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In In Defense of History, historian Richard J. Evans defends mainstream historiography against the claims of postmodernists that ultimate historical truth is not only unattainable but does not exist. Evans criticizes postmodernist thinkers who argue that all history is merely interpretation and no one perspective is better or any more valid than another. The notion of postmodernist's that no historical theory is any more valid than another combined with the American belief that both sides of an argument should be treated fairly is a dangerous on in Evans' view, leading to the evolution of Holocaust denial because all views are legitimized when none is more valid than another. Evans' In Defense of History makes the case the mainstream historiography can lead to some valid conclusion about the meaning of history. He sees postmodern criticism as undermining any form of critical perspective. When there is no grounds for holding one view as superior to another and no f

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In the Sotheby's case, the two principals from Sotheby's and Christy's auction houses decided to engage in price fixing because they were being victimized by customers who played them off against each other to avoid paying the fees that provided the firms' primary income. This was the initial inequity. The two auction houses responded by secretly meeting and agreeing to raise and publicly release non-negotia

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Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Frederic Edwin Church was a landscape painter and one of the main figures in the Hudson River School of American landscape painters (Frederic 1). Church's travels to South America led to his fascination with the Andes, where Prussian explorer Alexander von Humboldt challenged the artist to "portray the physiognomy of the Andes" (Frederic 1). In "Rainy Season in the Tropics" (1866), Church created an oil on canvas that portrays two different locations. Most of the composition is taken up by Church's depiction of the Ecuadorian Andes, with a small portion on the right devoted to a tropical forest in Jamaica (Rainy 1). The landscapes portrayed in the two locations are connected by a double rainbow that frames the lan

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This Healthy Kids program will have far-reaching effects in Florida that extend beyond the confines of individual children's health. If left uninsured, Florida's children would incur healthcare costs that greatly exceed the costs of providing them with insurance, and this added cost would devolve to the taxpayers to cover, thus making Florida a less attractive place to live or open a business. With the Healthy Kids program in place, however, the taxpayer burden can remain within the usual limits. The Healthy Kids program would also have a beneficial effect on the healthcare system since it would not be deluged with children's emergency cases that could have been handled as non-emergencies if parents had sought medical care for their children earlier. In addition, Healthy Kids would have an effect on population subgroups such as migrant workers and

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Global Dairy is a multinational enterprise operating in more than 100 countries. Of concern herein is the development of specific strategies to revitalize the Global Milk brand offered by Global Dairy, a product positioned currently in the children's milk market which is dominated in the case of Venezuela by three brands (Sherriff & Brendl, 2009). At issue in this essay is a case analysis of the various issues which should be addressed by senior brand manager Scott Sherriff with respect to the repositioning of the Global Milk brand in the Venezuelan marketplace. Several questions regarding positioning, market niches, the marketing mix, and potential modifications to both the positioning strategy and marketing mix planned for this product will be explored. The first question related to the case study is what different groups of consumers could Global Dairy potentially target for the new extra calcium powdered milk product that was originally called Global Milk and now to be ren

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Part I - Self-Evaluation I am a program specialist and leader in special education. In terms of evaluating myself in terms of Kouzes and Posner's (2003, 2008) practices of exemplary leaders, I have formulated the following checklist of exemplary practices and my performance on each of the listed practices: 1. Modeling the Way - In terms of designing and modifying the curriculum, in my capacity as a program specialist leader I work hard to establish principles concerning how special children and their parents should be treated by colleagues as well as the ways which colleagues should work with children to pursue special education goals. In terms of said goals, while all work together to achieve them, it can be noted that I strive to set interim goals so that parents and children can achieve small wins on their way to achieving larger objectives. In addition to the foregoing, I have established certain standards for excellence as part of designing staff development programs

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There are times when crimes committed are so heinous, so brutal, so inhuman that the death penalty is well deserved. The case of the Briley Brothers' rampage in Virginia is such a case for capital punishment. A little more than twenty-five years ago, the terror of brutal, escaped death-row convicts began: "On May 31, 1984 -- the largest escape of condemned prisoners in U.S. history unleashed itself from Mecklenburg's death row. Planned for years and secretly revealed in advance to prison officials by worried inmates, the escape exposed a prison environment dominated by a band of convicts, not their keepers" (McKelway para. 2). The prison in Mecklenburg, Va. Was supposed to be a state-of-the-art facility where chances of escape were non-existent. But, this caper, called The Great Escape, ended up terrorizing the state of Virginia and surrounding states, and causing havoc and recriminations for months afterwards. As McKelway (2009) explains in his article, it took nineteen days of

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Phillp Caputo's memoir A Rumor of War documents the transformation in his views about the conflict in Vietnam. Caputo enthusiastically joined the army for idealistic-if not naively idealistic-reasons, however his experiences dealing with the army bureaucracy and fighting the Viet Cong left him largely disillusioned about the conflict and the nature of war in general. As a young man, Caputo longed to escape his quotidian life in the Chicago suburbs. He describes: I wanted to find in a commonplace world a chance to live heroically. Having known nothing but security, comfort, and peace, I hungered for danger, challenges, and violence (5). After stopping at a Marine recruiting booth, Caputo had a sudden moment of realization that fighting in a war would fulfill these desires. He joined without any persuasion by the recruiters. His enlistment had several underlying motivations: the desire to prove his masculinity, the desire to defy his pa

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James McGill Buchanan was born on October 3, 1919 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he attended local schools, earning a B.A. in 1940 from Middle Tennessee State College (Boettke and Coyne 1). He went on to earn a M.S. from the University of Tennessee and after serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II, earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago in 1948. He spent most of his career as a university teacher and is widely recognized for having established the Center for the Study of Public Choice, first, at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and later at George Mason University (Boettke and Coyne 1). Buchanan described himself as a libertarian socialist who converted to classical liberalism after having been influenced by the price theory espoused by Frank Knight while he studied under Knight at the University of Chicago. It was there that he also encountered Knut Wicksell's principle of just taxation and embarked on a lifelong project of integrating these intellectual

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In his letter of transmittal and accompanying report outlining the changes in U.S.-Cuba foreign policy, Richard Lugar states that Carl Meacham took a trip to Cuba to evaluate the U.S.'s policy toward Cuba. Meacham met with a variety of officials and wrote the report, and Lugar's letter introduces it by saying that the U.S.'s policy of using economic sanctions is a legitimate foreign policy tool. The letter admits that the 47-year unilateral embargo on Cuba has not achieved its purpose of "bringing democracy to the Cuban people," and Meacham's report offers recommendations on how U.S. interests in Cuba can be addressed better. Meacham's report discusses

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Throughout American history, the Civil Rights movement has been graced with a variety of visionary leaders. Not surprisingly, each leader possessed different perspectives on the philosophical basis of the movement as well as the methods the movement should employ to overcome them. As a result, each leader met with varying reactions from their contemporaries and the American public at large. Understanding the different styles of and responses to each leader represents a crucial step in framing the Civil Rights movement in a historical perspective. This essay will examine the respective careers of W.E.B. DuBois, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X and compare their ideologies, methods, and public reactions. W.E.B. DuBois African-American historical scholar Elliot Rudwick describes W.E.B. DuBois as a "propagandist" (Franklin and Meier 63). Indeed, DuBois described himself as a "master of propaganda" in his own writing (Franklin and Meier 63). Rudwick and DuBois

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In her book, "Medieval Myths", Norma L. Goodrich provides a contemporary re-telling of several medieval myths, including Beowulf, The Song of Roland, and The Cid. As implied by her introduction, Goodrich places emphasis upon a historical reading of each of these texts and attempts to trace back the origins of various European national ideals by examining the thematic concerns of medieval mythology and their influence upon modern culture. Assuming that medieval mythology has a transformative influence upon the modern psyche, an exploration of the role of the medieval woman and how it did or did not change over the span of several centuries of European history becomes an interesting area of analysis. Although collectively these stories provide textual evidence of an emerging public presence of women, unfortunately all female characters are subjected to a rigid patriarchal system that afforded them limited mobility. In the introduction of her contemporary telling of Beowulf , G

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The connection between psychology and language was first explored most explicitly by Noam Chomsky. Chomsky was a pioneer in the field of psycholinguistics who asserted that people have a "universal innate ability" to understand language ("Noam Chomsky," 2001). He named this concept "language acquisition device," or LAD ("Noam Chomsky," 2001). His view was that we have an inherent ability to recognize "underlying syntactical relationships" within a sentence ("Noam Chomsky," 2001). He demonstrated this by showing that children could understand a sentence whether it was in declarative, interrogative, or some other form ("Noam Chomsky," 2001). We express ourselves through language by choosing words that signify the thoughts we wish to convey. In doing so, we are limited by the richness of the particular language we are using. For example, English is notorious for offering few choices, while Greek offers many variations of meaning. In English, there is only one bas

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John Gay never seemed to have achieved much in life, other than The Beggars Opera. This work is usually overshadowed by other more impressive works of fiction and theatre in Britain during the first half of the Eighteenth Century. Times were difficult and the gulf between the rich- the aristocratic- and the poor, just as the Industrial Revolution would soon poke its head through the London fogs. There was time for something that was both a comedy as well as a satire and, yet, in many ways, a tragedy as well. Added to the fact that Gay composed and improvised music to enhance his story of Macheath, Jenny and other characters that, had they been real and on the streets, would surely have frightened the wealthy who came to see the show. What was fairly novel was the incorporation of music into the continuum of the story line, which, in truth, could be considered more a patchwork than a solid beginning, middle and end of a routine theatrical play. Yet, the fact that there was political satire and a comedy of manners as well as music all rolled up into one ante-0dated the eventual success of Sheridan and, much late

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Measures of central tendency used to describe the average income of people across the United States have both strengths and weaknesses. On the plus side, they provide a good general idea of incomes in a particular geographical area. This can be useful for making generalizations for decision-making purposes. For example, knowing that the mean income in the area is $25,000 immediately identifies that it is a relatively low-income area. However, on

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In Chinua Achebe's novel, Things Fall Apart, he recounts the story of Okonkwo, an African villager whose primary goal in life is to outshine his father. Okonkwo's father, Unoka, is known in the village as being lazy and unaccomplished, and Okonkwo endeavors to distance himself from his father and his lackluster life by becoming an achiever. Unoka constantly borrows money but never pays it back, so Okonkwo prides himself on his wealth but also on his courage and strength. In a display of what Americans might call "macho pride," Okonkwo hides his true feelings all the time and shows only a brusque demeanor that he thinks demonstrates real masculinity. A key event in the novel tests his ability to hide his feelings effectively. He has been chosen to ac

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Meryl Streep, the actress with the most Oscar nominations in history, is a compelling case study. Her on-screen prowess is considerable; her ability to elicit emotional responses from the audience is uncanny. But her influence on American culture renders her star power worthy of even keener analysis. This paper will examine how the various persona Streep has assumed have both represented the concerns of vast swaths of American society and in turn shaped new concerns for them, especially in the realm of womens issues. Streep's protean career has allowed her to form a varied and salient relationship to American culture by taking on roles that reflect the issues of the day. She excels in adaptability, often taking on roles that have defined the way Americans viewed the zeitgeist of the times. Streep was iconic playing a woman fighting for her right for custody of her son in Kramer v. Kramer at a time when women's rights were at the forefront of the culture war debates. In discussing how Streep's performances galvanized the nation into caring about the often ignored plight of females, Rachel Abramowitz writes, "In the early part of

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Survey research is applied to collect data, the analysis of which will facilitate the understanding of a problem, an issue, or an activity. In order for survey research to accomplish these goals, the data collected through the administration of the survey instrument must be valid and reliable (Babbie, 2003). One factor that is of overriding importance in the development and in the administration of a survey instrument is the need to assure that the people to whom the survey instrument is administered are capable of providing the information that is required (Leibowitz, 2009). When the issue is school safety, a number of factors must be considered in the development of an appropriate survey instrument. If, as example, the focus is on the identification of deficiencies in facility structure or the

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In On Liberty, John Stuart Mills sets out the utilitarian proposition that societies should grant individuals certain freedoms of action. To the extent that these freedoms do not hurt others or the society at large, Mill believes that people of sound mind and who are adults should be granted the right to make their own decisions. In the case of a patient in need of a heart transplant (Mr. Doe) who wishes to pay a willing healthy man (Mr. Donor) to donate his heart, so that Mr. Doe may live, the ideas of Mill can be evaluated in a hypothetical scenario. Mr. Donor is assumed to be of sound mind and he is not a child who should be watched over. His decision to donate his heart and thus die in the process is made for a rational cause: he believes that in doing so, he will be able to support his family. Is this decision grounds for a doctor or governing body to step in and prevent Mr. Donor from going through with the exchange? To many,

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One of the greatest rulers in Iranian history prior to 1500 was Askia Muhammad. Askia Muhammad was a devout Muslim who gained rule by driving Sunni Ali's son from power and replacing him (Beck 417). Ruling for 37 years, Askia Muhammad brought organizational structure to the Songhai Empire's government and promoted scholarly studies (Beck 417). His many enhancements to the Empire's civilization might have resulted in a strikingly different outcome for modern-day Africa had his rule not climaxed in military defeat in 1591 at the hands of Moroccan fighting forces. This paper will examine the changes made by Askia Muhammad in the Songhai Empire and explain why his military defeat in 1591 cost the African people the civilized society, and ultimately the prosperity, that they would have enjoyed had he been able to continue in rule and develop a lasting, civilized African society. Askia Muhammad brought improved government structure and administration and higher learning to t

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In "A Modest Proposal," British satirist Jonathan Swift (1729, p. 2) argued that the problem of famine and starvation in Ireland could be solved by making excess children under the age of two available as a food source, thus preventing "those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us!" Additionally, given that Swift (1729)

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Introduction The American automotive industry was a cornerstone of the American economy for much of the twentieth century. The automobile transformed the United States not only in terms of the personal freedom that it introduced through affordable personal transportation, but also in the quality of life that it made possible for the millions of workers employed directly and indirectly by the industry. Labor unions, management theories, retirement planning, and home ownership were all greatly influenced by the growth of the American automobile industry, and the influence expanded around the world. Today, America's three largest automobile manufacturers are facing financial challenges that could lead to bankruptcy, a situation that was unimaginable in the middle of the twentieth century. This research considers some of the problems that have landed the companies in this situation and evaluates some of the alternatives that could help save the industry. The Quality

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Introduction Law is widely recognized as a function of the society that creates it and is only as good or bad as those who make it, enforce it, and administer it. Law and law enforcement activities reflect the values of lawmakers and the dominant political and economic forces in a society (Calvi and Coleman 332). The law enforcement or police function is itself an outgrowth of the basic values, norms, and mores that shape a society and its definition of what constitutes criminality and deviance. Policing is often a controversial issue and function that has been subjected over time to enormous scrutiny with many interest groups charging that police strategies for crime control and reduction disproportionately affect minority or other groups in society (Maguire 317). At issue in this analysis is an overview of problem-oriented policing strategies which can be successful in reducing crime. This essay will explore intelligence-led problem-oriented policing strategies, arguing

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Veterans of the war in Iraq are being treated better upon their return to the United States than veterans of the Vietnam War primarily because of the attitude of Americans toward the respective wars and the information available about the troops. Currently more than sixty percent of Americans oppose the war in Iraq (PolingReport.com 1). By contrast, in 1971, only twenty-eight percent of people thought the Vietnam War was not a mistake (Gallup, The Gallup Poll 299). Thus, a significantly larger segment of society opposed the Vietnam War. In addition, opposition was more organized into protests and demonstrations and permeated the subculture movement in its music and attitudes. So powerful was this societal movement that some even credit it with contributing to the nation's failure in the war. According to two political scientists, the reasons for the United States' failure were "primarily socio-political, first and foremost the fundamental lack of legitimacy of the superpowers' objectives in the war ... among the superpowers' citizens and allies and in the world community at large" (Ar

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Introduction The process of natural selection as advanced by Charles Darwin and the concept of evolution as defined by Oliver Sacks have something foundational in common; both are admittedly theories, not intended to be scientific fact but to stimulate scientific thought and research. Other than this broad similarity, however, the two articles are not readily comparable, given that Sacks' article discusses the origin of life, which would have been comparable to another of Darwin's works, "Origin of Species," while Darwin's article talks about natural selection. Both authors attempt to connect the dots and fill in the gaps in scientific knowledge, in Sacks' case regarding life on other planets and in Darwin's case in terms of how species adapt to their environment. Sacks' article has more of a cosmic focus, while Darwin's has a particular focus on certain species. Neither author claims to have all the answers of the universe and both readily admit that there is room fo

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