Race and Corrections - 845 Words

Race and Corrections Sheronda Allen Arizona State University CRJ 305- Laura Owen Minorities remain overrepresented in crime, offending, victimization, and all stages of the criminal justice process especially confinement. Overrepresentation alludes to a situation in which a greater part of a particular group is present at various stages within the justice system than would be expected based on its part in the general population (Rosich, 2007). Minorities have always had a larger population in the prison system and after the Civil War they were overrepresented in American prison. There are a few reasons as to why races are disproportionately which are denial of jobs, poverty, and it is felt that police have bias and†¦show more content†¦When you look at the racial breakdown of the people incarcerated you will find that the Black population has the highest incarceration with Whites and then Hispanics/Latinos next. In 2009, there were 5,018,855 men and women being supervised on probation or parole (Gabbidon, Greene, 2013, p. 247-282). African Americans and Hispanics consisted of 58% of all prisoners in 2008. One in six black men had been incarcerated as of 2001. Imprisonment is more common in some social groups than others and makes it easier for racial groups to fall into that stereotype. It becomes more widely expected for groups such as Black males and even Hispanics when they live in the low income communities. At some point one in three Black males and one in six Hispanics will be incarcerated at some point in their life (Berg, DeLisi, 2006). Nationwide, African American men are confined at 9.6 times the rate of White men. Current trends show that incarceration numbers continue to grow higher each year. The United States rate of incarceration is the leading nation in rates of incarceration. Other countries have much lower percentages than the U.S. does. There a implications because of inmates reentering the prison system within three years after being released. In 1994 51.8% of inmates that had been released were back in the pr ison system (U.S. prison populations: Trends and implications, n.d.). Other implicationsShow MoreRelatedThe Criminal Justice System, Corrections And Their Intersection With Race And Gender Essay1883 Words   |  8 Pagesdiscovered what works and what does not, even today we are still learning and debating what’s right and what’s wrong with in this system. This article will discuss three components of the criminal justice system policing, courts, corrections and their intersection with race and gender. Topics include the death penalty, sentencing disparities, racial profiling, stop and frisk and parole release to name a few. History of Policing in the United States Policing in America can be traced back to the 1700’sRead MorePelican Bay State Prison s Racial Base Classification System918 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Prison classification is an important process in the U.S. correctional system and community corrections. Every state utilizes different types of classification method to classify their inmates. Penal institutions in the U.S. have evolved tremendously in terms of sentencing procedures, decisions and classifications. Studies from Clear et al. (2013) indicate that offenders in the United States, which consists of men, women, and juveniles, were all confined together in the same prison inRead MoreRace, Class And Gender1032 Words   |  5 Pages IN WHAT WAYS DO RACE, CLASS AND GENDER SHAPE PRACTICES AND EXPERIENCES IN PRISON? DRAW ON THEORIES AND EXAMPLES/CASE STUDIES TO SUPPORT YOUR CASE. OVERVIEW This essay will explore how race, class and gender shapes practices and experiences in prison. 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According to latest statistical information approximately 334,987 African-American males between the ages of 15 and 24 live in the state of Louisiana which represents 7.3894% of the total African-American population, which is 1,452Read MoreThe Effects of Overcrowded Conditions in US Prisons1564 Words   |  6 PagesIndia, in the conservative National Review magazine, â€Å"We are imprisoning, in our most expensive spaces, more people for relatively minor, nonviolent offenses, like low-level property and drug violations. Some of our guests are not with the state corrections system long enough for any rehabilitation, substance-abuse counseling or job training to take place† (Katel). Evidently attention and change to this neglected criminal punishment system need to be addressed. This issue remains a troubling problemRead MoreThe Medical Model, Community Model And The Crime Control Model869 Words   |  4 PagesCommunity corrections is continually changing and has been for the past one hundred years. From the early to mid-twentieth century onward it has used three major models, the medical model, community model, and the crime control model. The major turning point for the American community corrections system that led to corrections as we know it today was in 1974 when What Works? - Questions and Answers About Prison Reform by Martinson was published. The system changed practically ov ernight acrossRead MoreThe And Justice For All1743 Words   |  7 Pagesequality for all people regardless of race, sex, national origin, handicap, and more† (Urban Dictionary). This is important in a community because it allows for everyone to partake in have opportunities, have access to liberties, and no one would be over looked because of their beliefs and nationality. The state of being equal is considering â€Å"a person or thing the same as another in status and quality†. To be equal is to be the same despite differences in race, gender, or class. Equality in allRead MoreThe Role of Police, Courts and Department of Corrections in Juvenile Justice System765 Words   |  4 PagesDepartment of Corrections in the Juvenile Justice System James Francis Juvenile Delinquency American Military University Professor Robert Arruda The Role of Police, Courts and Department of Corrections in the Juvenile Justice System The juvenile justice system brings the juvenile delinquent in contact with the local police, the court system and if found guilty, the Department of Corrections. This paper will discuss the role of the police, the courts and the Department of Corrections in the juvenileRead MoreShould Prison Gangs Become More Prevalent Inside Our Nation s Prison System? Essay1726 Words   |  7 Pagescontrol and suppress gang activity† (Pyrooz Mitchell, 2015). 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I also wanted to

Critical Analysis Of A Good Man Is Hard To Find By...

Flannery O Connor was often shocked to find how people interpreted her stories. Some readers of A Good Man is Hard to Find believed the grandmother was evil, even a witch. Soon O Connor set out, quite explicitly, in letters and lectures to detail the theology of the story and the importance of the grandmother as an agent of grace. In a letter to John Hawkes, she explained how violence and grace come together: More than in the Devil I am interested in the indication of Grace, the moment when you know that Grace has been offered and accepted— such as the moment when the Grandmother realizes the Misfit is one of her own children. These moments are prepared for (by me anyway) by the intensity of the evil circumstances. When O Connor†¦show more content†¦Generally O Connor chalked up all the misreadings and confusion to the spiritual shortcomings of the modern reader: Today s audience is one in which religious feeling has become, if not atrophied, at least vaporous and sentimental. But the discrepancies between how O Connor is often read and how she claimed she should be read cannot simply be explained by her theology of grace or by the lack of religious feeling among readers. Critical opinion over the years has tended to line up behind O Connor s own explanations; however, O Connor s analysis of A Good Man Is Hard to Find still seems baffling and occasionally a critic has questioned the theology of the fiction. Andre Bleikasten, focusing on O Connor s novels, claimed that the truth of O Connor s work is the truth of her art, not that of her church. Her fiction does refer to an implicit theology, but if we rely, as we should, on its testimony rather than on the author s comments, we shall have to admit that the Catholic orthodoxy of her work is at least debatable And Frederick Asals recalls D. H. Lawrence s advice that a reader should trust the tale and not the teller. Of A Good Man Is Hard to Find, Asals claims: BLOCK QUOTE One can easily pass over her [O Connor s] hope that the grandmother s final gesture to The MisfitShow MoreRelatedThe Moral Structure Of Flannery OConnors A Good Man Is Hard To Find1148 Words   |  5 PagesWorks Cited Bonney, William. The Moral Structure of Flannery OConnors a Good Man Is . Studies in Short Fiction, vol. 27, no. 3, Summer90, p. 347. EBSCOhost, pulaskitech.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=afhAN=9705041482site=ehost-livescope=site. The ten stories in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man Is Hard to Find circumscribe a moral and thematic center (Bonney). William Booney’s article was written as if the grandmother is actually grasping the savingRead MoreLiterary Analysis â€Å"Setting† – a Good Man Is Hard to Find2158 Words   |  9 PagesProfessor Sharon Thiese The Short Story May 28th, 2012 Literary Analysis â€Å"Setting† – A Good Man is Hard to Find In the story â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† by Flannery O’Connor starts out by giving a look at a dysfunctional family on a vacation, but ultimately, gives insight into ourselves as well as the nature of good and evil, how they can clash, and how they can co-exist, even in the same person. The setting, which plays a critical role in this short story because the grandmother shows her selfish

Sustainable Transportation Systems CIRP Design

Question: Describe about the Sustainable Transportation Systems for CIRP Design ? Answer: Introduction Environmental issues refers to the issues those affect the environment of Australia. So many natural issues are there in Australia, which are affecting the nature or environment of Australia. Besides those issues, some issues are affecting people of Australia. These issues are discussed here bellow. In many areas in Australia, controlled regions and coastal environment have been widely changed, many swamp have been ruined. Due to the weather change in Australia the agents of the environment, i.e. the plants and the animals have been affected. There occurring decline in many species and the distribution is being changed (Bai, 2012). Some natural resources are declining rapidly. Some of them, natural resources are water, coal etc. Australians are taking so many attempts for being more eco-friendly and these several attempts are taking in recent years (Kim, 2012) This particular article is going to provide a discussion on some environment issues emerging in Australia in recent years. This will also be discussed here in this essay the impacts on the several environmental agents, such as plants, creature, coastal lakes, natural resource etc. Some issues in Australia Some of the major environmental issues in Australia are as follows: Water Waste management Climate change Coal Biodiversity Sustainable cities Those issues and the relevant solutions are discussed here one by one. Water Australia has a dry climate. Therefore, it is very predictable factor that Australia should take several plans to preserve or conserve water for the well living of its population and creatures and plants. To sustain the well running of environment, Australia has to come forward to take several decisions and give emphasis on that matter. Fortunately, it is seen that presently Australians are paying more and more attention in this particular matter. Australian Government has taken more steps to make the people of Australia be concerned about the conservation of water. This will help in reducing the wastage of water. The matter of water conservation is a big political issue also in Australia. Several cities are designing for their own water conservation program (Li, 2013) Water is a vital issue in the environmental hazards. This thing is directly linked with the public health and the health of the complete environmental agents. In the recent years, the quantity of water is degrading due to excessive level of harvesting and irrigation in Australia. On the other hand, the quality of the water is affecting negatively the agriculture. The extreme level of se of several pesticides and fertilizers are affecting the water and thereby there is a rapid degradation in the quality of Water in Australia. Waste management Australia has taken several steps to manage the wastages. Some recycling processes are taken over few years. Still so much toxic wastes are affecting the environment. The landfills and the water bodies are affected adversely. A small recycling process can help to remove the situation. People of Australia should keep in mind that a little extra toxic can damage a lot and cases several pollutions. The continuous increase in the urbanization is causing the problem more severe. Therefore, the Government should take several steps and keep it to be continued to educate the people and make tem conscious about the pollution. Man superior plans have been taken already. Climate Change Australia is a country, which is widely affected by the change in climate. Climate changes have a great impact on the environment of Australia. Therefore, it is very important for Australia to cope up with this problem. To cope up with this particular problem, Australia has to plan and adapt the best way to remove this problem. According to many experts in Australia, the main cause of the climate change in Australia is the emission of green house gas. This is very unfortunate that Australia is a country with highest emission of green house gas. Therefore, to cope up with the change in climate in Australia, it has to reduce the emission of green house gas and increase the use of any type of renewable energy. So the Government of Australia has to install more and more solar panels. This very thing will reduce the emission of green house gas and will be very beneficial to the particular problem. Dependence on Coal Australia is an important contributor of green house gas in the world. This is because Australia mostly uses coal as the source of energy. This is going on for a long time. At present, 75% of energy in Australia comes from coal. This major portion of energy emerging from coal is a large source of emission of green house gas. Australia is also the top most coal exporter in the world. This large sage and the exportation of coal are disturbing the sustainability of the environment consistently in Australia. This very thing is also affecting the atmosphere adversely around the world. This is also a warning to the water body of Australia as it is making the water acidic. Therefore, to remove this problem, sage of renewable energy should be increased. Using the renewable energy will help in reducing the sage of coal as the source of energy. Solar energy is a main alternative of coal. Besides this, wind power is a useful material of the source of energy. Many researchers discover so many alternatives. These inventions are useful for offering much more options as the alternatives of coal. An another bonus of this particular thing is, it will offer more job opportunities to the people of Australia. Biodiversity There exists a significant biological diversity in Australia. Australian Government does many things to maintain the balance in the diversity. One of the ways to maintain the balance in the biodiversity is to protect the rain forests in Australia. There is a huge part of rain forests in Australia. Therefore, the Government is doing their best to nurture and protect this. Sustainablecities or urbanization A consistent urbanization is casing pollution increase in Australia. This very thing is causing more and more pollution in Australia. Environmental balance is disturbed by the consistent urbanization. For the sake of urbanization, in many portions in Australia, forests are being cleared. Therefore, the environment is misbalancing. A population growth is causing consistent urbanization in Australia. For the urbanization, wastages are increasing day by day. Water body of Australia is being polluted for the wastages. Usage of energy is also increasing rapidly. Emission of green house gas is increasing rapidly. Condition of biological environment as well as the whole environment is degrading rapidly. Government has to take several plans and interpret those plans in work to stop this problem. Restrictions and penalties for cutting of forests should be introduced. Energy is really an important issue in Australia. A large part of energy is generating from coal. Coal is the main source of energy. The main reason of the large amount of emission of green house gas is usage of coal in Australia. Green house gas is the main thing, which affects the environment adversely (Gelfand and Duncan, 2012) 3 a), b) and c) are answered bellow in a tabular form. Here the place chosen is an office. In this sample office, light, fans, air condition and laptop are used. Name of mean Usage frequency (hours/day) energy sources total cost ($/day) Carbon emission (kg) Fan 9 Electricity 100 1 Light 9 Electricity 700 3 Laptop 10 Electricity 1000 .6 Air Condition 9 Electricity 1600 5 d) Two regulatory organizations in Australia are Australian solar council and sun power foundation, which promote energy efficiency. e) Two methods to decrease energy consumption are Electricity monitoring meter and energy optimization. f) Cost benefit analysis can be shown by the following table. After starting the two options this result may be gained, Name of mean Usage frequency (hours/day) energy sources total cost ($/day) Carbon emission (kg) Fan 9 Electricity 80 1 Light 9 Electricity 550 3 Laptop 10 Electricity 775 .6 Air Condition 9 Electricity 1350 5 g) Between the two methods, the best one is energy optimization. Optimization of the usage of energy can effectively reduce the cost of energy ( Chakrabarti, 2013) 4 The above report summarizes about the alternative forms of renewal energy and how it can be used by different business organizations. The costs of producing the energy can be evaluated through the above table. References Bai, Y. (2012).Sustainable Transportation Systems. Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers. Chakrabarti, A. (2013).CIRP design 2012. London: Springer. Chowdari, B. (2013).Proceedings of the 13th Asian Conference on Solid State Ionics. Singapore: World Scientific. Gelfand, L. and Duncan, C. (2012).Sustainable renovation. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons. Kim, M. (2012).Biology Education for Social and Sustainable Development. New York: SensePublishers [Imprint]. Kruger, P. (2006).Alternative energy resources. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley. Li, K. (2013).Intelligent computing for sustainable energy and environment. Berlin: Springer. Linger, H. (2013).Building sustainable information systems. New York: Springer. Meyer, G. (2012).Advanced microsystems for automotive applications 2012. Berlin: Springer. Ren, N. (2012).Renewable and sustainable energy II. Durnten-Zurich, Switzerland: TransTech Publications. Tortora, M. (2012).Sustainable systems and energy management at the regional level. Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. Zatzman, G. (2012).Sustainable energy pricing. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley Sons.

Technological Singularity Essay Example

Technological Singularity Essay In a guest column, Computers vs. Brains on the Opinionator of The New York Times, Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang analyzed some of the arguments by inventor Raymond Kurzweil, one of the leading inventors of our time, in his most recent futurist manifesto: â€Å"The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology† (2005). Kurzweil estimates that machines will inevitably be able to surpass our thinking capabilities within a few decades. Kurzweils speculative reasoning has been heavily debated and challenged. In Aamodt and Wangs article they point out that there are fundamental differences between our brains and computers that makes Kurzweils predictions improbable. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the arguments of sides, Kurzweils book and Aamodt and Wangs article. I will attempt to accomplish this by using various critical thinking methods such as defining, clarifying and explaining some of the history of the concepts and the debates involved. To understand the debate we must first clarify what is technological singularity. A technological singularity is the moment our technological development becomes so rapid that it makes the future after the singularity unpredictable. Writers on singularity, such as Raymond Kurzweil, define the concept in terms of the technological creation of super-intelligence (Kurzweil, 2005). The article points out that any comparison of the brain and computers misses the messy truth about the fundamental differences between them. The article provides various reasons why the brain is superior to computers and ways in which it is not. We will write a custom essay sample on Technological Singularity specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Technological Singularity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Technological Singularity specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The debate focuses on differences on energy consumption, information processing strategies and capacity, and the pros and cons of artificial versus biological between brain and computers. The brain contains many systems that have evolved through natural selection for one task then was adopted for another. It is efficient for nature to adapt an old system that to build a new one. As such, the brain is composed of the brain stem, the limbic system and the brain cortex carrying out a complex communication with each other that we have yet to decipher. Engineers however, have the advantage to start over to get it just right. A persistent problem, with not just artificial intelligence, but all machines, is the tendency of components to fail. Yet our biological neurons and synapses fail all the time, even under healthy conditions, but unlike computers, new neuron connections can form as well as break throughout a lifetime, this provides an infinite potential for new paths and brain activity. The human brain uses 12 watts, which is less than a typical refrigerator light while the memory of an artificial brain would use nearly a gigawatt, the amount currently consumed by all Washington, D. C. (Aamodt Wang, 2009). To solve this challenge Kurzweil invoked Moores Law. The law is named after Intel co-founders Gordon E. Moore, who originally described the trend in 1965. In this paper Moore noted that number the of transistors in integrated circuits had doubled every year from the invention of the integrated circuit in 1958 until 1965 and predicted that the trend would continue for at least ten years (Moore, 1965). His prediction has proved to be incredibly accurate, in part because most technology and electronic industries now use this principle to set targets for research and development (Disco Meulen, 1998). For the last four decades memory and chip capacity has doubled every one or two years (est. 2025 to 2030). The article claims that Kurzweil overlooks Moores Law power consumption per chip, which has also increased immensely since 1985 (Aamodt Wang, 2009). While this is true, it implies that electrical power consumption will continue to grow whereas electrical power and storage technologies such as batteries, fuel cells and renewable energies will remain stagnant. The problem in this logic is that history and technology advancements do not evolve at a constant pace, in fact the capabilities of many digital electronic devices and technologies like energy efficiency are also linked to Moores law. New revolutionary technologies are emerging fast to address this issue of increased electrical power generation and storage needs. An example is teams of MIT scientists that have created a synthetic, self-assembling chloroplast that can be break and reassemble repeatedly, a self-restoring solar cell. Dillow, 2010). Another example is a company called Bloom Energy, which is producing tiny fuel cell boxes called â€Å"Bloom Boxes. † Two of these can power an average U. S. home. Each device is about the size of a standard brick. Although they need to be surrounded by a larger unit that takes in an energy source, they are still about the size of a refrigerator. This alternative is already being tested by companies such as Google and eBay (Siegler, 20 10). One striking feature of brain tissue is its compactness. The memory capacity in this small volume is potentially immense. For computer capacity, to begin to approach that of a human brain, as we get closer to the physical limits of silicon and other materials used in current computing components like computer chips and memory; manufacturers would possibly need to experiment with other production techniques and materials. As humans have evolved, we have developed the ability to make fast inferences in very complex situations. We can make logical approximations and find â€Å"good enough† solutions. This type of decision-making will undoubtedly be hard to match but there are already robots accomplishing seemingly simple tasks like matching socks and playing soccer autonomously, which are actually very complicated tasks. On good example is ASIMO, which is currently the worlds most advanced humanoid robot; it is the culmination of two decades of research by Honda engineers. ASIMO can run, walk on uneven slopes and surfaces, turn smoothly, climb stairs, and reach for and grasp objects, comprehend and respond to simple voice commands. ASIMO can also have the some face recognition capability and can map its environment and register stationary objects. ASIMO can also avoid moving obstacles as it moves through its environment (Honda. com). However, we bring a large amount of background information to bear on simple tasks, allowing us to make inferences that are difficult for machines. Even the most advanced computer has trouble differentiating a dog and a cat apart, something even a toddler can do without any effort. In regards to the declaration that engineers can learn from brain strategies (Aamodt Wang, 2009), it should be noted for the purpose of clarification that researchers and engineers are constantly trying to mimic the tricks that millions of years of evolution and development have taught to biology. If engineers can recreate this tricks and shortcuts, computers that share our imperfections. This may not be exactly what we want, but it could lead to better â€Å"soft† judgment or so called â€Å"fuzzy† reasoning from computers (Aamodt Wang, 2009). What determines a computers ability to make such inferences is related to the artificial intelligence software not hardware. In addition several devices can share computing resources through wireless technologies and the implementation of cloud computing strategies. Cloud computing refers to a shift towards internet-based computing, where shared software or information are provided on demand. Why bother? The article concludes that we should no try to achieve the goal of sophisticated artificial intelligence since, human beings are already capable of fulfilling all those requirements and in order to create a new one all it akes is a fertile couple with the resources to nurture their child. Although, it will eventually be possible to design devices that imitate human behavior, we already have such an incredible device in humans. I do agree that humans have achieved an intellectual and self-awareness that seems incomprehensible at times. The article misses one of the most important argu ments of Kurzweils discussion. The functionality of the brain is computable in terms of technology that we can build in the near future. We must take into account that preliminary research is already suggesting that prolonged use of such devices is affecting the way our minds work. â€Å"The technology is rewiring our brains,† said Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse and one of the world’s leading brain scientists. Our brain is evolving, she and other researchers compare digital stimulation less to drugs and alcohol than to food and sex, which are essential but counterproductive in excess (Richtel, 2010). We must always remember that Kurzweil describes this technological singularity as resulting from three different technologies and disciplines: genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics (which includes artificial intelligence). Genetic modification is the manipulation of an organisms genetic material in a way that does not occur under natural conditions. Nanotechnology is the study of controlling matter on a molecular scale to create new materials and devices with a wide range of applications, such as in medicine, electronics and energy production. Robotics is related to electronics, mechanics, and software. Kurzweil argues we are in the process of reaching new levels of refinement in our technology that will allow us to merge biological and artificial to create higher forms of life and intelligence. The article fails to make a persuasive argument against the inevitably of the technological singularity and the reasons for not pursuing this goal. There are many reasons why people will aim to achieve this such as vanity, medical and cognitive compensation or enhancements. We must not assume that the only goal in producing such technology is to just emulate humans, but to augment and even transcend our biology, as the book title suggests. References Aamodt, S. Wang, S. (March, 2009). Guest Column: Computers vs. Brains, New York Times, Retrieved from: http://opinionator. blogs. nytimes. com/2009/03/31/guest-column-computers-vs-brains/ Dillow, C. (2010). MITs Self-Assembling Solar Cells Recycle Themselves Repeatedly, Just Like Plant Cells.

Free Essays on Summary Of “The Scar“

and decides to ... Free Essays on Summary Of â€Å"The Scarâ€Å" Free Essays on Summary Of â€Å"The Scarâ€Å" â€Å"The Scar† is a short story written by Margaret Biggs. The story focuses on fourteen-year-old Chris who struggles hard to face the reality of his damaged arm. Throughout the story, you will get a clear view of what he is thinking about and how he approaches daily difficulties. Chris wakes up early on a Wednesday morning, delighted to be able to see his beautiful English teacher, Mrs. Chadwick whom Chris likes a lot. Just then, he notices the deep, permanent scar on his arm as he recalls the unforgettable car accident four years ago. Since then, Chris’s arm looks so awkward that he wishes it weren’t there. On his way to school, he reflects on his relationship with his best friend Pete; and how he has to give up playing sports because of his injuries. Surprisingly, he meets Mrs. Chadwick somewhere near the school gates. She mentions a drama production she is planning for the class and persuades Chris to audition later in the day. When Chris tells Pete about the issue, Phil Carter interrupts and mocks at Chris’s bad arm. This has made Chris feels desperately miserable. After Science lesson, he finds a seat at the back of the English classroom, still hesitating whether to audition or not. After the scripts are passed around, Pete and Carter have their turns, and Chris gets a chance as well. As soon as it’s two in the afternoon, everybody gathers at the notice board where a list of chosen actors and actresses is posted. Janetta has the part for Lady Treazle and Chris, Sir Peter, the main character. Phil is very unhappy with that and says nasty things to discourage Chris. After giving a thought, Chris decides to give up his role as Sir Peter. Twice in that day, Chris bumps into Mrs. Chadwick. He tells her his decision to quit the drama, but Mrs. Chadwick reassures him by telling him that she was also in an accident years ago and lost one of her legs. Startled by her confession, he ponders over her words and decides to ...

Starting and Developing a New Venture. Nature of Entrepreneurship Essay

Starting and Developing a New Venture. Nature of Entrepreneurship - Essay Example Improving further the existing ideas using creativity and innovation seems to be the most appropriate way of coming up with such ventures. In spite of this, some entrepreneurs still find opportunities around them, which they develop as new ideas. A new venture does not necessarily have to mean a new business altogether. It could be a new idea in a big company’s department, or a new product developed by an existing company. Improving on an existing product still encompasses entrepreneurial skills and innovation. However, starting a small business entity requires patience and strong entrepreneurial skills. The development of an idea to a big venture requires patience and courage. Big and established businesses in the same industry will try to push the new entrepreneur out of the business through packaging and price battles. Additionally, the giants will try to prove of experience in the industry which they already have their customers. To win customer confidence, the entrepreneu r should ensure quality in their products and competitive pricing. Waging such a tough war requires commitment and dedication by the entrepreneurs. In exploring this topic of starting and developing a new venture, this paper will look at the entrepreneurial skills and careers of two of the worlds’ most successful entrepreneurs, Stelios Haji-Ioannou of Easyjet and Richard Branson of Virgin. Many scholars have written about entrepreneurship. According to oxford English dictionary an entrepreneur is a person who attempts to make profit by taking risk through an initiative. Richard Cantillon is credited to be the originator of the word â€Å"entrepreneur† in the year 1755 in his book â€Å"Essai sur la nature du commerce en general.† Stokes & Wilson (2010, p. 1) believes that entrepreneurship is more than just the business of making money. According to Sjovoll & Skogen (2010, p. 8), the creativity and innovation exhibited by the members of a society and at family le vel are forms of entrepreneurship. Hardly do these talents get noticed however, until an idea is put into action. A visible entrepreneurial idea is called a venture. The different skills and attributes portrayed by a person makes them entrepreneurs, while the ability of a person to see an opportunity where other people cannot see one defines the person’s entrepreneurial skills (Sarasvathy 2004, p. 521). There exists a distinction between entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship, which is a rather new term in the corporate world. While entrepreneurship defines both the act and the art of undertaking innovations that include introducing new things especially in the business acumen, Intrapreneurship is the act and art of entrepreneurship in large organizations. Employees who undertake to develop their organizations through creative ideas such as product development are referred to as intrapreneurs. Nature of Entrepreneurship A lot of arguments have been raised regarding the nature of entrepreneurship. While some experts believe that great entrepreneurs are born, others believe that the best entrepreneurs are trained (Pittaway & Cope 2007, p. 212). However, the argument of whether entrepreneurial skills are an inborn talent or are a learned and acquired through the process of experience and education, different accounts of the careers of successful entrepreneurs provides answers to this. According to scholars though, the best entrepreneurs are trained. Greene & Mole (2007,  p. 14-20) strongly believes supports this. According to them, entrepreneurship as a process does not end in a person’

The durability of concrete Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The durability of concrete - Essay Example This research will begin with the definition of concrete, as a construction material. Concrete is a basic construction material, it is made of mainly four constituents, cement, fine aggregate(sand), coarse aggregate and water. With the addition of water to the cement and other components in dry form, this addition of water makes the concrete fluid and this flow able mixture enables us to pore in the desired shape and size which is dictated by the moulds and formwork. During this the water chemically bonds with the cement and hydration takes place. The ultimate strength of concrete is a factor of water cement ratio and this is the reason a precise mix ratio of concrete is calculated and mix design is prepared. Finally the dry components are combined to form hardened matrix. This final product, the concrete is good in compressive strength but weak in tensile strength. To finish this weakness we provide steel reinforcement which has high tensile strength. This concrete is called the rei nforced concrete. The concrete’s quality is determined by the quality and care taken while the production phase of the concrete. As we are well aware of the fact that elasticity of concrete is all most the same at low stress levels but tends to decrease as the higher stress levels are attained as matrix cracking develops. At the very same time the concrete is very weak in thermal expansion and has a low value of coefficient of thermal expansion. The content of cementitious material, along with the water content determine the final strength, durability, abrasion resistance, shrinkage values and many other properties. But the most important property that is under discussion is the Durability of concrete. Definition of Durability: Concrete durability has been defined by the American Concrete Institute as â€Å"its resistance to weathering action, chemical attack, abrasion and other degradation processes† Durability can also be defined as â€Å"the quality of materials or structures of continuing to be useful after an extended period of time and usage†. Whereas according to PCA(Portland Cement Association),† Durability is the ability to last a long time without significant deterioration†. Summarizing the above definition the durability is the ability of concrete to maintain it size, shape and all other properties against adverse environment with respect to time. Now the next issue is that what factors affect the durability of concrete and how can the material be improved to get the highest efficiency and life. There are several aspects that govern the strength of concrete and its life but the most effective way to calibrate this is to understand the process of deterioration in the first place. The most common proof of the deterioration process is the formation of the cracks and the detail study of the types of cracks will enable us to decide and deduce the reason, mechanism and solution to the problem. These cracks can be formed by during the plastic state or the hardened state. The reason of which will be discussed in details in the next sections. Processes of Deterioration There are several ways in which the deterioration of the concrete can be studied and processes explained but I believe that the most comprehensive pattern to understand this process is to first understand the cracks and types of cracks and then the reasons for their formation. Concrete has two forms during its formation and service. Firstly it is in fluid state and then the hardened state. Now we will discuss the processes under the two states. Fluid State deterioration and Crack propagation The reasons for these cracks are mainly due to the poor workmanship and handling. The main reasons among this are plastic shrinkage, settlement and lastly movement of formwork and subgrade during the construction work.