Is Criminal Behavior Learned or Does Your Dna Already Predispose You at Birth to Criminal Behavior?

1. Is criminal behavior learned or does your DNA already predispose you at birth to criminal behavior? How does Behavior genetics, learning theory and cognitive development theory fit into your assumption. In my opinion, criminal behavior is learned. All in all, I believe that every aspect of human life in general is learned. That’s how we evolve and further innovate our lives. Some learn to be productive citizens and some learn to engage in criminal behavior. Criminal behavior exists because of the way people think and the choices they make.Criminality is a lifestyle, and criminals must either be confined forever or be taught how to change their ways of thinking. In criminology, biological and psychological explanations of behavior have been out of style for some time. In fact, the authors of the leading criminology text from the 1920’s to the 1970’s, Edwin H. Sutherland and Donald R. Cressey, â€Å"clearly rejected the importance of biological factors† i n explaining criminal behavior. Scholars such as Glenn D. Walters and Thomas W.White developed the thesis that both criminal and noncriminal behavior are related to cognitive development and that people choose the behavior in which they wish to engage. They have concluded: â€Å"the root causes of crime†¦are thought and choice (Walters and White 8). I agree wholeheartedly with Walters and White that people choose the behavior they wish to engage in and if its criminal behavior then they will have to accept the consequences. The cognitive development theory is based on the belief that the way people organize their thoughts about rules and laws results in either criminal or noncriminal behavior (Reid 88).People regulate their own actions and whether they abide by the laws that govern them. The behavior that can be observed or manipulated is important. That is the behavior that will decide criminality. This behavior is learned through cognitive thinking and its way of learning ca n be eliminated, modified, or replaced by taking away the reward value or by rewarding a more appropriate behavior that is incompatible with the deviant one. Neurotic symptoms and some deviant behaviors are acquired through an unfortunate quirk of learning (Reid 89).Even the learning theory acknowledges that individuals have physiological mechanisms that permit them to behave aggressively, but whether or not they will do so is learned, as is the nature of their aggressive behavior (Reid 89). All of this can coincide with an external environment such as the neighborhood a criminal lives in. What that criminal sees in his everyday life may be different that what a non-criminal sees, therefore they will learn the deviant behavior they’re around.Behavior genetics definitely has an impact on the way people think and act. Criminals learn how to become criminals by either watching others or being taught how to commit crimes. For example, children who grow up in malfunctioned familie s that engage in criminal behavior can learn to become criminals. A boy who watches his father beat his mother is more likely to grow up and beat his wife or girlfriend. The children that are witnesses to this behavior learn how to commit crimes.To conclude, criminal behavior is learned through the criminal’s thoughts, sights, actions, and their interactions of the surrounding environment. Bibliography Glenn D. Walters and Thomas W. White, â€Å"The Thinking Criminal: A Cognitive model of Lifestyle Criminality, â€Å" Sam Houston State University Criminal Justice Center, Criminal Justice Research Bulletin 4 (1989): 8 Reid, Sue T. Crime and Criminology. 13th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. 8. Print.

I.S.U journal Kite runner Essay

Plot (important action only): The kite runner is about the life of a young boy named Amir. Amir lives in a lavish house in the richest district of Kabul, in Afghanistan. Amir has everything he could ever want except the loving attention and acceptance of his father, Baba. In their house, they have two Hazara servants. Ali and his son Hassan who are part of the minority ethnicity at the time. Hassan grew up with Amir in the same house and he was much more than just a best friend. Baba treated Hassan equally to Amir, as if they were brothers. Each year it was a tradition for the Afghan community to have a festival of kites where there would be a single victor to arise amongst hundreds. Amir was a great kite flyer and Hassan was the best kite runner there was. This year, Amir won the tournament and his dad was really proud of him. Amir was really happy to finally have some loving attention from his father. Hassan promised to run the last kite defeated for Amir. He did not return immediately so Amir went looking for him. Amir saw Hassan cornered by Assef, a bully, and two of his friends. Amir then watched Hassan take a brutal beating just to keep the blue kite for him. Amir watched him get beaten and did nothing. The relationship between Amir and Hassan has never been the same after that day. Amir felt that either he or Hassan must leave and so he puts his birthday gift under Hassan’s pillow. Later, Hassan admits that he stole them and Ali says they must leave. Baba pleads with him to stay, but Ali refuses. Years after Hassan and Ali left, the Roussi army attacked, forcing Baba and 18 year old Amir to flee the country to California. The states provided a whole new life for Baba and especially Amir. Amir attends high school and college to pursue his dream; to become a famous writer. Amir is haunted every day by the thought of Hassan getting beaten and him not reacting, pretending as if he were never there. In California, Baba finds an Afghan community in which he is quite popular already. He spends a lot of time at a flea market where there are many other Afghans too. Amir spots a young afghan lady, Soraya, at the flea market which he cannot keep his eyes off. When Amir’s father becomes ill with cancer, Amir asks Soraya to marry him. Very shortly after they get married, Baba dies. Soraya and Amir then try to have kids but fail to and it is then when Amir receives a call from a man he has not heard of in a very long time. Rahim Khan tells Amir of the death of Hassan and his wife. Amir is devastated by the news. Rahim also tells Amir that their son is now in an orphanage. Rahim tells Amir that finding Hassan’s son is his chance to redeem his sin. Amir then goes to Afghanistan to find Hassan’s son. With many obstacles, including a one on one fight to the death with Assef, the bully who bullied him and Hassan at a young age, Amir comes out of Afghanistan with Hassan’s son. He comes back to California with many injuries. Sohrab, Hassan’s son, goes to school and lives a new life in America. Hassan and his wife officially adopt him and provide him a life full of potential. The novel ends with Amir teaching Sohrab how to fly a kite, as he battles a kite and defeats it. Characters: Amir: Amir is the narrator and protagonist of the novel. He is a Pashtun boy, who evolves throughout the book to become an adult. He is also a great writer and storyteller. As readers we feel much compassion for him. His father is a wealthy man by Afghan standards, and so Amir grows up always having what he wants. He has everything he could wish for except the loving attention of his father. He does not feel a deep emotional connection with Baba and this causes Amir to feel a strong jealousy towards anyone receiving his father’s affection. Amir thinks Baba wishes he was more like him. Amir is often jealous of the way Baba treats Hassan. He notices that Hassan is much more like his father than he is. Amir is a conflicted character who struggles between the logical and emotional sides of his being. Throughout the novel, he struggles to make connections with his father. His obsession and guilty conscience, along with his adult perspective looking back at childhood events make him a good storyteller. Amir seems to be a mix of Hassan’s personality and Assef’s personality making him in the middle of good and bad. He then gets the chance to fight Assef one on one to the death which was like facing the bad side of himself. Baba: Baba is Amir’s father. Later in the novel we find out that he is also Hassan’s father. He is considered a hero and a leader in Kabul and he is always doing things for others. He always seems to expect more from Amir. Baba has excellent morals and philosophies on life that he tries to teach Amir over time. He was even willing to sacrifice himself to keep the Russian guard from raping the women travelling with them. By doing so, Amir later understands that doing what is right is better than saving yourself. Baba felt guilty through his whole life for not being able to acknowledge Hassan as his son. For this reason, he tries to redeem his guilt by providing good actions to everyone around him. He even built an orphanage. His emotions are very well hidden by his outer appearance. In the end, he is very proud of Amir. He dies happily because he was able to build the relationship he had always wanted with at least one of his sons. We also find out that Amir and Baba both shared a never-ending feeling of guilt inside of them for different reasons. Hassan: Hassan is Amir’s playmate and servant. He is a Hazara and we find out late in the novel that he is Amir’s half-brother. Hassan epitomizes the perfect servant who is not only loyal to his master, but also forgiving and good-natured. Even after he’s been betrayed, Hassan lies for Amir and he still considers him as a friend. Hassan grows up in the same place as Amir but has a different purpose. He is a servant and so he prepares Amir for school every morning by preparing his breakfast and books. He also does all the chores during the day while Amir is at school getting an education. Hassan later gets married and has a son. He dies late in the novel. Hassan represents all that is good and kind. Assef: Assef is the antagonist of the novel. Assef does not see Hazaras as equal to Pashtuns. Near the beginning of the novel, he beats Hassan violently. At the end of the novel, he fights Amir one on one to the death until Sohrab shot him in the eye. He is a villain who ends up joining the Taliban. Assef represents all that is evil and cruel. Personal reaction to the novel: The kite runner was an amazing novel. I personally loved it. I finished the book in less than a week because I simply could not stop reading it after I first opened the book. I felt a lot of strong emotions when reading this book. When Hassan was beaten violently and Amir just stood there and watched, I was really scared for Hassan. The picture was very vivid in my mind and I felt terrible for Hassan. I also felt sad for Amir because he only finds out in the end that he and his dad were much more alike than they both thought. When Baba is already dead, Amir finds out the truth about him and how they both share an endless guilt. I also really liked this novel because I got to learn a bit about Afghanistan since it was the main setting of the novel. Out of all the books that students have to read in English class throughout the years, this is one of the few that are really good. I actually really enjoyed reading this book, unlike many books read in the past years. I would strongly suggest to keep teaching this book to future students. Author’s style and voice: The kite runner written by Khaled Hosseini uses the narrative writing style. The author places himself as Amir and narrates you the story. The author also uses a lot of accurate descriptions to give the readers a vivid image of a setting, character or object. Since it is Amir narrating the story, he tells it from the viewpoint of an adult looking back across his life. It is a personal narration in an informal, conversational style, similar to dialogue rather than a self-consciously literary style of writing. Amir’s voice is pretty consistent throughout most of the novel. However, the vocabulary and diction develop as he moves from talking about his childhood years to talking about his adult years. At the beginning of the book, when he narrates his childhood life, he tends to use childlike language such as â€Å"he never told on me†1. When he gets older, the vocabulary and diction used to narrate are more advanced since Amir has evolved not only physically, but intellectually as well. The author’s voice or Amir’s voice also changes at times of stress or anxiety. After his fight with Assef, the sentence structure becomes very hesitant and broken to reflect the severe temporary damage of Amir’s mind. Themes: Redemption: Redemption is searched by two important characters through the novel. Baba and Amir are both seeking redemption for two different reasons. Baba had sex with his servant and this resulted in having a Hazara boy. Because Hassan was a Hazara, he could not publically announce that he was his son and so he kept it a secret during his whole life. The fact that he could not acknowledge Hassan as his son made him feel very guilty and he never stopped striving to redeem himself. Baba even built an orphanage to help redeem himself according to Rahim Khan. Amir is also searching for redemption ever since he saw Hassan take a beating without reacting at all. Redemption is what brings Amir to Afghanistan which is a big event in this story. Forgiveness: Hassan’s actions demonstrate that he did forgive Amir’s betrayal. Amir pretty much spends the entire novel to learn about the nature of forgiveness. Baba’s actions of redemption are an attempt to gain public forgiveness for what he has not even publically admitted to have done. When Amir finally discovers Baba’s big secret from Rahim’s letter, he ends up forgiving his father. Forgiveness plays an important role in the story. Immigrant experience: In this book, we get to know how hard it can be for immigrants to leave their homeland and to successfully arrive to their destination. Baba and Amir are among many Afghans who struggle to leave. There are plenty of calculated risks and uncertainties in the next passages for immigrants. Many immigrants die before they even reach their new homes. In addition to the difficulties of their lives in a new country, the immigrants also have to accept what or who they have left behind. When arriving to a new country, immigrants also try to maintain their traditions and some semblance of their own culture, which can be hard. Baba loses his status once they arrive in America and still has his old prejudices. Soraya and her mother also demonstrate the difficult role women have balancing the expectations of an old world culture with the new world in which they are living. Sohrab quickly adapts to his new country and has a life full of potential waiting for him. Symbols: The pomegranate tree: While Amir and Hassan are both young and carefree, they carve their names in the tree and it bears fruit. Therefore, the tree symbolizes their relationship. Much later when Hassan is dead and Amir is filled with guilt, the tree just like Amir’s memories still exists but no longer bears fruit. The tree not only symbolizes a unifying force between Amir and Hassan but also serves as a source of division. When Amir wanted Hassan to hit him with the pomegranate fruit in order to inflict physical pain as a punishment to lessen his guilt instead, Hassan breaks the fruit over his own head to prove his loyalty. The tree brings back vivid memories when Amir returns to Afghanistan. Kites and the blue kite: Kites and everything associated with them are undoubtedly the most important symbols in this novel. This blue kite is even more important because it symbolizes a chance for Amir to obtain Baba’s attention. Amir thought that the only way he’d earn his father’s attention would be to win the kite flying tournament. This blue kite is the last kite competing against Amir’s during the tournament. As he cuts the last kite’s string, Hassan runs off to fetch the kite for Amir. The blue kite also symbolizes Hassan’s loyalty. Amir wanted to show all the kids at school that he won the tournament and got to keep the last remaining kite that he faced one on one. He mostly wanted to show this kite to his father. As the novel continues, the kite becomes a symbol of betrayal which leads Amir to the will of finding redemption. Hassan sacrificed him just to bring kite back to Amir as he said he would. Hassan took a beating to keep the kite and Amir watched it happen without reacting. Amir feels guilt ever since this moment until the very end of the novel, where Amir is running a kite for Hassan’s son. At the end, the kites symbolizes happiness, freedom and peace at last. Scars: Hassan has a split lip since he was a child, and it is one of the features Amir refers to the most when describing him. The split in his lip symbolizes Hassan’s status in the society. It signifies poverty and minority as an ethnicity which is one major thing that differentiates him from Amir, because it indicates that his family do not have the money to fix his lip. Baba eventually pays a surgeon to repair Hassan’s lip as a birthday gift, signifying his secret fatherly love for Hassan. Later in the novel, Assef splits Amir’s lip in his one on one duel with Amir. Amir is left with a permanent scar very similar to Hassan’s. This scar on Amir symbolizes the fact that Amir has become like Hassan not only physically, but mentally too in the sense that he has learnt to stand up for what is right. Bibliographical information: Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Riverhead Books, (2003) I got a 4+ on this journal , so it should do you some good 🙂

Office Equipment Written Answers Essay

KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING QUESTIONS Unit 221 Use Office Equipment Learner:Signature: AssessorSignatureDate Outcome 1: Know about different types of office equipment and its uses 1.1 Identify the different types of equipment and their uses  phones & e-mail allow people to contact you. Computers allow you to process business data, send pictures, pdf files and other files to customers, and vendors. Computers to design ads, budgets, as well as tracking and paying employees. printers and copiers to bulk create documents in the least expensive way possible. Hole punches to allow paperwork to be placed in binders or small folders easily. Answering machines to pick up missed calls. Post it notes to add importance to voice mail. Servers to allow multiple computers to access the same data. 1.2 Describe their different features and what they can be used for? Computers: Email, Word processing, internet, databases, file storage – Computers can be used for contact and also researching things on the internet. Computers can also be used to type professional letters or emails to customers. Files made can also be saved onto the computers memory and then can be edited or used again. Computers are also good for designing ads, look at budgets and can be used to track the payment of employees. Answering machines: Answering machines are used to pick up messages that people may have left you; it is normally used to ring customers back if you have missed their call. A good form of positive customer service. Photocopier & Printer: The printer is used to print off any work you have done on the computer or any files you have been sent or downloaded. Most regularly used for printing letters to customers and vendors. Photo copiers can are used to  copy hard copies of files. You get small copiers which only copy files, or you can get a copier that can also print and scan documents to your computer. 1.3 Explain why different types of equipment are chosen for tasks and what they are used for (e.g. to produce booklets) 1) Computers are used to write letters and communicate because letters look more professional when typed out, and by communicating online via email, it prevents the use of more paper. 2) Printers and Photocopiers: These are used because not all things can be done electronically, for example if a letter needed sending to lots of people, a hardcopy could be photocopied lots of times. Or if you have the letter template already on your computer, you can print lots of copies Outcome 2: Understand the purpose of the following instructions and health and safety procedures 2.1 Why is it important to follow manufacturer’s instructions when operating equipment? Manufacturers instructions are usually in place to not only protect the equipment from being damaged, but to also stop you getting injured using the equipment. Instructions are there to make sure you know how to use the equipment properly and how to use it without faults. 2.2. Why is it important to follow organisational instructions when using equipment? Organisational instructions are instructions that organisations put in place, they may have policies on how much you print or who can use the equipment for safety reasons. They may only have a photocopier in reception area so they know exactly who is using it and when. It is important to follow instructions of an organisation because they are normally put in place to help things run more smoothly and also for the safety of the staff. 2.3 What are the health and safety procedures for using different types of equipment? There should always be a risk assessment in place for possible accidents in the office, health and safety procedures in the office may be as simple as putting your bag under your desk to stop slips and trips. The most common injury is caused by manual handling; moving heavy equipment in the wrong way can cause strains and pulled muscles. Another procedure that may be in place is, no fluids at your desk. If you were to spill fluids, it may cause an electrocution hazard 2.4 Why is it important to follow health and safety procedures when using equipment? Health and safety procedures are in place to protect anyone from injury or harm, they’re there to prevent any hazards that may come into play in the office. In order to keep yourself and your colleagues safe, the procedures should be followed. 2.5 Why is it important to keep equipment clean and hygienic? You may not be the only person having to use the equipment and it is only courtesy to keep the equipment as you found it. Equipment should be kept clean and hygienic to prevent picking up illnesses such as cold and flu, and also to keep it pleasant. A sticky desk or keyboard and a crumby desk isn’t the nicest mess to tidy up when it isn’t your own. Outcome 3: Understand how to use equipment in a way that minimises waste 3.1 Give examples of waste when using equipment] The biggest source of waste is paper, every time a letter is opened, the envelope is thrown away, and when printing goes wrong the paper is thrown away. Ink cartridges from printers and photocopiers are thrown away when empty, as are multiple pens when they run out of ink. 3.2 Give examples of ways to reduce waste There are multiple ways to reduce waste, one of them being electronically. If people have email accounts, then letters can be sent this way rather than via post. Another way is to recycle waste, although maybe this may cause the same amount of waste, it will be used to make another batch of usable paper or other supplies. 3.3 Explain why you should minimise waste Reducing waste saves money and also is eco friendly. By printing on both sides of paper, the cost of paper is decreased by half. It can also maximise space in the office, by having less paper supplies around the office, more space becomes available in its place. Outcome 4: Know about the different types of problems that may occur when using equipment and how to deal with them 4.1 Give examples of equipment problems Technical faults can happen regularly in an office where lots of equipment is used in one place. Faults can include power shortages, phone line faults and technical faults on computers. Other faults can include issues with the printers or copiers and also issues with shortages of stationary. In order to prevent these issues, regular checks should be carried out on stocks and also the electrical equipment. 4.2 Explain why you should follow manufacturer’s instruction and organisation procedures when dealing with problems Manufacturer’s instructions ensure you are using the equipment in the right way and so reduces the chances or breakages via using the equipment wrongly. Organisations procedures make sure that the equipment is being used appropriately and so only the things that need to be printed or copied should be. Both of these should help prevent problems, but should also help  you deal with problems when they arise. 4.3 Give examples of how to deal with problems A technical issue should always be reported to the technician who knows how to deal with the problem. But the ideal way to deal with these problems is regular checks on the equipment to make sure no issues are arising. Outcome 5: Understand the purpose of meeting work standards and deadlines 5.1 Explain the purpose of meeting work standards and deadlines when using equipment If there are standards and deadlines in place for using equipment, it’s probably for a good reason. For example, you may get a task to type, print and send out a number of letters before a certain time. You should follow these deadlines as there is a possibility that the letter is of high importance and may contain valuble information which they will need for a certain time. This is the same for any deadline, there will be an importance behind the deadline which will be the reason you have to have the task done for a certain time. Outcome 6: Understand the purpose of leaving equipment and the work area ready for the next user 6.1 Explain the purpose of leaving equipment and the work area ready for the next user Leaving the equipment ready for the next user is manners, maybe the next people who use your work area wont need the stationery you’ve been using and won’t be using the same equipment you’ve been using. To have your area ready for the next person, make sure you leave it exactly how you found it when you started the day. Make sure it’s left how you would want to find it when you start work

MVV-Mission, Vision, and Values Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

MVV-Mission, Vision, and Values - Essay Example On its corporate website, Starbucks Company clearly states its mission, â€Å"to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time† (‘Company Information,’ 2015). Concerning its values, company cares of creating specific culture, changing the world, being open to the external environment and offering its best products (‘Our Company’, 2015). Finally, vision of Starbucks to date is to â€Å"elevate our partners, customers, suppliers and neighbors to create positive change. To be innovators, leaders and contributors to an inclusive society and a healthy environment so that Starbucks and everyone we touch can endure and thrive† (‘Being a Responsible Company’, 2015). Secondly, Caribou Coffee is younger, because its story starts from 1990. The corporate website does not write a lot about the contribution of people but talks more about â€Å"breathtaking panoramic view† as the real founder of the company (‘Out story’, 2015). In addition, Caribou has different term for its vision as â€Å"aspiration† to be â€Å"The Community Place I love† and replaces mission with commitment â€Å"to sharing an Extraordinary Experience that Feeds the Soul† (‘Our Culture’, 2015). Finally, it describes its core values by referring to the guests, community, team members, and own uniqueness (‘Our Culture’, 2015). Thirdly, Canada-based popular Tim Hortons Company has the most long-term history among the analyzed coffee houses. Since 1964, Tim Horton and Ron Joyce became the co-owners and steadily turned Tim Hortons into franchise operating in both USA and Canada. Corporate website presents its mission statement as follows, â€Å"Our guiding mission is to deliver superior quality products and services for our guests and communities through leadership, innovation and partnerships† (‘Company facts’, 2015). Based on this, vision of the company is short, â€Å"to be the quality

PLO and Hamas achieved the Palestinian national aspiration Research Paper

PLO and Hamas achieved the Palestinian national aspiration - Research Paper Example Hamas challenged PLO’s political agenda for Palestinian national territory and secular nationalism, in effect taking over the original Palestinian national aspiration, traditionally associated with the PLO, and situating them in an Islamic perspective. By appealing to an Islamic national aspiration, Hamas successfully merged everyday issues and religious dogma.     A conflict, growing over time, between Hamas, the PLO, and particularly Fatah, has continuously disrupted the realization of the Palestinian national goals of these organizations. Hamas firmly declined the proposals of Fatah and the PLO, wanting instead to build and legitimize itself as a political substitute. The conflict between the PLO and Hamas reached its climax during the alleged Madrid process—a chain of bilateral compromises between those with territorial demands and Israel.   Hamas’s doctrine recognizes the PLO as an â€Å"ally, father, brother, relative, friend† and Hamas prevent ed a military conflict with Fatah in the past. Hamas, under the headship of Sheikh Yasin, firmly condemned internal strife between Palestinian political groups for this would merely strengthen the position of Israel and undermine the Palestinian national aspiration.  Ã‚   From the very beginning, Hamas was unsure about the PLO, expressing, on the one hand, allegiance to its political autonomy and ideological identity and, on the other, a concern for coexistence.   The effort of Hamas to sustain a harmonious relationship with the PLO.... The conflict between the PLO and Hamas reached its climax during the alleged Madrid process—a chain of bilateral compromises between those with territorial demands and Israel.3 However, Hamas’s doctrine recognizes the PLO as an â€Å"ally, father, brother, relative, friend†4 and Hamas prevented a military conflict with Fatah in the past. Hamas, under the headship of Sheikh Yasin, firmly condemned internal strife between Palestinian political groups for this would merely strengthen the position of Israel and undermine the Palestinian national aspiration.5 From the very beginning, Hamas was unsure about the PLO, expressing, on the one hand, allegiance to its political autonomy and ideological identity and, on the other, a concern for coexistence.6 The effort of Hamas to sustain a harmonious relationship with the PLO, and eventually with the PA, revealed its political flaw with regards to the rising local, regional, and global support for the peace process between t he PLO and Israel.7 It was this idea of the weakness of its status that pushed Hamas to attempt to build an agreement with the PLO that would provide it with the opportunity to strengthen its capability and influence and boost its ranks. Moreover, its pursuit of organizational autonomy and identity encouraged Hamas to look for ways to frustrate the move of PLO toward suppression and hegemony. Literature Review The references used in this paper are both primary and secondary. The author used textbooks, peer-reviewed journal articles, newspapers, and magazines. The best primary references that are used in this paper are Mkhaimar Abusada’s Palestinian Party Affiliation and Political Attitudes toward the Peace Process, Omri Arens’s and Edward

Virginia State and Local Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Virginia State and Local Government - Essay Example One such attempt made by the General assembly, has been the constitution of the Northern Virginia Transport Authority. The Northern Virginia Transport Authority, is a body constituted by a bill passed by t he General assembly of Virginia. This body is not an elected one and therefore, is not considered the representation of the people. The constitution makes it illegal for non-elected bodies to collect taxes and other fees, to raise funds for the public sector. The General assembly passed a bill stating the delegation of the functions of imposing and collecting taxes, to the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. In other words, an unelected body would be in-charge of imposing a series of taxes and fees in the Northern Virginia localities, to raise funds for the construction of transportation infrastructure. The Supreme Court, in February 2008, nullified this bill passed by the General assembly in 2007. This was because, the bill did not adhere to the provisions of the constitution that forbids the imposition of such taxes by non-elected bodies. By virtue fo the power of judicial review, the Judiciary exercised its power to curtail the implementation of an illegal bill, by the Legislature of Vir

Criminal Procedure as Regards Arrest, Interrogation, and Essay

Criminal Procedure as Regards Arrest, Interrogation, and Identification Procedures - Essay Example In this paper, I will attempt to address not only how Miranda altered the balance of power between those accused of a crime and the need for police to do their jobs, but also how Miranda warnings could affect those with diminished mental capacity, and measures that could be taken to ensure complete understanding of guaranteed individual rights by anyone, regardless of their mental capacity. Response Paper Number Two: The Miranda Warnings as They Pertain to Criminal Procedure Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966): Helping the Accused While Hampering the Accuser The landmark case of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966) set a new legal precedent, and the repercussions are still being felt today. The result of the decision in Miranda, 384 U.S. at 436 was that the confession of one Ernesto Miranda was declared by the United States Supreme Court to be inadmissible in his trial, due to the fact that Miranda had not been advised that he had the right to remain silent, or to have counsel present prior to making the confession. Because of this, according to the Fifth Amendment, which states, in part, that â€Å"No person shall†¦be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself†, his rights had been violated, and his confession was therefore inadmissible. Directly due to this, the conviction that had been originally found was reversed, and the case was sent back for a new trial. This decision by the United States Supreme Court, in considering the balance between abuse of individual rights and freedom for the innocent while allowing police to do their job in maintaining justice swung the balance powerfully in favor of those that stand accused of crimes, while negatively impacting the interests of the police in doing their job to put those who are guilty in prison. Miranda warnings are the same overall, no matter who receives them; they were designed that way to give a standard warning of rights that the accused was entitled to. The first se ntence states that the accused has â€Å"the right to remain silent† (Scheb & Scheb II, 2012). This means that as long as a person says absolutely nothing, unless the police have some form of hard evidence, they most likely cannot gain a conviction. Professor James Duane backs this up in the video lecture â€Å"Don’t Talk to Police† when he gives eight top reasons as to why no one, under any circumstances, should ever talk to the police. Chief among these reasons is that even if someone is innocent, something that is said, however innocent, even if it is the barest tidbit of information, could cause them to be accused or even convicted of a crime (Duane, 2008). That being said, again, as long as the accused remains silent, they retain the power of not only their right to do so but the power to hinder the police that are trying to convict them. The Miranda warnings also shifted power to the accused while negatively impacting police in their last statement, which states that the accused has â€Å"the right to an attorney; if you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you† (Scheb & Scheb II, 2012). All that the accused has to do is to state that they wish an attorney, and the interrogation must cease

The Strategic Positioning of Lenovo Laptops Essay - 3

The Strategic Positioning of Lenovo Laptops - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that Lenovo, a Beijing-based company –having the slogan "For those who do" – has inevitably shot to prominence when it accelerated into the global market with IBM's PC business in 2005. The idea that the ThinkPad, treasured of American business people, that would be made by the Chinese company resulted in uneasiness at first; the $1.75bn ( £1.04bn) purchase had attracted extreme regulatory attention. Lenovo Group Ltd, the Chinese multinational computer technology company has its headquarters in Beijing, China and Morrisville, North Carolina, United States has hit the market with very strong securing of market share that has to a greater extent resulted to wake up call upon other competitors in the industry. The stiff competition has been the basis of this research in ensuring how the organization strategically secure and maintain its market niche are relatively remain profitable and grows undisputedly. The critical step in f inding the definition of the strategy of a business is the determination of its strategic positioning – the aspects of how it competes and in serving customers in the markets.  At the core of strategic positioning is the customer attraction, the customers bonding, retention and satisfaction of the customers. The Delta Model helps in providing a roadmap for identifying and analysis of the optimal strategic positioning, from the perspective of achieving customer bonding, and thus provides the three strategic positions for reaching the company’s target objectives.  

Financial and managerial accounting Research Paper

Financial and managerial accounting - Research Paper Example The budget would help Groovy Music to estimate their regular demand which in turn, would be helpful in deciding the product mix. Also, by preparing Activity Based budget, Groovy Music may be able to allocate their costs better and hence, get a clear picture about which order costs more. Essay 2 - The Woods and Waters Company Service Division: Particular Amount ($) Revenue (8000 x $50) 400,000 Less: Total Operating Costs (given) 280,000 (a) Net Profit 120,000 (b) Total Operating Assets (given) 400,000 Return on Investment (a/b x 100) 30 % Irrigation Division: Particular Amount ($) Revenue (250 x $5000) 1,250,000 Less: Total Operating Costs (given) 1,000,000 (a) Net Profit 250,000 (b) Total Operating Assets (given) 1,000,000 Return on Investment (a/b x 100) 25 % Company as a whole: Particular Amount ($) Revenue (400,000 + 1,250,000) 1,650,000 Less: Total Operating Costs (given) 1,280,000 (a) Net Profit 370,000 (b) Total Operating Assets (given) 1,400,000 Return on Investment (a/b x 100) 26 % Considering just the ROI, it can be concluded that the Service Division has performed

Corporate Strategy and Competition Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Corporate Strategy and Competition Law - Essay Example This analysis shall also include an assessment of whether there are any competition law or antitrust issues which will need to be addressed in the application of this strategy in corporations. Information technology is one of the fastest technologies currently available to man. It is pervasive and it is also a diverse technology and is currently accessible to almost all individuals. The internet, cellular phones, and other digital media have all made the world a much smaller place. What used to be oceans or hours of plane ride away is now just a mouse click away through one’s computer. Transactions can now be carried out without parties having to meet personally with each other. Corporations who take advantage of information technology are likely to save on cost and are likely to reach a wider consumer base. Information technology now resolves the issues of advertising and marketing which used to limit corporations in terms of coverage and impact. With the advent of social networking, information technology is now in a higher level of coverage – its possibilities are limitless and for corporations, it also means that their reach and potential for profit and c ompetitive advantage can be limitless.