The best way to answer the question Why should I hire youÂÂ

The best way to answer the question Why should I hire you   It’s the moment of truth- you’re on the job hunt and have landed an interview and it’s going well. You’re making a great impression on the person you’re meeting with and it really feels as if you have this locked up†¦ and then all of a sudden you’re hit with the big question: â€Å"Why should I hire you?† On its face it may seem like an easy question, but the truth is that it may only seem deceptively so. On top of there being a lot riding on your answer (namely a possible new job), the way in which you choose to answer the question may reveal a great deal to the person who’s in a position to make a hiring decision about you. Obviously, you want to make a good impression, and there’s a million overused and unremarkable ways to handle the question that you should wisely avoid. With all of that said, perhaps it doesn’t seem so simple anymore?Don’t worry- although there are plenty of ways to miss the mark when you’re facing this question, there are some effective strategies for how to handle it that can help turn a good interview into a great one, ensure that you leave a positive lasting impression on the interviewer, and increase your chances of getting hired. The Balance recently published an article highlighting proven strategies for handling the â€Å"Why should I hire you?† question. Consider taking advantage of the following tips when you next face it.Build your pitch.Always remember that you’re selling yourself whenever you’re on an interview, and your answer to the question â€Å"Why should I hire you?† should reflect a deep awareness of the requirements of the position that you’re interviewing for, the needs of the company that you’d like to become a part of, and the personality traits, skills, and experience that you possess that make you an ideal candidate. This means that you should always do your homework before getting to the interview, and you should be ready to confidently connect the dots between you, the employer, and their needs. If you have this down cold, then you’re in a good position to let the interviewer know precisely why they should hire you; if you’re unsure of the answer, keep working to connect those dots before the day of the big interview arrives. It never hurts to take a look at the keywords in the job posting and incorporate some of them into your answer.That said, you should always be ready to tweak your answer as needed to reflect any new information you get during the interview. For example, if you go into the interview thinking that good project management skills is your most valuable asset for the position but learn during the interview that they’re really looking to hire someone who’s a whiz with numbers, you may want to consider a revision if the question arises.Keep it brief.A good answer to the question need not- and really should not- be an e ndless soliloquy that takes the unfortunate audience on a meandering journey through your entire life story. Keep it short, simple, and to the point- think a minute or two, tops. Your one goal is to succinctly encapsulate why you effectively bridge the gap between the position you’re vying for and the needs of the company. Anything longer than that may exhaust the listener and may truly be â€Å"TMI.†Realize it’s not just what you say.Sure, you’re going to be judged based on what you say in response to this question, but just as important for this and all other interview questions is how you respond. This includes your confidence, body language, and ability to sell yourself as a true potential asset who stands out from the job hunting crowd. So, not only prepare what you intend to say in response to this weighty question, also be sure that your delivery is razor-sharp. It’s okay to act like you’ve prepared an answer in advance- hiring manage rs love  preparation and attention to detail!What makes you stand out?It’s always smart to keep in mind that for every good answer you might have for every interview question that arises, there’ll be a pack of other qualified candidates who will also come to their interviews strapped with good answers as well. Therefore, you should come ready to answer the question â€Å"Why should I hire you?† with something that makes you stand out from the crowd. Anything that makes you unique and could be viewed as a potential checkmark in the â€Å"pro† column when hiring personnel are deciding about you is fair game. Perhaps the interviewer mentioned that the company is seeking to expand its business internationally and you speak the language of a country that they may be looking to do business in- that could be a potential game changer. Try to have your own game changer in mind when facing this question. Any detail will do- not only will you seem well-suited for the job, but it will also show that you’ve done your homework in advance and know what the company is all about.â€Å"Why should I hire you?† is a question that has the potential to leave you rambling on and on while not saying much of anything. Don’t waste your opportunity to create a powerful, pointed answer to this common interview question. Your interviewer will be impressed with your ability to summarize all you have to offer in a focused soundbite- you’ll look prepared, confident, and responsible, all traits key to getting the job.

FIN370 Team Strategic Initiative Paper Essays - Microsoft

FIN370 Team Strategic Initiative Paper Essays - Microsoft A strategic planning initiative for the organization identified in the Week 2 assignment - Identify an initiative discussed in the organization's annual report. Microsoft is a computer company whose main focus is to continuously deliver new ways for people to expand and see their own potential through technology. Microsofts main strategic planning goes into investments in research and development resources to continue expanding and updating their product. Microsofts ability to seamlessly launch major refreshes in brands including Windows Server, Systems Center and Windows OS shows the companys commitment to long-term initiatives and delivering consistent results at a time when so many vendors are redefining their brands and strategies., says Research Analyst, Matthew Casey. Staying true to their commitment Microsoft announced, in 2012, their development of the Windows 8 operating system. The 2012-13 annual report reflected, Microsofts main initiative to invest in new devices and services with the Windows 8 system.( Financial Review). This strategy will require investment in datacenters and other infrastructure to support our services, and wi ll bring continued competition with Apple, Google, and other well-established and emerging competitors. References Casey, M. (2013, January 25). Microsofts commitment to strategic initiatives will continue delivering consistent financial results in 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2015, from http://tbrnewscommentary.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/microsofts-commitment-to-strategic-initiatives-will-continue-delivering-consistent-financial-results-in-2013/ Financial Review. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from https://www.microsoft.com/investor/reports/ar13/financial-review/discussion-analysis/index.html

Army Family Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Army Family - Essay Example I realized what color I was, but that really didn’t seem to affect anything in the communities where I was growing up. Base housing was very diverse and I realized that there were surely more white kids than black kids. But I also noticed that there were more black kids than Hispanic kids and Asian kids as well. I had friends, close friends, of all colors, as did my parents. We went over to the Hispanic family next door for supper and they cam to us. Only they weren’t ever viewed as Hispanic. They were just the Ramirez’s. I do remember going to some parties when I was a kid and all of us were the same race. I do remember thinking, â€Å"This is weird. Where are the Ramirez’s?† I have no idea if these parties were planned so that everybody was the same race as my parents or not, but I sort of doubt it. So I guess what I am trying to say is, as a kid growing up in military housing, I never though about race at all, mine or anyone else’s. When I arrived in North Carolina, I first became aware of race. For one thing, I noticed that people of the same color tended to stay together. There seemed to be a rule that said people of different colors didn’t mix. I noticed it right away and asked my mother about it. She simply said that things are different everywhere and that in North Carolina, that’s just the way it was. ... and Asian kids apparently just had to figure out something else to do than have friends because there weren’t many of them on base at that time in North Carolina. I can honestly say I didn’t try to challenge the rule in any way. When you are new to a base, the kids that approach you first are the kids that become your friends. When only kids of your same race approach you, well then that is the friends you have. I remember thinking it was weird at first, and then after a year it was perfectly normal. The second lesson about race I learned was that some races are better than others at certain things. Black kids can run fast and dance best. They listen to rap music and play basketball. White kids are smartest and are better at sports like baseball. Hispanic kids play soccer and have lots of sisters and brothers. For the first time, I was introduced to racial stereotypes and this I struggled with. I didn’t fit into the definition of any of these races. I was smart, awesome at basketball and had five brothers and sisters. I could have been white, black or Hispanic. But for the first time, I felt like I had to downplay an aspect of who I was because I had to conform to somebody else’s notion of what I ought to be based on my race. The final thing I learned about race in North Carolina is that people of different races had nasty names for each other. It was in North Carolina that I heard racial epithets, from all races, for the first time. Perhaps I was incredibly sheltered growing up. I can say that I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I feel as though I still have a lot of that pre-North Carolina person in me. I still see color, not race. I have a more nuanced understanding of what race means in a societal context, but the reality is I still am largely unaware of

BRIC Economies and Its Implications in Organizations Essay

BRIC Economies and Its Implications in Organizations - Essay Example In 2010 South Africa was also included in this group and the acronym is now known as BRICS. It has captured major attention of political leaders, scientists and also the economists (California State Assembly, 2010). The BRICS nations are growing rapidly with a systematic growth embracing the global capitalism (Global, n.d). They are predicted to be the forefront of the world’s most progresses economies. China is now considered to be the second largest economy in the world in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). Although the per capita income of people living in developed countries is more than that of the BRIC countries but still there is considerable rise in the income of the middle income group people in such countries. Since the government of such nations is actively incorporating growth stabilizing policies, it is believed that India and China will soon emerge as the leading supplier of manufactured services and goods while Russia and Brazil may be the major suppliers o f raw inputs (Academia, 2013). In the above graph the dark green bars denote the income of the BRIC countries and the light green bars indicates the income of the G 6 countries in terms of GDP. The income level of all the countries in the world will increase with a growth of the world economy. Till 2020 it is observed that the income of BRIC nations is less than half compared to that of the G6. The estimation from 2020 afterwards shows that the BRIC economies surpass half the income of that of the G 6 countries. Finally by 2040 the income of BRIC countries will be more than that of the G 6 nations (CIA, 2013).... The Five BRICS Brazil being independent in 1822 is now considered to be the most populous country in South America. It is perusing both industrial as well as agricultural growth and is now well known for its growing development within its boundaries. Brazil has become a strong economy in recent years exploiting its large natural resources and substantial labor force to work. There are still some problems like high inequality of income and hence a very excessive amount of corruption still now persists in this country. Brazil is expanding its world markets in sectors like agriculture, mining, service as well as manufacturing etc. The nation has also achieved a macroeconomic stability and has been successful to raise its foreign exchange reserves. Although Brazil has grown rapidly in 2007 to 2008 and has become a global creditor but still the recent economic recession has hit Brazil. Recession has touched Brazilian economy in two quarters. But it soon recovered its economic growth and h as now gained the confidence of investors. In 2010 the GDP of Brazil experienced 7.5% growth, which is considered to be the highest in the last 25 years. The high level of income inequality in Brazil has declined in the last 14 years. The high interest rate of the country has involved in large amount of capital inflows and hence appreciated the economy. This has however disturbed the domestic manufacturing and compelled the government to intervene in the matters related to foreign exchange markets and has also lead to rise in taxes of the capital inflows from foreign countries. India is also considered as a member of BRIC, it terms of nominal GDP it is the ninth largest country in the world and

Existentialism in Demian and Crime and Punishment Essay Example for Free

Existentialism in Demian and Crime and Punishment Essay Existentialism is fairly common in literature, despite being a relatively new school of thought, and both Demian and Crime and Punishment show existentialist traits. This gives each book not just a philosophy, but also a certain feeling and mindset. Existentialism starts that with the idea that existence precedes essence, or purpose. We come into this world without a purpose, and we simply exist. Our task is to find a purpose. The world around us is an alien chaos, a circus that we stumble through, trying to find a meaning for our life. In Demian, it is clear that Sinclair does not know his purpose. His struggle is to find out what it is. Jean-Paul Sartre says, Life has no meaning a priori? its up to you to give it a meaning. Hesse declares that [e]ach man had only one genuine vocation? to find the way to himself?. His task was to discover his own destiny (Hesse, 132). It is clear, then, that we come into the world with nothing, no purpose at all. The only genuine task we have is to figure out what we are going to do here. According to Existentialism, no one can find it for you, and, similarly, no doctrine or philosophy can find it for you. Sinclair learns these same lessons. Demian pulls Sinclair away from mainstream religion early in the story, saying that the division of good and evil has no real meaning. Later, Pistorius tries to teach Sinclair about myriad past religions, but Sinclair rejects him, feeling that he should try to come up with something original instead. Throughout the story, Sinclair engages in different mentor-pupil relationships (like his relationships with Demian and Pistorius) but eventually he shrugs those off, taking his friends wisdom with him and facing the world alone. That is what everyone must do, eventually? face the world alone. And alone is exactly how we feel, as we stumble through this circus of a world. Sinclair spends most of his time not just feeling but also being by himself, adrift. When he leaves his family and his sisters, it does not affect him much, if at all, he is so isolated. He connects only with a precious few people, and never for very long. He somehow distances himself from his peers. Even when he was partying and drinking a lot, he found a way to separate himself from them. In that case, it was the role of sex in his life. Demian is a story about one mans journey. The reader never really learns the story of any other character, not even Demian himself, who remains something of an enigma to the very end. This puts the story in an existentialist mindset. Sinclair is drifting through a swirling, gray mass of humanity. Alone is also how we must act. Jean-Paul Sartre says, It is only in our decisions that we are important, and, We must act out passions before we can feel it. This pretty closely mirrors the sentiment presented when Pistorius says, [Y]ou cant consider prohibited anything that the soul desires (Hesse, 116). It is only when we make our own decisions and act for ourselves that what we do has meaning. Hesse puts the existentialist framework to work for him by using it to highlight the need for independence and spiritual self-reliance. Dostoyevsky, on the other hand, uses the mindset to facilitate Raskolnikovs downward mental spiral, highlight his aloofness, and pull the story along. The world of St. Petersburg is, without a doubt, a strange and hostile place for Raskolnikov. He stumbles along and things constantly happen around him. He repeatedly wakes up with people in his room. He sees things in the street, such as the drunken rape victim early in the story, or a prone Marmeladov, that cause him to lose his cool. More and more, he finds himself doing crazy things without regard for logic or even common sense. People in this world confound him. He has no idea what they are up to, and he is constantly paranoid that people are plotting against him. His guilty, delirious inner world combines with the crazy, chaotic outer world to make Raskolnikov into a raging, feverish, maniac. He is not just any raging, feverish, maniac, though. He is an aloof raging, feverish, maniac. He considers himself better than those around him, and his superior mentality drives his antisocial behavior. His antisocial behavior, in turn, gives the character and story a feeling of being alone. Not only is the world crazy, but also Raskolnikov is separated from it and everyone in it, at least until the very end of the book. He is isolated, so much so that at times he can feel it clearly with every fiber of his being that he could never again address these people (Dostoyevsky, 122). Finally, Dostoyevsky uses this chaotic world to drive his story along. Things are constantly happening by coincidence, and Dostoyevsky moves the plot forwards at a dizzying pace, forcing Raskolnikov to act. It is fantastic that Raskolnikov should happen upon Marmeladov soon after he is injured, and that Raskolnikov should overhear people discussing the very same murder that is on his mind, and that someone should eavesdrop on him and hear his confession. The frenzied plot makes it much easier for both Raskolnikov and the reader to slip into a mania, which is surely Dostoyevskys aim. The philosophy of existentialism, too, plays a part in Crime and Punishment. Sartre says that the only true goal of our lives is that which we set for ourselves. Raskolnikov, through the main portion of the story, has no clear goal. He wavers between wanting to turn himself in and trying to avoid suspicion. Sartre says, Man can will nothing unless he has first understood that [he has] no other aim than the one he sets himself, and it is clear that Raskolnikovs will is pretty much useless. He can effect no real change in either himself or in his surroundings until he finally picks a goal and follows through with it. His personal development is completely halted during his entire spell of indecision. Only in the epilogue do we see him begin to change, begin to forsake his philosophy of the superman, find happiness, and fall in love. The philosophy of existentialism was around long before anyone gave a name to it, as is evidenced by Dostoyevskys St. Petersburg, the perfect example of an existentialist world. Both Dostoyevsky and Hesse use existentialist ideas help them express their points. Andrew Holbrook, 2006.

Global Food Prices on the Rise Essay -- Economics, Global Government

Who Benefits from Government Policies There are many companies, taxpayers and agencies that benefit from the promotion of production of ethanol. As noted in one resource, â€Å"Big Oil pocketed tens of billions of dollars through a little known subsidy called the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC)† (Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, 2010, Take Action). Farmers in developed countries who receive subsidies from the government reap benefits from this policy because the more corn, or sugarcane, that is produced for ethanol, the larger the profit is for the farmers. Subsidies also help these farmers in producing more products for the ethanol that is demanded. As the text states, â€Å"By lowering production costs, subsidies help domestic producers in two ways: (1) competing against foreign imports and (2) gaining export markets† (Hill, 2011, p. 207). Taxpayers see large benefits from ethanol production, but the benefits of sugarcane ethanol are larger than those with corn ethanol. As noted in one resource, â€Å"Gasoline with sugarcane ethanol is $2.88 per gallon, where gasoline with corn ethanol is $2.92 per gallon† (Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, 2010, Economic Advantages). The government, for example, in the United States, also benefits from polices set in place. As noted in one resource, â€Å"Corn ethanol production has hit record levels this year [2011], beating government goals and creating a surplus for export† (Krauss, 2011,  ¶ 10). Who Benefits from Tariff Barriers on Imported Sugarcane As discussed in the text, there are two parties who benefit from import tariffs: the government and domestic producers. For the government, tariffs increase revenues. For domestic producers, tariffs provide the ability to afford ... ...ed January 29, 2012, from http://e360.yale.edu/feature/the_case_against_biofuels_probing_ethanols_hidden_costs/2251/ Hill, C. W. (2011). Global Business Today (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Krauss, C. (2011, July 7). Ethanol Subsidies Besieged. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/business/energy-environment/corn-ethanol-subsidies-may-be-in-jeopardy.html?pagewanted=all Peters, G., PhD (2011, February 16). A Look Behind Rising Food Prices: Population Growth; Rising Oil Prices; Weather Events. Message posted to http://ourfiniteworld.com/2011/02/16/a-look-behind-rising-food-prices-population-growth-rising-oil-prices-weather-events/ Radcliffe, B. (2011). The Basics Of Tariffs And Trade Barriers. Retrieved January 29, 2012, from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/08/tariff-trade-barrier-basics.asp#axzz1ktwQdZhy

Dramatic Changes in the U.S. Intelligence Community Essay

Intelligence services of any country play a vital role in its security as well as in support of its national interests. The U. S. Intelligence Community (IC) today is a federation of about 16 separate governmental agencies (United States Intelligence Community, 2009) that monitor information worldwide and domestically in pursuance of America’s national interests. The IC has undergone fundamental changes since WWII, the 1970s and in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 attacks and the Iraq war 2003. Each of these fundamental changes in policy, organization and practice has had a profound impact in the workings of the IC. This essay examines the effects of the successive reforms carried out within the IC focusing on the above mentioned three periods of dramatic changes. The precursor to the Intelligence Community was the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) which was formed during the Second World War to coordinate the intelligence gathering and espionage activities of the single service intelligence services. After the Second World War, the U. S. government sought to change the predominant army orientation of the OSS. The National Security Act of 1947 established the Central Intelligence Agency that took over the functions of the OSS and charged it with collection of national security intelligence but no â€Å"police, subpoena, law enforcement powers or internal security function (Theoharis & Immerman, 2006, p. 156). † The aim here was to curtail the inflated powers that the OSS had gathered during the war time years. However, the reality of the Cold War forced the US government to promulgate â€Å"the NSC 4A of December 14, 1947, and NSC 10/2 of June 18, 1948 (Theoharis & Immerman, 2006, p. 158)† giving the CIA mandate to conduct covert operations. Thereon, the mandate of the CIA was increased to include sabotage, support of indigenous anti-communist elements and kill and depose leaders from Cuba to Chile (Kinzer, 2008, p. 210). The 1949 Central Intelligence Agency Act authorized the agency fiscal independence outside the domain of public scrutiny and administrative controls. The organization was also exempted from having to make public the roll call of its employees or where they were being employed. So the powers of the agency were vastly increased and congressional oversight reduced. Through the sixties into the early 70s, the CIA was at the forefront of covert war across the globe, undermining the Soviets and in the process becoming a law unto them self. Thus when Dr Muhammed Mossadeq of Iran nationalized British Petroleum, it was the CIA which helped the British to overthrow his government to establish Reza Pehalavi as their puppet (Paul, 2003, p. 14). In Iraq too, US intelligence services recruited in 1959, Saddam Hussein to take part in assassination of Iraqi Prime minister Qasim who was poised to hurt American oil interests in Iraq. Within the United States, the CIA was involved in hunting out communist supporters under McCarthyism that led to the arrests and incarceration of hundreds of Americans under trumped up charges. These internal actions of the IC made the community most unpopular with politicians across the spectrum. Nixon initially distrusted the agencies but soon saw their utility leading to a series of successful covert operations that helped in winding down the Vietnam War, Coup de etat in Chile, engagement with China and containment actions across the globe against Soviet expansion. Nixon later misused the CIA in getting the agency to obstruct FBI investigations into the Watergate scandal (1972). In Africa, the CIA carried out covert operations to oust Soviet influence. In the period right up to the early 70s, the IC was involved predominantly in conduct of a secret foreign policy and the administration then started having misgivings about the efficiency of the organization with its excessive focus on clandestine operations (Louis, 1987, p. 103). Therefore, in 1973, the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), James Schlesinger decided to reform the agency to make it more accountable and efficient. â€Å"He fired two thousand officers (Louis, p. 103)† and compiled a report on the (mis)doings of the agency in conducting political assassinations worldwide, and indulging in illegal surveillance of thousands of US citizens who had opposed America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Though this report was supposed to be secret, it was leaked to the media that led to a series of investigations into the workings of the CIA by the senate (Church Committee), the House of Representatives (Pike Committee) and the administration of Gerald Ford (Rockefeller Commission) in 1975, which in turn led to the distancing of the CIA from its linkages with domestic politics. This also led to a formation of the Presidential Oversight Board at the White House and the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in 1977 to maintain oversight on the workings of the IC. President Ford â€Å"banned assassination plots against foreign leaders and tightened CIA and NSC approval procedures for the use of covert actions (Jeffreys-Jones & Andrew, 1997, p. 182)†. President Carter further tightened the accountability of the IC. The technicalization of the IC under the stewardship of Admiral Turner vastly increased the agencies ability to remotely eavesdrop on the global community but downplayed HUMINT leading to glaring weaknesses in intelligence collection in the field that led to the bombings of American embassies in Kenya, Uganda and the 9/11 attacks. The Intelligence Oversight Act of 1980 brought in more accountability in the workings of the IC, which included advance intimation to the Congress in case the IC was to be tasked for covert operations. In the Reagan years, the IC was actively involved in ousting the Soviets from Afghanistan. The IC played a pivotal role in supplying the Mujahidin arms and ammunition to defeat the Soviets. The Reagan administration, on many occasions willfully bypassed the Oversight Act as Vice Admiral Poindexter; Reagan’s NSA stated that â€Å"he had bypassed the intelligence committees in the Iran-Contra Affair to avoid outside interference (Jeffreys-Jones & Andrew, p. 189)†. This led to the 1991 Intelligence Oversight Act which required the President to give a written order for any covert operation. The various measures to instill accountability, and reduce the scope of its power hobbled the agencies which became too ‘gun-shy’ (Coll, 2004, p. 424) and failed spectacularly in detecting the 9/11 attack plan launched by the Al Qaeda. The 9/11 report clearly indicted the intelligence services for their failure to detect the formation of a coherent group like the Al Qaeda and its intent to attack symbols of American power within America (Kean & Hamilton, 2004, p. 341). The report pointed out to the deficiencies in strategic analysis against Al Qaeda, lack of imaginative thinking and the lack of coordination between the various intelligence agencies. The 9/11 report recommended sweeping changes to restructure the IC starting right at the top by replacing the position of Director of Central Intelligence with National Intelligence Director (Kean & Hamilton, 2004, p. 411) to oversee national intelligence centers and have the power to approve and submit nominations of individuals who would head CIA, DIA, FBI intelligence office and so on (Kean & Hamilton, 2004, p. 412). Since 9/11, the role of the IC in covert operations had increased vastly especially under the Republican watch, where greater leeway was given to the IC to carry out targeted killings using predator drones across Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The embarrassment of the false Iraqi WMD dossier, regret for which was proffered by then Secretary of State, Colin Powell (Shulman, 2008, p. 107) dented the IC’s image and there have been renewed calls for strengthening congressional oversight over the workings of the IC. The Obama administration has shown greater sensitivity towards adhering to the democratic tenets of oversight and following the rules set by the National Security Act in that the new CIA Director Leon Panetta, on first information, shut down a secret CIA mission to kill Al Qaeda leaders which was being executed without congressional approval (Hess, 2009). In conclusion it can be reiterated that the US IC has been undergoing dramatic changes since the Second World War mostly as a reaction to the changing circumstances. The reforms after Second World War were initiated to bring about better coordination, accountability and oversight by the government into the workings of the IC. The reforms in the seventies were a direct reaction to the excesses committed by the IC and to check their indiscretion and bring greater control over their objectionable operations. 9/11 gave a severe jolt to the American administration and the reforms that were then initiated came as response to the event as also a genuine feeling for the need to better harness the skills of the IC. Post Iraq War 2003, the clamor for oversight has increased as it was being felt that the agencies had deliberately misled the government by giving faulty intelligence that led to the Iraq war. On the whole, the drive to initiate reforms in the IC has been more reactive in nature rather than being proactive for dealing with future threats. Works Cited Coll, S. (2004). Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden. NY: Penguin. Hess, P. (2009, July 15). House Lays Groundwork for CIA Probe. Retrieved July 21, 2009, from Washington Post: http://www. washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/14/AR2009071401648. html Jeffreys-Jones, R. , & Andrew, C. M. (1997). Eternal Vigilance? : 50 Years of the CIA. NY: Routledge. Kean, T. H. , & Hamilton, L. (2004). The 9/11 Commission Report. Washington D. C. : Supt. of Docs. GPO. Kinzer, S. (2008). All the Shah’s Men. NY: Wiley. Louis, G. (1987). The New American State: Bureaucracies and Policies Since Worl War II. Baltimore: JHU Press. Paul, J. A. (2003, November). Oil Companies in Iraq. Retrieved July 6, 2009, from Global Policy Forum: http;//www. globalpolicy. org/component/content/article/185/40586. html Shulman, S. (2008). Undermining Science: Suppression and Distortion in the Bush Administration. Berkeley: University of California Press. Theoharis, A. G. , & Immerman, R. H. (2006). The Central Intelligence Agency Under Scrutiny. Westport: Greenwood Publishing. United States Intelligence Community. (2009). Members of the Intelligence Community. Retrieved July 21, 2009, from http://www. intelligence. gov/1-members. shtml

Should Hate Speech and Hate Sites Be Banned from the Internet?

Should hate speech and hate sites be banned from the Internet? | 1. Introduction Internet can be termed as one of the most revolutionary inventions of the 21st century. However, just like any other thing in the world, it has its positive points and a dark side as well. Some users have made a productive use of this invention while others use it in a harmful manner. One of the most popular and convenient mode of researching nowadays, is to find the relevant information on the internet. But due to the everlasting cruelty in the world, some information on the internet can prove to be harmful for the respective person. It might be some content that gives inappropriate information or try to influence its viewers to go on the wrong path. 2. Overview A website that promotes or uses hate speech against race, community, gender, person, religion, nationality etc is called a hate site. The people who are responsible for putting these things on the internet; not only take use text but graphics, sounds and animations are also used to influence their readers more. It might be used to convince people to join a certain group of people who work against some concepts or people, for e. . ; StormFront. org hosts a hate site against Martin Luther King, Jr who was an American activist and a leader. More House College (2008) states that he is famous for his contributions in the African-American civil right movements. In the above mentioned site, content full of hate is written about the activist and claim that there is a long list of wrong actions done by him. The website terms him â€Å"modern day plastic God†. Such offending content about the man is possible due to the much proposed concept of â€Å"freedom of speech†. This concept focuses on the freedom of writing or saying anything that an individual feels is correct. This verbal freedom also gives the writer the freedom of speech without being accountable for doing it. But what these people fail to understand is that with freedom of speech comes gereat responsibility as well. They have a responsibility to only convey the message which would not offend anyone or harm anyone in life. 3. Ways to Inhibit Hate Sites There are approximately 4 billion web pages on the internet therefore it is very difficult to ensure that no hate content is pated on them. There are different ways in which this problem is handled by different countries. For e. g. Media Awareness Network (2009) states that according to the Canadian Human Rights Act Section 13, any text communicated by any telecommunication means (including internet) that may promote hatred towards a person or any of the following things is prohibited; 1Race 2Nationality 3Religion 4Gender etc Akdeniz et al (2008) stated that the Turkish governments are very sensitive about the hate content regarding their state and officials. They also take action against the hate sites promoting racism and terrorism. Whereas United Kingdom have a relaxed attitude towards racist content but are very alert about any hate content regarding their royalty. 4. Effects of Hate Sites on the Society 4. 1Effect on Children Children of the modern age are also tech-savvy and explore the internet just like adult. Therefore they are liable to exposure to hate sites as much as we are. Children’s minds are like blank papers and form perception of things very easily. They tend to take effect of things more than adults. If they are exposed to such content, a degree of aggression and negativity is induced in their character. This negativity leads to a negative and hopeless attitude about everything in life which hinders in their achievements. The aggression in their characters leads to making them commit crimes when they grow up; thereby making the society unsafe and unproductive. Therefore hate sites should be prohibited to ensure that our youth develop into successful and positive individuals. 4. 2Communal Groups It is a common practice for people to form small groups and communities on the basis of their similar ideas and concepts. The problem arises when they start being vocal about their ideas in an aggressive manner. Such an example is of the Knights Party (2010): The Ku Klux Klan organization in the United States; it is one of the biggest hate group organizations in the country. Their aim is to safeguard the rights and interests of the white American, may it be through violent or aggressive means. Their site is recorded to host content full of hate against the African-Americans, Jews and other minorities. They try to influence people to join them in their aims and also use this medium to promote their aggressive rallies. Such inappropriate sites should be banned from the internet. Fig. 1: KKK during their rally 4. 3Terrorist Organizations Nowadays, terrorist organizations also host sites. They convey their objectives to other people and openly state hate content for their enemies. This might influence the innocent people in the society and influence them to join these organizations thereby increasing terrorism in the society. They might state incorrect facts about their enemies just so that the people get influenced by the information and join their groups. 5. Sites Chosen for Analysis The sites that were analyzed for the hate speech are as follows; http://www. kkk. com/ – The official site of â€Å"The Ku Klux Klan† main site; advertises hate content against the minorities of the society and claims to safeguard their White supremacy at every cost. http://www. martinlutherking. org/ – Content full of hate against Martin Luther King, Jr 6. Conclusion After a comprehensive analysis of the topic under discussion, it can be concluded that hate sites on the internet are liable to cause harm to humanity and the peace and harmony of our societies. Therefore appropriate laws and regulations should be implemented to shut down the sites which ex0pose people to such inappropriate content. It is also the responsibility of the citizens of the society to report such hate sites to the concerned authorities so that we can hope for a safe future on the internet for our youth. References StormFront. org, Matin Luther – A True Historical Examination, [Online] Available at: http://www. artinlutherking. org/ More House College. (2008). Martin Luther King Jr Collection, [Online] Available at:http://www. auctr. edu/mlkcollection/ Media Awareness Network. (2009). Online Hate and Free Speech, [Online] Available at: http://www. media-awareness. ca/english/issues/online_hate/hate_and_free_speech. cfm, Akdeniz. Y, Altiparmak. K. (2008). Internet: Re stricted Access: A Critical Assessment of Internet Content Regulation and Censorship in Turkey, [Online] Available at: http://www. cyber-rights. org The Knights Party, (2010), [Online] Available at: http://www. kkk. com/

Griswold vs Conneticut Essays - Birth Control In The United States

Griswold vs Conneticut Essays - Birth Control In The United States Griswold vs Conneticut Griswold v. Connecticut Estelle Griswold was a former office worker and a certified medical physician. After several years of traveling abroad she returned to her home state of Connecticut. While searching for a job she came across an executive director position at Planned Parenthood League of Connecticut, but having little experience she took the job anyways and was willing to learn about contraception. She than began a movement to supply Connecticut women with information on birth control. This essay will clarify the history of rights under Connecticut?s state law, which turned the Griswold v. Connecticut case, an influential case for many different reasons. Until 1965, The United States Supreme court dodged cases that had involvement with reproductive rights which then most of the cases would be dismissed due to the lack of standing until Griswold?s case that came along. The case from Connecticut?s outdated and unforced laws against the usage of contraceptives like birth control. After taking her position Connecticut?s planned parenthood organization, Griswold met two men would help in to campaign to battle with the state?s anticontraception law. The two gentlemen were Dr. C. Lee Buxton and Fowler V. Harper. Together, the three of them would fight for the legalization of birth control. Griswold, Buxton and Harper felt that a ban on the use of contraceptives violated the right privacy. ?Their efforts would also prove instrumental in revolutionizing American law by bringing the so-called right of privacy under the protective umbrella of the U.S. Constitution.?(Johnson, I) Estelle Griswold?s fight for legalization would be faced with a cha llenge of Connecticut?s 1879 statute that made it a crime to use contraceptives. ?Although several other states in the 1950?s maintained restrictions on the manufacture and advertising of contraceptives, Connecticut?s statute forbidding the ?use? and ?abetting? in the use of contraceptives was the most restrictive in the country.?(Johnson, I) The constitution doesn?t protect a general right to privacy, but within the Bill of Rights there were zones created that established privacy. The Amendments that were used to justify a right to privacy were the ninth and fourteenth Amendment. The argument of the ninth and fourteenth Amendment related to this case is to ensure the civil and political liberties of the people and to make sure the government is not infringing on them. Another argument could be ?the privacy that is lurking between the lines or behind the words of the Bill of Rights that point to the First, Third, Fourth and Fifth Amendments.?(Johnson, 54) The First Amendment vows that one?s idea is simply one?s own and would not be dictated by governmental power. The Third and Fourth Amendments are quite similar because people feared a violation of their private space, which concerned the writers of the Declaration of Independence as it repeated itself in the Fourth Amendment of unreasonable search and seizures. Finally c oming to the Fifth Amendment, it may offer some protection for personal privacy because it manages individual right not to give evidence that could be used against them. Therefore there were several legal ramifications for the decision to uphold a right to privacy was first that the Supreme Court not only overturned Connecticut?s out of date state law, but it also ended up establishing a new constitutional right to privacy as written right in the constitution. The decision had also brought the movement for people to freely yet personally choose whether or not to use contraception. The second ramification of the decision was that Buxton and Griswold hinted that the Planned Parenthood League was planning on reopening the clinic within six weeks. Thirdly, several months after the decision was announced, The Planned Parenthood League of Connecticut ran its first birth control counseling sessions since 1961. Lastly, within one year Connecticut had opened two birth control clinics in two of Connecticut?s cities. ?Two and half years after the Supreme Court decision in Griswold, according to responses to questionnaires prepared by Buxton, there were six PPLC C birth control clinics operating in the state.? (Johnson, 182) In conclusion, Estelle Griswold was the center of a controversy and made outrageous, but valid points to the people of Connecticut. She fought for what she believed in and by the ruling of the Supreme Court she wasn?t the

The Civil War and the Second Battle of Fort Fisher

The Civil War and the Second Battle of Fort Fisher The Second Battle of Fort Fisher occurred during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Armies Commanders: Union Major General Alfred TerryRear Admiral David D. Porter9,600 men60 ships Confederates General Braxton BraggMajor General William WhitingMajor General Robert HokeColonel William Lamb1,900 men The second Union attack on Fort Fisher took place from January 13 to January 15, 1865. Background By late 1864, Wilmington, NC became the last major seaport open to Confederate blockade runners. Located on the Cape Fear River, the citys seaward approaches were guarded by Fort Fisher, which was situated at the tip of Federal Point. Modeled on Sevastopols Malakoff Tower, the fort was largely constructed of earth and sand which provided greater protection than brick or stone fortifications. A formidable bastion, Fort Fisher mounted a total of 47 guns with 22 in the seaward batteries and 25 facing the land approaches. Initially a collection of small batteries, Fort Fisher was transformed into fortress following the arrival of Colonel William Lamb in July 1862. Aware of Wilmingtons importance, Union Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant dispatched a force to capture Fort Fisher in December 1864. Led by Major General Benjamin Butler, this expedition met with failure later that month. Still eager to close Wilmington to Confederate shipping, Grant sent a second expedition south in early January under the leadership of Major General Alfred Terry. The Plans Leading a provisional corps of troops from the Army of the James, Terry coordinated his assault with a massive naval force led by Rear Admiral David D. Porter. Comprised of over 60 ships, it was one of the largest Union fleets assembled during the war. Aware that another Union force was moving against Fort Fisher, Major General William Whiting, commander of the District of Cape Fear, requested reinforcements from his department commander, General Braxton Bragg. While initially reluctant to reduce his forces at Wilmington, Bragg did send some men raising the forts garrison to 1,900. To further aid the situation, the division of Major General Robert Hoke was shifted to block a Union advance up the peninsula towards Wilmington. Arriving off Fort Fisher, Terry began landing his troops between the fort and Hokes position on January 13. Completing the landing unmolested, Terry spent the 14th reconnoitering the forts outer defenses. Deciding that it could be taken by storm, he began planning his attack for the next day. On January 15, Porters ships opened fire on the fort and in a prolonged bombardment succeeded in silencing all but two of its guns. The Assault Begins During this time, Hoke succeeded in slipping around 400 men around Terrys troops to reinforce the garrison. As the bombardment wound down, a naval force of 2,000 sailors and marines attacked the forts seaward wall near a feature known as the Pulpit. Led by Lieutenant Commander Kidder Breese, this attack was repulsed with heavy casualties. While a failure, Breeses assault drew Confederate defenders away from the forts river gate where Brigadier General Adelbert Ames division was preparing to advance. Sending his first brigade forward, Ames men cut through the abatis and palisades. Overrunning the outer works, they succeeded in taking the first traverse. Advancing with his second brigade under Colonel Galusha Pennypacker, Ames was able to breach the river gate and enter the fort. Ordering them to fortify a position within the forts interior, Ames men fought their way along the north wall. Aware that the defenses had been breached Whiting and Lamb ordered the guns at Battery Buchanan, at the peninsulas southern tip, to fire on the north wall. As his men consolidated their position, Ames found that his lead brigades attack had stalled near the forts fourth traverse. The Fort Falls Bringing up Colonel Louis Bells brigade, Ames renewed the assault. His efforts were met by a desperate counterattack which was personally led by Whiting. The charge failed and Whiting was mortally wounded. Pressing deeper into the fort, the Union advance was greatly aided by fire from Porters ships off shore. Realizing that situation was grave, Lamb attempted to rally his men but was wounded before he could organize another counterattack. With night falling, Ames wished to fortify his position, however Terry ordered the fight to continue and sent in reinforcements. Pressing forward, Union troops became increasingly disorganized as their officers were wounded or killed. All three of Ames brigade commanders were out of action as were a number of his regimental commanders. As Terry pushed his men on, Lamb turned over command of the fort to Major James Reilly while the wounded Whiting again requested reinforcements from Bragg. Unaware that the situation was desperate, Bragg dispatched Major General Alfred H. Colquitt to relieve Whiting. Arriving at Battery Buchanan, Colquitt realized the hopelessness of the situation. Having taken the north wall and most of the seawall, Terrys men outflanked the Confederate defenders and routed them. Seeing Union troops approach, Colquitt fled back across the water, while the wounded Whiting surrendered the fort around 10:00 PM. Aftermath of the Second Battle of Fort Fisher The fall of Fort Fisher effectively doomed Wilmington and closed it to Confederate shipping. This eliminated the last major seaport available to blockade runners. The city itself was captured a month later by Major General John M. Schofield. While the assault was a victory, it was marred by the death of 106 Union soldiers when the forts magazine exploded on January 16. In the fighting, Terry suffered 1,341 killed and wounded, while Whiting lost 583 killed and wounded and the remainder of the garrison captured. Sources North Carolina Historic Sites: Battle of Fort FisherCWSAC Battle Summaries: Battle of Fort Fisher

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP BY EXECUTIVES Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP BY EXECUTIVES - Case Study Example This involves turning strategy into needed outcomes and behaviours, conveying these goals, evaluating progress, giving feedback, and empowering the workforce (Ashby & Miles, 2002) through performance-driven incentives and penalties. Studies show that several organisations remain dependent on conventional performance determinants. Conventional tools of performance determinants intended for the economy of the industrial period, which puts emphasis on physical assets and financial strategies, are now incapable of coping with the dynamic business environment (Ashby & Miles, 2002). Hence, there is a movement away from conventional ideas so as to address the intricacy and ever-changing business environment. According to Hagen and colleagues (1998), some of the challenges CEOs face today in relation to performance determinants are great expectations from stakeholders, demands from and threat of global and local competitors, adoption of sophisticated production technology, and demands for premium and dependable products/services from consumers. In the meantime, organisational performance can also be threatened by sub-units within an organisation making decisions which are incompatible. An organisation structure, which can be either decentralised or centralised, has considerable effect on the level of non-financial and financial strategies to be integrated into the performance measurement process (Ncube & Washburn, 2006). Usually one problem confronting an organisation is that different sub-units are taking part in the general process of decision making. Irreconcilable decisions can have varying consequences for each sub-unit. Acquiring consensus from all stakeholders is a constant problem. When a firm’s general strategy relies on the decisions of all its sub-units, as stated by Bass (2007), firm-wide support is needed. Large-scale strategic planning and assessment is critical. This planning has to focus on the

Magic of Reckless Policies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Magic of Reckless Policies - Essay Example In the last quarter of 2011, the GDP growth rate stood at 3 percent (BEA). In 2011, the GDP at current prices amounted to $15.094 billion or $13.315,1 at the 2005 prices (BEA). In 2010, the GDP at 2005 prices amounted to $13.088 billion. In 2011, it was the durable goods manufacturing that led the growth (BEA). Manufacturing value increased by 11.2 percent in 2010, and then again by 7.9 percent in 2011 (BEA). In comparison to durable goods, the services producing sector grew by 3 percent in 2010, and only 1.6 percent in 2011 (BEA). However, consumers suffered in 2012 from increased inflation and in turn decreased consumption of durables. An average person in the US benefitted from the positive GDP growth. In March of 2012, the real disposable personal income increased by 0.4 percent (BEA). The growth rate in the last quarter of 2011 was 1.7 percent (BEA). The cause of this decrease has been attributed to a rise in consumer prices in 2012 from 1.2 percent increase in 2011, to an addit ional 2.4 percent increase in 2012 (BEA). Real consumer spending, i.e. consumer spending adjusted for an increase in prices, increased 0.5 percent in February and then 0.1 percent in March (BEA). BEA attributes this decrease in the growth rate to a decrease in durable goods spending such as motor vehicles and parts (BEA). Since manufacturing of durables drove the GDP growth rates in 2010 and 2011, a decrease in demand led to a decrease in supply and thus GDP in March 2012. On the other hand, the US current account deficit increased by 2011. The current account deficit stood at $470.9 billion in 2010 and $473.4 billion in 2011 (BEA). The current account deficit in BEA National Economic Accounts is defined as: â€Å"the combined balances on trade in goods and services, income, and net unilateral current transfers.† The deficit amounted to 3.2 percent of GDP in 2010 and 3.1 percent in 2011. When dissected, the deficit on international trade in goods increased in 2011 to $738.3 b illion from $645.9 billion in 2010. However, there was a surplus on international trade in services, which increased to $178.3 billion in 2011, from $145.8 billion in 2010 (BEA). Income payments too were in surplus in 2011. Net financial inflows increased in 2011 from 2010. Whereas they amounted to $254.3 billion in 2010, they increased to $394.1 billion in 2011 (BEA). Unilateral transfers decreased in 2011. In February 2012, the deficit on international trade in goods and services amounted to $46 billion, which is a decrease from $52.5 billion in January 2012 (BEA). It is expected that the current deficit will decrease in 2012 if the trade deficit keeps on decreasing and other variables remain moving as in 2011. Unemployment rate decreased in 2012. In March 2012, the unemployment rate stood at 8.2 percent in comparison to 8.9 percent in 2011 (Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS]). When comparing to the start of the financial crisis in 2007, it can be seen that by 2010, unemployment rea ched it peek. In 2007, the unemployment rate stood at 4.6 percent. By 2010, the unemployment rate increased to 9.6 percent and has been decreasing since then (BLS). Unemployment has been decreasing in Ohio as well. In February 2012, the unemployment rate stood at 7.6 percent and then decreased by one percentage point by March 2012 (Johnson). In March of 2011, the unemployment rate stood at 8.8 percent (Johnson). Daily Treasury interest rates have decreased since 2011. The interest rate on a one month