Biometrics and crime triangle Essay Example

Biometrics and crime triangle Essay Example Biometrics and crime triangle Paper Biometrics and crime triangle Paper Biometric technology is becoming an integral element of law enforcement system. Despite the variety of forms, all biometric solutions are represented within one technological framework which is usually referred to as the means of â€Å"automated identification, or verification of identity through physiological, or behavioral traits† (Coleman, 1999). Biometric systems of suspect identification are actively used in various law enforcement procedures; these technologies have proved their effectiveness and reliability in all crime prevention activities. Biometric technologies and human analytical abilities go hand in hand, and compete to achieve excellent crime prevention results. However, even despite the significant benefits biometric technologies offer to law enforcement professionals, serious ethical issues should be addressed to make biometrics safe in use.   Thesis statement: biometrics has turned into the indispensable technological element of crime prevention, but future effectiveness of biometric solutions will be threatened, if specialists fail to address significant privacy and security gaps that currently exist in the area of biometric technology use. Biometric technology and the need to use biometrics in crime prevention Crime prevention cannot be effective without identification. Identification is the essential element of all crime prevention and law enforcement procedures. Contemporary technological advances, the development of internet-related crimes and terrorist threats require creating and implementing the whole set of new technological solutions. In crime prevention, â€Å"everything else is ultimately secondary to the need to identify† (Nieto, 2002). That is why biometrical systems of crime prevention are constantly improved to guarantee cost-effectiveness and relevance of crime prevention activities. Current network of law enforcement agencies cannot develop an effective infrastructure that would guarantee safe and effective storage of information. The importance of biometric identification is justified by the need to create a relevant, cost-effective and secure data storage system that would not infringe citizen rights but would guarantee speedy and easy identification of suspects. As a result, biometrics is gradually turning into a real industry, with law enforcement serving its target market. Face recognition, iris scan, and fingerprints identification software are the results of the thorough analytical work that are successfully implemented at all stages of crime prevention. As software manufacturers are fighting for their portion of law enforcement market, they are trying to offer more relevant biometric solutions that will meet the challenging requirements of the difficult criminal situation. â€Å"What biometrics offers now and in the future is the possibility of improving the overall ‘clear-up’ rate of crime, therefore increasing the confidence of the public in the system and their overall sense of security in society† (Nieto, 2002). In simpler terms, better biometric technology is the direct pathway towards security, public awareness about the benefits of biometrics in law enforcement, and better citizen acceptance and recognition of various types of identification software. Biometric applications satisfy the widest range of crime prevention needs, starting with face recognition and up to voice recognition and border control. In the contemporary context, face recognition, fingerprints, and iris scan represent the three most widely used types of biometric solutions. â€Å"No two fingerprints are alike. For this reason, law enforcement and the courts recognize fingerprints as unique personal identifiers† (Jain, Bolle, Pankanti, 1998). Human analytical skills are too limited to identify the differences between fingerprints and to convert this information into the instrument of coordinating crime prevention procedures. Fingerprints require special technological approach; the smallest pores and ridges on the human skin should be detected to guarantee the relevance of investigation (and as a result, crime prevention) results. Iris scan and face recognition require similar technological approaches. Thus, the state cannot neglect the importance of biometric technologies in its striving towards minimizing the number of crimes. Biometrics forms excellent combination between human analytical abilities and unbiased technology’s ability to identify, match, and analyze personal biometric information.

How to Write a Good Thesis Statement

How to Write a Good Thesis Statement In composition and academic writing, a  thesis statement (or controlling idea) is a  sentence  in an essay, report, research paper, or speech that identifies the main idea and/or central purpose of the text. In  rhetoric, a  claim  is similar to a thesis. For students  especially, crafting a thesis statement can be a challenge, but its important to know how to write one because a thesis statement is the heart of any essay you write. Here are some tips and examples to follow. Purpose of the Thesis Statement The thesis statement serves as the organizing principle of the text and appears in the  introductory paragraph. It is not a mere statement of fact. Rather, it is an idea, a claim, or an interpretation, one that others may dispute. Your job as a writer is to persuade the reader- through the careful use of examples and thoughtful analysis- that your argument is a valid one. Developing Your Argument Your thesis is the most important part of your writing. Before you begin writing, youll want to follow these tips for developing a good thesis statement: Read and compare your sources: What are the main points they make? Do your sources conflict with one another? Dont just summarize your sources claims; look for the motivation behind their motives.Draft your thesis: Good ideas are rarely born fully formed. They need to be refined. By committing your thesis to paper, youll be able to refine it as you research and draft your essay.Consider the other side: Just like a court case, every argument has two sides. Youll be able to refine your thesis by considering the counterclaims and refuting them in your essay. Be Clear and Concise An effective thesis should answer the reader question, So what? It should not be more than a sentence or two. Dont be vague, or your reader wont care. Incorrect: British indifference caused the American Revolution. Correct: By treating their U.S. colonies as little more than a source of revenue and limiting colonists political rights, British indifference contributed to the start of the American Revolution. Make a Statement Although you do want to grab your readers attention, asking a question is not the same as making a thesis statement. Your job is to persuade by presenting a clear, concise concept that explains both how and why. Incorrect: Have you ever wondered why Thomas Edison gets all the credit for the light bulb? Correct: His savvy self-promotion and ruthless business tactics cemented Thomas Edisons legacy, not the invention of the lightbulb itself. Don't Be Confrontational Although you are trying to prove a point, you are not trying to force your will on the reader. Incorrect: The stock market crash of 1929  wiped out many small investors who were financially inept and deserved to lose their money. Correct: While a number of economic factors caused the stock market crash of 1929, the losses were made worse by uninformed first-time investors who made poor financial decisions.

Enhancing Occupational Safety and Environmental Health while Adapting Essay

Enhancing Occupational Safety and Environmental Health while Adapting to Alternative Fuels - Essay Example Their mass level production can solve this problem. Since 1999 the United States government has been working to promote the alternative fuel program and understands that governmental intervention can fill the gaps between production cost and consumption of alternate fuels. Brief introduction of these fuels is, Biomass, Geothermal, Hydro power, solar power, Tidal power, Wave power and Wind power. The purpose of this project is to clarify the positive affects of alternative fuel program. With the usage of different forms of alternative fuels, there will be less of a demand on renewable resources. Most importantly, the dependence on fossil fuels imported fro OPEC. While quantifying the consumption of fossil fuels from around the world, Demirbas (2008) found that "countries in the Middle East to include the Russian Federation hold 70% of the worlds dwindling reserves of oil and gas" (p.3). Therefore, project will demonstrate that with the implementation of alternative fuel programs, it will result in safer working conditions for employees and a significant reduction of environmental degradation. Bio-fuel may be defined as a solid, liquid or gaseous fuel that is derived from relatively freshly dead biological materials and can be distinguished from fossil fuels, which are derived from long dead biological material. Theoretically, bio-fuels are produced from any (bi... ned as a solid, liquid or gaseous fuel that is derived from relatively freshly dead biological materials and can be distinguished from fossil fuels, which are derived from long dead biological material.Theoretically, bio-fuels are produced from any (biological) carbon source albeit; the most common sources may be the plants. Various plants and plant-derived materials may be used for the production of bio-fuel. Globally, biomass fuels are being most commonly used for the purpose of cooking and heating of homes and larger facilities. In European countries, more than 25% of heating is done with bio-fuels, including wood pellets, wood and chips. In Sweden, over 35% of all facilities are heated with biomass fuels which are incinerated in central biomass boilers at over 90% efficiency. Bio-fuels can also be used to generate steam and create electricity, and converted into a liquid or gas for use in motor vehicles. The process of conversion of biomass into electricity or into a liquid or gaseous form generally requires electricity that is mostly produced with coal. The efficiency of biomass to produce electricity, liquid bio-fuels, and gaseous bio-fuels consumes only 25-35% of the energy content of the originally biomass feedstock. This project is aimed at looking at all these aspects from occupational safety and ecological point of view. Topic and Brief Literature Review The topic of this Capstone research paper will be Enhancing Occupational Safety and Environmental Health while adapting to Alternative fuels. Below is an abbreviated list of sources that have been reviewed. 1- Pahl G. (January 2007). , in his book titled, "The Citizen-Powered Energy handbook. Community Solutions to a Global Crisis"

How Personal Can Ethics Get Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

How Personal Can Ethics Get - Essay Example Favoritism and Partiality has forever been known for violation of equal rights – a policy that most organizations carry on their sleeves. If an executive practices partiality in his/her choices of human resource, it not only affects the morale of the competitor individual but also diminishes the overall efficiency of the organization knowing a suitable candidate was rejected for a project against an incapable one. Additionally, this will also demoralize other employees of the organization, knowing that the system for their career growth is corrupt by personal biases. If this partiality is backed by personal gains (monetary or otherwise) on behalf of the executive, it further deteriorates the organizational relationships – the employees tend to be uninterested in company decisions, disloyal towards the organization and low- performed. Turnover rate can also be expected to be higher than normal for such an organization. Also, it can be expected that such an organization w ill dissolve rapidly into non-existence. Business operations therefore strictly require the setting aside of personal differences and working in collaboration for common organizational goals. Ethics play a vital role in organizations and organizational commitments on behalf of employees. Ethics, if practiced properly, can guarantee organizational prosperity. This is because ethical environment ensures safeguard of employee rights, allowing them to concentrate on their jobs and prove to be productive members of the organization. The employees will be less pressurized to compromise their own ethics and values, making them comfortable and satisfied in their jobs. It will promote equality among all employees, controlling misconduct and sycophancy naturally. An employee will possess greater willingness to report misconduct, if any, knowing the organization will take appropriate

Why Go To College Essay Example for Free

Why Go To College Essay What influenced me to attend college? My Grandparents have tried to get me to go to college for many years. However, I didn’t have much interest in furthering my education. I was a nanny for almost seven years, and had hopes of making that my career, until I was charged with a felony. That put an abrupt end to a career in any form of childcare. So after spending the next two years in treatment, I came to the conclusion that going to college would be the best way for me to achieve my new interest of helping others with their chemical dependency addictions. â€Å"Your future starts here†(www.grad.pci.uta.edu). There are a lot of colleges that use that catch phrase. My future without college became clear to me when witnessing two brothers that came from the same background. One attended college and the other chose not to, and began his own transportation business. With the event of 9-11, his business went under. Without an education beyond High School, he has not been able to find meaningful employment and is currently living in a camper and doing odd jobs. The other brother, that attended college, is now an executive in a major corporation and is living in a ‘mansion’. It became clear to me that in order to get into the field I am interested in and make a decent living, I would need to further my education. The difference in the annual income between someone with just a high school diploma and someone with a Bachelor’s Degree is huge. Statistics show that High School graduates on average make $33,176 a year, and someone with a Bachelor’s Degree can make $54,756 on average per year.(www.ohe.state.mn.us, Facts About Income of Graduates, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, March 23, 2012, web, Aug. 2013) Now that’s quite a difference. I chose to compare these two things because a Bachelor’s Degree is what I would need to get into the field I may possibly be interested in. I’m still unsure of a specific major that I would like to pursue. Chemical Dependency Counseling is an interest of my mine, but I’m still undecided. So that’s another plus with going to college, they offer courses that are meant to help someone who’s unsure about what they want to do with their future, find something that interests them. I have found that college is not as easy as I once thought. There are many things or activities one must give up or put on hold while attending college, but a little studying now will lead to a better future later. Mainly what I hope to gain by attending college,  is not only a higher education, but also a skill set and the discipline to build a career in the field I choose, rather than just having a minimum wage job.

Analysis of Eleanor Rigby :: Douglas Coupland

Eleanor Rigby is a story about a 30-something female who lives her life with a very conscious and accepting feeling towards to her complete loneliness. She never goes out beyond her daily work experience, which she begins by counting down to her predicted date of death. This seemingly perfect mirage of a life is broken when Liz receives a phone call from the hospital saying that she best come to the E.R. As she arrives she meets a charming young man who turns out to be her son Jeremy, who she gave up after a drunken one-night-stand in the 10th grade on a school sponsored trip to rome. Soon after being reunited with her son the doctors tell her that he has m.s. and that he doesn't have much time to life. Liz takes him home and begins to care for him, marking an incredible change in her life. As Jeremy's condition declines, Liz's attitude towards life progresses, and soon she finds herself in a journey to find Jeremy's father, and to find real meaning in life. Eleanor Rigby starts out slowly and in many instances you may be tempted to put down the book, so one may be able to shut distance themselves with Liz Dunn?s seemingly incessant whining. Yet as the novel progresses it is impossible not to feel compelled by the read. Coupland incorporates dark humor that drips off of every page leaving the reader satisfied. At times its hard not to read with a smirk on ones face. Yet the reality of the story is so real and just that the reader will find their minds wandering towards thoughts of the Liz in their life, or the liz in themselves. The theme is that the prescient knowledge of death exists not to discourage but to motivate one to acknowledge the shortness of life and to exist with the greatness any individual possesses. This is supported throughout the novel by many moments coated with loneliness and sorrow. and these moments seem to permeate all of what occurs. Liz seems to live off of this feeling of intense solitude and use it as an excuse to be mediocre in life. Only when Jeremy is introduced into her life does she begin to take on roles she should have been motivated to do so earlier, and only when his imminent death becomes a pressing factor does she realize why he is not a miserable person.

The Warhead Cable Test Dilemma Stanton Wong

1) What stage of moral development do you think Stanton Wong is at? What about Harry Jackson? Why do you think so? According to Kohlberg’s moral development theory, Stanton Wong is at post-conventional level. At this level, right action comes to be defined in terms of moral principles chosen because of their logical comprehensiveness, universality and consistency. It is because he is concerned with the well being of the innocent civilians and the military personnel if a missile misfired. Furthermore, he also thought how he can resolve this problem so that everyone is cared for equally that not harmed by the missile misfired. For Harry Jackson, he is at pre-conventional level. It is because he does not cares of others except if it benefits himself and how senior management can reward him. 2) What do you think Stanton should do now, and why? Use one or more of the methods of ethical reasoning presented in the chapter to support your view. I think Stanton should ask the source inspector, Jane Conway to check the warhead cable and also report to Jane Conway about the failed samples first. If Harry Jackson still ignores to solve the problem then Stanton should report to senior management. Besides, he also can try getting someone in the parent company to get help. One of the methods of ethical reasoning is logic. I think it is logical for Stanton to report the mistakes to authorities as he cares for the civilians and the military personnel. The other method of ethical reasoning is consistency. I think the behavior of Stanton is consistent with his caring attitude and always think that what he can do to solve the problem. 3) Should Stanton blow the whistle on his company? Why or why not? I think Stanton should inform senior management and should not become an external whistle-blower because the media should not be involved. He should try to solve the problem internally first before involving outside parties. Furthermore, he was respected by factory workers and management colleagues and he should not destroy his reputation by himself. Besides that, he also should not destroy the company’s image because he himself is an employee of the company. 4) What steps could the company take to prevent a situation like this from occurring in the future? To prevent a situation like this from occurring in the future, the company should have an established set of testing rules and if a certain number of tests fail out of another certain number then something needs to be done to fix the problem immediately. This rule should be strictly implemented. Secondly, if there any serious disagreement between vice president and supervisor, the matter should directly report to top management. Besides that, the company should take actions on Harry Jackson such as issue him a warning letter or punishment so that he will not repeat the mistake in future.

Cultural Patterns between the Sugar Industry and slavery in the Caribbean Essay

The origin of the Caribbean The Guanajatabey people were among the earliest inhabitants in the Caribbean island, who migrated from the forests of the South American mainland in 5300BC. They were a population of about 100,000 hunters, gathers and farmers. Recent research speculates that they may have migrated from the south of US substantiated by the resemblance of artifacts collected in both regions. Additional evidence suggests that the Guanajatabeyes were driven to the island by the arrival migrants, Taino and Cioney from the Orinoco delta in Venezuela. Colonization of the Caribbean In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the expansion of Europeans took two directions. Towards the west coast of Africa where raiding and trading of products like slaves, pepper ivory and gold was involved, and towards the Atlantic island which the Europeans collected products like honey and timber (Jennifer 1994). Eventually though, the colonists returned to settle and cultivate wheat and sugar since there was no arable land in Iberia. Sugar proved to be a very profitable commodity to produce but it needed huge tracts of land plus great labor force for production. As a result sugar and slave trade became entwined in the European exploitation in the Atlantic Islands and eventually spread to the Americas. Many think of the Caribbean Islands as a place for a get away vacation. The historical background tends to differ though. The island has come along way after colonization and slavery for many years. The settlement of the European in the Caribbean began with Christopher Columbus in 1492. Procession of an intricate feudal commission made him a long-term governor of all land discovered and also earned him a fraction of all trade conducted. Caribbean’s encounter with the European transformed the culture in the Atlantic Island affecting the lives of millions of people. It decimated its native population and introduced plantation agriculture. Sugar was one of the commodities that came with Christopher Columbus. It was a lucrative commodity that incited the Europeans to commence plantations in the Caribbean. Sugar’s long history in the Caribbean lands includes the dreadful era of slavery and just as dreadful era of indentured labor. Being the primary economic structure in the Caribbean, it resulted in external wealth increase and underdevelopment of internal markets and social classes. The colonists exploited the interior regions of the island to increase profits in the industry. They also enslaved Africans and indentured Asian laborers. They imported slaves from Africa to work in the sugar plantations. Slavery in the Caribbean Since slave trade was illegal, the Europeans used the Middle Passage. It was a very unpleasant and dehumanizing voyage. A good number of slaves did not make it to the other end. Dreadful conditions below deck, poor air conditions in the cargo, excruciating heat plus inadequate supply of food and water were among the problems faced by the slaves. Only the strong ones survived the diseases like typhoid, measles, yellow fever and small pox in addition to vomiting and diarrhea from the poor food. Apart from that, the conditions on the other end were just as appalling. In the mid 19th century, slave labor was greatly intense in sugar plantations (Marquez 1999). Plantation owners were dependant on slave labor since free labor was limited. With time, the demand of sugar rose and with limited labor, production was low. The Europeans were in dire need of laborers. The indentured servants could not meet the high demand for labor. The plantations required a large amount of labor to be at par with the increasing demand. This resulted to further importation of slaves from Africa to work in these plantations. On the other hand there was a cost increase in the importation of labor at the time. With rising costs and limited time to indenture, African slaves were the alternative. With the introduction of African slaves to the plantation sugar production rose by 300% (Payne Jennifer, 1994). Slave trade became the order of the day. With time the population of slaves rose by more than 200%. The interests of the slaves were also disregarded despite the immense turnover from the sugar industry since most of it went to Europe. England would not only benefit from the lucrative commodity but augmented demand would thrust slave trade. Planting, harvesting and processing of sugar is tiring, hot and dangerous. It also requires a gigantic amount of labor. The Africans were enslaved to work in these plantations despite the harsh weather (Conrad et al 1995). A vigorous adult was expected to till the land, plant and reap five acres of sugar. Slaves both adults and children would move row by row across the fields, planting thousands of seeds-cane stems manually. They would work from 6 to 6 with a break of two hours at noon. During harvest, the slaves would work longer hours racing against the weather to steer clear of attacks by insects on the harvest. Processing the sugar was also done manually under harsh supervision. Harvesting and processing cane was just as backbreaking as planting. Processing the sugar was done immediately by male slaves. The condition in the processing rooms was so severe that the slaves had to rotate out every four hours, their limbs engorged from the heat and humidity. The slaves worked day and nights in the mills and sugarhouses with shifts lasting up to 18 hours during harvest to avoid bottlenecks in production (Simon and Schuster, 2003). Despite some planters giving extra food and drink to encourage competition in production, the result was due to coercion. The slaves were controlled by threat and use of deadly force. In the 1770s, there was the introduction of anti-slavery movements in Europe. In 1787, The Society for the Abolition of Slavery was established which aimed at raising public awareness of the atrocious treatment of slaves. The fight however went on till 1807 when a law banning slave trade was passed. Many other countries endorsed similar laws soon after the law was passed. In 1831, a colossal anti-slavery rebellion destroyed many sugar estates in Jamaica, inspiring the government to Parliament to approve the Emancipation Act of 1834. The slaves who were still tied to plantation life were freed unconditionally. Most of the freed slaves acquired parcels of land on some of Caribbean islands for subsistent farming. For those who did not get went back to plantation work. Consequences of slavery in the Caribbean After the establishment of new colonization, there was the introduction of new cultures and languages. The world only focuses on Columbus as the great discoverer the new land and tends to forget the destruction and damages caused on the lives of the native people who were the first people on the Island. These people were almost wiped out by the brutal incursion of the Europeans along with their cultures and languages. There was division among the people which resulted from the introduction of different cultures, languages and values. The slaves that were also imported from Africa also brought along their different cultures and languages since they came from different region in Africa. Even long after slavery had been abandoned the economic and political structure that was used to control the Island still lingered. Former slaves were forced to work in the plantations but at minimum wage. Power and social inequality There was introduction of many races and cultures in the slavery era. Classes were defined according to race, financial status and culture. Despite the many cultural differences which continually impede the territories from merging, the Caribbean societies are trying to come together socially politically and economically in order to work as one nation. Facets of culture such as race, language, governmental systems, religion, history, values and morals among others differ in each territory and cause a barrier between them. The different cultures that resulted from slavery Several religious groups were started and developed from past experiences. Judaism and Rastafarianism are among the major ones that were formed from previous ones (Michelle 1986). There is a brawny bond between the two religions. They were bound by the subjugation and persecution they went through in the past. Rastafarianism Rastafari history started with the colonization of Africa. The European colonists enslaved many Africans, divided them and sent them to exile as captives worldwide. The areas in which they were taken were named Babylon. The movement was initiated in 1930 in Jamaica after a prophecy made by a black political leader, Marcus Following the prophecy was the crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie 1 in Ethiopia He is known to them as the Black Messiah, Jah Rastafari (Edwards 1999). The rituals and practices of the Rastafarians were adapted during the late 1930s and 1940s. Some of the practices are reasoning and binghi. Reasoning is done by the members gathering to pray and smoke ganja or marijuana considered a holy herb. They would pass it around in a water pipe which they have likened to the Communion cup of the Christians in its symbolic meaning. Bighi on the other hand is anal night celebration consisting of dancing accompanied by idiosyncratic rhythms of Rasta drums. This is done to mark different occasions for instance Marcus Garvey’s birthday, coronation of Haile Selassie I and the liberation from slavery. Their deadlock hairstyle signifies the Blackman’s pride for his skin color and hair texture. Rastafarianism remains to be a resistance culture in many parts in the world. Despite experiencing an unstable social history in Jamaica, the movement retains a momentous moral influence that has spread its wings way beyond Jamaica. Conclusion Nowadays, sugar is regarded the most common commodity. It is available everywhere and at very cheap prices. Conversely, there was a time when it was a very precious product desired by many. It was a luxury to many noblemen while the colonists considered it a way to make money. Sugar was very profitable back then and also very expensive. This lucrative commodity incited the Europeans to commence sugar plantations in their colonies especially in the Caribbean (Howard 1998) The demand for African slaves arose from the introduction and development of plantation agriculture, rise in the price of sugar, and need for miners. Africans were not only viewed as skilled laborers, but were also agricultural experts. Consequently, considering their high immunity for malaria, they were suited for mining and agriculture. Moreover there were serious consequences as a result of slave trade. All the same, there were positive results from colonization like urbanization and civilization of the colonies. Works Cited Conrad, D. , Glenn R, Lucas, C. , and Ray. â€Å"A Brief History of the Louisiana Sugar Industry, 1795-1995. † Center for Louisiana Studies, 1995. Jennifer M. Payne, â€Å"Caribbean History†, 1994 Marquez Slavosevelie, â€Å"Slavery to Free Labor† 1999 Michelle H. â€Å"The Caribbean, and the World Sugar Industry’’. New York University 1986 Sidney W. 1986. â€Å"Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History. † New York, Penguin Books. Hagelberg, 1985

Sears And Roebuck Company Essays - Sears Holdings, Business

Sears And Roebuck Company Essays - Sears Holdings, Business Sears And Roebuck Company Business Marketing Term Paper Sears and Roebuck Company For this paper I will be looking at an old established company, that has re-addressed its target market. To increase penetration in the market and expand in new markets, Sears has refocused its market concept. In the past Sears was where your grandparents shopped for quality product. As they sat back and enjoyed the comfort of their brand name and reaped the benefits, other companies sliced away at the market with new concepts in advertising until about five years ago when Sears woke up to a lagging profit margin. Sears began a recovery to regain market shares lost through complacency. To do this they gathered their staff and commenced to focus on new innovative techniques to cater to the needs of their consumers. First they looked at the production which was well established but could be streamlined. Some items could be eliminated or replaced by other brand name products to give the consumer a broader choice of items. For example they sold the Advantis computer branch to IBM when the projected competition would limit revenues in this area. They also negotiated lucrative contracts with brand name companies for the exclusive retailing rights for their product, an example of this is the Nordic Track home fitness equipment in January of this year. They targeted school age children with the new styles, which they refer to as the Relaxed Uniformity which increased sales in July of 1998. This helped bring in the younger and health conscious consumers who did not feel that the Sears brand name was ri ght for them. This stream lining effort would include shutting down some of the lagging catalog sales offices. This allowed them to establish more competitive prices in the market and better returns for their shareholders. This led to an increase in domestic revenues by 4.2 percent in 1998. The next areas they looked at were the location of their stores and the placement of the products in their stores. Some of the older stores which did not have a profit margin that warranted the expense of their upkeep where eliminated to cut overhead expenses. In addition, using trend analysis focusing on consumer habits, they took a hard look at the layout of the stores to see if they could improve sales through a better display or more efficient floor plans. Sears decided to set up displays, which bring the consumer walking by into the store and the product that has the return buyers interest in the back of store. With this in mind they revamped the floor plans and placed the items they knew the patron would search out to the back of the stores which forced the customer to pass by other product they did not realize was stocked by Sears. The placement of other products, which had lagged in the past, in high traffic areas, increased the sales of those items. Last but not least, once Sears had the company market strategy drawn out; they needed to inform the public of the changes they had made and figure out how they could meet the consumers needs. Sears re-launched its successful Softer Side of Sears advertising campaign that helped the company's turnaround by highlighting its renewed focus on women's apparel. The new version of the Softer Side campaign, which included print and broadcast ads, invited customers to Take Another Look at the fashions available at Sears. The Softer Side of Sears campaign achieves the key marketing objectives. It changes customers' perception of Sears, drives traffic into the stores, and demonstrates Sears commitment to offering customers stylish and relevant womens apparel, said Arthur C. Martinez, chairman and chief executive officer of Sears. Now the challenge is to build greater loyalty with our customer and reinforce Sears position as a destination place for apparel that fits her lifestyle. Reinforcing Sears commitment to serving its primary customer, a woman age 25 to 54 with a moderate household income, family and home. This campaign builds upon and personalizes Sears invitation to Come See the Softer Side of Sears by illustrating that Sears has more than fashionable apparel; it has the right apparel for her. The original Softer Side campaign, Developed by Young & Rubicam

World War II in the Pacific - New Guinea, Burma, China

World War II in the Pacific - New Guinea, Burma, China Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory The Japanese Land in New Guinea In early 1942, following their occupation of Rabaul on New Britain, Japanese troops began landing on the north coast of New Guinea. Their objective was to secure the island and its capital, Port Moresby, in order to consolidate their position in the South Pacific and provide a springboard for attacking the Allies in Australia. That May, the Japanese prepared an invasion fleet with the goal of attacking Port Moresby directly. This was turned back by Allied naval forces at the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 4-8. With the naval approaches to Port Moresby closed, the Japanese focused on attacking overland. To accomplish this, they began landing troops along the islands northeast coast on July 21. Coming ashore at Buna, Gona, and Sanananda, Japanese forces began pressing inland and soon captured the airfield at Kokoda after heavy fighting. Battle for the Kokoda Trail The Japanese landings preempted Supreme Allied Commander, Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) General Douglas MacArthurs plans for using New Guinea as a platform for attacking the Japanese at Rabaul. Instead, MacArthur built up his forces on New Guinea with the goal of expelling the Japanese. With the fall of Kokoda, the only way to supply Allied troops north of the Owen Stanley Mountains was over the single-file Kokoda Trail. Running from Port Moresby over the mountains to Kokoda, the trail was a treacherous path that was seen as an avenue of advance for both sides. Pushing his men forward, Major General Tomitaro Horii was able to slowly drive the Australian defenders back up the trail. Fighting in terrible conditions, both sides were plagued by disease and a lack of food. Upon reaching Ioribaiwa, the Japanese could see the lights of Port Moresby but were forced to halt due to a lack of supplies and reinforcements. With his supply situation desperate, Horii was ordered to withdraw back to Kokoda and the beachhead at Buna. This coupled with the repulse of Japanese attacks on the base at Milne Bay, ended the threat to Port Moresby. Allied Counterattacks on New Guinea Reinforced by the arrival fresh American and Australian troops, the Allies launched a counteroffensive in the wake of the Japanese retreat. Pushing over the mountains, Allied forces pursued the Japanese to their heavily defended coastal bases at Buna, Gona, and Sanananda. Beginning on November 16, Allied troops assaulted the Japanese positions and in bitter, close-quarters, fighting slowly overcame them. The final Japanese strongpoint at Sanananda fell on January 22, 1943. Conditions in the Japanese base were horrific as their supplies had run out and many had resorted to cannibalism. After successfully defending the airstrip at Wau in late January, the Allies scored a major victory at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea on March 2-4. Attacking Japanese troop transports, aircraft from SWPAs air forces managed to sink eight, killing over 5,000 soldiers that were en route to New Guinea. With momentum shifting, MacArthur planned a major offensive against the Japanese bases at Salamaua and Lae. This attack was to be part of Operation Cartwheel, an Allied strategy for isolating Rabaul. Moving forward in April 1943, Allied forces advanced towards Salamaua from Wau and were later supported by landings to the south at Nassau Bay in late June. While fighting continued around Salamaua, a second front was opened around Lae. Named Operation Postern, the attack on Lae began with airborne landings at Nadzab to the west and amphibious operations to the east. With the Allies threatening Lae, the Japanese abandoned Salamaua on September 11. After heavy fighting around the town, Lae fel l four days later. While fighting continued on New Guinea for the rest of the war, it became a secondary theater as SWPA shifted its attention to planning the invasion of the Philippines. The Early War in Southeast Asia Following the destruction of Allied naval forces at the Battle of the Java Sea in February 1942, the Japanese Fast Carrier Strike Force, under Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, raided into the Indian Ocean. Hitting targets on Ceylon, the Japanese sank the aging carrier HMS Hermes and forced the British to relocate their forward naval base in the Indian Ocean to Kilindini, Kenya. The Japanese also seized the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Ashore, Japanese troops began entering Burma in January 1942, to protect the flank of their operations in Malaya. Pushing north towards the port of Rangoon, the Japanese pushed aside British opposition and forced them to abandon the city on March 7. The Allies sought to stabilize their lines in the northern part of the country and Chinese troops rushed south to aid in the fight. This attempt failed and the Japanese advance continued, with the British retreating to Imphal, India and the Chinese falling back to the north. The loss of Burma severed the Burma Road by which Allied military aid had been reaching China. As a result, the Allies began flying supplies over the Himalayas to bases in China. Known as The Hump, the route saw over 7,000 tons of supplies cross it each month. Due to the hazardous conditions over the mountains, The Hump claimed 1,500 Allied aviators during the war. Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory The Burmese Front Allied operations in Southeast Asia were perpetually hampered by a lack of supplies and the low priority given the theater by Allied commanders. In late 1942, the British launched their first offensive into Burma. Moving along the coast, it was quickly defeated by the Japanese. To the north, Major General Orde Wingate began a series of deep penetration raids designed to wreak havoc on the Japanese behind the lines. Known as Chindits, these columns were supplied entirely by air and, though they suffered heavy casualties, succeeded in keeping the Japanese on edge. Chindit raids continued throughout the war and in 1943, a similar American unit was formed under Brigadier General Frank Merrill. In August 1943, the Allies formed the Southeast Asia Command (SEAC) to handle operations in the region and named Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten as its commander. Seeking to regain the initiative, Mountbatten planned a series of amphibious landings as part of a new offensive, but had to cancel them when his landing craft were withdrawn for use in the Normandy invasion. In March 1944, the Japanese, led by Lieutenant-General Renya Mutaguchi, launched a major offensive to take the British base at Imphal. Surging forward they encircled the town, forcing General William Slim to shift forces north to rescue the situation. Over the next few months heavy fighting raged around Imphal and Kohima. Having suffered high numbers of casualties and unable to break the British defenses, the Japanese broke off the offensive and began retreating in July. While the Japanese focus was on Imphal, US and Chinese troops, directed by General Joseph Stilwell made progress in northern Burma. Retaking Burma With India defended, Mountbatten and Slim began offensive operations into Burma. With his forces weakened and lacking equipment, the new Japanese commander in Burma, General Hyotaro Kimura fell back to the Irrawaddy River in the central part of the country. Pushing on all fronts, Allied forces met with success as the Japanese began giving ground. Driving hard through central Burma, British forces liberated Meiktila and Mandalay, while US and Chinese forces linked up in the north. Due to a need to take Rangoon before the monsoon season washed away the overland supply routes, Slim turned south and fought through determined Japanese resistance to take the city on April 30, 1945. Retreating east, the Kimuras forces were hammered on July 17 when many attempted to cross the Sittang River. Attacked by the British, the Japanese suffered nearly 10,000 casualties. The fighting along the Sittang was the last of the campaign in Burma. The War in China Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese launched a major offensive in China against the city of Changsha. Attacking with 120,000 men, Chiang Kai-Sheks Nationalist Army responded with 300,000 forcing the Japanese to withdrawal. In the wake of the failed offensive, the situation in China returned to the stalemate that had existed since 1940. To support the war effort in China, the Allies dispatched large amounts of Lend-Lease equipment and supplies over the Burma Road. Following the capture of the road by the Japanese, these supplies were flown in over The Hump. To ensure that China remained in the war, President Franklin Roosevelt dispatched General Joseph Stilwell to serve as Chiang Kai-Sheks chief of staff and as commander of the US China-Burma-India Theater. Chinas survival was of paramount concern for the Allies as the Chinese front tied down large numbers of Japanese troops, preventing them from being used elsewhere. Roosevelt also made the decision that US troops would not serve in large numbers in the Chinese theater, and that American involvement would be limited to air support and logistics. A largely political assignment, Stilwell soon became frustrated by the extreme corruption of Chiangs regime and his unwillingness to engage in offensive operations against the Japanese. This hesitancy was largely the result of Chiangs desire to reserve his forces for fighting Mao Zedongs Chinese Communists after the war. While Maos forces were nominally allied with Chiang during the war, they operated independently under Communist control. Issues Between Chiang, Stilwell, Chennault Stilwell also butted heads with Major General Claire Chennault, the former commander of the Flying Tigers, who now led the US Fourteenth Air Force. A friend of Chiangs, Chennault believed that the war could be won through air power alone. Wishing to conserve his infantry, Chiang became an active advocate of Chennaults approach. Stilwell countered Chennault by pointing out that large numbers of troops would still be required to defend US airbases. Operating parallel to Chennault was Operation Matterhorn, which called for the basing of new B-29 Superfortress bombers in China with the task of striking the Japanese home islands. In April 1944, the Japanese launched Operation Ichigo which opened a rail route from Beijing to Indochina and captured many of Chennaults ill-defended airbases. Due to the Japanese offensive and the difficulty in obtaining supplies over The Hump, the B-29s were re-based to the Marianas Islands in early 1945. Endgame in China Despite having been proven correct, in October 1944, Stilwell was recalled to the US at Chiangs request. He was replaced by Major General Albert Wedemeyer. With the Japanese position eroding, Chiang became more willing to resume offensive operations. Chinese forces first aided in evicting the Japanese from northern Burma, and then, led by General Sun Li-jen, attacked into Guangxi and southwestern China. With Burma retaken, supplies began to flow into China allowing Wedemeyer to consider larger operations. He soon planned Operation Carbonado for the summer of 1945, which called for an assault to take the port of Guandong. This plan was cancelled following the dropping of the atomic bombs and Japans surrender. Previous: Japanese Advances Early Allied Victories World War II 101 Next: Island Hopping to Victory

Contributing to Pepperdines Mission Personal Statement

Contributing to Pepperdines Mission - Personal Statement Example Responding to the mission of the school, I have thus prepared myself to be one in her mission, embracing it as my own. With this, I am binding myself to a lifelong education quest that will not just be limited in the education I get from this school through the course I have enrolled myself into but in everything from which I could learn from. Increasing my knowledge, I am resolved not just to rely on my professors but that I should understand that I also have the responsibility of helping myself as facilities are put to our disposal. Being a responsible student would be the least I could do, though it might not be much, I believe that one less trouble can make a great impact though not to the whole world; at least to the community I belong. Academically, I am prepared to do my best in all my subjects as it is my responsibility as a matured student and it is also my perception that doing so is the task expected of me to manifest the understanding that God has given me the authority to have dominion on my Eden. In addition, I am bound to commit myself to do, to my utmost capability the duties expected of a Christian student like being in the highest standard of values and ethical resolution.