or not change with exercise? The tidal volume increase after exercising. 3. Did the expiratory reserve volume increase, decrease, or not change with exercise? The expiratory reserve volume decrease with exercise. 4. Did the inspiratory reserve volume increase, decrease, or not change with exercise? The inspiratory reserve volume dercrese as well after exercising. 5. Did the inspiratory capacity increase, decrease, or not change with exercise? the inspiratory capacity increase just a little bit with exercise. 6. Did the functional residual capacity increase, decrease, or not change with exercise? the Functional residual capacity actually decrease after exercising. 7. Did the minute ventilation increase, decrease, or not change with exercise? of course the minute ventilation increase tremendously after exercising. Table 3: Lung Capacities and Minute Ventilation Breathing Rate 2. 6 2. 9 3 2. TV(L) 2. 9 3 2. 9 2. 9 Resting Values ERV(L) IRV(L) 3. 9 4. 3 4. 3 4. 2 5. 5 5. 9 5. 9 5. 8 RV(L) 3. 4 3. 6 3. 7 3. 6 Breathing Rate 2. 2 2. 3 2. 3 2. 3 TV(L) 4 4. 3 4. 4 4. 2 Exercising Values ERV(L) IRV(L) 5. 6 5. 9 6 5. 8 6. 2 5. 3 6. 7 6. 1 RV(L) 42. 2 50. 2 49. 5 47. 3 Subject1 Subject2 Subject3 Averages Comparison of Resting and Exercising Lung Capacities and Minute Ventilation Discussion 1. Explain the change in ERV with exercise. the ERV decrease with exercise asssuming that the volume of air was exhaled more than being enhaled at the time. 2. Explain the change in IRV with exercise. IRV decreased as well because the amount of air that was supposed to be inhale was very little inhalation during the time of exercising. 3. Explain the change in IC with exercise. IC increase with exercise beacause the subjects were able to allow their lungs to breath. 4. Explain the change in FRC with exercise. The FRC decrease just a little with exercise. 5. Explain why RV does not change with exercise. the ERV decrease with exercise asssuming that the volume of air was exhaled more than being enhaled at the time. 6. Explain why VC does not change with exercise. he vital capacity remain the same because it accumulated the tidal volume, insipratory reserve volume and espiratory volume as well with exercise. 7. Explain why TLC does not change with exercise. RTLC did not change as well because the the vitaln capacity did not change and so did the residual vloume residual volume as well remain the same so calculations did not change vewtween these three subjects. 8. During exercise, the depth of respiration increases Name the muscles involved in increasing the depth of respiration and explain how muscle contraction causes this increase. he muscles involved in increasing the depth of respiration was the diaphragm, the lungs, the intercostal muscles, musles of insipration and expiration as well. Muscle contraction caused the increase becacause of the diaphragm. 9. Explain the importance of the change in minute ventilation with exercise. the change in minute ventilation after exercising increase tremendouly because the TV and breating rate increse the minute ventilkation which increased more breaths needed while running to meet a higher deman for oxygen. 10. Restate your predictions that were correct and give data from your experiment that support them. Restate your predictions that were not correct and correct them with supporting data from your experiment. Accoriding to my predictions I only have one that is wrong and that is that the ERV will increasw with exercise but after testing subjects and doing the experiment it has be confirmed that the ERV decrese, so my assumption was by far wrong. But as for my other predictions it came out to be true according to the experiment, table and graphs, my assumptions was correct as for these subjects after exercising. Application Minute Ventilation will tend to increase for the simple fact it is the amount if ixygen inspired by the body in a minute. ncreased by long term exercise because over time it will adapt to bringing more oxygen to the lungs to work the muscles. 1. During strenuous exercise, TV plateaus at about 60% of VC but minute ventilation continues to increase. Explain how that would occur. an increase in residual volume, and assumming that the TLC does not change with a persom with developing emphysema will become short of breath after climibing a flight if stairs will result in the minute if ventilations being obtain while proceeding this type of exercise.

King Louis XIV: One King, One Law, One Faith Essay

King Louis’ reign and goals can be summarized with his desire for â€Å"one king, one law, one faith.† As an absolutist leader, he centered the country around himself, and was successful in his goal. By glorifying his position as king, he achieved â€Å"one king†, by limiting the power of others, he achieved â€Å"one law† and by uniting the French religion, he achieved â€Å"one faith†. Louis XIV was successful in accomplishing this central, powerful French monarchy. To achieve â€Å"one king† in France, Louis formed himself into an absolute and glorified leader, doing wonders for France’s centralization. In 1682, Louis relocated to his new palace at Versailles, magnificent enough to be the home of a god. The sheer size and beauty awed Europe and proclaimed his authority. Rituals, too, at Versailles boasted Louis’ power. Common activities such as dressing and walking required elaborate, showy rituals whose precipitants competed for the honor of their task. These, too, made Louis the center of attention and achieved the loyalty of his subjects. Finally, Louis governed in a matter that did not demand any input from others; he governed in the matter he desired, and superseded the power of the nobility and aristocracy. His efforts were not in vain, people felt honored if Louis were to but merely glance at him, or if they were to but walk with him. Louis exercised much control over his people because of the matter in which he made all affairs revolve around him. Louis XIV desired â€Å"one law†, achieved by his limitation of the powers of nobles and other statesmen and the unification of the military. Louis was but a young boy during La Fronde, a series of uprisings against royal policies and heavy taxation. Nevertheless, it had a significant impact on Louis XIV’s reign; he made sure to never allow another rebellion or let nobles to be as powerful as they had been. He ruled through multiple council of state, but demanded an active role in their decisions. â€Å"That I had no intention of sharing power†, said Louis. Another significant policy of Louis was his housing of the French nobles at Versailles. He demanded that all the nobles stay at Versailles for part of the year so he could survey their activities. Nobles, having no choice, would come and obey their monarch. To further his law policies’ success, Louis regulated the French military by establishing one uniform and training method. This did not allow for the noblemen to threaten his supreme power or question his loyalty. Although Louis claimed he had supreme authority in France, he  relied heavily on the cooperation of nobles to extend his power. Even so, Louis was successful in uniting his â€Å"one lawâ⠂¬ , not influenced by others. Finally, Louis desired â€Å"one faith†. Although Louis was not intolerant to Protestants, he hated division, and oppressed non-Catholics. Most significantly was Louis revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which allowed Huguenots the right to worship in 150 French towns, making a very strong example of Louis’ stance toward Protestants. In addition, Huguenots lost their churches, schools and clergy. Indeed, Louis did not approve of Protestantism. He instead praised Catholicism, as he was a Catholic himself. He required all his subjects to be loyal to the Church and its laws. This united France with a common faith that would continue to shape the religion on France. Though the revocation of the Edict of Nantes had drastic effects on the economy of France, Louis had achieved a unified French faith which he insisted would be vital to the nation In conclusion, Louis XIV embraced a â€Å"One king, one law, one faith† policy toward his gove rning. He was successful in this goal, attributed to his own glorification, the restriction of others’ power and the unity in religion.

Japanese War Crimes

Japanese War Crimes Introduction Japanese war crimes were committed during the reign of Emperor Hirobito. The paper will give a detailed analysis of the crimes that were committed such as mass killing, forced labor, lootings, use of biological and chemical weapons, cannibalism, sexual slavery, torture and enslavement. This will hence help in giving limelight to the main effects of the crimes.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Japanese War Crimes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To fully understand the crimes committed, the discourse will also analyze the Japanese and international law and some of the agreements that Japan signed in relation to the crimes that were later committed. As a means to an end, it will give a brief recommendation on the whole subject of war crime and the way forward for Japan. Discussion War crimes are the violations of war customs or laws (Trahan,7-13). This includes crimes that are committed against the enemies who can either be opponents or civilians. Though Japan has offered numerous apologies in regard to the suffering it caused, most people still assert that Japan still has not been humble enough to offer a genuine apology (Kristof, 37-49). Others in support of Kristof allege that the Japan government is not humble as it has until now not accepted the legal duty to compensate the people who were affected during the atrocities. Most women’s and Human’s rights organizations agree that Japan should have a legal and moral role to fully compensate the victims. However, Maga (9-31) disagrees with Kristof asserting that the nation has chosen to reject any form of reconciliation. It is the aim of this discourse to give a detailed analysis on the causes of war crimes in Japan in relation to crimes committed such as mass killing, enslavement, and forced labor among others.. It will also give limelight to obvious effects and discuss related laws and trials. Finally, it will give a recommendation. The Japanese Law in relation to War Crimes Japan promised to abide by the terms of Geneva Convention of 1929. Most of the crimes that were committed such as mass killing, lootings, slavery, forced labor, sexual slavery, torture among others did fall in the category of Japanese as well as the international law. For instance most of the crimes by the personnel in the period of the Second World War directly violated the military law. Moreover, the empire ended up breaking agreements that had been signed by Japan such as use of biological or chemical weapons as well as protecting the prisoners. The Japanese government fully accepted the terms that were set in 1945 by Potsdam declaration meaning they were not supposed to engage in the heinous activities that they later engaged in.Advertising Looking for research paper on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Overview of Japanese War crimes and cau ses The military forces were responsible for the war crimes in Japan (Christopher and Eitzen.412-417). Other forces such as Japanese army, the navy, imperial, emperor Hirohito among others were responsible for the war crimes ( Nelson443-467). These people have been cited to have been directly or indirectly involved in the killings and the crimes that were committed against innocent civilians and war prisoners. They were responsible for the killing of millions as even some of the Japanese soldiers admitted to committing the crimes is (Maga 17-35). They conducted numerous abuses against the prisoners and the civilians in East Asia as well as the pacific region (Nelson, 443-467). Since 1950s, most of the government officials in Japan have offered unaccountable apologies for the war crimes though others still deny of having knowledge on the happenings of this period as the killings and lootings at Nanjing by the Japanese soldiers. In comparison to other forms of aggression during the Se cond World War in other nations, Japan is the only country that used biological and chemical weapons. As stated earlier, the paper will give a detailed analysis on the crimes that were committed which were against the law. Use of biochemical weapons and effects Japan started researching on both the chemical and biological weapons in 1920s (Guillemin 545-549). One of the most influential persons who was responsible for these weapons and the later effects was Shiro Ishii ( Kleinman, 23-47). He did his research on innocent victims with the protection of the local police among other influential agencies. He later constructed a biological weapon research center which was later completed in the year 1939. Every year hundreds of his prisoners were exposed to numerous known diseases such as yellow fever and anthrax (Kleinman, 23-47) Ishii even used these prisoners for various hyperthermia and gangrene experiments (Guillemin 545-549). This was a period where most prisoners were even coerced to having intercourse with people who had venereal diseases. The main victims of all these heinous acts and experiments were ordinary criminals, mentally challenged people, political prisoners, the homeless, the poor among others. Most of the prisoners who were used for the experiment were of Chinese origin as well as Americans, Europeans and Koreans.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Japanese War Crimes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is no definite data on the people who were killed during the experiments but it is estimated that over twelve thousand people were sacrificed in the name of research (Greenleaf, 275-411). Over 250, 000 people were killed during the field tests as well as in the period of the post war epidemic outbreak which is directly related to biological and chemical weapons that were used (Greenleaf, 275-411). Though Ishii was an influential researcher for both biological and chemica l weapons, he did not commit these crimes alone, but he was helped by various veterinarians, researchers, doctors, among other medical experts (Kleinman, 23-47). All this happened during the reign of Emperor Hirohito in which other units which was like those of Ishii were constructed between 1931 and 1945. From the beginning of 1945, the Japan government denied having any knowledge on the activities of the chemical and biological weapons and its impact on people. They also in their interrogations on the issue tended to reduce the impact that these weapons had. In 1996 the spokesman for foreign affairs lied and defended the Japanese government asserting that the government did not have documents to prove without doubt that they used Chinese people for research.( Edwards, 317-336). That was an outright lie and Drifte ( 47-71) agrees that the Japanese government was obviously aware of the documents that confirmed the vast activities of the allied units and Unit 731. The Japanese govern ment was aware that during this period the highest authority including the Royal Family was fully responsible for these crimes. Since then, for unknown reasons, the Japanese government has refused to acknowledge on the existence of these crimes and those in authority today have continued to deny of having knowledge on such activities. It is to be understood that Japanese War Crimes were not just committed by the ethnic personnel. However, people in pacific and Asian countries teamed up with the Japanese military after coercion and threats. Others collaborated due to economic hardships, imperialist influence, aversion, among other adverse reasons. The result of the war crimes is quite vast and is nothing less than horrific. The war criminals due to the immunity given by the U.S were free to resume to their careers as if nothing happened. Various professions were dominated by high ranking Japanese researchers and medical personnel for a long time. These murderers even rose to high pos ts and became prominent government officials and presidents of various institutions and were credited for being outstanding researchers in the scientific world.Advertising Looking for research paper on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Research shows that most of the graduates of various units dominated the Ministry of Health. Additionally, criminals such as Kitano Masaji and Naito Ryoichi developed influential pharmaceutical companies for instance the Green Cross Company (Hornblum, 1437). Having criminals occupy public and private companies had its own consequence. It led to the Green Cross Scandal in which approximately 1500 Japanese were given unsterilized blood which had HIV virus The war crimes have led to numerous lawsuits which are still pending. The War crimes have led numerous charges to people who were liable against various crimes against peace. Some of these charges were introduced in Tokyo trials so as to prosecute class A, Class B and class C criminals. Class B criminals were prosecuted on the merit of being found guilty of the war crimes as per the Japanese and international law. Class C were the people who were guilty of crimes related During the period of 2nd Sino Japanese War, there was use of ga s weapons for example such as tear gas was used in 1937 though from 1938, the Japanese Army started using other chemical weapons such as nausea, chlorine, phosgene gas among other toxic gases. For instance, the emperor permitted the use of such toxic gases on various occasions during the Wuhan war of 1930 despite the agreement signed in relation to use of Noxious Gases in Warfare and Hague conventions(Maga, 18). Furthermore, during the Yichang battle of 1941, the Japanese army launched around one thousand toxic yellow and red gas shells which led to immense adverse effect on over 1,600 Chinese soldiers (Maga, 17-35). Enslavement in relation to war crimes There has been immense controversy on the role of Japan during the Second World War. This has been in relation to the numerous deaths of prisoners of war who were all under Japanese rule. During this period, the Japanese government during its criminal activities killed over 30 million people in which 25 million were Chinese (Futamur a, 59-114). Japan is known to have enslaved millions of people. People were exploited and worked as casual laborers and forced prostitutes. Additionally, forced labor caused several deaths. Over 100, 000 civilians ended up dying during the Siam Railway construction (Fatamura, 59-114). Fatumura in regard to the Tokyo Tribunal’s findings, asserts that the death rates from the Asian nations in which Japan was fully accountable was approximately 27.1% whereas the Chinese death rates were higher than that of the Asians which were directed by Emperor Hirohito( 59-114). Enslavement led to war crimes as it was against the Japanese and international law. Mass killings in relation to war crimes Japanese government was also guilty of mass killings as between the year 1937 and 1945; the military killed over 10 million people (Fatamura, 59-114). This was a result of poor military strategy and immoral national culture. The most famous incident happened in 1937 to 1938; Nanking Massacre, wh ere the Japanese military and army killed over 300, 000 prisoners and civilians (Maga, 17-35). This was against the law and hence led to war crimes. Torture as a cause of war crimes The Japanese forces employed vast usage of torture mechanisms in an effort to promptly gather intelligence. The tortured prisoners could be later executed which went undetected and unquestioned. The prisoners were bullied and murdered so as to cover evidence. This was crime against humanity. Cannibalism as a cause of war crime Another issue under crimes were cannibalism in which most Tokyo tribunals cases indicates that the personnel in Pacific and Asia who were from Japanese origin committed heinous acts of cannibalism against the prisoners. It was so tragic that the Japanese personnel started selecting prisoners daily where every day a prisoner would be killed and later eaten by the army. Liutenant Yoshio Tachibana among other personnel was convicted of cannibalism in 1946 (Maga, 17). Sexual slavery Th e other form of crime was sexual slavery among women where women were recruited by deceptive means, then abducted and finally forced to sexual slavery. This was against the law hence causing war crimes. Trials in relation to war crimes After the war, various people were categorized in the class A, B and C war criminals where around 984 people were condemned to death. Approximately 920 people were executed, 2, 944 people received prison terms, 475 people got a life sentence, 1, 018 got acquitted and around 279 people were neither brought to trial nor sentenced (Maga, 17-31). Emperor Hirohito and other members of the Royal Family who were implicated in the war were exonerated from the criminal prosecutions. Most of the historians have been cited criticizing this decision of the court to exonerate these high ranking officials of the Royal family arguing that they were directly involved in the war crimes. Recommendations It goes without saying that there comes a time when it is not nece ssary anymore to understand why Japan cannot genuinely apologize for its acts, why the Japanese soldiers committed such barbaric acts and even why the emperor was exonerated from the war crimes. The question is, does it matter anymore to count on the innocent victims who were killed during Nanjing Massacre, how many Chinese and Americans were tortured and killed or even how many times the Japanese used biochemical weapons in China which resulted to deaths? It is time that Japanese government acknowledged its war crimes if at all they want to maintain peace in the international sphere and even play a meaningful role in the United Nations (Li,.8-12). For Japan to gain trust of other nations, it ought to settle its legal and moral obligations. Japan should take responsibility for the war crimes, apologize to the victims who were involved in the atrocities and pay the appropriate reparations to all the victims. Conclusion It is apparent that Japanese War crimes had immense effect. The p aper has extensively discussed the Japanese War crimes focusing on the crimes committed, its effects and finally given a recommendation. Christopher, George., Eitzen, Edward. â€Å"Biological warfare†. JAMA, 278.5 (1997): 412-417. Drifte, Reinhard. Japan’s security relations with China since 1909. From balancing to bandwagoning. New York: Routledge, 2002. Print Edwards, Jason. â€Å"Community focused apologia in international affairs. Japanese prime minister Tomiichi Murayama’s apology†. Howard journal of communication, 16.4 (2005): 317-336. Futamura, Madoka. War crimes tribunals and transitional justice. The Tokyo trial and the Nuremburg legacy. New York: Routledge, 2000. Print Greenleaf, Peter. Japan’s secret weapon. Washington: Current publishing, 1944 Guillemin, Jeanne. â€Å"Scientists and the history of biological weapons†. Science and society, 7 (2006): 545-549 Hornblum, Allen. â€Å"They were cheap and available: prisoners as resea rch subjects in 20th century’. Education and debate, 315(1997): 1437 Kristof, Nicholas. â€Å"The problem of memory†. JSOR, Foreign affairs, 77.6 (Nov 1998): 37-49 Kleinman, Arthur. Japan’s wartime medical atrocities. Comparative inquiries in science, history and ethics. New York: Taylor and Francis, 2010. Print Li, Peter. Japanese War Crimes: The search for justice. New York: Transaction publishers, 2003. Print Maga, Timothy. Judgment at Tokyo: The Japanese War crimes Trials. CA: University press of Kenturcky, 2001. Print Nelson, John. â€Å"Social memory as ritual practice: commemorating spirits of the military dead at Yasukuni Shinto Shrine†. Journal of Asian Studies, 62.2 (2003): 443-467 Trahan, Jennifer. Genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. A topical digest of the case law of the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. New York: Human Rights watch, 2006. Print

Definition of Luddites

Definition of Luddites The Luddites were weavers in England in the early 19th century who were being put out of work by the introduction of machinery. They responded in dramatic fashion by organizing to attack and smash the new machines. The term Luddite is generally used today to describe someone who does not like, or does not comprehend, new technology, especially computers. But the actual Luddites, while they did attack machines, were not mindlessly opposed to any and all progress. The Luddites were actually rebelling against a profound change in their way of life and their economic circumstances. One could argue that the Luddites have gotten a bad rap. They were not stupidly attacking the future. And even when they did physically attack machinery, they showed a skill for effective organization.   And their crusade against the introduction of machinery was based on a reverence for traditional work. That may seem quaint, but the reality is that early machines used the textile industries produced work that was inferior to the traditional hand-crafted fabrics and garments. So some Luddite objections were based on a concern for quality workmanship. The outbreaks of Luddite violence in England began in late 1811 and escalated throughout the following months. By the spring of 1812, in some regions of England, attacks on machinery were occurring nearly every night. Parliament reacted by making destruction of machinery a capital crime and by the end of 1812 a number of Luddites had been arrested and executed. The Name Luddite Has Mysterious Roots The most common explanation of the name Luddite is that it is based on a boy named Ned Ludd who broke a machine, either on purpose or through clumsiness, in the 1790s. The story of Ned Ludd was told so often that to break a machine became known, in some English villages, to behave like Ned Ludd, or to do like Ludd. When the weavers who were being put out of work began to strike back by smashing machines, they said they were following the orders of General Ludd. As the movement spread they became known as Luddites. At times the Luddites sent letters or posted proclamations signed by the mythical leader General Ludd. The Introduction of Machines Outraged the Luddites Skilled workers, living and working in their own cottages, had been producing woolen cloth for generations. And the introduction of shearing frames in the 1790s began to industrialize the work. The frames were essentially several pairs of hand shears placed onto a machine which was operated by one man turning a crank. A single man at a shearing frame could do the work that had previously been done by a number of men cutting fabric with hand shears. Other devices to process wool came into use in the first decade of the 19th century. And by 1811 many textile workers realized that their very way of life was being threatened by the machines which could do the work faster. The Origins of the Luddite Movement The beginning of organized Luddite activity is often traced to an event in November 1811, when a group of weavers armed themselves with improvised weapons. Using hammers and axes, the men broke into a workshop in the village of Bulwell determined to smash frames, the machines used to shear wool. The incident turned violent when men guarding the workshop fired at the attackers, and the Luddites fired back. One of the Luddites was killed. Machines used in the emerging wool industry had been smashed before, but the incident at Bulwell raised the stakes considerably. And actions against machines began to accelerate. In December 1811, and into the early months of 1812, late-night attacks on machines continued in parts of the English countryside. Parliaments Reaction to the Luddites In January 1812 the British government sent 3,000 troops into the English Midlands in an effort to suppress Luddite attacks on machinery. The Luddites were being taken very seriously. In February 1812 the British Parliament took up the issue and began debating whether to make machine breaking an offense punishable by capital punishment. During the Parliamentary debates, one member of the House of Lords, Lord Byron, the young poet, spoke out against making frame breaking a capital crime. Lord Byron was sympathetic to the poverty which faced unemployed weavers, but his arguments did not change many minds. In early March 1812 frame breaking was made a capital offense. In other words, the destruction of machinery, specifically the machines that turned wool into cloth, was declared a crime on the same level as murder and could be punished by hanging. The British Militarys Response to the Luddites An improvised army of about 300 Luddites attacked a mill in the village of Dumb Steeple, England, in early April 1811. The mill had been fortified, and two Luddites were shot dead in a short battle in which the barricaded doors of the mill could not be forced open. The size of the attacking force led to rumors about a widespread uprising. By some reports there were guns and other weapons being smuggled in from Ireland, and there was a genuine fear that the entire countryside would rise up in rebellion against the government. Against that backdrop, a large military force commanded by General Thomas Maitland, who had previously put down rebellions in British colonies in India and the West Indies, was directed to end the Luddite violence. Informers and spies led to arrests of a number of Luddites throughout the summer of 1812. Trials were held at York in late 1812, and 14 Luddites were publicly hanged. Luddites convicted of lesser offenses were sentenced to punishment by transportation, and were sent to British penal colonies in Tasmania. The widespread Luddite violence came to an end by 1813, though there would be other outbreaks of machine breaking. And for several years public unrest, including riots, were linked to the Luddite cause. And, of course, the Luddites were not able to stop the influx of machinery. By the 1820s mechanization had essentially taken over the woolen trade, and later in the 1800s manufacture of cotton cloth, using very complex machinery, would be a major British industry. Indeed, by the 1850s machines were lauded. At the Great Exhibition of 1851 millions of excited spectators came to the Crystal Palace to watch new machines turn raw cotton into finished fabric.

Government and nonprofit accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Government and nonprofit accounting - Essay Example The criteria should be used to determine the extent to which a transferor government either retains or relinquishes control over the receivables or future revenues through its continuing involvement with those receivables or future revenues. This Statement establishes that a transaction will be reported as a collateralized borrowing unless the criteria indicating that a sale has taken place are met. If it is determined that a transaction involving receivables should be reported as a sale, the difference between the carrying value of the receivables and the proceeds should be recognized in the period of the sale in the change statements. If it is determined that a transaction involving future revenues should be reported as a sale, the revenue should be deferred and amortized, except when specific criteria are met. This Statement also provides additional guidance for sales of receivables and future revenues within the same financial reporting entity (Government Accounting Standards Boa rd, 2006). This Statement includes a provision that stipulates that governments should not revalue assets that are transferred between financial reporting entity components.