Our Posthuman Future Summary Essay

Chapter 1: At the beginning of Our Posthuman Future by Francis Fukuyama, it talks about two different books: 1984 and Brave New World. These books talk about multiple technologies that would change and shape the next two generations. For the decade that these books were published it had them think that having a utopian world would have no consequences. I disagree with it for the most part, because if we are created to have certain qualities or characteristics then we would lose the understanding of what it means to be human. It referred to invetro fertilization and Fukoyama thought it was a deal with the devil. And it is in a way. We shouldn’t be allowed to mess with the creation of life or choose what they would look like, how they would act just because there might be that off chance that they may blame the parents instead of themselves. Biotechnology is not something to be trifled with. You must be careful with your steps or face the consequences of what the aftermath may be. Basically chapter one creates a visual for the future of the human race if evolution is pushed to far then we will face our own destruction that we caused. Chapter 2: So the beginning of chapter two talks about molecular biology and how it could help with the prevention of genetic diseases like breast cancer and cystic fibrosis. In a way this will help our ability to improve ourselves and gives us room to grow and empathize with the technological revolution. Francis mentions that we face ethical choices about genetic privacy, proper uses of drugs and human cloning. And we truthfully do. It goes back to what we believe is right and wrong but we have to take in the fine line in between. If we think about it, one human cloning does have its benefits. The chances of getting a genetic disease or dying due to a low immune system would severely decrease. But then it goes back to losing our human qualities and personality. But with the upcoming future we will have to face these issues for enhancements rather than therapeutic reasons. And by enhancements there may be a way to understand the genetics of homosexuality and possibly propose a plan for the parents to reduce the likelihood that they will give birth to a gay child. It’s rather sad that an expectant mother would take a pill or have something injected into the fetus just so they wouldn’t have to worry about the harassment. Even if you say you are against antigay discrimination then you should stick to that decision, give the person a choice before they are able to make it themselves. Chapter 3: Chapter three talks about the advances in the field of neuropharmacology. It also talks about Freudianism that was built on the premise that mental illness was primarily psychological in nature. This caused doctors to try drug therapy rather than talk therapy. One used was Lithium; it â€Å"cured† a number of people and then led to other drugs like Prozac and Ritalin. These drugs helped relax the mentally ill and calmed them down. The drug Prozac is an anti-depressant that supposedly changed this girls life around for the better. While I do believe that her doctor over-exaggerated I think most doctors do. Why would they explain every possible side effect like: memory loss, violence, weight gain and the big one suicide. It definitely should not be prescribed as a wonder drug because of the long term side effects. Although like with most drugs, when they are first distributed they truthfully don’t understand its genetic makeup, even with testing and trials. But by understanding them better now and how they affect the human body we are now able to understand the neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin. These two transmitters control the messages of the brain that can alter our feelings of wellness, happiness, jealousy and fear. I feel that if the knowledge of the brain functions are able to be altered then it can cause a political standing. Francis talks about self-esteem that can only come through by fulfilling our human desire of acknowledgment. I suppose if the drugs can give us a feeling of righteousness then in might help the depression that seems to follow us because of the world around us. But I doubt it will give us the motivation for us to set our own ideals. I still believe that these few drugs are not good for us. With our luck there will probably be an unforeseen side-effect and then where would we be, back to square one. Chapter 4: Chapter four talks about the prolongation of life and the increase of life expectancies. In a way this is a bad economically because of social security and other retirement benefits. It also talks about evolutionary biologists that ten to believe that aging is caused by genes and that there are no shortcuts to the postponement of death. I do tend to agree with this for the most part. It does not matter much how you live your life because anything can cause your time to end in a moment. No one knows when a person is going to die because there are too many factors to consider. Another theory is that the body loses its functionality and just dies. And then there is also the Hayflick Limit, where environmental factors prevent the accurate copying of DNA. I think that if someone were to die due to health issues it would follow more of this idea. In time I do believe that the view point of death will change. Will a person be able to understand that their body is going out or will they fight tooth and nail to stay alive? Fear of dying plagues us all. We may be able to understand more why we die in 2050 but that does not mean we will be prepared. I do not think we will ever be over our apprehension of dying, that is what we will have with us at all times because we are human. Chapter 5: Chapter five is all about genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is definitely a huge controversy and has been for many years. The project was funded by the US and other governments across the globe. There was, of course, the usual competition and the â€Å"want† to be first. It seems with anything there is that pride when the secrets are unlocked to something (DNA) so complex. With the success of the cloned Dolly sheep, some began to wonder if cloning humans would ever work. I personally do not believe we should be able to. There has to be a reason why our bodies are designed to create life, instead of in a cold laboratory. Not to mention why would someone want to clone themselves? Another technology under study would be artificial chromosomes. Scientists want to add an extra chromosome to the 46 we already possess. They not only want to create one, but they want to be able to turn it on or off with the persons consent when they are of age. For them to be able to actually create this would be extremely difficult if not impossible. Every one of our chromosomes serves a purpose so how would they be able to create one that does something different? Would it bring false hope that this person would be a super genius, or have the inability to cause harm? Cloning anything is beyond difficult and causes plenty of moral and social concerns. Chapter 6: Chapter six is pretty much about why we should worry about biotechnology. It starts off talking about eugenics (deliberate breeding of people with desirable traits). Western countries actually had laws that permitted the state to sterilize people them deem imbeciles. I don’t understand how they can just not give someone a chance to bring life into this world. Most of the time a person becomes desperate and that is why they have to turn to a life of crime or do things they normally wouldn’t do. Granted someone finally grew a conscious and the popularity of eugenics in most places, except for the Asian territories where they have the one child per family law. They did not understand at the time that with most traits or characteristics have to be inherited by both parents. Since World War 2 eugenics has been associated with racism because of the discrimination it perceives towards certain groups of people. It’s almost like telling a child that they can’t play with the blue-eyed children because they are no good. It is ridiculous on its own. There is always the chance that eugenics will pop back up, and if it does it will cause the parents to make decisions. The parent does ultimately have the decision but if pushed or persuaded a certain way it can change their course. We need to let people make their own decisions because if we don’t then how will we learn from them? Chapter 7: Chapter seven is all about human rights. There is an unbelievable amount of rights that we â€Å"Democracy† people think we should have. Not only that but it turns out that abortion is protected under the first amendment. We do have the right to choose whether or not we want to have a child. It’s because we have choices and the right to choose. Basically the word â€Å"right† implies moral judgment. Truthfully I believe we do need rights, no matter what form they come in. to not have right is like going back to the 18th century when everything revolved around power and politics. It didn’t matter what you wanted the courts decided for you. Our human nature has changed and developed into something kinder along the ways. Granted there are times when we feel as though we have no choice but to do this or that, but we can choose to not do something or hell go and do something for the better. of course consequences usually play a role in thing but the fact that we have a right to choose what we would rather do for ourselves is a vast improvement. Chapter 8: Chapter eight talks about how human nature has been extremely controversial. Most of the speculation is about that fine line between nature and nurture. Truthfully there is a fine line between them. You must know where the line is to know when to protect and when to show tough love. This could change the characteristics and how it affects the child. Francis also kind of talks about environmental impacts and it plays a big role. Depending on the environment it can change how human being s react in difficult situations. Chapter 9: Much of politics centers on the question of human dignity and the desire for recognition to which it is related. This means that we humans want to be constantly recognized by our dignity, or by which ever group we partake in. And it is very true. We constantly strive to be noticed in school for our good grades, by making that winning catch in a game or by just being ourselves. We also desire to have respect by our peers; something that is rarely achieved. Francis goes on to talk about a factor X. Factor X is in all humans and should be respected no matter which class, skin color or gender you are. In a way it’s like factor X is what makes us human. If you cause harm on something without the chromosome then it’s ok but if you enslave, torture or kill someone with the chromosome then it’s a crime against humanity. For many societies the X factor was contributed to the upper ranking people. But factor X is the basic meaning of what it is to be human. Without it what are we? If we lose the idea of a factor X then it will more than likely have us returning to discrimination at full force. It’s not fair what humans have had to go through because they lack a single chromosome. Chapter 10: Chapter ten is about the political control of biotechnology. The government must regulate the research of biotechnology to ensure public safety. Without regulations so many bad things can happen it’s almost idiotic. Francis believes that the debate over biotechnology is held captive by extremists from either side, one side being the ones who are with it, the other the ones who are against it. I’m leaning towards the ones who are against it. I believe that should be banned completely. I do think that biotechnology can be controlled but to do so would be difficult. But the real question is how? Scientists cannot police themselves and therefore someone must watch over them. A team of individuals that would have a broad viewpoint would be able to be the police but to find such would be difficult. A ban on biotechnology can happen and maybe will but laws do change over time to fit the socialness of the time. The only area that will probably still go for the bio tech would be East Asia. Really because of their religion, and because eugenics wasn’t abused much over there. I still feel as though biotechnology should not be tried but then again we cannot stop the minds of scientists and they will always try to do the impossible because of their nature. Chapter 11: Chapter eleven is all about how biotechnology is regulated today. There is the self-regulation by scientists or industry and the statutory which is basically the government. The government varies in strictness, big surprise there. With anything government, law or policy, it will always be more strict. Responsibilities are divided out so that they can be followed more closely or better I suppose. It also depends on where you are looking at regulations. Germany is the strictest, Britain the most relaxed and most other places are somewhere in between. As time goes on the laws and regulations have begun to tighten due to scandals and tragedies. It’s unfortunate that it takes something bad to happen before safety and precautions are more of a concern. Chapter 12: Chapter twelve, the FINAL CHAPTER, is about policies for the future. We do need to keep in mind that with time change comes. As of now new laws are being formulated on whether human experimentation applies to embryos. Francis does believe that the scientific community is too permissive, and that most scientists or â€Å"bioethicists† base things on the side of science. And I tend to agree here, to be a bioethicists your moral ground will be far greater than the average Joe. They must believe that they are finding ways to help the science community by figuring out ways to stop deficiencies in our DNA. With human cloning you don’t know how the child will react when they reach maturity. I mean they would be an exact copy of another person without the connection. More than likely it will turn out bad and then we will just have a band of adolescents hating their â€Å"parents†, and the scientist who created them. Truth be told a clone really isn’t a human being. It is more of a replica of what a human is. Also if they try to mix human DNA with animals then the whole definition of human would change completely.

Research Choose

Service organization and with reference to published case studies and any other relevant articles (such as from magazines, newspapers, and industrial reports), critically analyse the failures of service performance that were committed. Using the service quality gap model, identify the possible reason or reasons leading to such failures and give recommendations on how these failures can be minimised. You are also require to evaluate the usefulness of the service quality gap model as a tool in helping managers to effectively deliver value to their customers in comparison with other frameworks learnt in class.Question 2: Value Chain Process Select ONE (1) company from the manufacturing industry andusing the value chain analysis, critically analyse the salient aactivity or activities that help the chosen companies to achieve competitive advantage in creating and delivering customer value. Then analyse how the aactivity or activities that are responsible in providing the companies with co mpetitive advantage in creating and delivering customer value can affect and are dependent on other activities within the value chain.Support your answer with reference to case studies, articles and information of the chosen companies’ operation and strategic practice. Your answer should also be supported by diagrams of value chain that can effectively illustrate the specific activities of the chosen companies. Avoid using a generic value chain diagram. requirement The assignment must adhere to standard academic documentation standards. (Failure to do so will result in loss of marks in the Format, Citations and References criterion. ) * You are to write the citations and references following the Harvard System. You are required to use Times New Roman as the font type and 12 pts as the font size. * Vertical/line spacing should be 1. 5line spacing

Marie Curie †Change Agent Essay

Marie Curie has been chosen as a change agent due to the fact that she was the first woman to win a Nobel prize. She studied radioactivity, â€Å"a term which she invented,† (1) and invented portable x-ray machines which were carried by vans to the wounded in the field during World War I. (2) Element 96 was named curium (Cm) in the honor of Pierre and Marie Curie. (3) She made important advancements in the area of science, as remembered by the Curie institute, which for a time she was director of. The institute was named for her because of all the advancements she had made during her studies, and the work she did at the institute itself. The change that she made was for education for women to be accepted, and for women working in science to be more acceptable in her time. Works Cited (1) http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95nov/curie.html (2) http://www.diplomatie.gov.fr/label_france/ENGLISH/SCIENCES/CURIE/marie.htm (3) http://www.student-consolidation.net/nobel-prize-winners/curie-sklodowska/curie-sklodowska.htm

Journals Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Journals - Article Example You†¦,kill a man or take a tire off his car† (pg.9). The misfit then orders his two accomplices to take the family members and kill them one by one. This act shows how heartless a man can be. Killing a fellow human being in cold blood indicates how hard it is indeed hard to get a good man. Equal in Paris is a narrative that tells of an American who had been in Paris and was arrested for receiving stolen goods. The narrator spends much time in the prison rooms without trial and keeps on waiting for trial. He spends in prison with inmates among them a fellow American. The prisoner says that, â€Å"One had, in short, to come into contact with an alien culture in order to understand that a culture was not a community basket-weaving project, nor yet an act of God† (pg103). The prisoner now feels just equal to the inmates as they are treated the same way. Leaving America, he goes to become equal to other prisoners in

Differentiation and Brand Positioning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Differentiation and Brand Positioning - Essay Example This information is highly crucial to a business since it assists to give it an overall breakthrough and to plan itself well. If I was developing a research design, I would ensure that I include these components in my design in order to ensure that I handle all the required issues. While considering the demographics, I would tackle such factors as age of the targeted population. Evaluation of the age component is indeed crucial since; different age groups will have different needs and wants. Taking for instance, most of the individuals in the young generation are interested in the latest technology. Therefore, in order to know where to position itself, a business will need to evaluate the age of the population. Another issue that I would evaluate under demographics is gender. This is because; a business will have to decide whether to target the female group or the male group. Other demographic factors that I would evaluate include; the income and ethnicity. Assessment of the ethnicit y is mainly relevant to the business since it helps in segmentation of the market. This is because; different ethnic groups will have different preferences and choices which might affect the overall demand market. Behavior components are also extremely pertinent to the business since they help it to make predictions about the reactions of the consumers towards different actions taken by the business. It also helps in understanding the consumer preferences and thus, helps the business in differentiation and branding. Some of the behaviour components to be included in the research design include; consumer reactions towards price changes, reactions towards entry of new products and effect of environmental changes (Blythe, 2008). Lifestyle components are crucial in helping the business to set its prices and position itself in the market. This is whereby if the business deals with luxurious items it will need to position itself close to consumers who lead a high lifestyle. Saxonvilleâ₠¬â„¢s approach was indeed appropriate for this task. This is because; it considered all these issues in a detailed and an organized manner. 2) Which positioning do you recommend, and why? Brand positioning is a strategy applied by many businesses to shape the way in which consumers view the products of the business. Once a firm has already chosen its target market, it will need to define or shape the way in which the consumers view its product in their minds. Different positioning strategies have been applied by different businesses, some of which include; strengthening the current position, repositioning, out-designing and out-innovating everyone, and finding your niche in the market (Ferrell & Hartline, 2010). However, among all these, the best positioning strategy that I would recommend for all businesses is the out-innovating and out-designing of all other businesses. This is because; all consumers usually use the concept of ‘BEST’. Therefore, the commodity that the y choose to buy will be that which appears to be the best according to them. For this reason, the business should seek to be more innovative in coming up with different ideas of creating unique and appealing products. In this way, it will be remarkably easy to create consumer loyalty since the consumers will have fixed in their minds that the products of that business are unique and of high

The Communication Technology Effect in Business Research Paper - 1

The Communication Technology Effect in Business - Research Paper Example It has examined and analyzed literature related to the use of the internet, emails, websites, social media as well as wireless technology devices such as smartphones, radio frequency, cloud computing devices and other cellular devices. This discussion demonstrates how these technologies are used for communication purposes within an internal department of a business and also with the outside world, and the ways they have been used in communication to benefit the business organizations. This paper also discusses the advantages that these communication technologies have offered to business over time as well as the limiting factors of the same.     Incidentals of Authorization and Submittal This study of communication technology effects in business is submitted to Mr. Dennis H. Mohle, BA 105W Instructor, on Dec 10, 2013. As authorized on Jan 22, the research and was conducted under the direction of Dennis H. Mohle of Business Communication Research, LLP. The objective of the Study Ob jective of communication technology effect in business Research Study: The objective of the study was to explore and examine how advancement in communication technology has impacted on the way business operations are conducted locally and internationally. Use of Observational Techniques The methodology used in this investigation was observational and analysis of the literal information and statistics available from research articles, peer-reviewed journals, books, periodicals and the internet on the effect of communication technology in business.  Ã‚  

Focus on Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Focus on Society - Essay Example The point that needs to be taken into consideration is that no other art form is so fervently associated with economics and business as films. So, by necessity a film has to retain a delicate balance between expressing social realities so that the viewers may relate to it, while at the same time being artistically creative and involving, thereby addressing the commercial constraints and expectations (Curran, 1998). Cinema is an art form with a very large scope, canvass and budget. Yet, it is also a medium endowed with a greater responsibility towards society as compared to other art forms. So films do get influenced by the social context in which they are created, though the vivid blend of imagination, reality, glamour, intensity and conflict presented in them never fails to directly or indirectly influence the viewers in varying proportions (Hayward, 2000). It will be really relevant to talk about the 1994 comedy-drama Forrest Gump. The film, revolving around the life of a simpleton from Alabama, Forrest Gump, in a way presents the important social, popular and historical issues and events of the 20th century America. Yet, the film did not portray the American history with the simplicity of a school textbook.

Should regional actors play a greater role in international peace Essay

Should regional actors play a greater role in international peace operations - Essay Example As Hettne and Soderbaum argue, the UN is built on a Westphalian nation-state model in which the UN sits at the top with regional actors participating with the authority and support of the UN. At the same time however, regional organizations such as the EU, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have become legitimate institutions quite capable of managing conflicts on their own.3 The UNSC has at times appointed regional peace keeping operations that were either under-resourced or ineffective or simply chose not to intervene.4 While Coleman’s global legitimacy pyramid suggests that regional actors require UNSC mandates in order to achieve legitimacy and therefore to be effective,5 the rise of regional organizations suggest that a post-Westphalian reality exists and the UNSC may need regional actors in order to achieve greater legitimacy. Moreover, Article 52 of the UN Charter calls for regional initiatives in peace keeping.6 The UNSC however, has failed to forge comprehensive relationships with regional organizations despite regional actors’ significant role in managing conflicts.7 Given the rise of regional powers8 and the soft power associated with the UNSC’s peace keeping practices9, this paper uses the theory of neoliberal institutionalism and social constructivism to consider whether or not regional actors should play a greater role in international peace operations. Traditional theories of international relations focuses too narrowly on materialism and state actors whereas neoliberalism looks more narrowly at how politics at the international level is institutionalized at either formal or informal levels.10 Social constructivism provides a theoretical framework which explains international relations in terms of security as a collective endeavor rather than self-help ambitions and thus allows a more

Airline Deregulation as it relates to Competion and Unions Essay

Airline Deregulation as it relates to Competion and Unions - Essay Example The airline deregulation provides significant benefits to an average traveler. This Act removed many of the airline restrictions and thus totally altered the concept of civil aviation in the US. Subsequent to the integration of jets into the market, the air travel industry experienced incredible growth rate. As a result of steady increase in air travel, the federal regulators were forced to deregulate the industry to meet the increasing needs of the air travelers. The airline deregulation process augmented market competition once the marketers got the freedom to determine their own prices. It also persuaded the airline providers to enter in price competition in order to dominate the air travel market. Reports point out the notable effects of deregulation; â€Å"the inflation adjusted 1982 constant dollar yield for airlines has fallen from 12.3 cents in 1978 to 7.9 cents in 1997. This means that airline ticket prices are almost 40% lower today than they were in 1978 when the airlines were deregulated† (Thierer, 1998). Since this trend offered fruitful economic benefits to passengers, the passenger miles flown tremendously grew. For instance, in 2005, there were 750 million passenger miles whereas this figure was only 250 million in 1978. The magnitude of market competition was more in Europe as compared to US.

Mix Racial and Cultural Groups Are Growing in the United States Essay Example for Free

Mix Racial and Cultural Groups Are Growing in the United States Essay Mixed Racial and Cultural Groups is increased by a marginal number in the United States. The growth of these multiracial groups started to surface through migration of different ethnics and raised most of their families in the United States even through marriage. These are some of the issues that have been raised by individual people of having an entity separation of mixed race and cultural or to considered them as Americans without a hyphen. Thinking about this issue myself, and thinking of my two children who married to a different ethnic rather than Samoans. These questions come to mind about this issue: How, Why, and what the three words that needs a big explanation about this matter. According to multiracial Americans, Americans whose identity as two or more races identifies with just one group culturally and socially. From statistics that I got from online, stated that about 2. 9% of the population in the year 2010 are self-identified as multiracial. The identity or the classification of the people’s identification is generally according to the culture they were raised in. Social segregation in many areas of the country is forming interracial unions or cultural group. The diversity of social conditions through migrations brought new groups of people to the United States. Through these migrations, mixed races started to rise when interracial marriage were born and started to increase in the United States. The movement of multiracial identity by more than one ethnicity has taken place and strong. Statistics from the year 2010 census in the United States shows that the largest multiracial groups were white and black which is 1. 8 million. The other 1. 7 millions are white and some other race, white and Asian is 1. 6, white and American Indian and Alaskan Native is 1. 4 million. I have learned that the largest growing group in multiracial is white and black which is about 134%. That is more than 1 million people. MIX RACIAL AND CULTURAL GROUP According to Susan Saulny of the New York Times, title Race Remixed, said that â€Å"sea of change is how we think about race, ethnicity and its place in society†. I believe that a challenge to trend towards multiracial from a sociological perspective is a leap that we should take. The understanding of racial and ethnic categories of their boundaries can be a problem to other multiracial groups. I think that ancestry is the biggest influence in identities through a number of generations through migrations. I also believe that each multi mix or racial group should be treated the same regardless of their identity. If they are legally citizens of the United States, they have the right to be treated equally. I believe that they have contributed to the wellbeing and welfare of the United States through their services in employment within the government, military or private companies. Regardless of the race and ethnicity, they should be treated and considered Americans. President Obama is good example of what I mean about treating them the same no matter what color of their skin or where they are from. I know that some of these mix race entities are trying to separate themselves with-in the United States but when they travel to other countries of the world, they considered be call Americans. As a citizen of New Zealand, I am proud to call myself to be an American and I respect the land that my children were born. What can the United States or these multiracial groups gain from wanting to be separated from their identity. Through my search online, I came across Mrs. Karissa Sulliva’s draft and she said that ancestry influences identities. She said that socialization is the crucible of racial and ethnic identity formation. Farley in 2002, construct racial and ethnic classifications which was adopted by the government for each race or reconsidered themselves to either refuse to identify their own race and ethnic category. MIX RACIAL AND CULTURAL GROUP. I believe that mix racial and cultural groups are increasing daily by the number throughout the United States. However, research shows that children with an original multiracial identity grow up to be happier than those of single-race identity. Some of the statistics shows that another addition to the growth of mix race is through adoption of children from countries outside of the United States. According to Fact’s for Families 2010, parents are coping with these pressures in having open communications with the families about their culture and race. Encouragement and support in every multicultural group for families to be familiar with their language, traditions and customs within their families. They have to support and try to establish a good relationship by creating a network for their children, parents, family member, relatives and the community. In conclusion, the separation and classifications between mix racial and multicultural groups is not an easy task or thing to do. Two of my children are married to different ethnic. My oldest daughter is married to an African American and my son is married to a girl who is beautiful and white but has about four or five mix blood in her. I believe in democracy and the United States is nowhere in having a separation of any mix race and cultural group who are living in the United States. God Bless America, God bless the people of the United States. References: Perez, Anthony Daniel, Hirschman, Charles. The Changing Racial and Ethnic. http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC2882688/ The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (March-2011). Facts for Families, no. 71 Multiracial Children. http://www. aacap. org/galleries/FactsForFamilies/71_multiracial_children. pdf Dr. Nicole Martinez and Mrs. Karissa Sullivan. May 6, 2013 .docx.

Adverse Possession Problem Question

Adverse Possession Problem Question Land Law (Adverse Possession) Problem Question (3000 words) In this scenario, Molly is concerned to establish the status of the plot of land that lies beyond the garden of the house that she has inherited from her cousin, Ms Twigg. The plot is adjacent to the garden of the property, and is a natural extension of the garden’s length. Ms Twigg, and subsequently Molly, have taken measures to demarcate the plot of land, clear it, and assert a measure of control over it. Molly is not keen to establish title over the land, in order to prevent the local council from proceeding with their plan to convert it into a highway lay-by. It is possible, as will be seen, that the doctrine of adverse possession operates in this situation so that by virtue of the fact that Ms Twigg and Molly have asserted some control over the plot, and there has not, until 1997, been any expression by the local council of its control over the plot, Molly can rightly claim ownership of the plot. Section 15 of the Limitation Act 1980 is entitled ‘Time limit for actions to recover land’. The section is concerned with the time limits after which a legal owner of a piece of land cannot bring an action to recover the land in question where third party rights have been accrued. It states ‘No action shall be brought by any person to recover any land after the expiration of twelve years from the date on which the right of action accrued to him or, if it first accrued to some person through whom he claims, to that person’ (section 15(1)). There are, of course, certain provisos in the latter part of the section, the relevant ones of which will be discussed, but if the section does indeed apply, it would mean that after the period of 12 years from the date Ms Twigg obtained a right in the land, the local authority would lose their title to it. This is provided for by section 17 of the Act. This, then, is one of the statutory bases for the doctrine of adverse possession. What are the elements of this doctrine? It is clearly a manifestation of the concept of relativity of title that is so central to English land law; that is that all title to land is only relative to other claims on that land, and never absolute in the true sense. It is a means of granting ownership to persons who do not have legal title to the land in question, as is the case here. Indeed, it is usually very clear in cases of adverse possession that not only does the claimant not have title, but an identified other party does have legal title. This is why the doctrine is so controversial; it deprives one party of a legal right in favour of a second party with no legal title. Adverse possession operates where, within the period of time mentioned above in the Limitation Act 1980, the legal owner (in this case the local council) fails to take action to evict a so-called ‘squatter’ (in this cas e Ms Twigg and subsequently Molly) from the land in question. In the case of Newington v Windeyer (1985), the doctrine was applied in practical terms. It was stated that possession gives title that is ‘good against everyone except a person who has better, because older, title.’ This means that even a wrongful intruder can acquire title in another’s land. The doctrine of adverse possession was most recently considered in the seminal case of JA Pye (Oxford) Ltd v Graham (2003), in which the importance of possessory control was highlighted. There are, however, two elements to this concept. The first is factual possession (or factum possessionis in the parlance of the judgments). Secondly, and equally importantly, there is a mental component, characterised by an intention to possess on the part of the squatter (animus possidendi). Although considered in the case of Pye, the duality of the possession factor was mentioned by Gibson LJ in Prudential Assurance Co Ltd v Waterloo Real Estate Inc (1999). The squatter must have ‘subjective intention to possess the land but he must also show by his outward conduct that that was his intention.’ This idea was confirmed in Pye by Lord Hope, who acknowledges that such an intention was usually evidenced by ‘acts which have taken place.’ How, then, does this apply to the prese nt scenario? The first element, factual possession, can be seen to be met by the fact that the boundary fence has been knocked down by Ms Twigg, thereby removing a barrier to the plot in question, and by her removal of the debris in the new area. In Powell v MacFarlane (1977), it was held that possession throughout the period of alleges adverse possession must be exclusive to the claimant, although a single possession by or on behalf of several persons jointly is adequate. This, then, applies to Ms Twigg’s situation, and her subsequent conveyance of the property to Molly. Furthermore, that possession must, in the words of Lord Templeman in Browne v Perry (1991), be ‘peaceable and open’. This requirement has also been met by Ms Twigg and Molly, as a physical inspection of the plot by the local authority would reveal that the occupant of the house was now in factual possession of the plot of land. It is also important to note that if there was any element of permission from the local authority for Ms Twigg to use the land, this would negate any claim of adverse possession, as the whole essence of the doctrine is that the possession must be adverse to the paper owner. Even some implied licence would defeat the claim of possession. In the present case, however, it seems unlikely that such a licence exists. The amount or ‘factum’ of physical possession required to meet the requirement of adverse possession was considered in Buckinghamshire CC v Moran (1990), in which Slade LJ said that ultimately, it depended on the claimant asserting ‘complete and exclusive physical control’ over the land in question. He had deliberated on this point in the earlier case of Powell v MacFarlane (1997) when he stated that it must be shown that ‘the alleged possessor has been dealing with the land in question as an occupying owner might have been expected to deal with it and that no-one else has done so.’ Will Ms Twigg’s and Molly’s actions be sufficient to establish this necessary level of factual possession? As we know, the plot is bounded on three sides by hedges and trees, and the fence boundary shared with the house has been knocked down. In Seddon v Smith (1877), it was held that enclosure is the ‘strongest possible evidence of adverse posses sion.’ While Ms Twigg did not actually construct an enclosure, she did remove an artificial boundary so that the garden and the plot are now bounded in their entirety. This will probably be a sufficient degree of factual possession. The sufficiency of the possessory control depends on the context, and here, it seems likely the clearance will be sufficient. In Hounslow London Borough Council v Minchinton (1997), an unsubstantial use of the land in question was considered sufficient because it was the only sensible use of the land. A similar situation applies here. The second element of possessory control, then, is the requisite intention to possess. Ms Twigg and Molly must have shown a continuing intention to possess throughout the period of adverse possession, following Railtrack plc v Hutchinson (1998). In Powell v MacFarlane (1977), this was held to mean ‘the intention, in one’s own name and on one’s own behalf, to exclude the world at large, including the owner with the paper title †¦ so far as is reasonably practical and so far as the processes of the law will allow.’ This intention must be both genuine, and also must be made clear to the world. This includes the paper owner (that is, the local authority as the legal title holder) if that owner was present on the land in question. Again, as was mentioned above, it seems likely that this requisite intention will be satisfied by the removal of the boundary fence, and the clearance of the debris on the plot by Ms Twigg and subsequently by Molly. The relevant i ntention can, and usually will, be inferred from conduct, so to some extent it can be met by the same measures as demonstrating factual possession. It seems, then, that between them, Ms Twigg and Molly have met all of the pre-requisites of making a successful claim of adverse possession of the plot of land. The potential for controversy caused by this doctrine was illustrated in the case of Ellis v Lambeth London Borough Council (2000), in which a squatter successfully claimed a council house worth  £200,000. Indeed, in Buckinghamshire CC v Moran (1990), Nourse LJ described adverse possession as unashamedly ‘possession as of wrong’. How can this doctrine be squared with the increasing awareness of and focus on human rights, and particularly on those enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, which was incorporated into English law by the Human Rights Act 1998? This issue was considered in the case of JA Pye (Oxford) Ltd v Graham (2001). It was noted that the doctrine often results in the deprivation of possessions, and hence might be thought to be in breach of human rights contained in the Convention. It was considered, however, that the rule operates, ultimately, in the public interest, and is therefore justified under the Convention. How, then, does the doctrine apply in the present circumstances? In the first scenario, the dates are significant because they pre-date the Land Registration Act 2002, which had a significant impact on the area of adverse possession (which will be considered under the second scenario). The significant dates here, then, are 1980, when Ms Twigg moved into the property, and at which time there was no question of the local authority holding the title to the plot of land at the bottom of Ms Twigg’s garden; and 1984, when Ms Twigg removed the broken down fence, and commenced clearing the ground of the bracken and rubbish that had built up there. In the strict operation of the Limitation Act 1980, then, under section 15(1), this is the date on which the right to the land accrued to her. That is to say, the clock started running at this time. Also under section 15(1) of the Act, the successor in title to Ms Twigg – that is, Molly – will also be able to claim the title. A significant factor is whether the property was registered by Ms Twigg when she purchased it. Since there was no compulsory registration in 1980, it will be assumed that the property was not registered. As was mentioned above, under section 15(1) of the Limitation Act 1980, the legal owner of the plot of land (the local council) has a period of twelve years from the date on which Ms Twigg accrued a right to the property, even as a squatter. The date in question, then, is 1984, when Ms Twigg asserted control over the land by removing the broken down fence, and clearing the area. Furthermore, the local authority did not take any action even insofar as repairing the boundary fence in order to evict Ms Twigg. Again, the fact that the property passes from Ms Twigg to Molly in 1985 does not affect the claim of adverse possession. This is because under the Act, immediately consecutive periods of adverse possession (as Ms Twigg’s and Molly’s were) can be aggregated to contribute to the twelve year time limit. This was applied in Mount Carmel Investments Ltd v Thurlow Ltd (1988). After this period of 12 years, then, the local authority’s title will be ‘extinguished ’ in favour of Molly. Molly, therefore, emerges as the legal title holder. This, then, is the situation in the first scenario, where the dates in question pre-exist the Land Registration Act 2002. In the second scenario, however, the outcome may be different as the dates have been moved forward. The two factors that are likely to affect the claim of adverse possession in this second scenario are, firstly, that Ms Twigg did not taken action to exert her control over the land in question until 2000; and secondly, that the LRA 2002 will apply in the present circumstances. To reiterate, the significance of Ms Twigg taking down the broken fence completely and commencing to clear the plot of land is that it is at this point that she becomes a ‘squatter’, with some measure of possession of the plot of land. Again, it is from this point in time that the clock starts to run in respect of adverse possession. As several commentators have noted, it is perhaps strange that even after the passage of the LRA 2002, adverse possession should continue to play a significant role, given that the registration of title is supposed to be definitive in assessing ownership. This was also noted by Lord Bingham in the seminal case of JA Pye (Oxford) v Graham (2003). This case involved the acquisition of 25 hectares of development land, reportedly worth over  £10 million, which prompted the Guardian to report on ‘Britain’s biggest ever land grab’ (9 July 2002). The effect of the LRA 2002 can be seen as a response to the criticisms that have increasingly been targeted at adverse possession, particularly in the case of squatters claiming rights in the land of registered proprietors. Smith describes the impact of the LRA 2002 as ‘undoubtedly one of the most fundamental changes to property law in the pat century’ (Smith, R. (2002) ‘The Role of Registration in Modern Land Law’, in Tee, L. (Ed) Land Law: Issues, Debates, Policy (London: Willan), p55). One of the key provisions of the Act, then, is that unlike under the pre-2002 doctrine, mere passage of time does not bar a registered title holder from regaining possession. This means that time is no longer in Ms Twigg’s and Molly’s favour under the LRA 2002, section 96. Furthermore, the onus is now very much on the squatter rather than the legal title holder to assert their control over the property in question. For the first time, under the LRA 2002, a pos itive application is required by either Ms Twigg or Molly. This application must be made to HM Land Registry to be registered as the proprietor of the plot of land in question. Under section 97 of the Act, this application can only be made in the event that the ‘squatter’ has been in adverse possession of the property for a period of ten years immediately preceding the date of the application. In this instance, then, that time frame has not been reached. Even if Molly had been able to make an application to HM Land Registry to be registered as the proprietor of the plot, the local authority would have been able to defeat this application simply by registering objection to it. Again, this shows the change in focus ushered in by the LRA 2002 in favour of the legal owner at the expense of the squatter, who was in a better position with regard to the land on which they were squatting prior to 2002. Not only can the local authority object to the application for registration from Molly, however; so too can any legal charge holder or, if it were relevant, the proprietor of a superior leasehold estate. Under Schedule 6 of the Act, any objection by any of these parties within a period of 65 business days of the application being made will defeat the application. It should be noted that had Ms Twigg’s and Molly’s time ran successfully prior to the date at which the local authority wished to proceed with its lay-by plan in 2003, M olly would retain some protection for her rights over the land under the LRA 2002. BIBLIOGRAPHY Statutes Human Rights Act 1998 Land Registration Act 2002 Law of Property Act 1925 Limitation Act 1980 Cases Browne v Perry [1991] 1 WLR 1297 Buckinghamshire CC v Moran [1990] Ch 623 Ellis v Lambeth London Borough Council (1999) 32 HLR 596 Hounslow London Borough Council v Minchinton (1997) 74 P CR 221 JA Pye (Oxford) Ltd v Graham [2000] Ch 676 Mount Carmel Investments Ltd v Thurlow Ltd [1988] 1 WLR 1078 Newington v Windeyer (1985) 3 NSWLR 555 Powell v MacFarlane (1977) 38 P CR 452 Prudential Assurance Co Ltd v Waterloo Real Estate Inc [1999] 2 EGLR 85 Railtrack plc v Hutchinson (1998) (unreported) Seddon v Smith (1877) 36 LT 168 Secondary sources Davies, C.J. (2000) ‘Informal Acquisition and Loss of Rights in Land: What Justifies the Doctrines?’, 20 Legal Studies 198 Gray, K. and Gray, S.F. (2003) Land Law, 3rd Edition (London: LexisNexis) Gray, K. and Gray, S.F. (2005) Elements of Land Law, 4th Edition (Oxford: OUP) Rhys, O. (2002) ‘Adverse Possession, Human Rights and Judicial Heresy’, Conv 470 Smith, R. (2002) ‘The Role of Registration in Modern Land Law’, in Tee, L. (Ed) Land Law: Issues, Debates, Policy (London: Willan) Thompson, M.P. (2002) ‘Adverse Possession: The Abolition of Heresies’, Conv 480

Exhaust System For The LJMU

Exhaust System For The LJMU The FS event is held every year at Silverstone in the UK. The event was set up by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Universities from around the world come to Silverstone to enter their cars in the event. Each team that enters FS is solely made up of students. There are a number of different classes which the car can be entered. These are Class 1, Class 1A and Class 2. LJMU is entering in to Class 1. Class 1 consists of a number of different events which can be broken down in to two categories, Static Events and Dynamic Events. The Static Events include, a presentation, Engineering Design and Cost Analysis. The Dynamic Events include an acceleration test, a skip-pad test, an autocross race and an Endurance race which includes a fuel economy test. The final exhaust design will be used in the 2011 LJMU FS car. For the exhaust to be used it must fully comply with the FS rules and regulations. The LJMU FS car is a group project and so it will be vital to the success of the exhaust system and the final car that communication is maintained. Formula Student 2010 LJMU competed in its first FS Class 1 event in 2010 and finished in 21st place. This was a great achievement for the university. Feedback was given to the university after the event from the FS judges. The feedback received was useful and has given areas of improvements for the car. One of the pieces of feedback was criticising the fact that the exhaust system didnt have a Lambda sensor to measure the levels of oxygen the in exhaust gas. This will be one area of improvement for FS 2011. Time Management To complete this project within the strict time limits a Gantt chart has been created. This can be seen in APPENDIX REFERENCE. Within the time 4 stages will be completed. There are analysis, design, verification and manufacture. FS Rules and Regulations To successfully create an exhaust system a number of rules need to be met. The rules and regulations were written by the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE). These rules are in place to maintain a level playing field throughout the teams and to also ensure that safety standards are kept. The FS rules can be interpreted in different ways and so create different and interesting designs. To summarise a few rules, the exhaust has to exist within an area of 450 mm behind the centreline of the rear axle and 600 mm above the ground, the driver must be protected against heat and fumes and the sound must not exceed 100dBA. The engine size is also limited by FS rules. The rules state that an engine no bigger than 610cc can be used for the competition. The used for the engine must also pass through a 20mm restrictor. The full list of rules and break down which are relevant to this project can be found in ARTICLE 10: Exhaust System and Noise Control seen in APPENDIX REFERENCE. Design Restrictions As the exhaust will get very hot during running it is important that the exhaust pipes dont come in to contact or come too close to other engine peripherals such as electrical cables and fuel line. The driver will also be protected by a firewall in case of a fire or excess heat from the engine. As the fuels system, intake system and other peripherals have yet to be decided assumptions must be made in the routing of the exhaust system. The decision has been made to mount the engine front facing. This will mean that the exhaust ports are facing towards the front of the car and the intake ports are facing the back of the car. This decision has been made to simplify the design of the drive train to minimalize power lost and reduce the risk of failure. The design is also impacted by 20mm restrictor on the air intake which will also affect the exhaust system. Ricardo WAVE Ricardo WAVE Build will be used to fully model the exhaust system. Ricardo WAVE is an ISO 1D/3D engine and gas dynamics simulation package. WAVE is used in a number of different industry sectors all involved in simulating engine performance. It used from creating an initial design to the modifying an existing design without having to manufacture any components. WAVE only produces theoretical engine performance data and will need to be verified with experimental data. Ricardo WAVE is a sponsor in the FS event and so all FS teams have access to the software. Learning Ricardo WAVE Within the WAVE help file there is a list of tutorials which cover setting up and running an engine model. The tutorials range from beginner to advanced. The beginner spark ignition (SI) tutorial takes the user through the initial setup of an in-line, 4-cylinder 1.6L engine. Two WAVE tutorials have been completed these are the Introductory SI Tutorial and the Intermediate Concentric Silencer Tutorial. Going through the tutorials helped to give an idea of the different parameters that would need to be collected from the Honda CBR600RR engine. The tutorials also guide the user through the analysis of the model and how a change in the design affects output. Engine Selection The engine selection is partly governed by the FS rules and regulations as stated earlier. Due to the restrictions a decision was made to go for a reliable, powerful engine which is light weight. This lead to the Honda CBR600RR-4. The Honda is a 600cc performance motorcycle engine and so its power to weight ratio is high, which makes it perfect for the FS car. LJMU have used this engine for the past 2 years. The specification of the Honda CBR600-3 will be referenced to as the engine specification has not changed between 2003 and 2004. The CBR600RR engine is an 16-valve, in-line four cylinders, four stroke, with double overhead camshafts (DOHC) (Coombs, 2006). The Engine uses Programmed Duel Storage (PGM-DS) fuel injectors, two per cylinder, one upper and one lower. The lower injectors are used to enhance reliability, above 5500rpm the upper injectors are triggered and are used to improve top end horsepower (Torrance, 2003). A full specification of the standard CBR600RR can be found in APPENDIX REFERENCE. There are a number of different modifications that will take place on the engine by the FS event in 2011 and so the specification is subject to change. Changes that are being considered are an optimal air induction system with the 20mm restrictor, design and manufacture of a shallower sump, reduction in number of gears and modification of ratios and developing an optimised engine map. All of these changes are aimed at increasing performance of the engine for the required characteristics of the competition. Literature Review To generate the best performance from an exhaust system knowledge of a 4 stroke SI Internal combustion (IC) engine is needed. Four-stroke spark ignition (SI) engines The four-stroke SI engine has four different strokes as seen in Figure 1, Four-stroke IC Engine (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2007) The four strokes are Intake, Compression, Power and Exhaust. For each turn of the crankshaft two strokes occur. The Intake stroke, also known as the Induction stroke, starts from Top Dead Centre (TDC). In this stroke the piston moves down, the intake value opens causing the air and fuel mixture to be drawn in to the combustion chamber. The volume of the air/fuel mixture drawn in to the chamber is known as the volumetric efficiency. If there is too much air in the mixture then the fuel will burn quickly increasing the pressure in the chamber too quickly leading to mechanical losses and misfiring. This is known as a lean fuel mixture and can lead damage the engine. If there is too much fuel in the mixture then all of the fuel will not be burnt leading to inefficiencies as unburnt fuel will be expelled through the exhaust valve. This will also lower the temperature and pressure in the chamber. This is known as a rich fuel mixture. The Compression stroke follows the induction stroke. The compression stroke starts from Bottom Dead Centre (BDC). The intake valve shuts and the piston starts to move back up the chamber. Just before the piston hits TDC the spark plug fires causing ignition. The Power stroke is where the piston moves down the chamber due to the increase in pressure and temperature from combustion. When the piston hit BDC the exhaust valve opens. The Exhaust stroke forces the gasses out of the combustion chamber through the exhaust valve after the Power stroke. At the end of the exhaust stroke the exhaust valve closes and the cycle starts again. Any exhaust gasses left in the chamber will contaminate the next intake of fuel and will reduce the power output. As only one stroke generates any power (Power stroke), energy has to be stored in a flywheel to move the piston for the remaining three strokes. (Stone, 1999) Engine Thermodynamics An IC engine whether it is a 4 stroke or a 2 stroke is a non-cyclic process. However as the nitrogen in the fluid is virtually unchanged it can be argued that the process is cyclic. This makes calculating the thermodynamic efficiencies much easier as it can be compared to the Otto cycle. Performance To calculate the performance and effectiveness of the exhaust system a number of different parameters will need to be defined. Exhaust Design There are two main designs for exhaust systems, exhaust manifold and exhaust header. Both designs have different pros and cons depending on the different requirements. A standard exhaust manifold can be seen in Figure 2, Standard Exhaust Manifold (Monster Autoparts) This Exhaust is made from cast iron, and so it is perfect for production vehicles as casting is inexpensive if the cast is only used on a large scale. However for a one off production exhaust system it would be expensive. Exhaust headers Figure 3 on the other hand are comparatively inexpensive to produce a one off design as no mould needs to be created and the pipes can be simply bent and cut in to shape. Manifolds are also inefficient compared to exhaust headers. This is due to the air flow in a manifold. When the exhaust gas enters the manifold back pressure is built up. This back pressure restricts the flow for the next wave of exhaust gas. This means that the piston has to work harder to force the exhaust gas out of the cylinder leading to power loss. This back pressure can be reduced or eliminated using exhaust headers by taking advantage of the timing. This is known as exhaust pulsation. To fully understand pulsation it is important to explain the exhaust system shown in Figure 3. This design is a 4-2-1 exhaust. Different exhaust designs can be found in APPENDIX REFERENCE. As can be seen each exhaust port has its own header. Header pipes 1 and 2 join and header pipes 3 and 4 join. These joints are known as collectors which then form the secondary headers. The 2 secondary headers then move in to the final collector and form the downpipe. The firing order of the Honda CBR600 engine is 1-2-4-3 (Coombs, 2006). Improving Engine Performance To improve the performance of the engine pulsation can be used. Pulsation is where Exhaust Pulsation Exhaust Gas Turbochargers There are two different types of exhaust gas turbocharging. These are Pulse Turbocharging and Constant Pressure Turbocharging. Exhaust Gas Recirculation Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) is where a small portion of the exhaust gas (5-10%) is fed through a valve back in to the inlet manifold ready for the intake stroke. This helps to decrease emissions of NOx (nitric oxcide and nitrogen dioxide) as the amount of fresh fuel drawn in to the cylinder in replaced with exhaust gas. Between 5 and 10% of EGR is likely to halve the NOx emissions (Stone, 1999). EGR increases intake manifold pressure. The higher intake manifold pressure leads to a reduction in the charge cycle work and this lowers the fuel consumption. During EGR the peak combustion temperature is reduced due to the exhaust gas not being used during combustion which will cause less energy to be produced. (Bosch, 2007) EGR can cause misfire and partial burns to occur as the amount of fuel in the cylinder is reduced, causing a lean mixture. Data Collection Engine Geometry To create an accurate model in WAVE geometry from the CRB engine has to be collected. This was done in a number of different ways. A list of geometry needed for WAVE can be found here APPENDIX REFERENCE. A new head from a CRB engine was purchased and was used to collect the relevant information. A new head was purchased as the tests that were carried out on the head would require taking sections, which would destroy the head beyond repair. DIGITISING ARM VOLUME OF INTAKES AND EXHAUST PORTS Rolling Road Testing Exhaust Geometry

The Chicano Movement: Struggles, Goals, and Accomplishments Essay examp

In American history, civil rights movements have played a major role for many ethnics in the United States and have shape American society to what it is today. The impact of civil rights movements is tremendous and to an extent, they accomplish the objectives that the groups of people set out to achieve. The Mexican-American Civil Rights Movement, more commonly known as the Chicano Movement or El Movimiento, was one of the many movements in the United States that set out to obtain equality for Mexican-Americans (Herrera). At first, the movement had a weak start but eventually the movement gained momentum around the 1960’s (Herrera). Mexican-Americans, also known as Chicanos, began to organize in order to eliminate the social barriers that prevented them from progressing in American society (Bloom 47). Throughout the years of the Chicano Movement, Mexican-Americans had a â€Å"desire to integrate into the mainstream culture while preserving their own identity† (Bloom 47) . The Chicano Civil Rights Movement was a progressive era when Mexican-Americans had goals that they wanted to accomplish and sought reform in order to be accepted as a part of the United States. The Chicano Movement, like many other civil rights movements, gained motivation from the everyday struggles that the people had to endure in the United States due to society. Mexican-Americans, like many other ethnicities, were viewed as an inferior group compared to white Americans. Mexican-Americans sought to make a change with the Chicano Movement and â€Å"the energy generated by the movement focused national attention on the needs of Mexican-Americans† (Bloom 65). The Mexican-American Movement had four main issues that it aimed to resolve and they ranged from â€Å"restoration of la... ...tory: Postwar United States, 1946 to 1968, Revised Edition (Volume IX). New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2010. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 12 February 2012. Tejada-Flores, Rick. "Fight in the Fields - CESAR CHAVEZ | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 12 February 2012. Tenes, Angel. "SYLVIA MENDEZ GETS HIGHEST U.S. AWARD & HONOR."MENDEZ V. WESTMINSTER. 25 February 2011. Web. 10 March 2012. United States and Mexico. "Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo." From Treaties and Other Agreements of the United States of America, 1776-1949. Compiled by Charles I. Bevans. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1968-76. American History Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 10 March 2012. Woo-Sam, Anne. "Mexican Americans and the Chicano Movement." Encyclopedia of American Social Movements. Sharpe Online Reference. 2012. n. pag. Web. 12 February 2012.

Letters Home :: Creative Writing Essays

Letters Home The vid screen is dark and ominous, as if it holds secrets that is not for the likes of men to know. John Poldeck, a middle aged, balding man of forty-eight steps forward toward screen and console to activate the beast, this oracle of silicon, plastic, and glass. Today John is hoping for word of his son Kirk, of whom nothing had been heard of since he left for UNDF Marine Corps training at Camp Lejune, South Carolina, a beacon for the phony tough and crazy brave looking for ill conceived adventure and glory. At least that was John’s opinion on the matter. As a mid level market analyst for the transnational ABSCOM John was used to battles fought with market shares, balance sheets, and stock options. For the forty years since the birth of the revamped United Nations war and the conductors of war, the military, had been a dying business. John could still remember the eager look on Kirk’s face when his son had uttered words like, duty, honor, patriotism, words which seemed as alien to John as the worlds the UN exploratory fleet claimed to have found. â€Å"For Christ’s sake John will you turn on the damn console? What the hell is wrong with you today?† John glanced at June, his wife of twenty years and counting. Her dark skinned face was a sharp contrast to his pale complexion, and anger, tinged with concern for her son, clouded and darkened her visage even more. He looked at his wife without comprehension. â€Å"What?† June sighed, and then in a kinder tone, â€Å"The console John. I know you’ve been angry ever since Kirk left for the Marines, hell you’ve been mad ever since he first brought up enlisting. A fool’s errand you called it. Perhaps you’re right. All I know is that he might have sent us a letter today.† A fool’s errand. I remember when I said that John thought. That had been a nasty episode, one of many that had occurred during one of the endless fights he had had with Kirk over this business of enlisting. Try how he might he could never convince his son that business was where the opportunities were. Kirk had then coldly informed his father of his contempt for the Transnationals that now ran everything on Earth, including the UN, and his contempt for anybody connected to them.