design of cable stayed bridge - 1110 Words

Analysis and Design of Cable Stayed Bridge Abstract Of the newly-built bridges, cable-stayed bridges are today very common worldwide for spans ranging between 200 and 900 meters. A cable stayed bridge has one or more towers (Pylons) from which the cables support the deck. This paper provides modelling, analysis and design of a prestressed harp type single pylon cable stayed bridge using MIDAS Civil. Keywords: cable stayed, box girder, prestressing, MIDAS Civil Introduction Of the newly-built bridges, cable-stayed bridges are today very common worldwide for spans ranging between 200 and 900 meters. A cable stayed bridge has one or more towers (Pylons) from which the cables support the deck. There are two major classes†¦show more content†¦Pedestrian live load(PLL)- The foot path loading shall be as per clause 209 of IRC:6 with intensity of loading equal to 500 kg/m ². Wind load for cable stayed bridge: According to IS:875 (part 3)-1987 Wind loads on live loads (WL)- The lateral wind force against moving live loads shall be considered as acting at 1.5 m above the roadway and shall be assumed equal to 300 kg/m. Creep and Shrinkage(C S) Creep and shrinkage effects to be considered as per CEB-FIP code for cable stayed bridge Earthquake loads Rajasthan is located in seismic zone II. The horizontal seismic coefficient in longitudinal direction will be calculated by IS 1893:2002 Construction loads: Normal vertical loads- A construction load of 50 kg/m2 shall be considered during cantilever erection. Weight of the traveler form is assumed to be equal to 85 tons. An impact of 10 % shall be considered for the moving construction loads. MIDAS MODEL of box:(Half span) Loadings: Results and discussions: Fz My Deflection Results and discussions Various results for bending moment and References AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications (Third Edition, 2005 Interim Revisions); AASHTO - Guide Specifications for Seismic Isolation Design ( 2nd edition – 2000); AASHTO - Guide Specifications for Design Construction of Segmental Concrete Bridges (1999); IRC:6-2000 Standard Specifications Code of Practice for Road Bridges, Section II, Loads stresses (4thShow MoreRelatedThe Considerations Of The Bridge For The High Speed Rail Coming Through The A.v Valley1290 Words   |  6 PagesChavez-Grimaldo Mrs.Banks English 10 Honors/ Block: A 27 October 2015 Mezcala Bridge Research Project The considerations of the bridge for the high speed rail coming through the a.v. is when designing high speed rail to the antelope valley. The considerations are is that the kids or young adults of the antelope valley area are able to go to colleges in san diego and back home to the AV in the matter of just minutes. The bridge is to get over the highway to get to L.A. so they will be less traffic toRead MoreHow Technology Has Changed The World Today1411 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch paper i will be talking about bridges and their importance to the world today. I will also go into detail on how bridges were in the past and how the first bridges were made by nature. I will compare bridges from the past to how technology has changed the way bridges are built today in the modern era. The more we advance in technology the more ca-pabilities we have too make bridges that support so much more weight. As the improvements are made bridges are just becoming safer and more reliablesRead MoreS cience Fair Projects At Woodstock Middle School And I Am One Of The Sixth Grade Students887 Words   |  4 Pagestopic I shall be doing is on how bridge structure affects the weight bearing capacity. I chose this specific topic to guide bridge builders in the right direction on what bridge is safest for public use. The key topics I plan to research on include the following: Beam, Warren Truss, suspension, cable-stayed, and arch bridges. I shall use the scientific method to guide me through this process. Like every other science project, mine starts with a question. How does bridge structure affect the weight bearingRead MoreGeneral Technical Information : The Bridge1064 Words   |  5 PagesGeneral Technical Information: The bridge will be an 8-lane bridge with 2 lanes committed for buses, with a total length of 5.6Km.The Sea Link will enable quick go between Bandra and Worli, cutting travel times from 60–75 minutes to around 7 minutes. The extension was committed to the public on 30 June 2009, although just 4 of 8 lanes were opened. All the 8 lanes were opened on 24 March 2010. Manpower Behind the bridge: A total of 2850 workers and 150 engineers were employed over a span of eightRead MoreEssay Bridges521 Words   |  3 Pages REASEARCH PAPER Bridges have been around sense the beginning of time. The Ancient Roman engineers used two significant innovations, the cofferdam and cement. The cofferdam is when the put wooden spikes in to the bottom of the river then used watertight clay over the spikes to make a bridge. Now today there are more efficient ways to make a bridge then just out of cement and clay. There are Suspension Bridges, Arch Bridges, Covered Bridges and many more. Suspension bridges have become a very commonRead More Different Types of Bridges Essay1297 Words   |  6 PagesDifferent Types of Bridges The quest for travel has always been one that man has tried to conquer. First, he traveled on foot, and then developed methods of transportation such as boats, but one of the first obstacles that he had to overcome was getting across rivers, waterways, and canals. Today, bridges have become a part of everyday life; hence without them, people would have a much more difficult time going from one place to another. In the United States alone, there are more than half a millionRead MoreThe Penang Second Brigde in Malaysia3068 Words   |  12 PagesSecond Bridge is one of the longest in Malaysia and also in the South East Asia region. It is also known as the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge which is named after the Sultan of Kedah. The bridge connects from Batu Kawan on the mainland to Batu Maung on the Penang Island. It has an overall length of 24km and a length over water (displacement) of 16.9km. It is much longer when compared to the Penang First Bridge which only has an overall length of 13.5km. The building of this bridge has costRead MoreSite Visit At Forth Replacement Crossing1661 Words   |  7 PagesTowers†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 3.2. Cables†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 3.3. Deck, surfacing and roadway†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....5 3.4. Health Safety†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 3.5. Challenges†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 4. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.7 5. References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 â€Æ' 1. Background Site location – Firth of Forth, Queensferry Site area - 13.7 miles (22km) Bridge length - 1.7miles (2.7km) including approach viaducts Expected date of completion – May 2017 Project contractor - Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors The building of the bridge and roads connectingRead MoreCauses Of Failure Of Bridge Roof Vibration1416 Words   |  6 PagesCAUSES OF FAILURE OF BRIDGE Deck Vibration Since the well-known bridge, Tacoma Narrows Bridge was destroyed in 1940 the designers and owners started to concern more about the stability of bridge deck. For short-and long term of monitoring the deck, the instruments of geophysical are increase used which are; 1. accelerometers and tilt meter 2. strain gages Figure1: Tacoma Narrows Bridge with severe vibration Figure 2: Tacoma Narrows Bridge after collapse due to wind fluttering Read MoreBridges And Their Types Bridges Essay1467 Words   |  6 PagesBRIDGES AND THEIR TYPES Highway Bridges Bridges are an essential part of the transport infrastructure. General Information: A bridge is a means by which a road, railway or other service is carried over an obstacle such as a river, valley, and other road or railway line, either with no intermediate support or with only a limited number of supports at convenient locations. Fig: Docklands Light Rail Bridge, London, England. Basic features of bridges: Superstructure `The superstructure of a bridge

How Human Computer Interactions Incorporated Into Computer...

2. Purpose The purpose of the authors is to introduce the capabilities of context-aware design and give an insight into how it can positively affect and benefit the user’s lifestyle. The authors inform the audience of the three types of context-aware computer systems and uses prototype examples to clearly explain them to an audience who would not be knowledgeable about this field. The article highlights how human-computer interactions incorporated into computer systems are continuously evolving to provide a more personal, efficient and user friendly experience. This has further extended onto systems that recognise contexts and situations allowing less user inputs and more about understanding and analysing the user’s preferences. 3. Key Information 3.1 Framework Context aware design is the concept of computer systems being attentive of the user’s setting or context. It will recognise engagement and interactions from the user and model the situations to accomplish a set task or purpose. The fundamental framework of context aware designs takes into consideration a user’s personal needs which may be affected by many factors such as habits, self-image, and issues of motivation. Thus, many questions are raised and answered in the planning process regarding the purpose, intended audience, inputs and outputs required etc. to design such technologies that are able to understand and interpret what the user’s goals are. The prototype examples exhibit endless possibilities andShow MoreRelatedThe Myth Of The Ant Queen By Steven Johnson1420 Words   |  6 Pages Technology has tremendously changed human social behavior, which has provided a convenient way for people to communicate and collaborate with each other. For instance, Cath y Davidson, the author of â€Å"Project Classroom Makeover,† points out, there is a need to renew the current education system so that it meets the new expectation of the digital era. She discusses how technology improves social interaction when students work collectively through crowdsourcing. In â€Å"The Myth of the Ant Queen,† StevenRead MoreEssay The Invention and Impact of The Computer Mouse1018 Words   |  5 PagesThe Invention and Impact of The Computer Mouse If you ask people to name one of the most important technologies of the twentieth century, one of the answers would most certainly be the computer. A computer, however, is not a technology all to itself. Many other technologies went into the modern home computers of today, including the mouse. Douglas C. Engelbart, a worker at the SRI (Stanford Research Institute), invented the mouse in 1964. However, the process of the invention of the mouseRead MorePrinciples of Info. Syst. Bus. Org. Module 3: Computer Network Design1056 Words   |  4 PagesComputer Network Design When opening a new business, the computer network design needs to be designed to meet the needs of the business and protect the business assets at the same time. There are three aspects to the designing of the network system, which include technology and software, people and the human aspect, and the combination of the two. The technology and software are the core components of the actual system that determine how it will operate and protect the assets. The people andRead MoreComputer Science And Artificial Intelligence1712 Words   |  7 PagesComputer Science Computer science can be defined as a many number of technological variables, but is primarily defined as the science and processes of information processing in computer hardware and software, as well as its applications within. Computer science is comprised of many aspects that form a larger whole, that take a practical and theoretical approach to the capabilities of computers and how they process input and output information. With computers being conceived as early as the 1830’sRead MoreThe Importance Of Employee Training Is Invaluable For Your Business Essay1543 Words   |  7 PagesThirty three percent of learning hours involve technology-based training methods. Sixty nine percent of companies use learning management systems. Broken down by size, eighty five percent of large (10,000 or more employees), fifty four percent of midsize (1,000–9,999 employees), and fifty two percent of small companies (100–999 employees) use learning management systems. Twenty eig ht percent of large companies (10,000 or more employees) deliver training online, compared to twenty percent of midsize (1Read MoreVirtual Reality: Computer Generated Simulation1029 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Virtual reality promises a kind of transcendence of the limits of physical reality† (Biocca, Kim, Levy 06). â€Å"Virtual Reality† is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment in a seemingly real way by a person using special electronic equipment. When most people hear this they think of movies like â€Å"The Matrix†. They think films are the only place virtual reality is seen and used. However they are sorely mistaken in that aspect. Virtual reality is used in other fields and canRead MoreWhat Would The World Be Without Technology?1573 Words   |  7 Pagesachievements of the present day, a driverless vehicle may be the next stage in human evolution. Yet one has to ponder the necessity and the overall impact that autonomous vehic les will have on the world. What are the positive and negative societal effects that will be caused by autonomous vehicles? In order to accurately compare pros and cons of Autonomous vehicles, it is crucial to understand the development process and how autonomous cars are initially designed to impact the world. A fully autonomousRead MoreA Step On The Right Direction With Computer Science1609 Words   |  7 PagesDecember 2015 A Step in the Right Direction with Computer Science In the hospital, a mother of 3 is found to have a pre-cancerous tumor lurking in her pancreases that could have progressed to a deadly stage if not removed promptly. Through the use of the hospital’s robotic surgical system, it was able to successfully remove the tumor allowing this mother to return home to her family. This was made possible because of the advances in computer science; Computer science is the scientific and useful way toRead MoreTechnology And The Medical Field Essay1404 Words   |  6 Pageslives of human beings more than the computer. There cannot be any field devoid of the effect of computer applications ranging from education, agriculture, and security; computers play crucial roles in all sectors. According to Silva (1), the introduction of computers in the medical arena has brought about transformative effects on how medical practices are being conducted and method of provision of health care. From medical procedures, patient diagnosis and administrative tasks, computers have simplifiedRead MoreFrom Toys to Practicality: Brain Computer Interface Technology900 Words   |  4 PagesFrom Toys to Practicality: Brain Computer Interface Technology The idea of Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology is the subject of high interest for many people and families of the person experiencing considerable physical impairments, such as those with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). This knowledge is recognized by several monitors, such as BCI, Brain-Machine Interface (BMI), neuro-brain transmission and Direct Brain Interface (DBI). Conventional computer input and assistive technology devices

Math150 College Algebra Ctu Phase 1 Db2 Free Essays

MATH150-1201A-01 Phase 1 DB2 Part 1 and Part 2-Primary Task Response January, 2012 Part 1 Confirmation of MyLabsPlus login I was able to login to MyLabsPlus with my username and password. Part 2 Primary Task Response 1. I went into the learning lab and in the mathematics section I chose the presentation titled â€Å"Basic Algebra Skills-Real numbers Algebraic Equations, Exponents Scientific Notation, Radicals Radical Exponents, and Polynomials†. We will write a custom essay sample on Math150 College Algebra Ctu Phase 1 Db2 or any similar topic only for you Order Now I chose this presentation because I felt I needed to remember algebraic equations, exponents and polynomials. I have not had algebra for many years so this presentation was a very good refresher. It reminded me about real numbers and algebraic expressions and square roots. It was good to be reminded about the steps you take in algebra to solve an equation such as: 1. Perform operations within the innermost parenthesis first and working outward. 2. Evaluate all exponential expressions. 3. Perform multiplications and divisions as they occur, working from left to right. 4. Perform additions and subtractions as they occur, working from left to right. Overall the presentation was a very good reminder. I am happy I watched this particular presentation. I definitely will benefit by visiting the learning lab math center because I have not had algebra in many years and I will need the extra help to learn. 2. I would explain to the programmers in my new job that a mathematical expression is a phrase or a sentence fragment with a variable that has to be simplified and has no relation symbol. And that a mathematical equation is a sentence that you solve and has a relation symbol and is a statement that two numbers or expressions are equal. A couple of mathematical examples of the difference between an expression and an equation is: 1. Mathematical expression – 1. z + 2 ? (7 – z) 2. A number is less than five. x 10. 2. Mathematical equation – 1. 6 =6 2. 15 = 2 + 13 A real life example of when someone would use a mathematical expression is when a car is going a certain mph speed and the driver wants to know how many miles he has traveled after so many hours. A real life example of when someone would use a mathematical equation would be to figure their profit or loss during months of business. 3. I would explain to the programmer that the expression means five x five x five = 125 and not 5 x 3. I would explain that 5 is the â€Å"base† and 3 is the â€Å"exponent† or â€Å"power†. I would show him/her how to calculate it on paper. A real life example where one would use exponents is when one would need to measure square feet, square kilometers or square inches. You might also use it if you need extremely tiny or extremely big quantity results. References Math League Press, (copyright, 1997-2006). Introduction to algebra. Retrieved from http://www. mathleague. com Miller, M. (copyright, 2003 -2012). Where do you need or use exponents in everyday life?. Retrieved from http://www. homeschoolmath. net/teaching/where-need-exponents. php Editorial Board. College algebra. Chapters 1 and 2. Colorado Technical University: Words of Wisdom. How to cite Math150 College Algebra Ctu Phase 1 Db2, Papers

Installing A Hard Drive Essay Example For Students

Installing A Hard Drive Essay Installing a IDE or EIDE hard drive on a Pentium computer To install a hard drive in your computer you must have a decent knowledge ofComputers and know what basic commands do. I wouldnt recommend a beginner trying to install a hard drive. These instructions are meant for intermediates or above. Before you start you should have already bought your hard drive. You will need a Phillips screw driver, your Windows CD, and the manual that came with your computer. Before you get ready to install your new hard drive. Unpack the drive you just bought and make sure the hard drive, cables, manual, and diskette are there. We will begin by removing the four screws that hold the computer cover to the frame of the computer. The easiest way to identify which screws to take out is to see which screws are covering the painted edge of the cover. Other screws, which you dont want to take out, hold the power supply which could harm the computer. Once the screws are taken out, the cover may still be h ard to slide out. Use both hands, on each side of the cover and pull it out. Now find the hard drive it should be in the second slot starting from the top. Remember the drive should be about 3 1/2 inches in width, 6 inches long, and an inch in height.Usually the hard drive is a silver and black color. After finding the drive, make sure you remove any static carried in your body by touching something metal before touching the insides of the computer. Now you will find two cables; these are ribbon cables that connect the drive to the computer. You will also find a power cable; it has four separate wires connected to plastic connectors on each end. To remove the cables, you just pull straight out. This shouldnt take a lot of pressure, but just be sure pull the cables by the plastic connectors and not by the wires. Remove both ends of the cables for we will be replacing them with new ones. Remember where you take these out, for you will be connecting the new cables in the same place. After you get the cables off, remove the mounting screws that hold the drive in place. You should find them in the front and along the sides of the hard drive. After you get the screws out the drive will slide out the front of the computer. If it is mounted on the side push it out the back. Now take the new hard drive and slide it in the way the old one came out, and screw in the same screws the old one used. Now, attach the ribbon cables that came with the new hard drive. The three cables you will be connecting are different sizes and will only go in one way, so you dont have to worry about which cable goes where. Now connect the cables to the motherboard (the big green card where everything connects to) they should go in the same place where you disconnected the old cables. Remember the cable will only connect one way, so you may have to turn the cable around to make sure it fits right. Now that youve connected these ribbon cables, you can connect the power cables. Remember that these are cables with four separate wires connected to a white plug. The white plug is shaped to fit in only one direction; but in any computer, the colored wires from each end should plug into the same way. Now after all the cables are connected you can put the cover back on the computer the same way you took it off; by sliding the cover on and screwing in the screws. .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c , .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c .postImageUrl , .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c , .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c:hover , .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c:visited , .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c:active { border:0!important; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c:active , .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u08de8b1577adee25a116846006b03f1c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: AIDS (2495 words) Essay You can turn on the computer now. But dont expect much we still have to install the hard drive for it to work. Before you can use the new hard drive , you have to make the computer know that its there. You do that by changing the settings in the computer. When the computer turns on it will come to a DOS-PROMPT. Insert the diskette

An Introduction to Akaikes Information Criterion (AIC)

An Introduction to Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) The Akaike Information Criterion (commonly referred to simply as AIC) is a criterion for selecting among nested statistical or  econometric models. The AIC is essentially an estimated measure of the quality of each of the available econometric models as they relate to one another for a certain set of data, making it an ideal method for model selection. Using AIC for Statistical and Econometric Model Selection The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) was developed with a foundation in information theory. Information theory is a branch of applied mathematics concerning the quantification (the process of counting and measuring) of information. In using AIC to  attempt to measure the relative quality of econometric models for a given data set, AIC provides the researcher with an estimate of the information that would be lost if a particular model were to be employed to display the process that produced the data. As such, the AIC works to balance the trade-offs between the complexity of a given model and its goodness of fit, which is the statistical term to describe how well the model fits the data or set of observations. What AIC Will Not Do Because of what the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) can do with a set of statistical and econometric models and a given set of data, it is a useful tool in model selection. But even as a model selection tool, AIC has its limitations. For instance, AIC can only provide a relative test of model quality. That is to say that AIC does not and cannot provide a test of a model that results in information about the quality of the model in an absolute sense. So if each of the tested statistical models are equally unsatisfactory or ill-fit for the data, AIC would not provide any indication from the onset. AIC in Econometrics Terms The AIC is a number associated with each model: AICln (sm2) 2m/T Where m is the number of parameters in the model, and sm2  (in an AR(m) example) is the estimated residual variance: sm2 (sum of squared residuals for model m)/T. That is the average squared residual for model m. The criterion may be minimized over choices of m to form a trade-off between the fit of the model (which lowers the sum of squared residuals) and the models complexity, which is measured by m. Thus an AR(m) model versus an AR(m1) can be compared by this criterion for a given batch of data. An equivalent formulation is this one: AICT ln(RSS) 2K where K is the number of regressors, T the number of observations, and RSS the residual sum of squares; minimize over K to pick K. As such, provided a set of econometrics models, the preferred model in terms of relative quality will be the model with the minimum AIC value.

Step by Step Guide to Tracing Your Family Tree

Step by Step Guide to Tracing Your Family Tree You have a little knowledge about your family history, a few old photos and documents and a consuming curiosity. Here are some basic steps to start you on your family tree adventure! Step One: Whats Hiding in the Attic? Begin your family tree by gathering together everything you have - papers, photos, documents and family heirlooms. Rummage through your attic or basement, the filing cabinet, the back of the closet... Then check with your relatives to see if they have any family documents they are willing to share. Clues to your family history might be found on the backs of old photographs, in the family bible, or even on a postcard. If your relative is uneasy with lending an original, offer to have copies made, or take pictures or scans of the photos or documents.   Step Two: Ask Your Relatives While youre collecting family records, set aside some time to interview your relatives. Start with Mom and Dad and then move on from there. Try to collect stories, not just names and dates, and be sure to ask open-ended questions. Try these questions to get you started. Interviews may make you nervous, but this is probably the most important step in researching your family history. It may sound cliche, but dont put it off until its too late! Tip! Ask your family members if there is a genealogy book or other published records within the family. This could give you a wonderful head start!   Step Three: Start Writing Everything Down Write down everything you have learned from your family and begin to enter the information in a pedigree or family tree chart. If youre unfamiliar with these traditional family tree forms, you can find step by step instructions in filling out genealogical forms. These charts provide an at-a-glance overview of your family, making it easy to track your research progress.   Step Four: Who Do You Want to Learn About First? You cant research your entire family tree at once, so where do you want to begin? Your moms side or your dads? Select a single surname, individual, or family with which to begin and create a simple research plan. Focusing your family history search helps keep your research on track, and reduces the chance of missing important details due to sensory overload.  Ã‚   Step Five: Explore Whats Available Online Explore the Internet for information and leads on your ancestors. Good places to start include pedigree databases, message boards, and resources specific to your ancestors location. If youre new to using the Internet for genealogy research, start with Six Strategies for Finding Your Roots Online. Not sure where to start first? Then follow the research plan in 10 steps for finding your family tree online. Just dont expect to find your entire family tree in one place!   Step Six: Familiarize Yourself with Available Records Learn about the wide variety of record types that may be able to help you in your search for your ancestors including  wills;  birth,  marriage,  and  death records;  land deeds;  immigration records; military records; etc. The Family History Library Catalog, the FamilySearch Wiki, and other online finding aids can be helpful in determining what records might be available for a particular locality.   Step Seven: Utilize the Worlds Largest Genealogy Library Visit your local Family History Center  or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, where you can access the worlds largest collection of genealogical information. If you cant get to one in person, the library has digitized millions of its records and made them available online for free through its free FamilySearch website.   Step Eight: Organize and Document Your New Information As you learn new information about your relatives, write it down! Take notes, make photocopies, and take photographs, and then create a system (either paper or digital) for saving and documenting everything you find. Keep a research log of what youve searched and what you have found (or not found) as you go. Step Nine: Go Local! You can conduct a great deal of research remotely, but at some point, you will want to visit the place where your ancestors lived. Take a trip to the cemetery where your ancestor is buried, the church he attended, and the local courthouse to explore records left behind during his time in the community. Consider a visit to the state archives as well, as they are likely to also hold historical records from the community. Step Ten: Repeat as Necessary When you have researched that particular ancestor as far as you can go, or find yourself getting frustrated, step back and take a break. Remember, this is supposed to be fun! Once youre ready for more adventure, go back to Step #4 and choose a new ancestor to start searching for!

Case Writeup Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case Writeup - Essay Example Kiva’s existing business model does not allow lenders to receive interest against the funds they loan however; Kiva’s field partners charge the interest from the entrepreneurs. Though this rate is lower however, it is considered as enough to meet the requirements of the Kiva’s field partners. One group which obviously be affected by this will be the poor entrepreneurs because if start paying the interest to its lenders, this cost will certainly be passed on to the actual borrowers. Secondly, by not paying the interest, Kiva’s lenders are being affected though most of its lenders lend the money to gain the emotional returns rather than the financial returns. The situation described above therefore indicate towards the adaptation of a business model which can effectively combine both the elements together in order to create value for each of the stakeholders in terms of financial rewards. A closer analysis of the facts would suggest that Kiva is facing two important problems i.e. strategic as well as of operational nature. It is Strategic in the sense that paying interest rates to the lenders may dilute its overall appeal and can significantly reduce its overall public image. Further, it also need to maintain its operational viability therefore in order to attract more funds, it may require paying interest to the lenders. Apart from this, a change in the business model of the firm would also force it to change its very character therefore may further require it to complete important legal requirements in order to comply with the existing legal requirements for the commercial organizations. Apart from this since the lenders of Kiva may not be directly into the business of lending therefore they may also be subject to the different regulatory requirements which can effectively discourage them to lend to Kiva owing to

Humanitarian Military Action Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Humanitarian Military Action - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to explore why humanitarian military action is controversial in the eyes of some, and how humanitarian military action can be useful in some situations. Using this as a basis, it will then explore the situations in which humanitarian military action has been successful and what conditions link these occasions. The same process will be completed for the failures, to provide a full overview of humanitarian military action and how best to judge whether it is the right choice in a certain situation. When Humanitarian Military Action is Accepted Many feel that there are situations where military action in the pursuit of protecting human rights is necessary. If, for example, a powerful regime is violating human rights of the citizen or resident, then many feel a more powerful or enlightened government should approve military action for the protection of these people. Humanitarian military action is also often approved with the aim of installing democracy in a c ountry where it has not previously been the primary political system, with the attempt of improving the lifestyle, conditions and rights of the residents. It can also be to protect neighbouring countries or political forces who may be at danger without such intervention1. The central dogma of humanitarian intervention is that it is protective and so any attempts for military action without this cannot be classified as humanitarian. Evidently, this definition is broad enough that humanitarian intervention may be viable in the eyes of some, whilst not in others, and this is amongst the reasons why it can be unsuccessful. Why Humanitarian Military Action is Controversial Humanitarian military action is considered useful in many situations, but it is not without controversy. Many feel that it is an oxymoron, as military action will undermine the living conditions and lifestyle of those in combat and those surrounded by the action2. In this case, the military action can perhaps be percei ved as going against the values of humanitarianism. In some cases, military action may provoke a civil uprising or the instillation of a new political regime that violates human rights more than the previous, which can again cause the action to be considered futile and damaging. There are also those who believe that geographical areas should be left to their own devices to evolve into the political system that is right for them3. In fact, proponents of this position often believe that democracy is not necessarily right for every country, and that forcing it upon citizens is a violation of human rights itself. One main reason why humanitarian intervention has become more likely in recent decades is that political and technological developments have allowed many events to be judged on a world stage and to found a modern international system. Politics has to carefully consider other nations. Despite this development, many feel that it is appropriate for each sovereign state to have imm unity against intervention despite any atrocities carried out by any governmental system in place there4. It can also be suggested that the reigning regime in these opponents feel that they are correct in their views but do not feel the need to perform military intervention on the Western world. Either way, this ability and right to rule alone as is seen fit by ruling governments is seen as both part of the international stage and an anathema to it. The Conditions for Success or Failure of Humanitarian Mili

Mentoring and Assessing Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Mentoring and Assessing - Personal Statement Example This reflective exercise will throw light on the intricate complexities of my profession, the demanding ethical implications of my job, and the rigorous requirement of my fitness for standards (NMC, Standards 02.04). This is a written account of it so it may invoke a critical appraisal of my own actions, and as expected will open vistas for self-analysis and experiential self-learning. This would enrich my skill of mentoring by development of knowledge, its transmission, and its use in practice setting (NMC 2004b). Throughout this account, I shall use Gibbs (1988) cyclical model of reflection. Reflection offers a subjective and contextual view of the world through my views. In the Gibbs cycle of reflection, every action will invoke a thought or feeling, so I would be able to evaluate those experiences and critically analyze them to make sense of it (Spalding, 1998). A careful analysis would aid a conclusion by consideration of all the alternatives of a happening scenario, so an action plan can be developed for future incidents in the practice. Evidently, this is a cyclical process of thoughts affecting our actions on a given situation where I can make sense of it. This would provide me with evidence as to how effective my actions were, thus creating a learning opportunity for me, and at the end of the cycle I would have new knowledge about the changed perspectives through the critical analysis (Fish and Twinn, 1997). Rationale NMC has well-conceived standards to support learning and assessment in practice. As per these standards, these learning and assessment processes, although designed to train the new entrants, applying the principles of learning theory, have important outcomes for mentors, practice teachers, and teachers (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2004). This usually assumes the form of a developmental framework, and the development occurs in stages. The whole process of this developmental and assessment framework is required to be supported and assessed by mentors. The midwifery mentors who have additionally qualified to be sign-off mentors as part of their mentorship qualification programme would make the final assessment of practice, and after the assessment, if the registrant qualifies the NMC standards, they would be recommended to be registered (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2004). To be able to do this, NMC has further designed the framework in such a way that if the outcomes are met withi n the rigorous provisions of accountability, the registrant nurses will be qualified to be registered. The domains in this framework are establishing effective working relationship, facilitation of learning, assessment with rigorous accountability, evaluation of learning, more importantly creating an environment of learning, establishing context of practice, promoting evidence-based practice, and inducing leadership. This framework will be suited for working in the modern healthcare, and there would be a perspective of inter-professional learning (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2006). Furthermore, this has a close correlation with the career pathways of the nurses due to the fact that NHS has launched KFC scheme as indicators of terms and conditions of service for their

Strategic Management Industry Structures And Dynamics Business Strategy Essay

Strategic Management Industry Structures And Dynamics Business Strategy Essay Introduction: Dell Company was founded in 1984 by Michael Dell. It is the worlds largest direct-sale computer vendor; Dell Inc. is now also the leading seller of computer systems in the world, capturing a global market share of more than 15 percent. Dell markets desktop personal computers, notebook computers, network servers, workstations, handheld computers, monitors, printers, high-end storage products, and a variety of computer peripherals and software. In this part I will use Porters Five Forces to analysis Dells great success in the industry. Force 1: The Degree of Rivalry. The PC industry consists of a number of companies; hence the threat from industry competitors is high. Due to the product being highly standardized and shifting costs between brands is low, there is fierce competition which leads to lower margins and profitability in the market. The PC industry can be described as a high competitive industry. For Dell the main competitors are IBM, Apple, HP, TOSHIBA, Gateway etc. Dell uses several strategies to reduce the competitive rivalry between existing players. Firstly Dell differentiated its sales from other competitors. Dell used the direct sales strategy since 1984. To sell PCs directly to consumers, by passing retail stores and system integrators and offering limited customer support but dramatically lower prices. For years, that direct, low-cost sales model worked perfectly. It allowed Dell to make high margins while selling computer gear for less than its rivals. As a result, it now holds a leading 17.9% share of the world PC market and has grown much faster than competitors Hewlett-Packard and IBM. With thousands of phone and fax orders daily, $5 million in daily Internet sales, and daily contacts between the field sales force and customers of all types, the company kept its finger on the market pulse, quickly detecting shifts in sales trends and getting prompt feedback on any problems with its products. If the company got more than a few similar complaints, the information was relayed immediately to design engineers. When design flaws or components defects were found, the factory was notified and the problem corrected within a matter of days. Management believed Dells ability to respond quickly gave it a significant advantage over rivals, particularly over PC makers in Asia, which made large production runs and sold standardized products through retail channels. Dell saw its direct sales approach as a totally customer-driven system that allowed quick transitions to new generations of components and PC models. i Secondly Dell provided good customer service to compete with its rivals. In 1986 the company began providing a guarantee of free on-site service for a year with most of its PCs after users complained about having to ship their PCs back to Austin for repairs. Dell contracted with local service providers to handle customer requests for repairs; on-site service was provided on a next-day basis. Dell also provided its customers with technical support via a toll-free number, fax, and e-mail. Dell received close to 40,000 e-mail messages monthly requesting service and support and had 25 technicians to process the requests. iiBundled service policies were a major selling point for winning corporate accounts. If a customer preferred to work with his or her own service provider, Dell gave that provider the training and spare parts needed to service the customers equipment. Force 2: The Threat of new Entry. Firstly, Dell created a brand image to reduce the threat of new entries by advertising. Dell was the first computer company to use comparative ads. Its advertisements have appeared in several types of media including television, the Internet, magazines, catalogs and newspapers. Secondly, Dell cuts its price or offering free bonus products in the effect to maintain its market share. In 2006, Dell cut its price in an effort to maintain its 19.2% market share. However, this also cut profit-margins by more than half, from 8.7 to 4.3 percent. To maintain the strategy Dell continuing to accept the online and telephone purchase. The brand loyalty and the low price built up a barrier of entry for the new companies. Force 3: The Threat of Substitutes. Other devices like PDA, handheld electronics etc. are now coming out with features similar to PCs. The mobilebility is the key factor of the competition. Dell generate a smaller size laptop called mini which only has a 10.1 inch screen and only sells at the price under  £200 which is even lower than some of the handheld electronics. With the efficiency of mobile and the same function, for example Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, Dell protects its market share against those substitutes. Force 4: Bargaining Power of Customers. Dell built up its brand loyalty to reduce the bargaining power of customers. First, Dell had its own system and strategy to manage the relationship with customers. Since Dell use the direct sale strategy, customers can buy Dells products from the website or ordered by phone or fax. The customers then can personalize their computer by choosing the configuration of the computer (e.g. RAM, processors, and hard-disk capacity). On the Dells website from which people can directly choose, buy and give feedback, it divided the customers into four major groups home users, small medium business, public sector and large enterprise. Dell then treats different groups differently by offering the special service they need from different groups. For instance, Dell provides special solutions and services for higher education. Such as data consolidation and management, HPC (high performance computing environments), wireless solution, connected classroom etc. Because of its direct sale strategy, Dell can easily track the service for any individual buyers. All the buyer information will be stored in its system; dell can differentiate customers and send relevant product information and services to different customers. These special strategies in selling upgrade its brand image among customers. Second, Dell uses the advertisements to help building up its brand image. On the website, TV, newspaper, high street, people can easily find dells advertising. Those can not only increase dells market activity but also increase its brand pride. Force 5: Reducing the Bargaining Power of Suppliers. Dell has a special understanding on the SCM (supply chain management). Dells strategy is to limit the amount of supplier but pick up some outstanding supplier all over the world. Each supplier has a very close relationship with Dell in long-term. Dell uses its huge globe market to share its business with its entire suppliers. For instance, Dell built a assemble factory in Malaysia, its supplier from Ireland soon built a factory in there as well in order to gain a geographic efficiency. Dell had its assemble factories all over the world which relatively close to its suppliers. This will save a lot of transport costs. The double-win strategy makes the supply chain works well. With the double-win strategy and constant relationship, Dell will be able to ask lower price from the suppliers and reduce the bargaining power from them. Market part: Segmentation Introduction: Michael Dell emphasized the significant status of customers to the companys business by stating Finding ways to get close to your customers is critical to your success. Since different people would have different need from the computer, Dell divided its customers into several segments by discovering special needs from each segment. In the year 1994, the customer group was only divided by two primary customer and normal customer. In that year the assets of Dell is 3.5billion USD. In July 1996 Dell launched its online website www.dell.com. On the website primary client are divided into three segments which are large company, medium company and government education. Customers can easily choose and buy the products directly with advices and helps from dell.com. The assets of Dell rocketed up to 7.8 billion USD in that year. However in 1997, Dell continued differentiating its customer for more segments. Government education segment was divided to State Local Government, Federal Government and education. Small company and home users were also been created as individual segments. The net revenue of Dell was 12 billion in that year. On todays Dells website, people will be able to follow the tips and choose a suitable computer in few minutes. Whats more, customers can personalize their chosen computer by changing the configuration of the computer (e.g. color, RAM, processors, and hard-disk capacity). With this direct sale through different segments, Dell can start to assemble the computer once the transaction has been made. The inventory can then be limited as low as zero. Not like Dells competitors, Dell does not need many warehouses all over the world which will save a lot of costs for the company. Although on todays Dell.com, customers are divided into a lot segments. However, literally customers are differentiated into two segments; Relationship customers in opposing Transaction customers. Although Dell intends to build and maintain a good relationship with all customers, it also becomes clear, that the company would regard some customers more relationship worthy than others, by analyzing customer value. The relationship customers are mainly large enterprise and government etc. which occupied 40% of Dells entire customer. Transaction customers are small business and home users which have percentage of 30 among customers. The remaining 30 percentage customer is regarded as a mixed customer. The advantage for dividing customers in different segment is that the company would be able to analysis how it can encourage the customers to buy its product. For individual users or small business price is the priority. Those customers are regarded as more price insensitive. So for home and small business users the price is slightly lower than its competitors e.g. HP, Toshiba and Sony. For bigger customers such as the government or enterprise, they consider more than the price but consequent services and supports. Take large enterprise for instance, Dell supports a lots of specific services and solutions for running the business. Like Infrastructure Consulting service which is basically a plan for simplifying IT infrastructure, helping reduce operating costs while freeing up resources for new business initiatives.iii Also, Dell runs a program called Dell business Creditiv. This is the same as a loan offered by Dell, but with no interest rate and anytime to pay off the balance. Business without enough cash flow would like to take that program. One of the Dells competitors is IBM, it has a clearly customer segmentation but different from Dell. IBM is more focusing on Business and Industry market. In a simply word it is even more focusing on the Big customers. Similar as Dell did for big client, but even did more specific for the segmentation. For Dell there is no segment for industries like Aerospace, Chemicals and petroleum. More segmentation on large customers also brings more services and solutions for all kinds of industries. One of IBMs famous solutions is offering the security management for Wimbledonv. It provided the security solution for players, staff, media and spectators around the world. Conclusion: Dells market share was No.2 in 2009, IBM was far behind. But since Dells customer groups is much bigger than IBMs. In 2006 IBM sold its PC department to Lenovo, Lenovo used IBMs brand to product and sell IBMs ThinkPad series. It is very difficult to compare which segmentation is better. But for the large business users, IBM is a very strong competitor against Dell, Its high performance computer and advanced technical solutions and services makes IBM the biggest company for larger business and industries. i scribd.com Dell operation ii McGraw Hill Dell Computer Corporation mhhe.com/business/management/thompson/11e/case/dell5.html iii Dell.com Large Enterprise service iv Dell.com business credit v IBM.com Wimbledon case study

Comparing Fuentes’ Aura and Ligotti’s The Last Feast of Harlequin Essay

Mythological and Archetypal Reading of Fuentes’ Aura and Ligotti’s The Last Feast of Harlequin  Ã‚   Mythological and archetypal techniques coupled with the interpretation of symbolism found within a piece of literature tells the reader something about the mind and character of a people or culture. Not only does it allow you to delve deeper into this collective mind and speculate about the meaning of a particular work, it can give you something more. I believe that by using these techniques you also get a better glimpse into the main character’s state of mind. It also gives you clues as to is going on ‘behind the scenes’ that will affect the character’s mental state. The texts I chose for this essay are Fuentes’ Aura and Thomas Ligotti’s The Last Feast of Harlequin. Both are dark tales that are full of symbolism. Interpreting some of this symbolism may tell us why the main character acts the way he does and what his mental state is throughout the story. The main characters in both stories are similar. Both are young men who are well educated, with one who attended Harvard and the other who attended the Sorbonne in Paris. The two men are both teachers, each working on his own ‘life’s work’. Interestingly enough, neither story mentions any close family or friends the main characters might have. Fuentes’ Aura is definitely a strange story. It is hypnotic; it draws you in with its slow, seductive style. That is how I would describe this twisted love story that ends very surprisingly. Within this story there is symbolism that helps the reader to understand it better. First, we will explore some of the symbolism that could show us there was an effect on Felipe’s mental state. Darkness abounded in Senora Consuelo’s ... ...things. This approach also gives you an insight into the character’s mind and possibly answers the question of why would they do something that no other sane person would do. In Aura, some of the symbolism found throughout the story suggested that Felipe was not thinking clearly. Surely anyone else would have just left after encountering that woman and her house. In the other story, the main character’s dark side was leading him to do things he or any other outsider might not have done otherwise. Using this approach gives the reader little clues as to what might happen in the story, insight into the main character’s mental state, and a greater understanding of the story as a whole. Works Cited Fuentes, Carlos. Aura. Trans. Lysander Kemp. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1981. Ligotti, Thomas. The Last Feast of Harlequin. The Voice of the Damned 1990.

The Arab Spring: Implications for US Policy and Interests

Introduction The political uprisings in the Arab world during 2011 undeniably transformed the Middle East and the North of Africa (MENA) (Dalacoura, 2012: 63). An explosive mix of deepening political grievances and a series of socio-economic problems, such as: high unemployment, especially among youth, corruption, internal regional and social inequalities, and the deterioration of economic conditions were the common causal factor behind all the uprisings (ibid: 66-67). Internationally, these uprisings have had profound consequences for the pursuit of long-standing United States (U.S.) policy goals and interests in the region, with regard to: regional security, energy supplies, military access, bilateral trade and investment, counter-proliferation, counterterrorism, and the promotion of human rights (Arieff et al. 2012). The profound changes in the region may alter the framework in which these goals are pursued and challenge the basic assumptions that have long guided U.S. policies in the international system (Keiswetter, 2012: 1). Regionally, the contagious nature of the uprisings, which started in Tunisia in December 2010 and later on spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain or Syria (Dalacoura, 2012: 63), led either to the overthrow of dictators or to internal fracturing (ibid: 66). While Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Tunisia underwent troubled transitions away from authoritarian regimes, in Jordan, Morocco, and Oman, modest protests produced tentative steps toward reform (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 41). In view of such differences, policy makers in the U.S. have adopted case-by-case (and highly unequal) approaches, which range from tacit support to outright military intervention (Shore, 2012). For instance, in countries such as Yemen or Saudi Arabia, the U.S. has turned a blind eye to governmental corruption and human rights violations. In non-allied countries, however, like Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran, the U.S. has condemned dictatorial practices, issued sanctions and even wars in the name of democracy (Shore, 2012). It could be argued, thus, that the U.S.’ response to the events of the Arab Spring has been cautious and contradictory at the same time. On the one hand, Obama’s Administration has been criticized for its apparent lack of a coherent approach, and its willingness to talk of democratic ideals while protecting national interests. On the other hand, supporters have praised both the pragmatism and principle as a smart approach to international affairs (Kitchen, 2012: 53). Within this framework, this paper will assess the impact of the so-called Arab Spring on the US objectives regarding political and economic reform prospects for the Middle East peace negotiations, energy issues, and security concerns. The main hypothesis of this paper is, thus, that as part of the current international system, where the concept of security acquires multiple and more complex dimensions that go beyond military terms, the U.S.’ policies in the Middle East are extremely â€Å"shy† and cautious. This paper argues that this obvious â€Å"cautiousness† and what many call a contradictory foreign policy of the U.S. is the result of a series of economic interests to maintain oil-flows and global security concerns that cannot be forgotten in the political international arena. The U.S., thus, faces the difficult position of supporting its ideal of democracy and values on the one hand, and its long-term interests and security concerns on the other. This essay, thus, is divided in two main sections. On the one hand, a brief theoretical background on International Relations (IR) theories will serve as a basis to understand the motivations and approaches of the U.S. foreign policy in the region. On the other hand, an analysis of the old and current U.S.’ interests and policies in the Middle East will reveal the contradictions and concerns of the current U.S. Administration and the possible outcomes.Foreign Policy through the Lenses of International RelationsIn order to understand the U.S. foreign policy in the international system and more specifically in the Middle East, with its wide encompassing spectrum of foreign policy decisions, this paper shall approach the issue from the theoretical framework of International Relations (IR) (Vale, 2012: 6).The International SystemThe international system, driven mainly by states, power, and anarchy, has had a profound effect on the United States since its inception (Vale, 2012: 8). It could be said that there are three main different forms of the international system: the multipolar, the bipolar and the unipolar system. Tin the multipolar system, there are several great powers influencing international politics and competing for dominance (Vale, 2012: 10). Bipolar systems, could be described as a battle of titans of sorts –as it happened between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War-, namely, where two major powers oppose one another for dominance in the system. Finally, the unipolar system, is when there is one superpower and no other major powers in the international system –such as the Roman Empire or the United States after the fall of the Soviet Union until arguably the beginning of the 2003 War in Iraq (ibid: 10). It can be said that contemporary international politics does not fit any of these models. Nevertheless, during the last decade a new structure seems to have appeared: the uni-multipolar system. This system has a single world superpower but with several major powers around it in the system which constrains the superpower so that it cannot act as if it were within a unipolar international system (Vale, 2012: 10). Some authors, like Huntington, argue that this scenario is closest one to the current international system; where the settlement of international issues requires action by the single superpower, the United States, but always with some combination of other major states (1999). Indeed, 21st century scholarship within IR moves away from the primacy of the state and second order analyses towards the relationship that individuals have within the international system. This intellectual movement reflects experiences in international history that diminish the role of the state and reinforce the humans and humanity into the heart of a discipline whose origins lie in the motivation for action. This change is a 21st century phenomenon with experiential roots in the terror attacks of 9/11, the Global Financial Crisis, the Arab Spring uprisings, and the rise of hacktivism. These global, historical experiences are fostering the rise of cutting-edge and revolutionary IR theory that embraces complexity and multidisciplinarity (Oprisko, 2013). In other words, â€Å"the trend within IR theory is mirroring the shared experiences of the 21st century: renewed emphasis on terror, revolutions against inequality and social-immobility, and the success of hacktivism† (ibid. ). According to the Neoclassical Realism theory of IR, the international system determines how states act and behave towards each other because the international system is anarchic and states compete for status quo power (Rose, 1998:146). In other words, â€Å"the scope and ambition of a country’s foreign policy is driven first and fore most by its place in the international system and specifically by its relative material power capabilities† (ibid.). The 21st Century, however, is marked not with the political maneuvering of great states with competing visions, but with the elite few accumulating power, on the one hand, and the general public, rejecting such elitism, on the other. The first movement toward a revision of the status quo interpretation of the international system was the 9-11 terrorist attacks. The reaction against this â€Å"new kind of enemy† and the â€Å"war on terrorism† exemplified â€Å"an important reengagement with the social contract ; the state, the sovereign authority of the people, was no longer the only independent actor in the international political arena† (Oprisko, 2013). Closely related to the emergence of the above-mentioned â€Å"new enemies† there is the change of the security concept during the last decades. Authors such as Ole Waever or Barry Buzan were some of the most predominant constructivists who define security after the Cold War, which included non-traditional elements such as human rights (Layman, 2012: 4). The place of human rights in security is widely debated. Although before the Cold War security was traditionally defined in military terms, since Realism was the main school of thought, Constructivism argued for different perspectives, permitting the most thorough definition for security and national interests due to its ability to allow for change in the perception of what defines threats (Layman, 2012: 6). Indeed, as Barry Buzan argues, social norms and cultural phenomena dictate what is a security threat (Layman, 2012: 6). Waever and Buzan define security â€Å"as perceived threats to anything such as the traditional view of a state to non-traditional views of threats† (Buzan et al. 1998: 7) which include society, the environment, and economic laws. Threats are, thus, divided into different sectors: the military sector, concerned with the armed capabilities of a state; the political sector, concerned with the stability of a state; the economic sector, concerned with the accessibility to resources and the market; the societal sector, concerned with the security and sustainability of culture; and the environmental sector, concerned with the security of resources (Layman, 2012: 8). Thus, the Financial Crisis in 2008 and the subsequent austerity endured by common citizens hit a breaking-point with the suicide of Tarek al-Tayeb Mohammed Bouazizi in Tunisia in 2010. â€Å"Dignity-filled rage erupted across four continents as the Arab Spring spread across the Middle East and North Africa and Occupy protests engulfed Europe and North America† (Oprisko, 2013). As we progress from the competing idealist traditions of the 20th Century, the emphasis from structural impositions are waning (ibid.). â€Å"Human social agents and social structures are mutually constitutive, and social change can proceed causally in both directions [simultaneously] from agents to structures and from structures to agents† (Bennett, 2003: 489)U.S. Contradictory Approach to the Middle EastBearing in mind the previously described theoretical framework, the core American national interests at stake in the Middle East over decades should not come as a surprise; namely: protecting the U.S. homeland from the threats international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction; ensuring the free flow of oil, vital to the U.S., regional, and global economies; ensuring the security of Israel (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 48); discouraging interstate conflict that can threaten allies and other interests; ensuring transit and access to facilities to support U.S. military operations; countering terrorism; and stemming the proliferation of weapons (Arieff et al., 2012: 1). Over the years, these interests have resulted a series of U.S. policy objectives – advancing Arab—Israeli peace, protecting key oil-producing states, limiting the spread of regional conflicts, or ensuring U.S. military access and freedom of action within the region. Consequently, to ensure these objectives, the US has usually behaved as a status quo power in the Middle East, prioritizing the regional balance of power and a certain order over backing political change (ibid). During the past 50 years, â€Å"the U.S. has played two dueling roles in the Middle East, that of a promoter of liberal ideals, willing to wage war to build democracy, and that of a supporter of dictators who adhere to American interests and ensure stability† (Shore, 2012). It can be said, thus, that the U.S. reaction to the Arab Spring uprisings has exemplified these two opposing policies. While the US was quick to defend the peaceful protesters in Egypt and oppressed citizens of Libya, taking any necessary measures to prevent gross humanitarian crimes, the U.S. has issued little more than formal warnings to the fact that Syrians are being killed under Assad’s rule, Bahrain is cracking down on protestors, and Yemen is moving towards disaster (ibid.). However, the U.S.’ commitment to stability and the status quo partly sustained the regional stagnant economic, political and social systems, leading to the rise of Islamism and Salafism. After failing to overthrow the authoritarian regimes of the region, from the 1990s, terrorism came to focus. Thus, and particularly after the attacks of September 11, 2001, the hegemonic interest in the Saudi monarchy -as the largest oil producer- came into conflict with American national security priorities (Kitchen, 2012: 54). However, after 9-11 the U.S.’ determined that the region’s authoritarian regimes were actually the root of the terrorist problem, prescribing, thus, democracy as the solution to the Middle East’s socio-economic issues (Kitchen, 2012: 54). Thus, in 2003, the Bush Administration launched the ‘Freedom Agenda’, asserting that stability could not be purchased at the expense of liberty, emphasizing that promoting democracy was not just about promoting American values, but was in the American national interest, since oppressive regimes created the conditions for radicalization and terrorism (ibid). However, the â€Å"Freedom Agenda† as part of the wider â€Å"war on terror† had obvious contradictions. While on the one hand the US was seeking short-term counter-terrorism measures through the security apparatus of allied authoritarian regimes, on the other hand, it was prioritizing the long-term emancipation of Middle Eastern societies to address the deeper roots of marginalization and underdevelopment (Kitchen, 2012: 54). It could be argued that these contradictions were the background to the US’ response to the events of the Arab Spring (Kitchen, 2012: 55).The Obama Administration and the U.S. Strategy In The Middle EastEven though the uprisings and political change in the Arab world have challenged many of the assumptions that have long informed U.S. policy makers, it can be said that many long-standing U.S. goals in the region endure (Arieff et al. 2012: 1). The Bush administration’s response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, overturned this preference for the status quo. The invasion of Iraq created a power vacuum in the Gulf that Iran tried to fill. The war exhausted the U.S. military, spread sectarianism and refugees throughout the region, and unleashed a civil war. The ‘‘Global War on Terror’’ also brought the US into far more collaboration with Arab security services (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 48). The Bush administration failed to match its rhetoric on democracy with meaningful support for democratic change (ibid). The legacies of Obama’s predecessor’s war on terror had to be addressed, in order improve the US’ credibility and standing in the MENA region (Kitchen, 2012: 55). Thus, during President Obama’s first term, the U.S. announced its desire for a fresh start with the Muslim world, which started by withdrawing the U.S. military presence from Iraq and scaling down the worst excesses of the War on Terror, while maintaining a lower-key counter-terrorism campaign. While the administration has not managed to resolve the Iranian nuclear challenge, it has assembled an international consensus and rigorous sanctions to pressure Tehran. Obama also made the peace process a top priority, although his efforts proved no more successful than his predecessor’s. Then the Arab Spring erupted, reshaping the regional agenda (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 49). It has been said that the events of the Arab Spring took Obama’s Administration by surprise and underprepared (Kitchen, 2012: 55). While the political reform was in the overarching interests of the US, and was both sustainable in the region and compatible with America’s other priorities (ibid: 56), the White House, however, was worried that over-enthusiastic American support could undermine the revolutions’ authenticity. Thus, Obama’s rhetoric in public was cautious, as he sought to balance competing interests in the context of uncertain events, while at the same time the administration used its long-developed relationships in the region to try to shape developments (ibid.). Egypt constitutes a clear example of this delicate situation. While the clear win for the Muslim Brotherhood did not fall within the U.S. ‘s â€Å"expectations† and interests in that country in particular, the following military coup, although morally questionable (at least in the 21st Century), has hardly been challenged. Indeed, having a military regime that wants to maintain the peace with Israel, is probably the most comfortable option for the U.S. in a region where nothing is settled so far. Despite the massive changes across the Middle East ever since 2011, there are still several rapidly evolving dynamics that any viable U.S. strategy must account for. First, the so-called Arab Spring has altered key regional dynamics, regime perceptions of internal and external threats, and the role of different political actors, whereby a mobilized public opinion has an unprecedented role in regional politics. Second, Iranian nuclear and hegemonic ambitions continue to worry its neighbors, Israel, and the West. Third, while al-Qaeda has suffered organizational and political setbacks, its affiliates have adapted in disconcerting ways. Fourth, the Israeli—Palestinian issue continues to be a core element of regional instability and a source of potential violence (Khal and Lynch, 2013: 41).The Arab Spring and the US Interests; Challenges and OpportunitesIn response to the Arab uprisings, the Obama Administration has taken a reactive approach, trying to adjust U.S. regional pol icies while coping with multiple ongoing crises (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 49). In 2011, when addressing the impact of the Arab Spring on U.S. interests, Obama admitted the unsustainability of the status quo and advocated relations based not only on mutual interests and mutual respect but also on a set of principles, including: opposition to the use of violence and repression; support for â€Å"a set of universal rights; and support for political and economic reform in the MENA region that can meet the legitimate aspirations of ordinary people throughout the region (Keiswetter, 2012: 4). However, contradictions were again inevitable. Although the administration recognized the importance of seeking to change in Egypt and across the region, it was quickly pulled up at the prospect of confrontation with Saudi Arabia over a possible political transformation in Bahrain (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 49). Similarly, while the administration recognized the need for democratic change in the region, allowing, thus, the democratic process to develop even when elections produced Islamist victors (as it happened in Tunisia and Egypt), it always resisted calls for a more costly and risky intervention in Syria (ibid.). Despite the Administration embracing democratic reform and public engagement, a workable strategy to implement these principles has yet to be put in place (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 49). Indeed, even when sensible policies were pursued, they have frequently not been communicated strategically, which transmits uncertainty about American priorities in the region. Given the current environment in the Middle East, any attempt to draw a more coherent approach must consider five strategic dilemmas: First, maintaining the free flow of oil may require robust security ties with Gulf regimes, which would increase the U.S. dependence on the least democratic and iron-fist ruling governments in the region. This dependence would undermine the U.S. soft power with the Arab public and may contribute to the emerging Sunni—Shiite Cold War in the region (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 51). The Saudis, among others, have been able to compensate for the disruptions caused by the Libyan events. Thus, a strong US commitment to the security of the Gulf will be vital to oil market stability in the future (Keiswetter, 2012: 2). It could be said, thus, that the main challenge for the U.S. here will be being able to maintain traditional allies while supporting the democratic values it has been forever defending. Second, while a U.S. presence throughout the region and close cooperation with partner governments’ security services may be necessary for combating terrorism, this American military presence in the Arab world will continue to provide extremists with propaganda and recruitment opportunities (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 51). The Arab Spring uprisings, based on universal values and rooted in the demand for jobs, justice and dignity, highlight the bankruptcy of Islamic extremism sanctioning violence as the only way to obtain societal changes (Keiswetter, 2012: 2). While none of the 2011 uprisings in the Middle East was led by Islamist movements or had an Islamist agenda (Dalacoura, 2012: 74), Islamist movements have proved to benefit from them politically (ibid: 75). Indeed, the upheavals provide opportunities, as it happened in Yemen, for Islamic extremists to gain ground (Keiswetter, 2012: 2). As exemplified before with the case of Egypt, the U.S. faces the challenge of having Islami st regimes freely elected in stagnant countries, whereby radical movements are like to mushroom, or take an active role in the future political direction of the region, which will probably lead to international criticism. Third, tilting toward Israel in the Palestinian conflict may be essential to reassure Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 50). However, Israeli leaders argue that the wave of unrest in the Arab world is endangering Israel’s security by potentially replacing relatively friendly neighboring governments with Islamist and potentially hostile governments (Arieff et al., 2012: 3). Fourth, a forceful military U.S. intervention in Syria could hasten the demise of Assad’s regime, reduce humanitarian suffering, demonstrate leadership, and weaken Iran. However, such intervention would also require a major investment of military resources, returning the US to the protracted commitment that it just escaped in Iraq, and consuming resources necessary to deal with Iran and other global contingencies (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 50). Fifth, the unclear prospects for democratic change. The consensus in Washington from the 1990s has been that democratization will lead to the emergence in the Middle East of regimes which are supportive of the U.S. (Dalacoura, 2012: 78). However, the Middle East has been described as immune to the waves of democratization which have transformed other regions. Moreover, focusing attention on democracy in the Middle East has been criticized for reflecting the priorities of western and in particular American political science (ibid: 71). On political and economic reform, the nature of the democratic political systems in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya remains to be seen (Keiswetter, 2012: 2). Indeed, one of the U.S.’ greatest fears is credibility in what â€Å"new† Middle East will emerge from the current turmoil (Shore, 2012). Sixth, it can be said that Iran’s nuclear and regional hegemonic aspirations are one of the major ‘‘pre-Arab Spring’’ concerns for the US. It is feared that â€Å"a nuclear-armed Tehran would increase its support for militancy, terrorism, and subversion in the Levant, Iraq, and the Gulf, which would further destabilize the region† (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 43). Thus, Iran’s nuclear program could have a decisive impact on regional politics (ibid.). Seventh, the Arab Spring has shown the limits of American power in the Middle East. Both the U.S. and Europe are missing the necessary financial resources to shape prospects in the Arab Spring countries. Thus, investment will also have to come from countries, such as the Gulf states or China, who do not share to the same extent the Western interest in reinforcement of democratic values (Keiswetter, 2012: 2). In any case, the ultimate strategic effects of these changes are not clear. â€Å"Many fear the emerging power of Islamist movements, elected or violent† (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 43). The anti-American protests in September 2012 in response to a YouTube video, and the uneven governmental responses to the crisis were a clear sign of the underlying turbulence which might complicate future U.S. policy in the region. In other words, the emerging regional order combines a complex array of contradictory new trends (ibid.). In light of the Arab uprisings, it is highly important to prioritize political and economic reform. However, pushing reform complicates ties with key autocratic partners, may cause a nationalist backlash in some democratizing states, and may also risk empowering Islamist groups less inclined to cooperate with the US (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 51).ConclusionA major question that remains to be answered is whether the uprisings will eventually lead to the democratization of the Middle East and the end of the authoritarianism that has undermined its political life (Dalacoura, 2012: 79). On the one hand, the most immediate prospects for the Arab Spring are: continuing instabilities as states try to solve their political and economic situations, as well as their relations with other countries; rising influence for those countries with the necessary resources to back up their policies; and the continuation of a visible but attenuated role for the U.S. (Keiswetter, 2012: 2). The long-term prospect, on the other hand, includes also the possibility Middle East with a much higher degree of freedom, more democratic, prosperous and accountable, less abusive of human rights, and thus a net positive outcome for U.S. interests (ibid.). With the dramatic rise in popular activism empowered by the new technologies, it is clear that long-term stability in the region will require meaningful steps by all governments towards a genuine political and economic reform (Kahl and Lynch, 2013: 42). The U.S. has had to tread a fine line between support for its values and long-term interests à ¢â‚¬â€œ represented by political reform in the region-, and the protection of its core regional interests (Kitchen, 2012: 57). If the U.S. is serious about turning off its Middle detour, then in the Middle East and North Africa the US needs to prioritize long-term trends over short-term concerns, which may not always mean pushing for revolutionary change in support of democratic values in the region (Kitchen, 2012: 58). The recent revolutions pose an opportunity to establish a new status quo in the Middle East, free an oppressed and jobless youth, increase economic standing and trade, and give democracy a chance to flourish. While the U.S. remains limited in the impact it can have in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, it has an opportunity to change its negative standing in the Middle East; an opportunity to change a stoic, ineffective foreign policy (Shore, 2012).References Andrew Bennett, (2003) â€Å"A Lakatosian Reading of Lakatos: What Can We Salvage from the Hard Core?,† inProgress in International Relations Theory: Appraising the Field, ed. Colin Elman and Miriam Fendius Elman. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Arieff, A., Danon, Z., Katzman, K., Sharp, J. M., & Zanotti, J. (2012) â€Å"Change in the Middle East: Implications for US Policy†.Congressional Research Service. [On-line], Available: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R42393.pdf [21 April 2014] Buzan B, Waever O, de Wilde J. (1998 ) â€Å"Introduction, security analysis: Conceptual apparatus, the military sector, the political sector†. In: Security: A new framework for analysis. Colorado: Lynne Reinner Publishers; 1998. ISBN 1-55587-603-X Dalacoura, K. (2012) â€Å"The 2011 uprisings in the Arab Middle East: political change and geopolitical implications†.International Affairs, 88(1), 63-79. [On-line], Available: http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/International%20Affairs/2012/88_1/88_1dalacoura.pdf [21 April 2014] Huntington, S. P. (1999). The Lonely Superpower. Foreign Affairs, 35-49. Kahl, C. H., & Lynch, M. (2013). US Strategy after the Arab Uprisings: Toward Progressive Engagement.The Washington Quarterly, 36(2), 39-60. [On-line], Available: http://67.159.45.21/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/TWQ_13Spring_Kahl-Lynch.pdf [21 April 2014] Keiswetter, A. L. (2012) â€Å"The Arab spring: Implications for US policy and interests†.Middle East Institute. [On-line]. Available: http://www.mei.edu/content/arab-spring-implications-us-policy-and-interests [21 April 2014] Kitchen, N. (2012) â€Å"After the Arab Spring: power shift in the Middle East?: the contradictions of hegemony: the US and the Arab Spring†, [On-line], Available: http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/publications/reports/pdf/SR011/FINAL_LSE_IDEAS__UnitedStatesAndTheArabSpring_Kitchen.pdf [21 April 2014]. Layman, C. K. (2012). Conflictual Foreign Policy of the United States: Between Security and Human Rights. [On-line], Available: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1497&context=cmc_theses&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.google.es%2Fscholar%3Fq%3D%2522theory%2Bof%2Binternational%2Brelations%2522%2B%2522the%2BArab%2BSpring%2522%2B%2522US%2Binterests%2522%26btnG%3D%26hl%3Des%26as_sdt%3D0%252C5%26as_ylo%3D2010#search=%22theory%20international%20relations%20Arab%20Spring%20US%20interests%22 [23 April 2014] Oprisko, R. L. (2013). â€Å"IR Theory’s 21st Centur y Experiential Evolution†.E-International Relations (2013).[On-line], Available: http://www.e-ir.info/2013/05/25/the-fall-of-the-state-and-the-rise-of-the-individuals-ir-theorys-21st-century-experiential-evolution/ [23 April 2014] Rose, G. (1998). Neoclassical realism and theories of foreign policy.World politics, 51, 144-172. Shore, S. M. (2012) Great Decisions 2012 Preview: After The Arab Spring, [On-line], Available: http://www.fpa.org/features/index.cfm?act=feature&announcement_id=88 [21 April 2014] Vale, K. R. (2012).US foreign policy in the post-Cold War era (Doctoral dissertation, Office of Graduate Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston). [On-line], Available: http://crhsgg-studentresources.wikispaces.umb.edu/file/view/KVale_US_Foreign_Policy_PColdWar_2012.pdf [23 April 2014]

How To Create Effective Visual Content With Ashton Hauff from CoSchedule [AMP 032] - CoSchedule Blog

How To Create Effective Visual Content With Ashton Hauff from [AMP 032] Blog Have you ever said, â€Å"make it pop,† to your graphic designer? While you know what you mean, it’s likely that your graphic designer does not have the same mental image you do. Today’s episode is going to be about collaborating with your designer to make an amazing image that pops the way you want it to. It’s all about communication! How Ashton got into design and why she loves it. Why digital design is such an important part of the marketing process, as well as why some types of design just add visual clutter and are ineffective. How Ashton makes sure that her designs are intentional and relevant to the blog posts or projects she’s working on. She also talks about how she goes about storytelling through her designs. Tips on finding a theme and settling on colors for a particular project. Why communication is an integral part of the design process. Some of the problems that designers can encounter when they’re working with marketing teams. Why it’s so important that a marketing team trust the designer’s expertise. How marketers can work with designers when there’s something they don’t like in the image. Why simplicity matters for high-quality designs, as well as why simple designs can be challenging to create. Why agility is important, as well as how much Ashton creates over the course of a week. Examples of times when things just went wrong with Ashton’s design process, including what ended up being the problem and lessons she learned. Ashton’s vision of the future of design in marketing, as well as her advice for people just getting started in design. Links: Ashton’s archive on Latent Semantic Indexing blog post .com Lynda.com Canva.com If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Ashton: â€Å"Design is such a huge part of marketing because we’re such a visually led society.† â€Å"You have to know what story you’re telling before you jump into design.† â€Å"You have to trust that your designer knows what they’re doing. There are a lot of elements to design that the everyday person doesn’t notice. We see all of the different layers that make that piece what it is.† â€Å"Over-communicate early on. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.†

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The Tragedy of Rape: Putting Faces to Numbers In the article, â€Å"The Possibilities and Limits of Telemedicine: Self-Treatment at the South Pole,† Sara Taub and Kayhan Parsi begin by stating, â€Å"it has been said that the death of one person is a tragedy whereas the death of a million is a statistic.† One daily occurrence where this can be applied is rape. Over 240,000 fall victim to rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault every year in the U.S. Although this a daily occurrence, many people do not realize how serious the issue truly is until they’ve heard a personal account of it; like many things, it isn’t recognized as tragic until real names and stories are placed to the statistical number. To help illustrate my point I will be using a few articles of the many on the subject. One of the articles examined, â€Å"Escaping Hades† by Lis (no last name given) is a story of one girl’s personal struggle with being the victim of rape. The second article is a statistic chart for r ape provided by RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). The third article is the story of Jesse Dirkhising, a young boy who was brutally raped and killed, the article was written by Allyson Smith of worldnetdaily.com. I whole-heartedly agree with the quote that with many things, including rape, are much more tragic when viewed from one victims personal perspective rather than looking at a number. RAINN has provided a chart of statistics of the epidemic of rape. According to these statistics, â€Å"In 2002, there were 247,730 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.† Although this number is alarming and may give a bit of a shock value to whoever reads it, the truth is for the majority of people who look at this will think of it as no more than a number. Within these numbers lie true stories of victims of a terrible tragedy, it is not the numbers that tell their personal struggle or hardships that occurred throughou... Free Essays on Rape Essay Free Essays on Rape Essay The Tragedy of Rape: Putting Faces to Numbers In the article, â€Å"The Possibilities and Limits of Telemedicine: Self-Treatment at the South Pole,† Sara Taub and Kayhan Parsi begin by stating, â€Å"it has been said that the death of one person is a tragedy whereas the death of a million is a statistic.† One daily occurrence where this can be applied is rape. Over 240,000 fall victim to rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault every year in the U.S. Although this a daily occurrence, many people do not realize how serious the issue truly is until they’ve heard a personal account of it; like many things, it isn’t recognized as tragic until real names and stories are placed to the statistical number. To help illustrate my point I will be using a few articles of the many on the subject. One of the articles examined, â€Å"Escaping Hades† by Lis (no last name given) is a story of one girl’s personal struggle with being the victim of rape. The second article is a statistic chart for r ape provided by RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). The third article is the story of Jesse Dirkhising, a young boy who was brutally raped and killed, the article was written by Allyson Smith of worldnetdaily.com. I whole-heartedly agree with the quote that with many things, including rape, are much more tragic when viewed from one victims personal perspective rather than looking at a number. RAINN has provided a chart of statistics of the epidemic of rape. According to these statistics, â€Å"In 2002, there were 247,730 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.† Although this number is alarming and may give a bit of a shock value to whoever reads it, the truth is for the majority of people who look at this will think of it as no more than a number. Within these numbers lie true stories of victims of a terrible tragedy, it is not the numbers that tell their personal struggle or hardships that occurred throughou...

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