Foxy Originals - Expansion Into the U.S. Market Essay

Foxy Originals 1. Discuss the pros and cons to launching the Foxy brand in the United States. To determine the pros and cons, we conducted a SWOT analysis: S(trengths) – Foxy Originals has saturated the Canadian market, which presents an opportunity for growth. The two owners have extensive experience in designing jewelry, having done so since they were in high school. They’re good at what they do and have had time to perfect their trade. They also have a firm grasp of who their target market is, so they are able to offer â€Å"fresh, fun, and funky† products at a reasonable price. With such a specific product (rather than just general jewelry), it creates a niche market that will generate loyal customers. W(eaknesses) –†¦show more content†¦Worst and best case scenarios Trade Shows | Sales Representative | Worst Case | 400 Orders | Worst Case | 480 Orders | Revenue | $227,600.00 | Revenue | $273,120.00 | Cost | $112,900.00 | Cost | $66,488.00 | Profit | $114,700.00 | Profit | $206,632.00 | Best Case | 900 Orders | Best Case | 720 Orders | Revenue | $512,100.00 | Revenue | $409,680.00 | Cost | $254,025.00 | Cost | $86,972.00 | Profit | $258,075.00 | Profit | $322,708.00 | 3. Identify all costs, other than variable costs, for the trade show distribution strategy. Categorize these costs as investments and fixed costs (per trade show and for fiscal 2005). Entry | $3,000 | Fixed Cost | Booth ($4,000/30) | $133 | Investment | Shipping | $1,500 | Fixed Cost | Travel | $2,000 | Fixed Cost | Merchandise | $2,800 | Fixed Cost | Cost/trade show | $9,433 | | 4. Identify all costs, other than variable costs, for the sales representatives’ distribution strategy. Categorize these costs as investments and fixed costs (per sales representative and for fiscal 2005). Rental Space/Year ($200/month) | $2,400.00 | Fixed Cost | Sample Boards (2@$1,450 each) | $2,900.00 | Fixed Cost | Catalogs and Promotion Material | $600.00 | Fixed Cost | Bookkeeping (12 hours @$40/hour) | $480.00 | Fixed Cost | Cost per representative per year | $6,380.00 | | 5. Do the variable costs forShow MoreRelatedFoxy Originals expansion into the U.S. market Essay1867 Words   |  8 Pages 3/19/2014 Case Study | center3962291Foxy Originals Expansion into The U.S. Market Contents TOC \o 1-3 \h \z \u Executive Summary: PAGEREF _Toc382852169 \h 3Problem statement PAGEREF _Toc382852170 \h 4Analysis PAGEREF _Toc382852171 \h 4Impact Analysis PAGEREF _Toc382852172 \h 5Criteria for an Effective Solution PAGEREF _Toc382852173 \h 5Evaluation of Alternatives PAGEREF _Toc382852174 \h 5Recommendation PAGEREF _Toc382852175 \h 6Action Plan PAGEREF _Toc382852176 \h 7Appendix A PAGEREFRead MoreFoxy Originals Essay1750 Words   |  7 PagesFoxy Originals Team 1: Van-de-lay Industries Ruwanthi Herath, Manasa Varalakshmi, Gabriela Chassagne, James McDougall, Aaron Layden Executive Summary Foxy Originals hopes to gain successful market entry into the United States within six months. The U.S. market is significantly larger than the Canadian market that Foxy currently operates in and has substantially less brand loyalty and demand for classic jewelry. Foxy’s two potential methods of market entry are: (1) Tour their products at tenRead MoreFoxy Case Study1129 Words   |  5 Pagesand cons to launching the foxy brand in the United States. Pros | Cons | U.S. market is 10 times larger than Canada. With right business model and price, foxy would gain additional revenue and profit. The brand seeks great opportunity to further develop the business, enhance product design as well as company’s brand image. | U.S market is different in terms of tastes for jewellery. American preferred the latest trend regardless of the product’s origin. It might take foxy some time to adapt to differentRead MoreFoxy Originals1802 Words   |  8 PagesFoxy Originals 1. Discuss the pros and cons to launching the Foxy brand in the U.S. Pros: Kluger and Orol had established strong Foxy jewelry market in Canada but it is getting saturated. By expanding into the United States Foxy would be able to avoid oversaturation of the Canadian market. The U.S. jewelry market was almost 10 times larger than the Canadian market which offers great opportunity for their product exposure. With this expansion, Kluger and Orol could expand their production asRead MoreFoxys Original2060 Words   |  9 Pages1. Discuss the pros and cons to launching the Foxy brand in the United States. PROS: Launching the Foxy brand in the United States would be beneficial to the company because of the sheer size of the market. In comparison to the Canadian market, the U.S market is much larger and includes a larger number of consumers. In addition, those consumers are very interested in attaining nice but affordable products. American consumer culture is concerned with seeking out the lowest-cost, highest-qualityRead MoreSolution Fundamental Corporate Finance122999 Words   |  492 Pagesmajor cost of going dark is less access to capital. Since the firm is no longer publicly traded, it can no longer raise money in the public market. Although the company will still have access to bank loans and the private equity market, the costs associated with raising funds in these markets are usually higher than the costs of raising funds in the public market. 5. The treasurer’s office and the controller’s office are the two primary organizational groups that report directly to the chief financial

Diversity And Inclusion Of An Organization - 1204 Words

In a survey, 24 executives were asked way advancing diversity in their organizations was so important to them. The majority believe â€Å"it was a business imperative because their companies needed it to stay competitive, and they believed it was a moral imperative because of their companies needed of their personal experiences and values† (Broysberg Connolly, 2013). Steve Reinemund was the first senior leader at PepsiCo to focus on diversity and inclusion from a perspective of changing the entire culture of PepsiCo. Under Reinemund’s leadership there led to a 38.8% increase of employees that felt the culture of PepsiCo was more inclusive from the impact of inclusion training. There is a great demand for individuals who know how to design and†¦show more content†¦These diverse people are welcomed, supported, and rewarded, and are motivated to be successful centered upon their ability. As one looks more into this subject of organizational cultural as it relates to diversity in the workplace, there is a need to say that it is important to give one another the space to grow, to be who God made us to be, to exercise our assortment of ideas, openness, dignity and inclusion. The purpose of this paper is to introduce several CEO’ s who have made contributions to a cultural difference in the workplace and how the contributions may have affected their work life. Steve Reinemund was the first senior leader at PepsiCo to focus on diversity and inclusion from a perspective of changing the entire culture of PepsiCo. Under Reinemund’s leadership there led to a 38.8% increase of employees that felt the culture of PepsiCo was more inclusive from the impact of inclusion training. One CEO who has contributed to diversity culture is Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo. She is the chief executive officer and has been since 2006, leading this global food and beverage company into being one of the top 50 best companies to work for minorities (Ivancevich, 2011). Nooyi was an India-born woman with a degree from Yale University. As chief executive officer, Nooyi was inspired with the concept of teams of African- Americans professionals. She said in light of diversity that the â€Å"African-American established the economic value of diversity

My First Breath free essay sample

I am a teenage girl. But I am not an average teenage girl; I do not participate in the sleepovers where we paint each other’s nails, talk about boys, and watch Legally Blond, I do not go to the mall hoping to find those fabulous shoes on sale, and I do not get manicures. I am still repulsed to this day by the color pink and I shiver at the idea of a classic ‘girls night out.’ I want to sit by the river and discuss whether there is meaning to life or if we create our own meaning. I want to lie on the grass in a T-shirt and shorts, dig my toes into the grass, and play â€Å"New Slang† on my Acoustic Trans Blue Ibanez. I want to put a basketball in my hands, scrimmage with a friend, and make layup after layup. I want to curl up on the couch in front of a blazing fire, wrap myself in a fleece blanket and lose myself in the world of dragons, Harry Potter, or Richard Feynman. After the long walks and the crackling of fires, enter Math and Science, stage left. There’s nothing like knowing that 300 trillion neutrinos are passing through us every second to get you going in the morning. Who needs coffee when you have the perfect quadratic equation to factor or the mass of our solar system to calculate? I was raised to live and fight in a household where annihilation was a daily possibility. I entered the family picture as an uh-oh baby, at least six years behind my other six siblings. Throughout my entire childhood, food was hard to come by, with half a dozen ravenous teenagers constantly tipping the refrigerator upside-down to find the last scrap, devouring the stuffing and yams before it even reached me, and either stuffing all of the cake down their throats or into each other’s faces. But with the clothes of my sisters and brothers on my back, I grew older and stronger. As a twelve-year-old and a legitimate middle schooler, the last of my siblings filtered out of the house and forged ahead in her life. The house grew cold and barren when it wasn’t filled to the brim with hormonal teenagers and babies. A year later, the house ached with sorrow when it grew emptier still with the departure of my dad. A couple of judges, courtrooms, divorce decrees, and years later, my mom and I trekked up to Idaho for my sophomore year. New friends, new faces, new opportunities. I was brought to life in the middle of my junior year. This was the point when I became self-aware for the very first time. It is as if everything before that was a blur, an empty space, and a blank canvas. I do not remember most of my childhood, including the long, thin, and mysterious scar seared on my stomach or the warm embrace of my parents. I remember my pink, stucco house, the bunk bed in my room, my ever-rotating pack of family dogs, my siblings continually filtering in and out of the house, and the constant lack of food in the kitchen, but I don’t remember breathing. I don’t remember taking that one satisfying breath that testified to the fact that I am alive. I didn’t take my first breath until I was sixteen. I was notified one day after school that my friend had tried to kill herself; I would never look at a bottle of Tylenol the same way ever again. I didn’t understand the severity of that act. I didn’t visualize my friend grasping the bottle and emptying it into her stomach. I didn’t feel the pain and loneliness one must feel in order to commit such a desperate act. I didn’t think of her swallowing the pills one by one. Then†¦ I did. I did understand; I did visualize it; I did feel the pain. Halfway through a layup (literally), I stopped and shattered. The weight of my parents’ divorce slammed into me with full force. My mind slowly started to retreat and crawl into ‘the cave.’ That dark, moist cavern that became my home where I hid from the world, and myself. My trust, my soul, and my existence were painfully destroyed and I was left to rebuild the rubble. A warm, welcoming, and forgiving hand rested on my shoulder and helped me pick up the small pieces that were my essence. One by one, I pinched the small pebbles with my thumb and forefinger, carefully laid them back in place and continued the slow, necessary process. Months passed and the constricting snake, wrapped tigh tly around my chest, loosened with reluctance. I remember the feeling, that incredible sensation of the first breath because I now experience it everyday. The snake shed its skin, ate its fill, unwound itself from my body, slithered down my leg and kept gliding down the path. The pressure released from my lungs and oxygen flooded my system. Now, I repeat the practice with control and patience. I close my eyes and the rich, plentiful, and beautifully clean air slowly and steadily fills my lungs, filling every rib’s crack and organ’s crevice until I can take no more. I inhale until a fire is raging in my lungs and my body rejects even a molecule more of air. Then I hold it in. I keep the sensational air inside me, refusing to release this miracle; a miracle that is taking place inside my very soul. The air rushes into my blood stream and creates life. Those rejuvenating air molecules mix with my red blood cells and reenact the Big Bang. It takes two to tango, and the duo’s performance is inspirational. The oxy gen and the blood embrace and guide the way. I am powerless to resist their lead. Then, after letting the energy sink into all of my bones, my skin, my toes, my fingernails and lastly, my heart, I relinquish the air. It steadily drifts from my body. I am alive. And every day, after repeating that magical ritual between brushing my teeth and washing my face, I am reminded of that. Life is good with a guitar in my hands and a fresh supply of air.

Racism - The Future Essays - Discrimination, Racism, Hatred

Racism - The Future Racism People see it everyday across America. A group of whites burn down a black church, someone gets hurt or murdered from a racial slur, or fights break out at school or in public. These are the extremes of racism. Racism is definitely not a good thing, it's a power that has taken over through the last two years. In doing research on Racism, I hope that my feelings towards blacks would improve and they have. What will the future bring for Racism? What are the main problems of racism? Can we get a hold on racism throughout America or will we self-destruct in our own hate? Racism is everywhere, as much as today tries to hide it or say that we resolved it forty-to-fifty years ago. Racism is still all over the place. Racism first showed it teeth in America, when the segregation of blacks and whites came along. The segregation shut down all activities or actions from whites and blacks. It absolutely separated whites and blacks from being close to each other in public and blacks having no rights. Then the movement took place when Rosa Parks wouldn't give up her seat to a white man on a bus. At the time she was tired of the treatment her and fellow African-Americans were getting. She said she was tired and on this fateful day she bgan the turning wheels of the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement took place and gave blacks their future as they have now. It gave them the freedom that they deserved and needed. They were given the ability to vote; not having to be separated in such insane ways against whites, as they were. Positive helpers in the role of black's rights were Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. King had a dream that little black boys and girls would be able to join hands with little white boys and girls. His dream came true. On April 4th 1968, King was leaving his motel room. When he was shot and killed (Schulke). 2 Everybody knows what racism is, but there are so many other factors that tie in with racism. If someone is a racist they are of course, prejudice. Prejudice is when someone doesn't like someone for the way they look. A big problem with racism is many live in racist conditions and don't even see it. It flies right over their heads. Schools, the workplace, our community, our friend's house, even our homes. We hear a racial slur, oh well, it's just a joke. Hardly. If you think racist joke are harmless than you should take a reality check. Racist jokes are just the start of it. Many people think the jokes are funny. Maybe they are, but they still hurt the people the jokes are about. Some of the worst racists are the ones who think that they are not racist, and they really are. They really have to come to grips with reality. Why are they some the worst racists? They are, because they can't comprehend what is happening. They don't realize what they are saying and doing are racist. Until t hey come to grips with it, there is no problem. No problem, in their minds. They say that they aren't racist, even when they don't hire the East Indian employee who was the most qualified of the candidates. Even when the basketball team that they coach is all white. And even the time when they moved from their seat at the movie theater because of the black person next to them. Well, gee, they could have been a criminal. A robber from "the hood." After all, isn't that what most of "them" are. No one deserves to be prejudged like that. The prejudice of people in the world is disgusting. The worst part of it all is that they don't even know that they are doing it. They think it's normal behavior, it doesn't even phase them when they do it. Born of the civil rights movement three decades ago, affirmative action calls for minorities and women to be given special consideration in employment, education and contracting decisions. In its modern form, affirmative action

Types Of Sports Related Concussion Essay Example For Students

Types Of Sports Related Concussion Essay When one hears â€Å"concussion,† he is quick to imagine a boxer, a football player, a soccer player, or other athletes. Concussions can occur in other situations but because of the frequency of sports related concussions, these are studied more closely. The two general categories are sports-related concussion (SRC), which occurs while engaged in game-like situations, and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which occurs outside the sports arena, such as a car accident. Concussions result in numerous short term and long term physical and psychological symptoms as a result of physical damage to the brain in people of all ages. Physiologically, SRCs and mTBIs result in similar damage to the brain. We will write a custom essay on Types Of Sports Related Concussion specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Within the protective skull, the brain floats in a substance called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which cushions and allows the brain some resilience against mild forces. When one experiences blunt force trauma to his head, the brain moves within the CSF and hits the rough walls of the interior of the cranium. The brain matter can then twist, stretch, and rotate, damaging or completely destroying neurons of the brain. The neurons can be squeezed and be unable to cause an action potential in the next neuron. â€Å"It has become clear that, in the minutes to days after concussive brain injury, brain cells that are not irreversibly destroyed remain alive but in a vulnerable state.† This vulnerable state can lead to damage that would normally have no effect on a healthy neuron. Also, in this vulnerable state, second impact syndrome becomes a risk that must be carefully guarded against. As the name suggests, second impact syndrome occurs when a young person (usually an athlete), receives another blow to the head within a few days or weeks of the his origi. .ckily, these same researchers found that â€Å"†¦concussed athletes in team sports seem to have fewer long term problems.†7 This follows logically from the previous findings that an individual athlete feels more hopeless than a team sport athlete. A supportive group hoping for a patient’s recovery can boost mental health, which can prevent a decrease in physical health. This is vital for those who have had numerous brain injuries in the past. Concussions, whether from sports-related events or not, cause both short and long term psychological effects as the result of physical damage for people of varying ages. Brain injuries are not to be taken lightly and should be treated with the utmost care. A person only gets one brain and whether they are a professional athlete or not, they will need it for the rest of their lives. Hopefully, it is psychologically sound by the end.

Eradication of Marijuana essays

Eradication of Marijuana essays The use of illicit drugs is subject to much public concern and contention. Of the most popular and widely used is marijuana. Derived of the plant Cannabis sativa, the growing acceptance of marijuanas medicinal purposes as well as the continuing government campaign against drugs has created a renewed awareness of marijuana. By definition, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug; considered a soft drug, it consists of the dried leaves of the hemp plant; smoked or chewed for euphoric effect1. In the past thirteen years, the number of people fifteen or older, who have used the drug, has nearly doubled in Canada2. The debate over legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana in Canada has been on-going since 19723, but still there has been no verdict. There have been several debates between the political parties about legalizing marijuana, but at this time there are still significant concerns about the issue and the focus has been on the eradication or limiting the use of marijuana. While the social views and border policies will potentially serve to lower the criminal rates of marijuana use, it is the judicial system and government of Canada that will ultimately determine its role in Canadian society. It is this area which truly reflects the concerns about marijuanas effect on the nation as a whole, either as a harmful substance leading to greater crimes or as an accepted drug of choice, like alcohol. An examination of each of the three areas, including border policies, influences of lobby groups and foreign nations, current laws and social outlooks will determine that the push for eradication of marijuana use is the direction the Canadian government needs to go in order to limit or accept this drug into society. Canadas first object that has played a small role, but has had an impact in reducing the use of marijuana in Canada, is society. Lobby groups all over Canada have been educating people on the risks of mar...

A simple convenient DNA collection and storage method for GWAS Essay

A simple convenient DNA collection and storage method for GWAS analysis using FTA - Essay Example Fujita (2006). It comprises of a cellulose-based matrix containing chemicals for cell lysis and nucleic acid preservation.   The chemicals are activated when a biological fluid contacts the surface.   An additional feature of this chemical treatment is bacterial and viral inactivation.   Not only are the biosamples protected from microbial growth contamination, but the user is also protected from any potential biohazards present in the biosample.   These features make FTA paper an ideal medium for transporting bioamples at room temperature without the requirement of a biohazard shipping label. FTA paper is a commonly used substrate for DNA storage in a number of industries such as pharmaceutics, law enforcement, agriculture and governmental regulatory agencies.   This medium has been available commercially for a number of years by Whatman Inc., who have demonstrated that DNA stored on FTA paper has a long, useful lifetime.   In fact, suitability for use of DNA recovered from up to seventeen year-old biosamples in human identification assays has been demonstrated, inarguably. and aniline dyes; or liver tumours and vinyl chloride). The high prevalence of limb malformations in newborns in the late 1950s was ultimately found to be due to the mothers’ ingestion of thalidomide during pregnancy. German National Ethics Council (2004). However genetic epidemiology studies not individuals but population groups. Biobanks serve as large molecular repositories where a large amount of data in the form of DNA from diverse sources can be compared. For example, the United Kingdom BioBank intends to archive the genetic material of 5,00,000 individuals as mentioned in UK Biobank literature. Large series of samples from donors (several hundred to several thousand) with a given multifactorial hereditary condition – such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes, asthma or epilepsy – are compared with corresponding series from healthy donors. The

Undertake an examination of the Marketing Environment of the UK book Essay

Undertake an examination of the Marketing Environment of the UK book retailing market - Essay Example y, being a highly competitive sector, also seems to have taken the cues and is bracing itself up in order to comply with the phenomenal rate of globalisation. According to the findings of Miyamoto and Whittaker (2005), â€Å"major UK publishers have been absorbed to huge media conglomerates, for instance, which pursue strategies to maximise profit through leveraging synergy effects of the publishing business and other media businesses on a global scale† (Miyamoto & Whittaker, 2005, P. 1). Owing to the basic fact that most business interests are centred on the need to maximise stakeholders’ value as well as corporate profit, British publishers are inclined towards inculcating this philosophy into their corporate goals. It is interesting to note that the UK market has gradually transformed from being cooperative to one that is predominantly free and competitive (Miyamoto & Whittaker, 2005, P. 3), and as a result the market characteristics have also changed. In the present business context, the British publishing industry is driven by corporate philosophy, its primary objective being the pursuit of individual profit. The British publishing industry has been observed to have a rich heritage as â€Å"publishing guilds were formed in London by the 14th century, and developed with the progress of the printing techniques in the middle of the 15th century† (Miyamoto & Whittaker, 2005, P. 3). London plays an important role in shaping the course of business for this industry as far as the UK is concerned as most of the functions that are associated with this industry are concentrated in this area. The UK also precedes most other economies in terms of crucial developments that were made to this profitable industry and this may be justified by the fact that â€Å"the division of firms in the value chain of the publishing industry was formed in the UK by the middle of the 19th century† (Miyamoto & Whittaker, 2005, P. 4). The UK publishing as well as book retail industry has gone

Policy Process Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Policy Process Paper - Essay Example pts are presently being made to counteract the serious problems associated discrimination with youth justice and the following will explore how ending discrimination within the youth justice system can improve the overall operation of the criminal justice system. Discrimination is often described as the prejudicial treatment of others based upon certain real or perceived characteristics. It is generally done on the basis of race, colour, sex, age, language, sexual orientation, religion and disability. Negative terminology within the Youth Service System can lead to discrimination and ensuing levels of oppression towards youth. Labeling is a negative term which means defining someone based upon their appearance or behaviour (real or perceived). A young man with a Mohawk haircut could be labeled as a punk or skinhead solely based on the style of his hair. From a youth justice perspective, a young black man may be subject to more stops and searches by police, and be labeled as more likely to engage in crime, due to the colour of his skin (the UK’s Home Office reports that black and Asian men were more likely to be stopped and searched by police than their white counterparts, see Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System, 2006). Discrimination within the Youth Justice System can take a variety of forms. Visible minority youth (black, Asian or other) may be subject to more random police stop and searches, may be less likely to be cautioned by a magistrate and may face higher rates of incarceration. In a study commissioned to look at race and the criminal justice system – not solely the youth system – it was determined that although black residents account for 2% of the population aged 10 and over in England and Wales, their rates of incarceration stand at 12% of the total prison population. This is a whopping and disproportionate 600% increase relative to their total population size! Accordingly, black and Asians are more likely than whites to be

Nelson Mandela: Leadership Skills

Nelson Mandela: Leadership Skills Nelson Mandela has been one of the best examples of what a leader is. If I were to describe Mandela in one word, I would say that he was, in everything that he did, a fighter. Throughout his life, he fought a lot of battles to bring freedom to his people in South Africa against the apartheid government. Mandela was born, and grew up, in the Xhosa society in Transkei. It was during his childhood when he first saw the troubles of his country like land deprivation and racism (Limb, 2008). At his time white settlers controlled and owned most of the land in South Africa. Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC), an underground political movement, in 1942 and became one of the youth leaders in the organization (Boehmer, 2010). In 1948, the National Party implemented the apartheid government, wherein races were forcibly segregated (Boehmer, 2010). At that time, Africans (or the black people) were obliged to bring a passbook with them all the time, which has all of their identifica tion. They were not allowed to participate in the elections and were forced to live in places away from the white (Magoon, 2008). In short, they were forced to be the underprivileged ones and suffer inequality in their own native land. Mandela believed in fighting for freedom through non-violent ways. However, he was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964 (Limb, 2008). Nevertheless, even in prison, he became the beacon of hope for the people who continued to fight for freedom. When he was released from prison after 27 years, he told his people in his speech that he was disappointed by the troubles of urban black life. He was against those who were harassing innocent people and burning vehicles, pretending to be freedom fighters. He said, Freedom without civility, freedom without the ability to live in peace, was not true freedom at all (Mandela, 1994). South Africa had their first multi-racial elections in 1994 and Nelson Mandela won, therefore, becoming the first black president of South Africa. Mandelas attitude should serve as an inspiration for a special education administrator. In spite of the trials and problems he faced, he stood his ground, believed in his principles and kept on fighting. As a special education administrator, one will encounter challenges along the way. One has to set standards and policies for special education programs and make sure that these are complied. He will be the one who will fight for the students under the special education program and assure that they get to have all they need in terms of education. It will be a never-ending fight. People will be critical to students with disabilities and they will often be discriminated. However, the special education administrator, as a leader, must be an inspiration and a strong motivator of equality. With this I end with Mandelas famous line during one of his trials: I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die (Mandela, 1994, p. 181). Special education administrators must depend on positive relations with local community agencies and other forms of social support (e.g., homeless shelters, foster care agencies/DHHS) in order to provide integrated transitional services for adolescents with disabilities. As such, special education administrators must promote, implement, and sustain effective collaborations. Identify how and with whom you should collaborate as a special education administrator responsible for the promotion of adolescents with disabilities and their independent living needs and self-determination. A fight fought by a united front is more successful than a fight fought by one. Just like Mandela in his fight for freedom, he was surrounded with people who he had inspired and continued to fight for their ideals. In special education, the fight for a brighter future for the children is not placed solely on the special education administrators shoulder. It is a collaboration of people, gathering for a purpose. People usually rely on family and friends for help but sometimes, their supports are limited and there is a need to search for additional help within the community. For most people, the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority, as the administrator of public mental health aid in Oakland County, links this gap by giving assistance to those who need it (Community Housing Network, n.d.). The OCCMHA is in charge of providing services and support to adults with psychological illness, children with severe emotional disturbances and people with developmental disabilities (Oakland County Michigan, n.d.). The OCCMHA Board checks and assesses Oakland Countys mental health needs, regulates public and private services that are required to satisfy those needs, and surveys and recommends the annual budget and implementation of plans (Oakland County Michigan, n.d.). The OCCMHA does not directly provide the services, but it provides funding to a number of different agencies that provides direct services accessible to those who needs help (Community Housing Network, n.d.). It gives extra support for people with disabilities for them to expand their chanc es of relating, learning, working, playing and contributing their best to society. Aside from the OCCMHA, the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Inc. (MORC) believes that persons with disabilities are members of the society (MORC, n.d.). The MORC helps the differently-abled and the mentally-challenged to accomplish their dreams and desires. The MORC does an extensive service, education and training, and support. Throughout the years, the MORC has supported many children and adults leave from nursing homes and different institutions and integrate themselves into the community once again (MORC, n.d.). The ideas of Gentle Teaching, founded by John McGee, Ph.D., are being used by MORC since 1986. This teaching is founded on the principles of training the individual to feel safe, to feel loved, to be able to love others, and that it is all right to interact with others (MORC, n.d.). Another one is the Community Living Services (CLS), which is an organization that encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in the community and learn to live on self-reliance in order to have a more fulfilling life (Community Living, n.d.). The mission of CLS is to help each person practice making decisions for themselves, to help them learn to have and maintain relationships with family and friends, and to help them become full citizens of the community (Community Living, n.d.). Scenario: your districts special education rule waivers for resource room caseloads are set to expire in 12 months. You are the new Special Education Director for the district. The Superintendent tells you soon after you were hired that he wants the next round of waivers to be developed behind closed doors, with little of no publicity or involvement from the teaching staff or parents of students with disabilities. He also said that the district needs to save more money from the next round of waivers than the first approved waivers. Should you be concerned about anything? What kind of issues (legal, moral, ethical, practical) can you anticipate ahead in accomplishing this task? Certain problem might arise in this situation. The Superintendent has to be really careful what he puts on those waivers because in the end, his name goes on the signature line below the waivers and if something is wrong, he will get in trouble and that will cost his job. If the waivers are to be developed without the involvement of the teaching staff or parents of the students with disabilities, the school might not get the right resources that can help the students with disabilities with their education. Without sufficient preparation and conceptualization from consultation with the involved parties (the teaching staff and the parents of the students with disabilities), there might be serious complications (Huefner, 1988). According to Huefner (1988), insufficient preparation might lead to the following risks: Ineffective caseload management Any local education agency (LEA) would keep on looking for ways to lessen expenses. The first solution would always be to ask the consulting teachers to handle a bigger caseload than what he or she can effectively carry (Huefner, 1988). In the system of special education, a teacher could usually take on a maximum of fifteen students only for both indirect or consulting and direct or resource services (Lilly, 1977 as cited in Huefner, 1988). If a special educator is doing consulting services only, he or she could handle thirty-five students at most, according to the National Task Force on Teacher Consultation (Idol, 1986 as cited in Huefner, 1988). However, the Teacher Consultation Task Force argues that the number of caseload an educator could carry would be based on his or her experience and collective discernment (Huefner, 1988). Nevertheless, changes in student performance are insignificant with bigger caseloads (Haight, 1984 as cited in Huefner, 1988). Unreasonable and inaccurate expectations with the effectiveness of the program Special educators have a habit of jumping from one bandwagon to another. They use what is currently popular and when it does not deliver the intended results, they tend to jump to the next one (Huefner, 1988). They are just adding more problems to a series of problems, which could have been avoided. Insufficient funds Wang, Reynolds and Walberg (1986 as cited in Huefner 1988) have proposed the use of experimental waivers to allocate funds for integrated categorical programs. Their proposal could include the allotment of funds for consulting special educators that might risk the children in a regular classroom, whether they are special education students or not (Huefner, 1988). To avoid consuming all the accessible special education funds on students who are seriously handicapped, regular education should allot a portion of its funds for the fees of carrying out consultation services (Huefner, 1988). The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), as applied to the schools physical space, technology, and instruction, should insure access to the curriculum for all students. How would you design your schools physical space, technology, and instruction to meet the principles of UDL? Please be sure to address the principles of multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement when you are discussing classroom instruction. Providing the educational facilities should always be one of the top priorities. These facilities provide an effective and well-organized learning environment that would be a medium for quality education. The design should effectively suit the users of the facility. The environment must be constructed in a way that it contributes to the complete development of the individual mental, physical, and spiritual potentials (Perkins, 1957). When designing a school building, these considerations must be included: Accessibility The designer should bear in mind that access must be equally provided to all of the facilities. Ramps should be provided whenever there is a change of level, so people on wheelchairs or crutches will not have a difficulty. Other examples of these are the use of visual and audio signage and tactile strips. Aesthetics Buildings should be visually appealing and should blend well with the surroundings to foster a sense of belongingness to the community that it is part of. Exterior and interior spaces should be clearly defined to avoid confusion to the students. Keeping it simple and straight to the point helps in nurturing a sense of place. Cost-effectiveness In looking for ways to lessen the construction and maintenance costs, quality of construction should never be sacrificed. Giving up quality over quantity has negative domino effects and would greatly affect the quality education the students deserve. Functionality The designers should create a learning environment fit for the students that would help in their learning process and provide them with a quality education. Productivity in order for the school building to be productive, it should provide a comfortable and healthy environment in order to support the quality education provided by the school. Security Safety would always be the most important factor in designing any building. Factors for safety includes fire protection system and resistance to natural hazards like rain, Sustainability It should be taken into consideration when planning for the school building to avoid high cost of construction and maintenance of the building. The use of local and energy-efficient materials should be incorporated into the design of the building. Community-centered Create social spaces to promote a sense of community among the students. Social interaction plays an integral part in maintaining quality education. A student learns in two ways: books and people. Special education administrators are in a pivotal position for influencing and leading policy initiatives that cross general and special education, at a variety of levels. You have been asked to provide policy recommendations to a foreign government about how to include students with disabilities in general education classrooms. Based on your research and knowledge of US law and regulation, what would you recommend? The number of high school dropouts has gradually increased over the years, especially with students with disabilities. The rates when it comes to high school graduation, acceptance to college, and success in career or employment are very low compared to those students without disabilities (National Council on Disability, 2004). The American government has noticed that there was a decline in the quality of education in the country; so in 2001, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act was passed to improve students academic performances. The law requires schools to gather data on how the students are performing by giving out tests which will be sorted out by race and other aspects like native language and disability (National Council on Disability, 2004). Such legislation will aid a foreign government in the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education classrooms. The NCLB helps states and schools prepare their students, as well as those with disabilities, to be able to stand on their own, academically and financially (National Council on Disability, 2004). President George W. Bush signed it into a law in 2002. This act focuses on four basic principles for education reform: (1) greater accountability for outcomes; (2) adaptability and local control; (3) more options for parents; and (4) gives importance on teaching techniques that works (National Center on Educational Outcomes, 2003 as cited in National Council on Disability, 2004). The NCLB is related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which controls services for students with disabilities and gives individual accountability by using Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that are developed based on the individual students unique needs (National Council on Disability, 2004). The IDEA protects students with disabilities from discrimination and assures them that they will acquire services that are made to meet their needs in special education (American Youth Policy Forum Center on Education Policy, 2002 as cited in National Council on Disability, 2004). The National Center on Educational Outcomes believes that the NCLB complements the provisions of IDEA by giving public accountability to state, district, and school levels for every student with disability (National Council on Disability, 2004). The NCLB, in relation to IDEA, requires students with disabilities to participate in the assessment of states and districts through the tests given (National Center on Educational Outcomes, 2003 as cited in National Council on Disability, 2004). One of the main requirements of IDEA is to allow children with disabilities to be taught in the least restrictive environment as much as possible (National Council on Disability, 2004, p. 16). This means that students with disabilities are to be taught in regular or general education classrooms (National Council on Disability, 2004). The inclusion of students with disabilities in general education classrooms has garnered support from different organizations and this has proved to be doing well in terms of social and educational aspects (Loiacono Valenti, 2010).

Edge Detection in Claud Classification

It is a certain number of gradient operators using small arrays of pixels were tested in this study, in order to check their capacity to properly detect significant boundaries between different CTT and eventually cloud types. This capacity is 14 visually tested against direct CTT images. Among the detectors applied are the Canny, Roberts, Sobel and Kayyali 15 SENW (to be named here SENW) edge detectors, and the Harris corner and edge detector. The Roberts edge detector employs mainly 2 pixels in a 2*2 matrix for each computing direction (horizontal and vertical). The test conducted show a lesser sensitivity to edges i.e. the variation range of gradients is limited compared to the other methods.The Canny 18 method uses a 5*5 pixel matrix, that undergoes preliminary filtering before the use of a smaller-array gradient detector, making the calculation procedure longer. The Sobel detector uses a 3*3 matrix where 6 pixels practically contribute to 20 the gradient. The SENW edge detector i s based on the Sobel approach for edge detection but employs mainly 4-corner 21 pixels (upper and lower left, and right) in a 3*3 pixel-matrix, the remaining 5 pixels between the corners are set to zero.  The Harris detector detects both edges and corners.

Ha Long Essay

A customer buys products based on their look and the quality inside . This is an example of how tourists choose their tourist destination and I have a wonderful destination that everyone should come once time in their life † Ha Long † . Ha Long is one of seven nature wonders of the world. Visiting Ha Long bay, you can experience the diversity of natural views, from sandy beaches to thousand year old rocky mountains. Why should you choose Ha Long bay to visit ? The word Ha Long in Vietnamese means the dragon descends into the sea and he legend says that the island of Ha Long was created by a great dragon who lived in the mountain, it sounds very interesting. First, I will let you know about the wonderful scenery. When you come to Ha Long, you can just describe as a â€Å"wow† , from great father mountain to thousand year old caves, from sandy beach to diving to discover the sea . Ha Long bay will lead you from one surprise to another. Beside that, Ha Long has had a particularly significant position because of its location o​n the important communication and trade route between China, Japan and Thailand , so you can see the great combination of culture of four countries. What will you do when you come to Ha Long bay ? As I said, Ha Long is a great combination of scenary and culture , so there are so many trips that take you to experience the beauty and culture of Ha Long . You will visit Ha Long on a cruise , which is called cruise tour that will lead you visit all places in Ha Long , it looks like you are mixing with the natural , beauty of sea , mountains and caves .Come to Ha Long bay, you will have agreat opportunity to get experience about life on water , which means people live all their life on water , we call that â€Å"fishing village on the sea†. you can also enjoy the fresh seafood, from shrimp, fish, jelly fish to many kinds of seafood that you have never eaten and if you want to cook for yourself , you can do it . Especially , you can try a famous dish of Ha Long † jelly fish noodle† . I promise that Ha Long bay is a value trip that you should try , the friendly traditional of people in Ha Long , the wonderful lanscape. Imagine you are walking up in the beautiful sunshine amid the rock, islets and caves and see  the view of Ha Long bay on the top of the mountain will give you a bird-eye view on the bay. I promise that no place in the world has the wonderful view like Ha Long bay. The experience from one to another will lead you to many surprises, the culture, the landscape, cuisine of Ha Long bay . Do not procrastinate , come to Ha Long and enjoy a wonderful gift of nature.

Free Essays on Non Profite Organization

Volunteer Recognition Volunteers are needed in a very broad range of organizations. These organizations include everything from non-profit organizations, internet companies, cities, schools and churches. Ages of volunteers also range from pre-teen to elderly. Volunteers are a key element in any type of organization. Public awareness and recognition of how important volunteers really are is an issue sometimes not easily solved. Recognizing these outstanding individuals is very important when it comes to keeping and recruiting more volunteers for your organization. Volunteers need to know that their hard work and the time that they give up is very appreciated. There are many different ways to recognize volunteers. One way is by holding community events. There was an event put together in a local community, and the community name the day, â€Å"Join Hands Day†. They got all the volunteers from the surrounding communities to submit to them a handprint and these were all displayed in the local park. The whole community participated in this event and there were refreshments and entertainment for everyone. The local newspaper ran articles and all the volunteers knew just how appreciated they really were, by everyone who sponsored and attended the big event. Another way to recognize the volunteers is by doing something a bit more formal. Holding banquets and award ceremonies are wonderful ways to recognize your volunteers. Giving out awards and gifts gives the organization a chance to recognize their volunteers and to give them a token to take home with them to show them they are appreciated. It is fun to hold drawings and have some entertainment also at these ceremonies. Giving you volunteers a fun evening in honor of their hard work can bring about great rewards for an organization. If your organization is not looking to hold an event a personal way to show appreciation is to give gifts to all of the volunteers. Ther... Free Essays on Non Profite Organization Free Essays on Non Profite Organization Volunteer Recognition Volunteers are needed in a very broad range of organizations. These organizations include everything from non-profit organizations, internet companies, cities, schools and churches. Ages of volunteers also range from pre-teen to elderly. Volunteers are a key element in any type of organization. Public awareness and recognition of how important volunteers really are is an issue sometimes not easily solved. Recognizing these outstanding individuals is very important when it comes to keeping and recruiting more volunteers for your organization. Volunteers need to know that their hard work and the time that they give up is very appreciated. There are many different ways to recognize volunteers. One way is by holding community events. There was an event put together in a local community, and the community name the day, â€Å"Join Hands Day†. They got all the volunteers from the surrounding communities to submit to them a handprint and these were all displayed in the local park. The whole community participated in this event and there were refreshments and entertainment for everyone. The local newspaper ran articles and all the volunteers knew just how appreciated they really were, by everyone who sponsored and attended the big event. Another way to recognize the volunteers is by doing something a bit more formal. Holding banquets and award ceremonies are wonderful ways to recognize your volunteers. Giving out awards and gifts gives the organization a chance to recognize their volunteers and to give them a token to take home with them to show them they are appreciated. It is fun to hold drawings and have some entertainment also at these ceremonies. Giving you volunteers a fun evening in honor of their hard work can bring about great rewards for an organization. If your organization is not looking to hold an event a personal way to show appreciation is to give gifts to all of the volunteers. Ther...

The Complete Guide to ACT Grammar Rules

The Complete Guide to ACT Grammar Rules SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Even though the English language is complex, ACT English tests a specific set of grammar rules. Furthermore, it tests these rules the same way, over and over again. In this complete guide, we've compiled the comprehensive list of ACT English grammar rules you need to know to ace the ACT English section. If you master all these rules and practice them with realistic ACT questions, you'll have a huge advantage on the English section.Unlike other guides, we give you lots of examples to help you understand how grammar rules will show up on the ACT. After all, you need to master the ACT format to do well on the ACT. Quick Overview The English rules tested on the ACT can be grouped into two categories: Usage and Rhetoric. Usage skills are what are typically called "grammar rules," such as punctuation, subject/verb agreement, and verb tenses. Rhetorical skills have to do with style, organization, and writing logic. You'll need to know how to organize sentences in a paragraph, connect two ideas together logically, and sequence paragraphs together. We'll start first with Usage skills, then move onto Rhetorical skills. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points or more? We've put our best advice into a single guide. These are the 5 strategies you MUST be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download this free ACT guide now: USAGE SKILLS Usage questions cover primarily grammar and punctuation - what we generally think of as correct English. Punctuation The ACT only tests very specific uses of certain kinds of punctuation. Those rules, and only those rules, are detailed below. Commas Use commas to separate words and word groups in a simple series of three or more items. We had coffee, cheese, crackers, and grapes. Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the adjectives are interchangeable. It was a vibrant, massive painting. When starting a sentence with a dependent clause, use a comma after it. When Jim studied in the library for his chemistry quiz, it was very quiet. Use commas to set off nonessential parts of the sentence. The woman, knowing it was late, hurried home. Apostrophes Apostrophes are used two ways on the ACT: to show possession and to create contractions. Many of the apostrophes issues are tested using the "Word Choice" skill further below. To form possessives of nouns: Laura's hat The kids' toys The tree's leaves Note that the singular possessive Laura's has the apostrophe before the s, while the plural possessive kids' has the apostrophe after the s. To create contractions (show the omission of letters): There's a clown. You'd love it. Who's there? Colons Use a colon after an independent clause when it is followed by a list, a quotation, appositive, or other idea directly related to the independent clause. The vote was unanimous: the older candidate had won. Semicolons Use a semicolon to join 2 independent clauses when the second clause restates the first or when the two clauses are of equal emphasis. I'm not sure how to get there; let's get directions. Use a semicolon to join 2 independent clauses when the second clause begins with a conjunctive adverb (however, therefore, etc.) or a transition (in fact, for example, etc.). The basement is scary; thus, I do not go down there alone. Dashes Dashes are used to set off or emphasize the content enclosed within dashes or the content that follows a dash. Dashes place more emphasis on this content than parentheses. Upon discovering the errors- all 124 of them- the publisher immediately recalled the books. End Punctuation Use a period at the end of a sentence that makes a statement. He will try again. Use a question mark after direct questions. Where are we? Use (rarely) an exclamation point at the end of a sentence to express strong emotion. Stop it! Pronouns A pronoun is a noun that can stand in for another noun. For example, the pronoun "she" can stand in for "the woman" or "Queen Elizabeth." But, unlike nouns, pronouns change their form if they're used in different ways. These are the ways that pronouns are tested on the ACT. Subject vs. Object Pronouns Nouns, in relation to verbs, can be subjects or objects. Subjects "do" verbs and objects have verbs "done" to them: a dog (the subject noun) chases (the verb) its tail (the object noun). Regular nouns like dog or tail do not change depending on whether they are subjects or objects, but most pronouns do. For example, in the phrase "she likes him," the woman is the subject, so the pronoun is she; in the phrase "he likes her," the woman is the object, so the pronoun is her. Subject Pronouns Object Pronouns I you he she it we they me you him her it us them Examples Error: Me and my parents ate dinner. Corrected: My parents and I ate dinner. Error: The tourists asked my friends and I for directions. Corrected: The tourists asked my friends and me for directions. Error: The Girl Scouts sold cookies to my sister and I. Corrected: The Girl Scouts sold cookies to my sister and me. Note above that all of the examples pair the faulty pronoun with another noun. This is almost always how the harder ACT pronoun questions test this skill. That vs. Who This concept is simple: who is the pronoun for a person or people, and that is the pronoun for everything else. Examples Error: The coach is the person that is in charge of the team's schedule. Corrected: The coach is the person who is in charge of the team's schedule. Error: The elephant is the animal who asks for the most treats. Corrected: The elephant is the animal that asks for the most treats. Error: The corporation is who owns this land. Corrected: The corporation is what owns this land. Pronoun Agreement When we use pronouns more than once in a sentence, we have to use the same perspective throughout. Examples Error: If a person wants to succeed in corporate life, you have to know the rules of the game. Corrected: If a person wants to succeed in corporate life, she has to know the rules of the game. Error: Everyone should make their own decision. Corrected: Everyone should make his own decision. Error: Every student must study hard if they want good grades. Corrected: Every student must study hard if she wants good grades. Note: In the second example, that the error is the commonly-used "their" to mean a singular noun (everyone); while this is used in common, everyday speech, using "their" as a possessive pronoun for a single person is not formally accepted as grammatically correct on the ACT. These singular nouns that seem plural (such as nobody, anyone, and each person), as well as "their" instead of the singular "he" or "his," are often tested in the hardest pronoun questions. Ambiguous Reference Wherever there is a pronoun, it should be obvious what the pronoun is "standing in" for. Examples Error: Ethel told Lucy that her pie was wonderful. Corrected: Ethel told Lucy that Lucy's pie was wonderful. Error: The files arranged by the temporary workers were out of order, so we sent them back to the main office. Corrected: The files arranged by the temporary workers were out of order, so we sent the files back to the main office. Error: Once Nora and Elise go to live with their husbands, they have to convert to their ways of living. Corrected: Once Nora and Elise go to live with their husbands, the husbands have to convert to their wives' ways of living. Verb Forms: Tense and Agreement There are two main issues with verbs tested on the ACT: verb tense and subject-verb agreement. The subject is the noun that "does" the verb (below, the subject of the sentences is they.) Verb Tense There are six basic verb tenses, two for each time period: Simple Present: They sing. Present Perfect: They have sung. Simple Past: They sang. Past Perfect: They had sung. Future: They will sing. Future Perfect: They will have sung. All of these tenses are created out of three forms of "to sing": sing (present), sang (past), and sung (past participle). As you can see, some of the correct verb forms are created by adding forms of the words "have" and "do." The idea is to keep verbs in a single sentence within the same time period. Examples Error: The boy insisted that he has paid for the candy bars. Corrected: The boy insisted (past) that he had paid (past perfect) for the candy bars. Error: The doctor suggested bed rest for the patient, who suffers from a bad cold. Corrected: The doctor suggested (past) bed rest for the patient, who suffered (past) from a bad cold. Error: I told him that he can drop by any time and I will be happy to help him. Corrected: I told (past) him that he could (past) drop by any time and I would (past) be happy to help him. Subject/Verb Agreement Nouns and verbs are both parts of speech with number: they are written differently if they refer to just one thing or multiple things. Subject/verb agreement just means that the noun and the verb have the same number (singular or plural). For example, one dog runs fast, but two dogs run fast. Examples Matching subjects and verbs are underlined, while verbs that don't match subjects are bold. Error: The climate in those cities are uncomfortably humid. Corrected: The climate (singular) in those cities is (singular) uncomfortably humid Error: There was a rat and three buckets of whitewash in the corner of the basement. Corrected: There were (plural) a rat and three buckets of whitewash (plural) in the corner of the basement. Error: Ms. Russell is trying to read a book outside but a swarm of flies keep distracting her. Corrected: Ms. Russell is trying to read a book outside but a swarm (singular) of flies keeps (singular) distracting her. Comparisons These are pretty simple. Comparisons between two things are formed by the construction "x is more/less [adjective]/[adjective]-er than y." For example, Bill is more friendly than Louis. Comparisons between three or more things, however, are formed by the construction "x is the most [adjective]/[adjective]-est of the [things]." For example, Lucy was the most adept student in the class or The cheetah is the fastest land animal. The ACT tests this skill by mismatching the types of comparison: Examples Error: Between butterflies and spiders, humans admire butterflies the most. Corrected: Between butterflies and spiders, humans admire butterflies more. Error: Cheetahs are the faster of all land mammals. Corrected: Cheetahs are the fastest of all land mammals. Error: Nationalists think theirs is the better nation of all. Corrected: Nationalists think theirs is the best nation of all. Wondering how best to practice these grammar rules? Check out our #1 rated online ACT prep program. Unlike most prep programs, PrepScholar is special because we give you focused practice on individual skills, customized to your strengths and weaknesses. Are you weak in punctuation? We'll give you dozens of practice questions to master how to use commas. Confused about subject/verb agreement? PrepScholar will drill you on this grammar rule until you master it. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Check out our 5-day free trial: Word Choice These questions are about commonly confused words. Just memorize which is which. Its vs. It’s It's is short for it is or it has. It's too late. Its shows possession, like his and her. These are its footprints. Their vs. There vs. They’re There refers to a place. There is a terrarium in the first building; it is over there. They're is a contraction of they are. They're not in this building. Their is the possessive pronoun. Their house is on the next street. To vs. Too vs. Two Two is a number. There were two books on the table. Too means "more than enough" and "also." After we got our dinner for free, they gave us too much ice cream for dessert, too!" To indicates direction and action. We're going to the park to play basketball. Then vs. Than Then is mainly an adverb, often used to situate actions in time. That was then; this is now. Than is a conjunction used mainly in making comparisons. Shaq is taller than Kobe. "Might Have" vs. "Might Of" "Might have" is correct. "Might of" is not. She might have gotten lost. Idioms Idioms are expressions that mean something different than the actual words they use, such as "rain cats and dogs" or "kick the bucket." But in English we also have short phrases made of words that always go together, and these are also tested on the ACT. Examples Error: Maria stumbled in her old rocking horse in the garage. Corrected: Maria stumbled upon her old rocking horse in the garage. Error: Loud guard dogs keep burglars in bay. Corrected: Loud guard dogs keep burglars at bay. Error: Arturo and I happened for meet at the library. Corrected: Arturo and I happened to meet at the library. Verbal Phrases The ACT particularly loves one type of idiom: verbal phrases, which are verb + preposition pairs. They always want to know if you know which is the correct preposition, as in the incorrect sentences below. Examples Error: The show was followed on an encore. Corrected: The show was followed by an encore. Error: She is responsible of returning her library books. Corrected: She is responsible for returning her library books. Error: One should refrain for texting while driving. Corrected: One should refrain from texting while driving. Bonus: Looking for the very best guides to every ACT section? Check out our top guides for every single section of the ACT. Choose the score level you're aiming for: 36 Score Guides: ACT English | ACT Math | ACT Reading | ACT Science | ACT Essay Choose these guides if you're scoring a 26 or above on a section, and you want to get the highest ACT score possible. 24 Score Guides: ACT English | ACT Math | ACT Reading | ACT Science | ACT Science Choose these guides if you're scoring below a 24 on a section, and you want to boost your score to at least a 24 level. These are the very best guides available on boosting your ACT score, section by section. They're written by Harvard grads and perfect ACT scorers. Don't disappoint yourself - read these guides and improve your score today. Sentence Fragments Run-on Sentences Sentences are made up of groups of words that are called clauses. There are two types of clauses: independent (can be a complete sentence) and dependent (must be attached to an independent clause in order to be a complete sentence). An independent clause has a subject-verb pair and does not start with a word or phrase that makes the clause dependent, such as "when" or "because" (as in example 3 below). In the examples below, the subjects are underlined and the verbs are in bold. A Sentence Fragment is a sentence made of anything less than an independent clause. To fix it, we add an independent clause. Examples Fragment: Such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering. Corrected: There are many STEM careers, such as electrical, chemical, and industrial engineering. Fragment: Saving her team at a time when they needed her. Corrected: The goalie was saving her team at a time when they needed her. Fragment: Because the one I have now isn't working out too well. Corrected: I need a new roommate, because the one I have now isn't working out too well. A Run-on Sentence is made of multiple independent clauses joined by only a comma or no punctuation at all. It can be fixed with a comma and conjunction (example 1 below), a joining word like and or because (example 2 below), or a semicolon (example 3 below). Examples Run-on sentence: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus it is very garlicky. Corrected: My favorite Mediterranean spread is hummus, as it is very garlicky. Run-on sentence: I rushed out to the shop, I had no milk left. Corrected: I rushed out to the shop because I had no milk left. Run-on sentence: Mary likes dogs she has a beagle. Corrected: Mary likes dogs; she has a beagle. Parallel Construction Parallel construction is when we present a list of things all in the same way. For example, if two things in a list are adverbs, the third should also be an adverb. If two things in a list are "to [verb]," then the other should also be in the form "to [verb]." To fix it, we just phrase all of the items in the list the same way. Examples Error: The couple bought the concert tickets, arrived at the theater, and went about finding their seats. Corrected: The couple bought the concert tickets, arrived at the theater, and found their seats. Error: The deer moved carefully, quietly and in a way that was slow. Corrected: The deer moved carefully, quietly and slowly. Error: Peeling hazelnuts requires skill, patience, and the ability to persevere. Corrected: Peeling hazelnuts requires skill, patience, and perseverance. Faulty Modifiers A modifier is a word or phrase that describes (a.k.a. modifies) something. There are two kinds of modifier problems tested on the ACT: dangling modifiers and misplaced modifiers. Dangling Modifier A dangling modifier is a modifier that begins a sentence, has a comma after it, and has the noun it describes NOT placed after the comma. In the first example below, for example, the modifier is "coating the sidewalk," and it describes the snow. Since "we" is the first word after the comma, not "snow," "coating the sidewalk" is a dangling modifier. Modifiers are underlined, while nouns being modified are in bold. Examples Error: Coating the sidewalk, we trudged through the heavy snow. Corrected: We trudged through the heavy snow coating the sidewalk. Error: Long and tangled, it was difficult to comb the child's hair. Corrected: Long and tangled, the child's hair was difficult to comb. Error: Exhausted and weak, the soldiers' uniforms were covered in frost. Corrected: Exhausted and weak, the soldiers were covered in frost. Misplaced Modifier A misplaced modifier is a modifier that's not close enough to the thing it describes, so it looks like it's describing the wrong thing. In the first example below, for example, the modifier "on the sale rack" seems to be describing how the jacket fits the rack, which isn't right. To correct it, we move the modifier closer to the noun it describes. Examples Error: The jacket was too small on the sale rack. Corrected: The jacket on the sale rack was too small. Error: Ray wore his one collared shirt to the job interview, which was stained with mustard. Corrected: Ray wore his one collared shirt, which was stained with mustard, to the job interview. Error: She handed out brownies to children wrapped in foil. Corrected: She handed out brownies wrapped in foil to children. Bonus: Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically. RHETORICAL SKILLS We're now going to cover the Rhetorical skills you need for ACT English. Where Usage skills tend to focus on smaller subparts of a sentence, Rhetorical skills broaden the scope to consider how sentences are constructed, and how sentences fit together with each other. Relevance This skill is deciding what the passage is about and whether a certain detail belongs in that category or not. Which sentences, if any, are irrelevant in the paragraph below? [1] My uncle explained to me that bonsai cultivation was part of our ancestors’ culture that could remain with me for my whole life. [2] He said that bonsai as old as Hoshi didn’t need much maintenance, but he would teach me what I needed to know. [3] He added that I could easily do everything necessary for Hoshi's care in my dorm room. [4] It’s funny to think that Hoshi is older than my great grandparents. Bonsai are grown from parts of normal-sized trees that are kept small by pruning and planting in small pots. [5] They thrive in only partial sunlight but need to be pruned several times per year and kept in temperatures that stay well above freezing year-round. [6] Bonsai also require careful watering, and Hoshi in particular needs to live outside in the summer to get the best light and inside in the winter because of the cold. If you said Sentence 4 is irrelevant, you're correct. The paragraph is all about bonsai cultivation, and Sentence 4 is about the age of bonsai trees. Author Intent For this skill, we need to be able to identify the writer's topic, point, or goal, and the ways she achieves it. What is the writer's point, t in the above paragraph? The correct answer is something along the lines of "the idea of Ra shows that people personify objects they depend on." Organization: Transitional Logic The ACT wants to test our ability to transition between ideas within a sentence, a paragraph, or a whole essay. Examples Error: All through high school, we were inseparable; however, even our parents eventually became friends. Corrected: All through high school, we were inseparable; in fact, even our parents eventually became friends. Error: The painting is a fascinating work because, by representing women in such a novel way, it questions both representational art and traditional notions of femininity. Nonetheless, most critics agree that it is a groundbreaking work in the development of both cubism and modern art as a whole. Corrected: The painting is a fascinating work because, by representing women in such a novel way, it questions both representational art and traditional notions of femininity. Indeed, most critics agree that it is a groundbreaking work in the development of both cubism and modern art as a whole. Organization: Macro Logic Macro-logic is the skill of putting the parts of an essay in the right order. Fortunately, on the ACT, there are tons of clues as to what order sentences and paragraphs should go in. Can you spot the out-of-place sentence(s) in the passage below? [1] He wore a sailor’s uniform and used papers given to him by a free black sailor, showed his ingenuity and courage. [2] After a number of previous failed attempts, Douglass finally escaped to freedom. [3] He took two boats and two trains to get from Havre de Grace, Maryland to a safehouse in New York City, completing his journey to freedom in less than twenty four hours. [4] He received the uniform from Anna Murray, a free black woman in Baltimore who later became his wife. If you said Sentence 4 is out of place, you were right. It should go after Sentence 1. Extra Advice: Want to get into the best college you can? Read our famous guide on how to get into Harvard, the Ivy League, and your top choice college. In this guide, you'll learn: What colleges are looking for in your application How to impress your top choice colleges Why you're probably wasting your time on activities that don't matter Even if you're not actually interested in Ivy League schools, you'll still learn something fundamental about how to apply to college. Read our top college admissions guide today. Conciseness and Redundancy There are times when saying something twice is needed: for emphasis, to review a difficult topic, or to explain something more clearly. None of these apply on the ACT. The two ways this skill is tested on the ACT is through wordy sentences and redundant sentences. They're related, but different. Wordy Sentences Examples Error: To travel around Berlin, we have the option of choosing many different transport systems; among them are the U-Bahn, or the underground rail system similar to New York’s Subway, and the tram, which is another form of transport that involves railways that have tracks on the streets. Corrected: To travel around Berlin, we might take the U-Bahn, or subway; we could also take the tram. Error: High-quality learning environments are a necessary precondition for facilitation and enhancement of the ongoing learning process. Corrected: Good schools enable people to learn more. Error: With reference to the fact that the company is deficient in manufacturing and production space, the contract may in all probability be awarded to some other enterprise. Corrected: The company may not be awarded the contract because it lacks production facilities. Redundant Sentences Examples Error: Many uneducated citizens who have never attended school continue to vote for better schools. Corrected: Many uneducated citizens continue to vote for better schools. Error: The eye of a storm is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of a tropical cyclone. Corrected: The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of a tropical cyclone. Error: The teenage woman who wanted to audition was talented, but only sixteen years old. Corrected: The woman who wanted to audition was talented, but only sixteen years old. Formality and Tone Every piece of writing has a level of formality, from none (a note passed in class) to maximum (official government or legal documents). The skill here is understanding the formality of the text (which is always pretty close to a book you'd read in English class). What's the informal phrase in the passage below? Examples Many cultures in recorded history have venerated and even worshipped the Sun. To some civilizations, the Sun represents all life; to others, the reason for the cycles of day and night. To Plato, the Sun represented the offspring of all that was good. In other myths, though, the Sun might have another kind of significance. It's for sure that the Sun carries great significance for many cultures both ancient and modern. If you said "it's for sure," you got it! It's less formal than the rest of the passage, which sounds quite academic. That's It! That's every rule tested on the ACT, as well as the ways in which they are likely to appear. Knowing these rules will make it easier to move forward confidently in your ACT practice. But this is just the beginning. Keep reading to find our most recommended links to master ACT English. What's Next? Knowing the grammar rules is just the beginning. Now, you need to practice them over and over again until you perfect your knowledge of them. Want an 36 on ACT English? Read our detailed guide on how to get a perfect English score. Be sure to also check our ultimate guide to ACT English, with links to all of our articles on ACT English tips and strategies. Better yet, read our guide on how to score a perfect ACT 36 score. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by ACT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

The different kinds of Technology being used in business Research Paper

The different kinds of Technology being used in business - Research Paper Example This is the reason, majority of companies are ready to spend huge amount of their capital on R&D (research and development). Technology and the Internet have had a profound effect on service marketing (Bitner, Brown & Mueter 2000). In an increasingly networked world information of varying quality is being aggregated for business use. Senior managements course of action is clear: (a) view; (b) manage and (c) deliver information as a competitive weapon. Information technology (IT) change is all-pervasive or ubiquitous. Consequently it is important that employers engage in change process in thoughtful ways–respecting and holding to ideas and practices of the past that have enduring value while also attending to emerging ideas and necessary changes in practice. The changes now experienced are no one-time affair. All business organizations must expect accelerating change and continuing efforts for renewal. Gildea (2005) explained that it is not getting people to learn C++ but trying to figure out how to do things all the time and differently. As another example of the technology-attachment linkage customers buying online often rely on a limited set of mediated channels that regularly lack the actual interactivity needed to effectively make purchases and address customer service questions. Similarly employees considered traditional office staff or more virtual workers rely extensively on various mediated channels that may do more to provide information overload than actually facilitate meaningful connections with other aspects of the organization. (Wolff, 2005, 29) Today the Internet is used for a wide variety of purposes including email surfing the World Wide Web chatting in chat rooms doing research and retrieving information games gossip and more. The impact of the Internet appears to be widespread with a large number of companies striving toward an e-business (i.e. business conducted over the

Developmental psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Developmental psychology - Essay Example As children enter into an era of experiences, every experience is new for their memory according to which the structures in the brain or schema are reshaped, impacting the linguistic, cognitive, social, and emotional development of children. This notion proves that knowledge cannot be transferred directly from the teacher to the learner. In other words, in order to make children learn, knowledge must be constructed or reconstructed in such a manner so that ‘information’ is easily accessible to the children (Ryan & Cooper, 2000, p. 346). Piaget and Vygotsky emphasised upon the significance of social perspectives in developmental psychology but in different directions. Piaget was formally involved in discovering the social interest of child development. In contrast, Vygotsky emphasised the influence of the specific content of external structuring resources (Miller & Carpendale, 2004, p. 3) and theorised that social interaction shapes intellectual development. Vygotsky believe in language development and thought through social interaction. While conducting various developmental experiments his view for social interaction revolves around egocentric speech. According to the ‘Socio-cognitive theory’ it is already proven that children seek new understandings only with the help of social interaction (Johnson, 2003). This new understanding is what today perceived as ‘new technology’ helpful in providing new learning methods not only to children, but to us so that we can equip ourselves with new tec hnological advances that makes learning easier and interesting for our children. One such tool which has influenced our perception and methodology in context with children social development is the use of computers. Researchers reveal that since computers are introduced in the classroom and at homes, educators and parents have debated over

Gun- Carry Permits in New York City Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gun- Carry Permits in New York City - Essay Example However, the real problem lies deeper than this. The dilemma is not merely limited to the possession of guns but extends to the social and economic sphere. Thus, a policy needs to be created not further restricting guns but on creating awareness and promoting responsibility when handling guns. The possession and transportation of arms in violation of the laws may result in a charge of Misdemeanor or felony filed against the person. The mandatory jail time for possession of a firearm is approximately a year or above. Despite these strict policies, the alarming increase in crime rate and in the number of school shootings remains the most disturbing factor. Beginning from the incident of Whitman in the tower of the University of Texas to S. H. Cho's firing in Virginia Tech; all such incidents point at the same thing. This is the easy access of guns and the confused psychological mindset. These gory events in the history of America are serious issues and must be treated as such. After Vi rginia Tech shootings, the people were able to ban the purchase of guns on the basis that Cho had acquired it. However, there are other opportunities that people can avail in order to possess a gun legally. This includes purchasing them at gun fairs without having to get their history checked. This makes for a serious drawback in the policies through which anyone can go and purchase a gun. A shocking fact observed here suggests that the severity of laws and policies does not seem to be playing a role in hampering crimes. Implementation of the written policies and action upon them is requisite to decline such acts. Prevalence of law and order along with practical implementation of the written word alone can put an end to such issues (School Shootings and Violence 2012). The tug of war between crime and the defense seems not only to be triggered by the wave of terrorism but it is constantly fanned by the raising racist sentiments which are a direct product of terrorism. Since 9/11 a g reat number of terrorist activities have been viewed in the US. At some places Muslims were killed by white racists and at some whites were killed by Muslim Racists thus continuing the blame game. Moreover the collapsing economy, relapse of the governmental infrastructure and the unrest created as a bi-product constantly boosts up the crime rate. Slums are increasing day by day; unemployment and an empty stomach are capable of a lot more than the guns can do. Some places of the posh NYC have become red zones due to the increasing accumulation of unemployed people turned into criminals. Some analysts have argued that it is not the total number of guns in circulation that increases gun violence, but the carrying of guns in high-risk places at a high risk time. Thus, equal economic opportunities must be ensured in order to cultivate a peaceful environment. Moreover, equality with respect to ethnicity and race will also encourage harmony (Sherman, Shaw, Rogan & National Institute of Jus tice 1995). It seems to be a natural phenomenon to release frustration whenever and wherever an outlet is found. In this relation numerous incidents have been reported. On March 8 2012 it was reported in the New York Times that â€Å"no one has been able to explain why a Spanish teacher who had been fired from the Episcopal School of Jacksonville fatally shot the head of the school and himself with an assault rifle.†

Pearl Harbor - Short Summary Essay Example for Free

Pearl Harbor Short Summary Essay Three-hundred and sixty Japanese planes broke through the clouds above Pearl Harbor at 07. 55. The planes attacked in rows of two or three, dropping torpedoes at 100 knots from 70 feet. The first wave of planes destroyed US hangers and the planes in the neat, anti-sabotage rows. Other attacks in the first wave were on Battleship Row, cruisers and other auxiliary ships. Most ships had numerous torpedo hits. To complete the destruction of the war ships, six submarines aided in the sinking and destroying of what was not already certain. When torpedoing planes left the vicinity, bombers carrying 1 600 pound bombs were sent to destroy any remaining ships. Overlapping the first wave of attack at 08. 40 was a second one. They concentrated on the not yet fully destroyed airfields. By 09. 45 any ship of the US Pacific! Naval Fleet that was not on the Ocean floor was drifting helplessly. It [the Arizona] sank like an earthquake had struck it, a survivor remarked, 1 200 of his crew mates died. US troops returned from church or brunch to defend as best they could. Fighting until they drowned or were crushed by exploding debris, sailors, fliers and anti-aircraft gunners fought heroically to save their doomed naval base. By reason of the attack occurring in what Americans thought was peace time, much of the ammunition was locked away, leaving the defending US troops with little defense. In the end, the US had eight battleships, three cruisers and a large number of smaller vessels sink or rendered out of use. The Japanese lost 0 30 planes and five submarines. Although the destruction was not total, Japanese foremost naval strategist, Yamamoto, found the result better than he had anticipated . Military records state that the attack sank or destroyed 6 ships. US casualties included 2 500 as well as over 1 000 wounded. The Japanese lost less than 30 aircraft and about 55 men. The bombing of Pearl Harbor can be seen as a turning point in the war. Essentially, the war had been of mainly European involvement, now it took a global turn. The bombing prompted a US declaration of war on the following day, as well as great American shock and outrage tempered by anger. The attack was dubbed a day of infamy by President Roosevelt, as no American could forgive or forget the actions of the Japanese nation. The Japanese could not have devised a better way to rally the American citizens into full support for Roosevelt and his governments plan of US involvement in the war. A previous promise between British Prime Minister, Winstin Churchill and President Roosevelt was honored when Britain declared war upon Japan two hours after the US declaration. The events surrounding the bombing of Pearl Harbor prove the US handled the situation very poorly. Many opposing tactics were noted and ignored. Warnings were thought of as routine. Even survivors, who were fully aware of the Japanese tendencies of war on China, the government war warnings and their countrys unprepared state, still describe the attack as a surprise. The Japanese military strategies were intelligent and well executed; although, the Japanese attack would not have been nearly as effective had the Americans not have been so blatantly ignorant. The US had no knowledge of the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and it was their fault.

Need for Control in Fitzgeralds Tender is the Night Essays

Need for Control in Tender is the Night    Dick Diver's love for his wife, Nicole, in F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night, is based purely on his need to assert control and act as care taker to her due to her illness. He assumes this role in order to feel validation for his own lack of achievement in his professional life. The only true success he can be credited is Nicole's 'cure,' achieved through his devotion and care; thus he continually tries to replicate this previous success in his relationships to other young girls. He looks to be a source of caring and stability just as he had been for Nicole, relying on him for caring and protection from her illness.    The growth of Dick and Nicole's relationship is shown through letters written by Nicole. Although there are none of Dick's replies to refer to we see the change in Nicole from incoherent babble to normal correspondence. Dr. Gregory thus attributes the case to Dick as a success, "When the change began, delicacy prevented me from opening any more. Really it had become your case"(136). Nicole comes to rely on his letters at the clinic and is apologetic when he doesn't write, fearing she has lost him; "But when Dick's answer was delayed for any reason, there was a fluttering burst of worry-like a worry of a lover: 'Perhaps I have bored you', and: 'Afraid I have presumed'(142). He is her connection outside of the clinic and she desperately needs that relationship and his approval. Nicole is repeatedly described through her smile as young and innocent, "She smiled, a moving childish smile that was like the lost youth of the world," and "whenever he turned to her she was smiling a little, h er face lighting up like an angel's..."(153). The love she feels for D... ...glish things; the story of safe gardens ringed around by the sea was implicit in her bright voice..."(248). In each of these he is looking for love outside of the control he once had over Nicole and in doing so is drawn to the young and impressionable girls he sees and assumes he can replicate his love with Nicole.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The complete loss of control over Nicole and over her illness is the ultimate demise of Dick. "She hated the beach, resented the places where she had played planet to Dick's sun. Why I'm almost complete, I'm practically standing alone, without him"(321). Nicole's realization of her freedom leads her away from Dick, and his only success was in the end his greatest failure, the loss of love of his wife and his loss of the life he knew. Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. Tender is the Night. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1961

Trent Lott

Trent Lott, senior senator from the state of Mississippi, is one of the foremost figures in the United States Senate and one of the most recognizable figures in all of politics. This recognition comes from the stances which he has taken, the fact that he has been a formidable figure in the Senate for many years, the fact that he was the Majority Leader in the Senate for the Republicans from 1996 until 2001 as well as controversial comments which he made in 2002 and which brought back a great deal of resentment as well as a reminder of the history of racial conflict that the United States and especially the South endured in America’s history. Despite this, Trent Lott is still a highly respected member of the United States senate and at a time when the approval rating of Congress is currently at a dismal 14%, for many in Mississippi, he represents one of the very few bright spots in all of Congress.(Page, 2002 pg. A14) He has maintained a strict party line when voting but has not been afraid to vote against his party when the time and circumstance called for him to do so. Despite being raised as a Southern Democrat, Lott, feeling that his beliefs were more in tune with the Republican Party, joined the party and has been a strong Republican ever since. Those Americans consider themselves republicans because they believe in strong faith and family values, the sanctity of human life and marriage and the rule of law as it applies to limited government, find comfort in Trent Lott. Those who disagree with Republicanism and/or Trent Lott on the majority of his issues, can also rely upon the fact that he will always respect the other side of the debate and will not resort to underhanded tactics in order to win. At a time when less people have a favorable opinion of Congress than in all of American History, such people serve as a breath of fresh air for all those who are interested in politics and how it will reshape the landscape and the future of the country. Trent Lott was born in Grenada Mississippi on October 8, 1941. His father Chester was a shipyard worker and his mother was a teacher. Trent Lott started from humble beginnings but soon rose in the social and political ranks of the state to establish himself as one who was not going to spend his entire life in Mississippi, though he would be hard pressed to forget where he came from and the people and places which helped to establish the man who is Trent Lott. Trent Lott was introduced to a more social life when he was attending the University of Mississippi where he earned a degree in public administration in 1965 and a law degree in 1967. (Mercurio, 2002) After he graduated, he moved to Pascagoula where he opened up a law practice and still lives to this day. It was also during this time that Lott began his life in politics. He served as an assistant to the House Rules Committee chairman William Colmer from 1968 until 1972. ( Smith 2005) Despite the fact that Colmer, for the past forty years, was one of the leading segregationists of the state, he still endorsed Lott as one capable of replacing him when Colmer retired. Despite the fact that Lott ran as a Republican; a party which had not had much success in the South since the beginning of the Civil War, Lott was by a landslide. People could see beyond the labels which all too often seem to identify everything there is to know about a candidate. However, there were other factions involved during this time which helped Lott gain the seat that was vacated by Colmer. During the 1960’s especially after the 1965 Civil Rights Bill, there appeared cracks in the solid Democratic South that was so apparent in the decades before. The Democratic Party was losing converts to its cause left and right and more and more people were willing to vote on the Republican ticket. In the 1964 Presidential Election, despite the fact that Barry Goldwater was routed by President Johnson, Goldwater, Senator from Arizona won 87% of the popular vote of Mississippi. ( Smith, 2005) Trent Lott was on the cusp of this political change and he was going to make the most of it for himself and the legacy which he sought to create in politics. The only question was where Trent Lott was going to end up and how far his aspirations and the people of Mississippi were willing to take him. During the 1970’s, a time when the South and Mississippi was lending most of its support to Republican candidates, Trent Lott was enjoying the success that his adopted party was giving him. That, coupled with the people of Mississippi and their ability to relate to   somebody in politics who still seemed approachable, Lott   became in 1974, the first Republican to get reelected from the state of Mississippi since the end of Reconstruction in 1877. (Page 2002 pg A14) Lott would be re-elected six more times and won easily. In 1978 he even ran unopposed since Lott had established himself so strongly in this part of the country. It was becoming apparent that Trent Lott was going to be in Congress for some time to come. It was also during this time in the 1980’s that Lott served as the House Majority Whip for the Republican Party from 1981 until 1989. (Smith, 2005)   In doing so, he was the first southern Republican to hold such an office. The Republican Party was becoming a strong hold for the South and so too was Trent Lott. It was now time for Trent Lott to rise in his political career. The Senate seemed like the next logical answer. The House of Representatives has 435 members and the number of representatives which each state sends to Congress is directly based upon the population of that particular state. Mississippi had a number of representatives like Trent Lott which were expected to represent the state. In the Senate, only two members from each state, regardless of how populated the state is, are sent to Congress. This would mean that Lott would have much more power and influence within Congress in which his views would affect the state of Mississippi and the country to a greater degree. When Lott ran for the senate in 1988, he again was taking advantage of the political climate of the day. President Bush ran and won a resounding victory in the Presidential election as voters sought to continue the Republican success that had come under eight years of the previous President, Republican Ronald Reagan. Lott ran and won a resounding eight point victory over incumbent Wayne Dowdy. Lott was re-elected in 1994, 2000 and 2006 with there existing no sizable Democratic opposition. (Smith, 2005) Lott continued to benefit from the success that the Republican Party was having at this time. From 1993 until 2001, Democrat Bill Clinton was President of the United States and enjoyed high approval ratings throughout out most of his administration. However, it was the Republicans who enjoyed a sizable lead in the Congress through a good portion of the 1990’s. Lott became Senate majority leader of the Republicans in 1996. (http://archives.cnn.com) Lott was best known for the role that he took in the impeachment of President Clinton who, it later turned out, lied to a grand jury about his relationship with a White House intern. Lott preceded in the trial of President Clinton but eventually acquiesced to suspend the proceedings in the Senate. Even though the House had voted to impeach the President, Senator Lott knew that the Republicans in the Senate numbered far short of the necessary votes in order to make the impeachment complete. After the 2000 election when a highly partisan country resulted in a deeply divided Congress and a 50-50 split occurred in the Senate, Vice President Dick Cheney’s vote gave the Republicans the majority in the Senate once again and Trent Lott was again the leader of the Senate. This was short lived when Vermont senator Jim Jeffords became ad independent, thus giving the Democrats the majority in the Senate, Trent Lott then became the Senator Minority Leader. However, 2002 would provide more problems for Trent Lott and possible the Republican Party when Trent Lott made some controversial comments about the nation’s and state’s past which helped to bring to the forefront, a history and hurt feelings and resentment which many in the state as well as the country had tried hard to bury. The spotless record which Trent Lott had spent his entire private and political life building, ended on December 5, 2002 when at a 100th birthday celebration for Senator Strom Thurmond, longtime senator from South Carolina   and who in 1948, ran for President under the Dixicrat ticket which appealed to mostly segregationist southerners. Commenting on that regrettable chapter in American history, Senator Lott commented instead: â€Å"When Strom Thurmond ran for President, we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn’t have had all these problems over the years either.† (http://archives.cnn.com) This was a comment which was blown up for a number of reasons. The first reason is the historical significance of the 1948 election and the role that Senator Thurmond in his strict   stand for segregation. The political and social atmosphere had changed and what was previously seen as acceptable in the way of racial prejudice, in our present time, has finally been seen for what it is worth; completely unnecessary and an impediment on the freedom of every individual in America. The second problem was that Senator Lott was from the South and represented the South. Despite coming a long way from the times of slavery and segregation, there still existed a strong awareness of history in the South; especially the history of race relations. Such comments helped to bring up a great deal of pent up anger and issues which many had hoped had finally been resolved. IN many degrees it may have been, but this comment by Senator Lott helped to open up a wound that had many thought had been healed. The last problem with the comment, aside from the comment itself, was the voting record of Senator Lott. He had voted against the renewal of the Voting Rights Act as well as the formation of a national holiday for Martin Luther King Junior when it was made a law in 1986. The comment gained strength as the NAACP and Black Entertainment Television BET called for the resignation of Senator Lott. A good deal of political commentators on television also called for the resignation of Senator Lott and the Republican Party, feeling the backlash towards a public, many of which was suspect towards their history of race relations, and feeling a loss of power, compelled Senator Lott to step down from his position as the Minority Leader in the Senate on December 20, 2002 and was replaced by Tennessee Senator Bill Frist. Despite these comments and how in the minds of many, they have forever associated Senator Lott with the Republican Party of the past, Lott has proven that he is not one who will always vote the strict party line. Within his own party, Lott blasted what is referred to as â€Å"pork spending.† (http://archives.cnn.com) This refers to the fleecing of Americans and their hard earned taxes through kickbacks, deals made in smoke filled rooms and money being placed under the table in order to repay one political favor for another. A senator would try to have a disproportionate amount of federal aid sent to his state or local district in order that such efforts would then be repaid by getting the senator elected. There will never be the full disclosure of how popular this is within the Senate but there is an unwritten law among the members of Congress not to speak out against this. â€Å"Despite their on camera antics and fighting, the members of the House and to a greater degree the Senate, constitute a private club in which each member supports and defends the other.† (Smith, 2005) Trent Lott was not one of these men. After the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and the all too real reality of forty years of political corruption in Louisiana, which led to much of the troubles during that natural disaster, Senator Lott commented: â€Å"I’m getting damn tired of hearing from them. They have been nothing but trouble ever since Katrina. â€Å"   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     (http://archives.cnn.com) Many would say that they have been trouble ever since the Congress was formed at the end of the 18th century. Lott became an outspoken critic against a Congress which had been traditionally made up of â€Å"good old boys† who fleeced the tax payers with their nonsense projects and grafting procedures.† (http://archives.cnn.com) It was comments like these which helped cement the reputation of Senator Lott as one that was above being bought or being swayed by public opinion. As much as politics is polarizing and such comments can raise the ire with people as it is human nature, most free thinking individuals can see beyond the partisan back biting which many casual observers cite as the reason for their disinterest in politics. Trent Lott is an exception to what is becoming the norm: partisan members of Congress who will vote the party line and what is popular among the people who voted them in order to continue their role in the Senate. Lott has thought differently and still has been able to make a name for himself in the Senate. Another issue in which Senator Lott angered much of his conservative base was over the issue of immigration. A recent CNN poll cites more than 85% of the American public want the immigration laws to be strengthened in order to stop what is becoming a severe impediment to the country as a whole. (Dobbs, 2005) There is no doubt that illegal immigration needs to be fixed. The inability of the Congress to do anything about it helps to create such low approval ratings. This is because, despite the country being in agreement about the fact that illegal immigration needs to be stopped, there is still much debate as to how exactly that is to be accomplished.   There are a number of factions within the Congress as there is in the country and all have strong opinions. The Democrats seem to be a little more lenient and propose for an easy road to citizen ship. Most Republicans feel that illegal immigrants broke the law and compromised the security of the border and propose anywhere from the deportation of twelve million people to strict fines and being pushed to the end of the line in the path towards citizenship. Some of these feelings are strengthened through talk radio which is currently monopolized by conservatives; many of whom have very strong opinions about what should be done about the problem. Lott made his opinion clear and called for resolve and moderation. Lott sought to do this by listening to his conscience more than what his people tell him to do, which he felt, was asking for more than what was right in this situation. Lott commented: â€Å"Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with the problem†¦. I’m sure senators on both sides of the isle are being pounded by these talk radio people who don’t have a clue what is even on most of these bills.   They are ill informed to comment so.† (Dobbs, 2005) Senator Lott reached across the isle and teamed up with the very liberal Senator Ted Kennedy for their comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. Throughout the whole process, Senator Lott was a voice of reason who called for a moderate approach to the problem so that some immigration bill could be passed. He commented: â€Å"Can we do anything more? I don’t like a lot of these amendments. Some people were acting like this is a sinister operation. I don’t believe so. Everybody knew there was an effort underway†¦. Do you have faith in me after 35 years?† ( http://archives.cnn.com) Despite his best efforts, Senate Leader Harry Reid, Democrat from Nevada killed the bill after less than a week of debate. Since Senator Lott has resigned from his leadership position in the Senate, he still has remained a voice of reason and is not hesitant to vote his conscience over the strict party line. Senator Lott received a mild, though strong Democratic following when he called for the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld before most Republicans even contemplated the movie. He battled with President Bush over the closing of military bases in the state of Mississippi and was an outspoken critic of Karl Rove, President Bush’s chief advisor. On July 18, 2006, Trent Lott even voted in favor stem cell research; a bill which President Bush in July 2007, vetoed because in the process, the stem cell, which would eventually become a fetus, was viewed by Christians to be a human life and therefore felt that such measures acted as like an abortion. On the other side of the issue, stem cells can be used, researchers think, to grow healthy cells and combat various diseases which attack the brain, spine and nervous system. Senator Trent Lott voted for this research and in the process, alienated himself from much of his base. He knew this before casting his vote but he has gained the respect of his peers on both sides of the isle for being motivated by what he thought to be right and not necessarily what was popular within his own party or with the nation. Whether Trent Lott is alienating his base or voting with the majority, he has been a voice of reason and moderation for most of his career. Trent Lott has been a mainstay in Congress for the last thirty years and even though he has voted in ways that he later regretted and made comments which have hurt him and his legacy in the long run, to the people who like honest talk, both in his home state of Mississippi and in the country at large, have come to respect him for all that he has done. Even after the made those now infamous comments about Senator Thurmond, most Democrats in Congress, despite seeing a political opportunity to increase their support from African Americans and other minorities, realized that the comment was not a true testament to the feelings, the beliefs and the life work which had become Trent Lott. The former leader of the Senate for the Democrats and a figure which had no trouble raising the ire among most Republican supporters, commented on that recent turn of events: â€Å"There are a lot of times when he and I go to the mike and would like to say things we meant to say differently, and I’m sure this is one of those cases for him as well.† (http://archives.cnn.com) This is the case with free thinking individuals who, despite raising the hated and ire for many Republicans through his years in the Senate and could further increase the support of his base by responding their calls to vilify the man, such people who have known Senator Lott for any period of time, though they might not agree with the man and his politics, respects his morals, values and the ways in which he conducts himself. This is hard to do sometimes as the persona cross the isle might be causing a great deal of trouble in one’s political pursuits and perhaps had even exerted efforts to derail their bid for re-election. Nevertheless, the millions of people in America who feel that the actions of the Congress and the beliefs of the men and women who make up such an exclusive club is more important that what the current pop culture icon is wearing or dating, can recognize a genuine person. Those who want to stay in touch with current events and the politics which shape them but still cannot resort to such efforts, cite the fact that in their opinion, there is a severe shortage of people whom they feel to be â€Å"real.† This is most likely true as observers for both Presidential campaigns can record the amount of back peddling that each candidate makes in order to maintain thee highest level of political power; regardless of whether or not that is their real opinion. It is unlikely that Trent Lott, despite his high popularity, will never even contemplate running for President. And it is to the advantage of all those who believe in him that he does not. This is because Trent Lott, with his inability to be disincentive, shoots from the hip and when asked, tells people what he believes more times that not. Sometimes the words will come out wrong and he will regret what he says. However, isn’t this true for all of us. If every formal word of ours over the last 35 years was recorded, how well would others regard us? It is to the benefit of millions of people that is not the case and for those like Senator Lott who has been in the public eye for thirty five years, his record will stand for itself and by itself in this highly partisan climate which is currently choking Washington with no hope of reviving the healthy action of dissent across party lines when an issue does not react well to their own beliefs; the beliefs in which they were elected. Senator Trent Lott is not a member of the former class but stands alone as not only one who apologizes for his mistakes, but also is willing to cross party lines and let the criticism come as they may. This is the true test of one who has earned the trust of the people. It would behoove Washington and the American people if there were more such people in politics. WORKS CITED Dobbs, L. Lott: A Freethinking Member of Congress! CNN Moneyline w. Lou Dobbs. Aired in syndication June 15, 2005 Page, C. Lott’s Comments: Representative of a Larger Culture of Hate?† Chicago Tribune December 15, 2002 Mercurio, J â€Å"Lott Apologizes for Thurmond Comment† http://archives.cnn.com Downloaded July 19, 2007 December 10, 2002 Smith, Harry Senator Trent Lott. Biography   Aired June 12, 2005