Serial Killer Michael Ross, The Roadside Strangler

The story of confessed serial killer Michael Ross is a tragic tale of a young man who came from a farm he loved, and a childhood filled with parental abuse, although he could not remember the experiences. It is also a tale of this same man who, driven by sexually violent fantasies, brutally raped and murdered eight young girls. And finally, it is a tragic tale of a judicial system that is riddled with imperfections in its responsibility of deciding life or death. Michael Ross - His Childhood Years Michael Ross was born on July 26, 1959, to Daniel and Pat Ross in Brooklyn, Connecticut. According to court records, the two married after Pat had discovered she was pregnant. The marriage was not a happy one. Pat hated farm life, and after having four children and two abortions, she ran off to North Carolina to be with another man. When she returned home, she was institutionalized. The admitting doctor wrote that Pat talked of suicide and of beating and striking her children. Michael Ross sister has said that as a child, Ross took the brunt of his mothers anger. It is also suspected that an uncle of Ross who committed suicide may have sexually molested Ross while babysitting him. Ross said he remembered very little about his childhood abuse although he never forgot how much he loved helping his father around the farm. Strangling Chickens After his uncle had committed suicide, the job of killing sick and malformed chickens became eight-year-old Michaels responsibility. He would strangle the chickens with his hands. As Michael got older, more of the farm responsibilities became his, and by the time he was in high school, his father depended a lot on Ross help. Michael loved farm life and met his responsibilities while also attending high school. With a high IQ of 122, balancing school with farm life was manageable. By this time, Ross was exhibiting antisocial behavior, including stalking young teenage girls. Ross College Years In 1977, Ross entered Cornell University and studied agricultural economics. He began dating a woman who was in ROTC and dreamed of someday marrying her. When the woman became pregnant and had an abortion, the relationship began to falter. After she had decided to signup for a four-year service commitment, the relationship ended. In retrospect, Ross said as the relationship became more troubled he began to have fantasies that were sexually violent. By his sophomore year, he was stalking women. In his senior year at college, despite being engaged to another woman, Ross fantasies were consuming him, and he committed his first rape. In that same year, he also committed his first rape and murder by strangulation. Ross said afterward he hated himself for what he did and tried to commit suicide, but lacked the ability to do it and instead promised himself he would never hurt anyone again. However, between 1981 and 1984, while working as an insurance salesman, Ross had raped and killed eight young women, the oldest being 25. The Victims Dzung Ngoc Tu, 25, a Cornell University student, killed May 12, 1981.Paula Perrera, 16, of Wallkill, N.Y., killed in March 1982Tammy Williams, 17, of Brooklyn, killed Jan. 5, 1982Debra Smith Taylor, 23, of Griswold, killed June 15, 1982Robin Stavinksy, 19, of Norwich, killed November 1983April Brunias, 14, of Griswold, killed April 22, 1984Leslie Shelley, 14, of Griswold, killed April 22, 1984Wendy Baribeault, 17, of Griswold, killed June 13, 1984 The Search for a Killer Michael Malchik was assigned chief investigator after the murder of Wendy Baribeault in 1984. Witnesses provided Malchik with both the description of the car -- a blue Toyota -- and the person who they believed kidnapped Wendy. Malchik began the process of interviewing a list of blue Toyota owners which brought him to Michael Ross. Malchik testified that during their initial meeting, Ross enticed him to ask more questions by dropping subtle hints that he was their man. By now, Ross was living in Jewett City as an insurance salesman. His parents had divorced and sold the farm. During the interview with Malchik, Ross told of his past two arrests on sex offenses. It was at this point Malchik decided to bring him to the station for questioning. At the station, the two talked like old friends: discussing family, girlfriends, and life in general. By the conclusion of the interrogation, Ross confessed to the kidnapping, rape, and murder of eight young women. The Judicial System: In 1986 Ross defense team moved for a dismissal on two of the murders, Leslie Shelley and April Brunais, because they were not murdered in Connecticut and not within the jurisdiction of the state. The state said that the two women were murdered in Connecticut, but even if they hadnt been, the murders began and ended in Connecticut which granted the state jurisdiction. But then a question of credibility came up when the state produced a statement by Malchik claiming that Ross gave him directions to the crime scene. Malchik claimed that somehow the directions were left out of statements, both written and taped two years earlier. Ross denied ever giving such directions. Evidence in Rhode Island The defense produced cloth matching a slipcover in Ross apartment which was found in the woods in Exeter, Rhode Island, along with a ligature used to strangle one of the girls. The defense also produced a taped statement of Ross offering to take the police to the crime scene, although Malchik stated he did not recall such an offer. Possible Cover-Up Superior Court Judge Seymour Hendel exploded during the closed hearing, accusing the prosecutors and police of purposely misleading the court with lies. Some of the counts against Ross were removed, however, the judge refused to reopen the suppression hearing on Ross confession. When sealed records were opened two years later, Hendel retracted his statements. In 1987, Ross was convicted of the murders of four of the eight women he confessed to having killed. It took the jury 86 minutes of deliberations to convict him and only four hours to decide on his punishment -- death. But the trial itself faced a lot of criticism in regards to the Judge who presided over it.   Imprisonment During the next 18 years that he spent on death row, Ross met Susan Powers, from Oklahoma, and the two were engaged to be married. She ended the relationship in 2003 but continued to visit Ross up until his death.   Ross became a devout Catholic while in prison and would pray the rosary daily. He was also accomplished at translating Braille and helping troubled inmates. In the final year of his life, Ross, who had always been opposed to the death penalty, said he no longer objected to his own execution.  According to Cornell graduate Kathryn Yeager.  Ross believed that he had been forgiven by God and that he would be going to a better place once he was executed. She also said that Ross did not wish for the victims families to suffer any more pain. Execution Having waived his right to appeal,  Michael Ross was scheduled to be executed on  January 26, 2005, but an hour before the execution was to take place, his lawyer obtained a two-day stay of execution on behalf of Ross father. The execution was rescheduled for  January 29, 2005, but early in the day was postponed again as a question into Ross mental capabilities came into play.  His lawyer said Ross was incapable of waiving appeals and that he was suffering from death row syndrome. Ross was executed by lethal injection on May 13, 2005, at  2:25 a.m., at  Osborn Correctional Institution  in  Somers, Connecticut.  His remains were buried at the Benedictine Grange Cemetery in Redding, Connecticut. After the execution, Dr. Stuart Grassian, a  psychiatrist  who had argued that Ross was not competent to waive appeal, received a letter from Ross dated May 10, 2005, which read Check, and mate. You never had a chance!

The Tell-Tale Heart and Symbolism - 1208 Words

Like many of Edgar Allen Poes works, The Tell-Tale Heart is full of death and darkness. Poe used many of the real life tragedies he experienced as inspiration for his gothic style of writing. Poe dealt with many aspects of death and madness in his stories, madness again is playing a key role in the plot. In this short story Poe used literary devices such as point of view and symbolism to give it a more dramatic effect and add to the madness the narrator portrays. Poes use of the point of view device is very evident in The Tell-Tale Heart. The madman that speaks through the entire story talks in an unreliable first person view. Because of the mans obvious madness you are not sure what is taking place in the†¦show more content†¦The chilling feeling that the eye gave him planted in him, the thought to kill the old man, and after thinking about it day and night, that is what brings the narrator to his mad state. He is so obsessed with it that he goes into the old mans room every night at midnight to slowly open the door and carefully look at the mans eye while he is asleep in bed. The last night when the old man wakes he shines his light on the man and describes it. It was open-wide, wide open-and I grew furious as I gazed upon itÂ…but I could see nothing else of the old mans face or person; for I had directed the ray as if by instinct, precisely on the damned spot. Just looking upon the eye the narrator feels a sense of anger build up inside him, showing another reason for his madness. The bond between him and the eye is also seen in how directly puts the light on his eye when he enters the room. The main object of symbolism however is the beating of the heart of the old man the narrator hears because of his madness. Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased. It grew louder and quicker, and louder and louder every instantÂ…It grew louder, I say, louder every moment!Â…I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seized me me-the sound would be heard by a neighbor! Because of the narrators own madness he is hearing this heart beat as though it is as loudShow MoreRelatedSymbolism In The Tell Tale Heart And The Tell Tale Heart987 Words   |  4 Pages How does the symbolism affect the meaning of a written piece, does it make it more or less important? Symbolism is used to represent ideas; that may imply deeper, hidden meaning than what the text directly states. Symbolism can be used in different ways throughout different books; for example, â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart†, by Edgar Allen Poe and â€Å"Once upon a Time†, by Nadine Gordimer, contain a variety of symbolism that have the possibility of having two or more meanings. The problem with this is identifyingRead MoreSymbolism In Tell Tale Heart704 Words   |  3 PagesSymbolism in Tell Tale Heart Introduction To fully understand the strange and disturbing short story of Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, one must understand the main character that is narrating the story. Despite the narrator’s best efforts to show that he is smart, wise and above all else sane. The reader gets the feeling that there is more to the story. Body of the essay The story of Tell Tale Heart is about a man describing how and why he killed the elderly man that he was living with whileRead More Symbolism and Irony in The Tell-Tale Heart Essay2249 Words   |  9 PagesSymbolism   and Irony in The Tell-Tale Heart In Edgar Allan Poes short story The Tell-Tale Heart, the author combines vivid symbolism with subtle irony. Although the story runs only four pages, within those few pages many examples of symbolism and irony abound. In short, the symbolism and irony lead to an enormously improved story as compared to a story with the same plot but with these two elements missing. The Tell-Tale Heart consists of a monologue in which the murderer ofRead MoreSymbolism In Edgar Allen Poes The Tell Tale Heart1174 Words   |  5 Pages How does the symbolism affect the meaning of a written piece, does it make it more or less important? Symbolism is used to represent ideas; that may imply deeper, hidden meaning than what the text directly states. Symbolism can be used in different ways throughout different books; for example, â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart†, by Edgar Allen Poe and â€Å"Once upon a Time†, by Nadine Gordimer, contain a variety of symbolism that have the possibility of having two or more meanings. The problem with this is identifyingRead MoreEssay on Symbolism in The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe1155 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism in The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe Like many of Edgar Allen Poes works, The Tell-Tale Heart is full of death and darkness. Poe used many of the real life tragedies he experienced as inspiration for his gothic style of writing. Poe dealt with many aspects of death and madness in his stories, madness again is playing a key role in the plot. In this short story Poe used literary devices such as point of view and symbolism to give it a more dramatic effect and add toRead MoreSymbolism in Edgar Allen Poes The Tell-Tale Heart Essay863 Words   |  4 PagesSymbolism in Edgar Allen Poes The Tell-Tale Heart In Poes The Tell-Tale Heart, the narrator claims that he is not mad but his behavior tells a different story. He is truly determined to destroy another male human being, not because of jealousy or animosity but because one of his eyes resembled that of a vulture- a pale blue eye, with a film over it (1206). The narrator sees the man with this ghastly eye as a threat to his well being, but it is he who is a menace to his own being. HeRead More Edgar Allen Poes The Tell-Tale Heart and the Symbolism of the Eye1221 Words   |  5 Pagesthe genius responsible for dark, twisting, and often uncomfortably wondrous gothic tales, and one of the best is The Tell-Tale Heart. This is a classic tale of a confused man who is so incredibly bothered by his housemates eye, that he (I am assuming this sexless character is male) thinks the only solution is to resort to cold-blooded murder. Poe incorporates the symbol of the old mans eye in The Tell-Tale Heart, which has both physical and psycholo gical meaning, it also helps to develop theRead MoreConflict And Symbolism In Edgar Allan Poes The Tell-Tale Heart1117 Words   |  5 PagesEdgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart†, a short story about internal conflict and obsession, showcases the tortured soul due to a guilty conscience. The story opens with an unnamed narrator describing a man deranged and plagued with a guilty conscience for a murderous act. Edgar Allan Poe was a very popular and magnificent writer back in his day, around the 1800s. You may or may not have heard of him, but, he’s very popular for his dark and haunting poetry and short stories. Two of his most popularRead MoreTell Tale Heart Analysis1176 Words   |  5 Pagesespecially famous for his tales of mystery and macabre. A popular dark short story, â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart,† and one of his first and most famous poems, â€Å"The Raven,† are no exception. â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart† is a story of murder narrated by the culprit himself, while â€Å"The Raven† is a melancholy poem about a distraught lover and a talking raven. The reason why the two works are so well known is because of the effect of Poe’s excellent use of literary devices. Throughout â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart† and â€Å"The Raven,†Read MoreAnalysis Of The Tell Tale Heart By Edgar Allen Poe1320 Words   |  6 PagesRory Spillane Mr. Bruno English IV period 8 1.29.15 Analysis of the Tell-Tale Heart Edgar Allen Poe was born on January 19th, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. He went on to become one of the most famous American poets and authors in history. The subjects of his poems and stories were often morbid in nature, many of them having to do with death and murder. Unfortunately, the dark tone of his work reflected the darkness of his life, which was marked with notable instances of tragedy, such as the

The Producers free essay sample

â€Å"The Producers† This past Sunday afternoon I went to see the 12 Tony Award winning Broadway production of the â€Å"The Producers† in the Atwood Concert Hall in downtown Anchorage. I found that the production exceeded my expectations. Being a huge fan of Broadway musicals, I am usually quick to say that a musical I have recently seen was a great experience, but â€Å"The Producers† was an extremely phenomenal musical. According to a â€Å"Play† section article of the Anchorages December 7, 2007 newspaper written by Sarah Henning, â€Å"The Producersâ€Å" follows a â€Å"hysterical heap of physical comedy, innuendo and political incorrectness.† This is a statement about the show that I completely agree with. The production contains all three of those aspects in many different, hysterical ways. I have many favorite parts in this show. First, I really loved the dancing chickens along with their crazy and stereotypical German caretaker and play write. I also really enjoyed the stereotypically flamboyant gay director, Roger De Bris, accompanied by his extremely exaggerated gay and lesbian entourage. We will write a custom essay sample on The Producers or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Another part of the show that I really enjoyed was the accounting office scene with Leo Bloom, his co-workers, and his strict taskmaster boss. I really liked how Bloom came to the realization that becoming a producer was the right profession for him, by being persuaded by his aggravating boss, boring job, future partner, Max Bialystock, and the imaginative follies girls. The scene that I liked the least would have to be the jail scene where Bialystock was teaching his fellow prisoners song and dance routines. Other than that one scene, I really enjoyed the whole show so much. We were extremely fortunate for the production to come to Anchorage. I recommend this musical to anyone who enjoys slapstick comedy inside the plot and the songs, but people who are still old enough to be in the presence of sexual commentary and a bit of profanity. â€Å"The Producers† was a phenomenal musical that really exceeded my expectations and fuels my dream to someday be seen in a Broadway production.

Where the Red Fern Grows Quotes

'Where the Red Fern Grows' Quotes Where the Red Fern Grows is a famous work by Wilson Rawls. The novel is a coming of age story. It follows the protagonist Billy as he saves up for and trains two coonhounds. They have many adventures while hunting in the Ozarks. The book is however probably best known for its tragic ending. Quotes from the Novel Its strange indeed how memories can lie dormant in a mans mind for so many years. Yet those memories can be awakened and brought forth fresh and new, just by something youve seen, or something youve heard, or the sight of an old familiar face.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 1 Lying back in the soft hay, I folded my hands behind my head, closed my eyes, and let my mind wander back over the two long years. I thought of the fishermen, the blackberry patches, and the huckleberry hills. I thought of the prayer I had said when I asked God to help me get two hound pups. I knew He had surely helped, for He had given me the heart, courage, and determination.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 3 I wanted so much to step over and pick them up. Several times I tried to move my feet, but they seemed to be nailed to the floor. I knew the pups were mine, all mine, yet I couldnt move. My heart started aching like a drunk grasshopper. I tried to swallow and couldnt. My Adams apple wouldnt work. One pup started my way. I held my breath. On he came until I felt a scratchy little foot on mine. The other pup followed. A warm puppy tongue caressed my sore foot. I heard the station master say, They already know you. I knelt down and gathered them in my arms. I buried my face between their wiggling bodies and cried.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 5 I had a time with this part of their training, but my persistence had no bounds.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 7 Although they couldnt talk in my terms, they had a language of their own that was easy to understand. Sometimes I would see the answer in their eyes, and again it would be in the friendly wagging of their tails. Other times I could hear the answer in a low whine or feel it in the soft caress of a warm flicking tongue. In some way, they would always answer.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 7 I thought about that, Papa, I said, but I made a bargain with my dogs. I told them that if they would put one in a tree, Id do the rest. Well, they fulfilled their part of the bargain. Now its up to me to do my part, and Im going to, Papa. Im going to cut it down. I dont care if it takes me a year.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 8 I always took their kidding with a smile on my face, but it made my blood boil like the water in Mamas teakettle.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 10 I opened my mouth to call Old Dan. I wanted to tell him to come on and wed go home as there was nothing we could do. The words just wouldnt come out. I couldnt utter a sound.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 11 I told them I wasnt giving up until my dogs did.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 12 As I sat there on the limb, looking at the old fellow, he cried again. Something came over me. I didnt want to kill him. I hollered down and told Rubin I didnt want to kill the ghost coon. He hollered back, Are you crazy? I told him I wasnt crazy. I just didnt want to kill him. I climbed down. Rubin was mad. He said, Whats the matter with you? Nothing, I told him. I just dont have the heart to kill the coon.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 13 As I skipped along, it was hard for me to realize all the wonderful things that had happened to me in such a few short years. I had two of the finest little hounds that ever bawled on the trail of a ringtail coon. I had a wonderful mother and father and three little sisters. I had the best grandpa a boy ever had, and to top it all, I was going on a championship coon hunt. It was no wonder that my heart was bursting with happiness. Wasnt I the luckiest boy in the world?- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 14 As graceful as any queen, with her head high in the air, and her long red tail arched in a perfect rainbow, my little dog walked down the table. With her warm gray eyes staring straight at me, on she came. Walking up to me, she laid her head on my shoulder. As I put my arms around her, the crowd exploded.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 15 Regardless of all the discouraging talk, the love and belief I had in my little red hounds never faltered. I could see them now and then, leaping over old logs, tearing through the underbrush, sniffing and searching for the lost trail. My heart swelled with pride. I whooped, urging them on.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 16 Ive been out in storms like this before, all by myself. Ive never left my dogs in the woods, and Im not going to now, even if I have to look for them myself.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 17 Men, said Mr. Kyle, people have been trying to understand dogs ever since the beginning of time. One never knows what theyll do. You can read every day where a dog saved the life of a drowning child, or lay down his life for his master. Some people call this loyalty. I dont. I may be wrong, but I call it lovethe deepest kind of love.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 18 I knelt down and put my arms around them. I knew that if it hadnt been for their loyalty and unselfish courage I would have probably been killed by the slashing claws of the devil cat. I dont know how Ill ever pay you back for what youve done, I said, but Ill never forget it.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 19 Im sure the red fern has grown and has completely covered the two little mounds. I know it is still there, hiding its secret beneath those long, red leaves, but it wouldnt be hidden from me for part of my life is buried there too. Yes, I know it is still there, for in my heart I believe the legend of the sacred red fern.- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows, Ch. 20

Essay about Romeo and Juliet

Essay about Romeo and Juliet Essay about Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet Theme Analysis True love and infatuation In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the main characters bring us through the ups and downs of their young love, ending with their gruesome deaths. The play begins with Romeo being in love with one girl, and then he quickly forgets about her and becomes so infatuated with another girl that he rushes into a marriage with her. This goes to show that young boys only love for beauty, perhaps they only search for lust. While Romeo and Juliet truly believe they are in love, Shakespeare claims that loving too quickly won’t last. In the beginning, Romeo shows his desperation and lovesickness for a girl that doesn’t love him back when he shouts â€Å"Ay me! Sad hours seem long/†¦ Out of her favor, where I am in love.† (I.i.153, 158). You immediately think he speaks of Juliet, but Shakespeare surprises you with introducing a girl named Rosaline. Romeo believes her to be the most beautiful girl he has ever seen, and that he could never love anyone but her. He then goes to Friar Lawrence and cries to him over his love for Rosaline. Romeo and Benvolio are accidentally invited to a Capulet party. Benvolio talks Romeo into going by saying that Romeo might encounter a different girl. â€Å"At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s/ sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves/ With all the admired beauties of Verona./ Go thither, and with unattainted eye/ compare her face with some that I shall show,/ And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.† (I.ii.84-89.) Benvolio tells Romeo that she really isn’t the most beautiful girl in Verona and after going to this party he will come to think she is one of the ugliest. While attending this party, he spots a beautiful girl across the room. â€Å"Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear./ So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows/ as yonder lady o’er her fellows shows./ The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand,/ And, toughing hers, make blessed my rude hand./ Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! / For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.† (I. v. 45-51.) He feels magnetized to this girl because of her beauty. He walks up to the girl to meet her, and quickly feels this strong connection, even though they don’t know each other’s names. When he finds out that she is Capulet’s daughter, Juliet, he knows the only way they could be together is if Friar Lawrence secretly marries them. Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence’s and asks him to marry them. â€Å"Holy saint Francis, what a change is here! / Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear, / So soon forsaken?

What Do Ivy League Schools Think of the ACT

What Do Ivy League Schools Think of the ACT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips As an ACT tutor, I often fielded questions about whether the test would be looked down on by admissions officers, especially those at Ivy League schools. Because the SAT was the dominant college admissions test for so long, many students and parents worry that- at least in the Northeast- schools still prefer the SAT over the ACT. However, that time has definitely passed, and schools will now accept either test equally. Read on for a more in-depth explanation of how Ivy League schools view the ACT today, and learn the differences in testing policies that might affect your decision to take the ACT or SAT. Ivy League Schools' Official Policies on the ACT Officially, all of the Ivy League schools accept both the ACT and SAT,as does every other school in the US.Harvey Mudd was the last no-ACT holdout,but it began accepting the test in 2007. â€Å"Since it’s a choice you can make, it has the feeling of being a significant choice, fraught with implication, but I don’t think it does matter,† Marlyn McGrath-Lewis, director of admissions at Harvard College, told the New York Times. â€Å"Either is fine with us, and we don’t have a feeling that either favors students with any particular profile.† According to ACT, Inc., "The ACT test is the nation’s most popular college entrance exam accepted and valued by all universities and colleges in the United States."The "most popular" comment is just marketing spin, but the basic point stands: every school in the US accepts the ACT and SAT equally. How These ACT Policies Actually Work As you now know, the Ivy League schools claim to view the ACT as equivalent to the SAT, but does that mean they actually do? It's impossible to be 100% sure, but I strongly believe the Ivy League schools treat the two tests equally. For one, I was unable to find any evidence that admissions officers have a preference for one test over the other. Moreover, there is no logical reason for admissions counselors to discriminate against students who take the ACT,especially since doing so is likely to cost them some exceptional students who happened not to take the SAT. If you examine the statistics on ACT and SAT scores among admitted students, some differences in how schools treat scores from the two tests do appear, but they're mostly meaningless. It's been said that there is a slight SAT advantage for students scoring on the low end of schools' accepted score ranges. So if you have the same percentile score on both tests (i.e., you do better than the same percentage of students who took the test), your SAT score will be more likely to get you into a college than your ACT score will be. However, this analysis is somewhat misleading because it doesn't take into account the fact that many students who don't plan ongoing to college take the ACT as part of statewide assessments, increasing the number of low-scoring students and slightly skewing the percentiles. Looking at the data for Ivy League schools, you'll also see that more admitted applicants submit SAT scores than they do ACT scores.However, this trend seems to be evening out. For example, when it comes toCornell's class of 2018, 79.7% submitted SAT scores while only 41.4% submitted ACT scores. Yet for the class of 2021, 63.7% submitted SAT scores and 55.9% submitted ACT scores. As you can see, even with these slight changes in percentages, the SAT is still a little more popular than the ACT is among Ivy League applicants. Although this might seem like evidence of bias, this difference is easily explained by regional preference:more than 50% of both the 2018 and 2021 Cornell classes hailed from the Northeast, where the SAT is much more common than the ACT. Yale University (in the winter, obviously) Ultimately, there's no compelling evidence that any schools, including members of the Ivy League, judge the ACT more harshly than they do the SAT.As such, you should ignore this perceived bias when deciding between the two tests. Instead, focus on determining which test is better for you. Since most students score similarly on the two, it's usually just a question of which test you feel more comfortable with. Alternatively, you might want totake both the ACT and SAT. Next up, let's go over the two differences in testing policies that might affect your decision of which test to take! Schools' Testing Policies: Superscoring and SAT Subject Tests Though colleges accept the ACT and SAT equally, schools can still have slight differences in what supplementary tests they require and in how they calculate your final score depending on which test you took. SAT Subject Tests Rarely, at some schools, if you submit ACT with Writing scores, you don’t have to submit SAT Subject Test scores. However, since many top-ranked schools no longer require SAT Subject Test scores, this policy has begun to disappear. At present, no Ivy League schools have this policy in place. That said,Duke is one selective schoolthat does allow applicants to submit an ACT with Writing score in lieu of SAT + two SAT Subject Test scores. For many students, SAT Subject Tests offer the opportunity to exhibit deep knowledge of a topic. Especially for the extremely competitive Ivy League schools, these tests can be a valuable part of your application (assuming you do well on them). Superscoring Superscoring- the process by which your highest component scores among multiple test dates are combined to create a new composite score- is a common practice for SAT scores. Generally speaking, though, admission committees don't superscorethe ACT.(This rule holds among all schools and not just the Ivy League ones.) While schools will still look at your highest ACT scores and some will consider individual section scores, few will combine ACT section scores from multiple test dates into a single superscoredcomposite. Though this policy might seem like a huge disadvantage to the ACT, it doesn't actually make that much of a difference. Policy by School This table breaks down the Ivy League schools' policies on SAT Subject Tests and superscoring. The second column indicates how many SAT Subject Tests the school requires/recommends. The third column explains the school's superscoringpolicy, which can be one of three options: Doesn't superscore at all Superscores the SAT but only looks at yourhighest composite ACT score Superscores the SAT and looks at your highestACT section scores Note that even schools that claim to superscore the ACT usually look at your highest ACT section scores withoutactually combining them to create a composite superscore (as they do with the SAT). School # of SAT Subject Tests Recommended/Required Superscoring Policy Brown 2 recommended Superscores SAT; considers highest ACT section scores but does not calculate superscore Columbia None Superscores SAT and ACT Cornell Varies by program (usually 0 or 2 required) Superscores SAT but not ACT Dartmouth 2 recommended Superscores SAT; considers highest component ACT score Harvard 2 recommended Superscores SAT; considers highest component ACT score Princeton 2 recommended Superscores SAT; considers highest component ACT score UPenn 2 recommended Superscores SAT and ACT Yale Recommended (no # specified) Superscores SAT; considers highest component ACT score What You Need to Know About the Ivy League and the ACT No matter what you might've heard, Ivy League schools have no preference between the ACT and SAT.You can submit scores from either test or from both of them withoutworrying that your application will be dinged. Ultimately, choosing between the SAT and the ACT comes down to personal preference.There will occasionally be a large difference between how a student scores on the SAT and the ACT(a difference of more than 100 points once the ACT is converted to its SAT equivalent). Most students, however, score similarly on both tests. Nonetheless, the styles of the two tests are different enough that you may find the ACT easier than the SAT, or vice versa. Perhaps you struggle with the ACT's less generous time limits, or maybe you think the SAT's evidencequestionsare particularly confusing. What's Next? Planning on applying to Ivy League schools? Get a handle on what kind of SAT score you really need, and check out this in-depth guide tohow to get into the Ivy League, written by a real Harvard grad! Trying to decide whether to take the SAT or ACT? Read our guide to learnthe 11 key differences between the two teststo help you decide which is better suited to your strengths. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Rich and Ruby Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Rich and Ruby - Case Study Example The trust is designed to remain in place for the benefit of Harriet and be distributed equally between Rich and Rebecca when Harriet dies. According to the financial statements, Rich and Ruby have a net worth of $22,000,000 at their disposal which comprises various assets and cash and cash equivalents. Rich is involved actively in the family business and is concerned fully about the welfare of his children and their children. Rich also plans to pay for Katie’s remaining education balance for two years to finish her doctorate degree in bio-gastric anthropology and strongly believes that the world is not yet fully exploited by people with opportunities. Rich also plans to support Caryn, Katie’s life partner even though Ruby his wife and Alvin his son do not approve of the relationship. Rich is in a good financial position with the company’s net annual income of $750,000 and a salary of $200,000 annually. The fact also that the company is worth $8,000,000 and is exp ected to grow at an annual rate of 10% for the next 6 to 8 years makes it advantageous for Rich to use the finances at his disposal and allocate them effectively and efficiently. Rich also owns the building in which the Macadam company operates valued at $3,000,000 and is leased for $250,000. Rich has come to the realization that his estate has grown significantly over the years and will continue to grow further in the coming years. He further considers that his estate will increase as a result of the inheritance he receives from his father’s and mother’s estate. Rich is not opposed to a gifting program that will enable him and Ruby to enjoy their retirement’s years which he has set to be $300,000. Furthermore, Rich intends to pass on the company business to his son Alvin should he retire or die whichever comes first. Rich has a good plan regarding the estate inheritance that is aimed at passing on the benefits of the estate to the family descendants and ensurin g that the lives of all family members are stable and comfortable. Rich is aware of the financial constraints that are in the family and wants a plan that is fully beneficial and successive in nature. Rich wants his daughter Katie and Son Alvin to get an equitable distribution of the available inheritance given the efforts of his son to the growth and success of the business. Assuming that Harriet dies in 2013 with an estate of $15,250,000 and a federal state tax of $5.25 million, and the father’s inheritance of $500,000 and an equal inheritance share between Rich and Rebecca his sister, he will receive $7,250,000 of the estate inheritance. According to this case probate assets are those assets belonging to a deceased person which pass to the beneficiaries named in the decedent’s will or decedent heirs if there is no will as determined by law as part of the probate process. These types of assets do not have a beneficiary designation or survivorship feature to control t he reception of the property when the decedent dies. Examples of probate assets include; personal property, proceeds from a life insurance policy owned by the decedent on his or her life payable to the decedent’s estate upon death, banks or brokerage accounts that do not have a beneficiary designation, and, finally the real property owned entirely by the decedent. Non- probate assets, on the other hand, are assets

Knowledge Management Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Knowledge Management - Coursework Example AUTHORITY 9 4.4. ACCESSIBILITY 10 5. CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY 10 5.1. COMPARISON AND CONTRAST 10 5.2. RELATION TO THE MODULE 14 6.0. REFERENCE LIST 16 1. INTRODUCTION Organisations formulate strategies and processes for identifying intellectual assets which enhance the overall performance of the organisation. The objectives of the organisations are easily accomplished and overall performance, competitive advantage and continuous improvement of the organisation are enhanced through this practice (Zheng, Yang, & McLean, 2010). In this report an evaluation of three different articles related to knowledge management will be presented. A comparative analysis will be presented which will show the relative significance of knowledge management in an organisation. The three articles which will be subject of discussion in this report are 1. Developing a corporate knowledge management strategy - Paul Oluikpe (2012) 2. Local Social Knowledge Management: A case study of social learning and knowledg e sharing across organizational boundaries - Johanna Lahtinen (2013) 3. The interactive relationship of corporate culture and knowledge management: a review – Julia Mueller (2011) Understanding the relative significance and importance of knowledge management in an organisation is very important in this age where workforce is treated as an essential asset by the managers. A combined overview and major emphasis of discussions presented in the articles will conclude this report. 2. LOCAL SOCIAL KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: LAHTINEN(2013) 2.1. KEY POINTS Lahtinen has discussed a range of important aspects of social knowledge management. The main points of this article by Lahtinen are related to How communicating and interacting socially helps in improving knowledge. The importance of inter-organizational networks is important in improving the knowledge. The learning process which enables the individuals to interact socially and enhance their knowledge is referred to as social knowledge management. The emphasis has been built on signifying the importance of communication in the organisation. Social learning plays a significant role with regional networking of the employees working for the same organisation (p.13). This research paper discusses about the role of social learning in knowledge management. This is important for managing inter organisational networks is significantly important. As employees interact within the organization, it helps the employees in better understanding the knowledge practices adopted in the organisation, mixture of differing applicability practices and general confusions which are part of the knowledge practices (p. 4). The three forms of networking which take place within the organisation are elaborated. These include the operational, personal and strategic roles which take place in the organisation. For this assessment data from several different organisations were collected to develop a conclusion about the relative importance of Soc ial knowledge management. Social knowledge management enhances the individual learning capability as an individual learns by sharing information within the organization (Lahtinen, 2013). 2.2. VALUE TO KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTITIONERS This topic is of great value to the practitioners of knowledge management. This is because it signifies which strategies the managers can use for initiating social learning and transferring knowledge within the organisation through interaction of the employees. Understanding the issue

The Edge by Dick Francis (Novel) and Stingers (TV Drama) Essay Example for Free

The Edge by Dick Francis (Novel) and Stingers (TV Drama) Essay Rationale The texts I am studying are The Edge, by Dick Francis (Novel), and Stingers (TV Drama). The Edge is about an undercover agent working for a Jockey Club. His job is to rid the racing world of its biggest villain. The agent goes undercover on a racing train as a waiter. The episode of Stingers I refer to is titled Payback. The main character, Peter Church, is investigating the murder of a man. He goes undercover as a personal assistant to a man who is working for a prominent businessman and also the main suspect of Peters investigations. These texts are both based around crime, with the familiar themes of ridding the world of corruption, and also the triumph of good over evil. I chose these texts because they both present an insight into the minds of an undercover agent and the procedures and processes they follow to stay undetected, which I find very intriguing. The link between these texts is their themes. They both attempt to rid the world of corruption and make good triumph over evil. I chose this link because it comes through very strongly in both texts. They both centre on their themes and the processes and techniques that are used by the characters. Describing my views on this link become easier because it is the themes of the texts. I believe that a lot of troubles of the world would not come about if there were no corruption in the world. Things such as corrupt police officers, and even whole police forces in some countries, make the running of society a harder job for the people responsible for the smooth running of a society than it already is. I believe that evil never triumphs. Anyone that goes down the path of evil will never go far. There will always be something to stop them eventually. Journal A TV Drama: Stingers Episode 119 Payback. Directed by Kevin Carlin Stingers is a TV drama about a group of undercover agents. They disguise themselves as a particular identity to go into a crime group and found out inside information on the group. Plot Outline In this particular episode, Peter Church, the main character, is investigating a number of suspects involved with the killing of a man. Peter is sent in undercover as a personal assistant for a man named Rick Tyson. Peters jobs involve doing personal deeds for Tyson. On one occasion, his job is to take a briefcase full of money to a man as payment for trying to kill someone who was not doing as Tyson asked. The man, named Conrad, told Peter that he was a rich businessman named Stig Endquists hit man. All through this investigation, Peter has had suspicions about his Head of Special Investigations, Detective Harris, but has never been able to figure out how he was involved. Peter later figures out that there is a circle of people involved, and they all revolve around Stig Endquist. Tyson is Endquists personal messenger, Conrad is his hit man and Harris is using his position in the police force to keep Endquist out of trouble. The plot is continued into the next weeks episode, so this is all that has been discovered for the moment. Generic Techniques There are a few techniques used in most TV dramas to help shape character. In Stingers, there were techniques such as camera angles and the most obvious technique of dialogue. Camera angles can be used to show emotions and feelings visually, while the dialogue can get those feelings across verbally and elaborate for the viewers. In some cases, setting can also help to shape a character. If they are seen in a particular place with certain surroundings, it shows viewers a little bit about their attitudes and life. For example, in this episode, Peter is seen a lot in a quiet local pub. This shows me the viewer that he is a quite, personal man that likes some casual time to himself or with a partner. Themes and Values I believe that the themes of this TV drama are based around ridding the world of corruption. All the episodes are about stopping the criminals of society and keeping society safe. The main example of this theme is Harris. He uses his position of power to help the criminals. This is corruption within the police force. This is what the undercover agents in Stingers aim to rid society of. Television Drama Essay The episode of Stingers Payback, directed by Kevin Carlin, explores the themes and values of ridding society of its corruption and letting good triumph over evil. Peter Church, an undercover operative for the Australian Police, goes in disguise to gather inside information about crime groups and use the information to rid society of the groups evil deeds. In this particular episode, Peter is gathering information on suspects that may be involved in the killing of man. Every text, no matter what form it may take, will always have some theme or value behind it. No text is ever just a rambling, which has no meaning behind it at all. With the use of camera angles, setting and dialogue, the characters in this drama present the values and themes of the drama. Camera angles are the most prominently used technique in any visual text to show certain things within the text. Close ups, long shots, low angles and high angles are all examples of how the camera angle is used. In the episode of Stingers, all these are used at some point, especially to help display the themes and values through the characters. Peter Church is the main character, so he would be the one that the camera angles are concentrated on most of the time. He has a range of emotions throughout the episode. At times hes confused, others angry, and others quiet. But one thing that he is always is working as hard as he can to solve the crimes and stop the corruption. Peter is a very determined person, and the camera shows that in one scene with a close up. He is studying the whiteboard with a list of suspects on it. The camera closes right in on his face and the viewer can see the concentration and determination on his face as he tries to make some sense of the information on the whiteboard. In another scene, Peter is delivering a briefcase for his employer while he is undercover. While doing this, he meets a man who killed his former partner in a previous episode. He confronts the man and is on the brink of shooting him and ridding society of another villain. The camera gets a close shot over the villains shoulder of Peters face as he is close to shooting him. His face shows anger at the villain who caused so much harm to an innocent person. This anger and emotion that is shown from the use of the camera angles in the drama has helped to let the viewers know how determined the character is to solving the problems of corruption in society. This can have an effect on the viewers because it will show them that the text stands for something and is not just a bit of dialogue and a few actors thrown together to make a TV show. Setting is another element of a TV drama that can show values and theme through characters and is also shown through the camera angles. Setting helps to show a lot of things in any form of text. It is a lot easier to show things with setting using a visual text as there is less description needed. Setting helps to show values and themes as well in some cases. In Stingers, it is shown quite easily. Being an undercover police unit, most scenes are shot in the offices, so there are always things around the setting of the rooms showing the theme of ridding corruption. For example, in the main room where Peter does all his planning of the cases, he has things such as boards with suspects pinned on them, certificates showing the achievements he or a member of his team have made while stopping crime in society, and police uniforms, which all give the viewers the impression that the characters are supporting the themes and values of the drama. The other main setting that is used throughout the drama is out at the battle scene. This setting will usually show a contest between good and evil (police and criminal) and a majority of the time, it will be the good that comes out on top, and once again, backing up the view that the corruption of society is slowly diminishing due to the works of the characters. While setting shows the themes and values visually, dialogue can be used in conjunction with setting to show viewers verbally. Dialogue is obviously a very important part of any text whether it is print or non-print and probably the easiest way to get a message across, or in this case, show a theme or value through a character. Unlike with the setting, dialogue makes the theme or value come across easier because it can be said straight out rather than the viewer have to analyse the setting to find out. Although the theme or value can be shown easier, there is more to the dialogue than just the words. The way it is spoken can get it across stronger because it may have the ability to make the viewer sit up and listen and realise what the character is saying straight away. For example, in the scene where Peter is confronted by the man who killed his friend and former partner, the man says you wont kill me. Blokes like you need a reason and Peter replies very strongly saying Ive got a reason. and his name is Oscar Stone!! It comes across to the viewers very strongly that Peter is committed to not only the reveng e of his friend, but also to ridding corruption from society. These three techniques work well together to set the viewers mind and thoughts to show them that the characters in the text are committed to the themes or values that are trying to be brought across. They convince the viewers that the text has meaning, so the viewers are more willing to believe and support the text. Journal B Novel Analysis: The Edge, Dick Francis Dick Francis The Edge explores the life of Torquil Kelsey, an undercover operative for a Jockey Club in England. Torquil is assigned to be the invisible needle in the haystack. He wonders around the racecourses like any other racegoer, but in doing so, listens in and explores all business that goes on inside the courses. His main objective is to rid racing of one of its notorious villains, the successful but dodgy Julius Apollo Filmer. For months the Jockey Club have been trying to find some dirt, any dirt, on Filmer and have so far been unsuccessful. Torquil later takes a train ride in which Filmer will also be on. Torquil knows all too well that Filmer will be up to something. Filmer is later found guilty of paying someone to sabotage the train ride and Filmer himself of wilfully attempting to kill Daffodil Quentins horse. Torquil Kelsey: Torquil, or Tor as some characters call him as a nickname, is an undercover operative for an English Jockey Club. He has been assigned to go from course to course and find out any illegal deals going on. He has an inquisitive nature. Being an undercover operative, he has the ability to be in a crowd without being noticed. He is very cluey. He can guess that certain things are going to happen before they do. Hes your typical good guy. Hes not the mean cop who beats people up to get information. He has the good guy charm with women. Julius Apollo Filmer: Filmer is the major racehorse owner around the area that the Jockey Club operates in. They have tried to get him warned off the course in the past but have never caught him. He is smart and smug. He never does his tasks evil deeds himself; he will always have a hired goon to do his work. He always has some evil deed planed out in his mind and does whatever he can do complete it. He associates with dodgy people, such as Daffodil Quentin. Themes The main themes of this novel are based around the triumph of good versus evil. Its really your typical police story. Police get a suspicion that the bad guy is going to do something evil, police try catch the bad guy doing it, police do a lot of investigating, bad guy eventually gets caught. Beliefs One major belief that I got out of this text was that the world should be rid of corruption. The aim of Torquil Kelsey is to rid the racing world of Julius Apollo Filmer and inturn ridding the racing world of the corruption he brings. Oral Task Based On Novel I believe the target audience of this novel is probably adults. Although I enjoyed reading it myself, I think the majority of the readers will be older. Also, the novel, like most other Dick Francis novels, has an element to do with horseracing, so this may also appeal to anyone interested in horseracing. If this interview were real, it would probably be broadcast on an AM radio station such as 720, which the station itself is aimed at the older part of society. The tape of this interview will be included with the rest of this assignment. Transcript Presenter: Im privileged to have a great author in the studio with me now. He has written such books as Smokescreen, Risk and High Stakes just to name a few. He is in Australia to promote his new novel The Edge. Good Afternoon, Dick Francis. Francis: Thankyou. Its great to be here. Presenter: So, your new novel The Edge. It has just been released here. How do you expect it will sell? Francis: Well I certainly hope it will sell very well. I have worked long and hard perfecting it. Presenter: I recently read this novel in preparation for this interview. I thought it to be a very good read. Me being 36, is that the age of audience you were intending this novel to be aimed at? Francis: Yes, thats about what I was thinking. Its definitely too complex for anyone below maybe 16, but middle school onwards was the target. Its really a matter of choice though. No matter what age you are, if youre just not into crime novels, which this novel is, then you just wont like it. Presenter: Yes. Now on that, would you like to fill our listeners in on the plot of this novel? Francis: Certainly. The Edge is about a young man named Torquil Kelsey working as an undercover operative for an English Jockey Club. He is required to be the invisible needle in the haystack if you like. He must roam around various racecourses in England and investigate any odd activities that take place and any odd characters to go with it. His main target is a villain named Julius Apollo Filmer. Filmer is a leader of corruption amongst the racing world. He is a bit like a King of Evil. He never completes his dirty deeds himself, but gets hired goons to complete them for him. He is in suspicion of a number of offences, so it is Torquils task to nail Filmer. He gets his best opportunity on a racegoers train around Canada, which Filmer is attending. Ill stop there as to not ruin the story for anyone by giving too many details. Presenter: Thats probably a good idea. You were formally a jockey before you turned to writing. Are any of the characters in the novel based on people youve come across in your time as a jockey? Francis: There is always a certain amount of truth involved in some parts of every novel, but nothing is an exact copy of the truth. Presenter: Tell us about our two main characters. Torquil the hero and Julius the villain. Francis: Well, Torquil has been brought up by his Aunt Viv, an avid racegoer. He has always been associated with horses and horse racing since he was a wee boy, so his knowledge of horses has helped him with is job around the racetracks. He is very inquisitive, very cluey, is able to spot things that most people would simply turn a blind eye to. He is a charmer also. Very good with the ladies. Julius is your typical villain. Seems fine on the outside, but you know that on the inside, theres evil brewing and his mind is devising a plan. He is an evil mastermind. Has the ability to devise the plans, but will never execute them himself. He must keep a clean look with the public otherwise his plans will be given away, so the hired goon is his way of going about getting that done. Presenter: I found it interesting to note that you always made the story continuos. You would rarely jump from scene to scene, instead you always describe exactly where your characters where going. I recall a part where Torquil must go from one end of the train to the other, and you describe exactly where he is walking, instead of just jumping straight to where he was heading to with a new paragraph. Was this deliberate? Francis: Yes, I believe that you must be very descriptive when writing a novel. Its not like a film where you can show viewers visually, so you must describe the exact surrounding very thoroughly. I find that if you jump straight to it, you can sometimes confuse readers and miss important details of the surroundings. Presenter: Well, thankyou Dick. I hope all goes well with the release of the novel and Ill look forward to reading more of your future novels. Francis: Thankyou Journal C I received a very insightful view into the industry of undercover policing after studying both the texts I chose. They showed a set of values that I had never really dwelled on before. The triumph of good over evil is something I am regularly exposed to, but ridding the world of corruption and the reasons for doing so had never really been considered. I realised from these texts that corruption in any industry can ruin the industry completely for society if untreated. The racing industry for instance, I was shown in The Edge that if the villain Julius Apollo Filmer had gone on with his evil deeds forever without anyone ever even trying to stop him, he would have eventually taken control of that industry and injected so much corruption into it that the public would eventually lose out. For example, if he had taken control of every horse in some way, he would be able to dictate races and the public would lose in some way or another. These texts both support my views and in some ways su pport them more than I do. A majority of the people in society would not support corruption of any form and I am no different, but it never really meant much to me. I support the views of the texts but I have never realised the effects corruption can have until I studied these texts. Like the texts, I believe corruption should be stopped at all costs. I would hate to be in a society where things can happen like they did in Stingers. If the chief of a police unit was corrupt and letting crime go and even going to the extent of helping the crimes be committed, then I would be horrified because I put my trust in that unit only to find out it is supporting the things it is supposed to be protecting me from. I support the view of good triumphing over evil. To drop this view down to an example at my level, it would have to be bullying in schools. It always brings a smile to my face when I see a bully getting what he deserves in return for his wicked deeds he has performed on an innocent student. Another example of this would be in a game of football. When an opponent tries to pull off an illegal move on someone but cant fool the umpire, it is always rewarding to see the player who was doing the right thing get rewarded the free kick. In The Edge, it was rewarding when I read at the end that Julius Apollo Filmer is caught and convicted of his crimes after the determination of Torquil Kelsey to find that last ounce of information that would put Filmer away. So I very much support all values identified in these texts. The episode of Stingers that I refer to in my studies is not a complete story. It just focuses on part of an ongoing story that has continued from previous episodes, so the villains have not yet been caught. I enjoyed studying these texts, because they challenged and changed my views. Although they didnt have a different view to what I already had, they allowed me to explore the views with more depth than I had before.

Margaret Rose Preston :: Essays Papers

Margaret Rose Preston 1875 – 1963 â€Å"†¦.. her restless temperament has discovered new themes, new colour arrangements, new sources of design-†¦ Her colour sence is unerring: sparsely added to form, or rich and harmonious. She never repears a motive, and her art, original and beautiful, is a complete expression of personality.† Lionel Lindsay, Addled Art, (1942), p.51. Her life†¦ Born in 1875 in Adelaide, South Australia. According to her own account, Margaret Rose Macpherson decided to become a painter when, aged twelve, she liked the smell of the floor polish in the New South Wales National Gallery. Margaret studied art in Sydney under W. Lister Lister, at the National Gallery School, Melbourne, and at the Adelaide School of Design. Shared second prize for painting in 1897. Took pupils of her own to support herself and save up for a study tour of Europe. In 1904 she went to Munich to attend the Government Art School for Women, going to Paris where she studied at the Musee Guimet and exhibited still lifes. After a brief return to Adelaide in 1907 she left again for Europe. After the outbreak of war in 1914, Margaret, with good friend Gladys Reynall, took lessons in pottery making at the London Polytechnic so that they could teach shell-shocked soldiers in the Seale-Hayne Military Neurological Hospital, Devonshire, where Reynell’s brother was working as a surgeon. In 1919, after returning to Australia by way of North America, she married William George Preston, a businessman, and settled in Sydney. The couple traveled extensively throughout Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Pacific Islands. Although well known for her decorative still lifes, she was also a skilful wood engraver and linocut printer. Her woodcut and linocut prints featuring Australian native plants have become very popular in recent years. A writer and lecturer of art, she was a champion of and influenced by Aboriginal bark paintings. She was a member of the Society of Artists, the Australian Art Association and the Contemporary Group, Sydney. At the Paris International Exhibition in 1937 she was awarded a silver medal. Influenced by other famous painters of the time like Cezanne as the greatest of the Moderns; Picasso as the greatest living Modern; and Matisse and Gaugin for their use of colour.

Kite Runner Connections with Skrzynecki Essay

The Kite Runner is set in Afghanistan, about a young boy named Amir who feels that he must win the kite tournament in order to redeem himself to his father. Because his mother died while giving birth to Amir he feels somehow responsible for his mother’s death. His servant is his best friend, Hassan, who runs the kite for him. Amir feels as though he is not acknowledged or accepted by his father, therefore not feeling a sense of belonging when Baba (father) shows his love toward Hassan. This motivates Amir to not do anything about Hassan’s rape which later leaves him with guilt. Those who do not belong may commit acts that are not within their desire in order to belong. For example, after Hassan was raped Amir lied to his father saying that Hassan stole his watch and money from him causing them to be kicked out of their house as servants. Amir’s thoughts were that once Hassan had left, Baba’s love would be pointed toward him only, hence giving him a deeper sense of belonging to his father. Hassan on the other hand felt as though he belonged to the Afghan home of Baba and Amir even as a servant as he is treated with the same respect as the members of the family. However being Hazara’s, a minority ethnic group, Hassan would not have felt a sense of belonging on the macro scale for the reason that his rape was motivated due to the ethnic group he is from i.e. the minority in Afghanistan who are continuously discriminated against. After the Soviets invaded Afghanistan the country became a war-zone causing Amir and Baba to flee the country leaving all the memories and reminiscences in their country. Connections are shown with several of Skrzynecki’s poems, for example, St Patricks College. In St Patricks College it is signified that the poet has been at his school â€Å"for eight years† however he has still formed no sense of belonging. This connects with the relationship that Amir has with his father, Baba. Baba has raised Amir on his own for almost a decade however Amir feels as though Baba does not love him causing him to feel an insignificant amount of belonging.

Pennsylvania School Essay

It is my fervent wish to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine primarily because of the instant respect that a graduate of this 128 year old institution commands and also because I share the university and I share the same mission objectives and beliefs. I firmly believe that my goal of becoming and exceptional citizen who strives to offer the best available, affordable and even free dental services to those in need will be lent a guiding hand by the university. This is because just like the university, I believe that dentistry is a lifelong commitment that requires a lifetime of learning and discipline that will help me achieve my objective of providing a necessary dental care to the people who need it the most regardless of their status in life and financial capability. Achieving this will be possible for me because Penn Dental Medicine encourages their students to undertake dental researches and education that most often thrusts their students into the center of innovative and improved dental care methods. It is my hope that I will be given the chance to join the roster of students of Penn Dental Medicine who have gone on to become leaders in their chosen areas of dental specialization by attending regular classes in the atmosphere of the school that is conducive to students like me who strive for constant learning. Since Penn Dental Medicine encourages free expression, reasoned discourse, and diversity of ideas, I believe that I can only blossom and reach my full intellectual potential while attending this university because I will be allowed to explore my full potential not only as dental student and future dentist, but also as an individual whose rights are respected by the university as well.

Donald Trump Executive Orders - List and Details

Donald Trump Executive Orders - List and Details President Donald Trump signed more than half a dozen executive orders in his first 10 days in the White House including a controversial crackdown on immigration from Muslim countries that he made a central part of his 2016 campaign. Trump even used his authority to issue executive orders on his first day on office, bypassing the legislative process even though he criticized President Barack Obamas use of the power as major power grabs of authority. Trump’s first executive orders blocked some refugees from entering the United States, expedited environmental reviews of major infrastructure projects, prevented executive branch employees from lobbying within five years of leaving their job or working for foreign countries, and began the process of repealing the  Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Trumps most controversial executive order, by far, imposed a temporary ban on refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries - Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Libya and Yemen -  from entering the United States. I hereby proclaim that the entry of more than 50,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017 would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I determine that additional admissions would be in the national interest, Trump wrote.  That executive order, signed on Jan. 27, 2017, was met with protests around the world and legal challenges at home.   Trump also issued a number of executive actions, which are not the same as executive orders. Executive actions are any informal proposals or moves by the president, or anything the president calls on Congress or his administration to do. Executive orders  are legally binding directives from the president to federal administrative agencies. These executive orders are  published in the Federal Register, which tracks and published proposed and final regulations including proclamations by the president. List of Donald Trumps First Executive Orders Heres a list of the executive orders Trump issued soon after he took office. Minimizing the Economic Burden of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Pending Repeal: Trump signed this executive order on Jan. 20, 2017, within hours of moving into the White House. The executive order did not repeal Obamacare, or even ask Congress to repeal Obamas signature legislative accomplishment, even though Trump promised during the campaign that on day one of the Trump administration, we will ask Congress to immediately deliver a full repeal of Obamacare. Trumps executive order on Obamacare only instructed federal agencies to uphold the law while also  working to minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens on American citizens and companies.Expediting Environmental Reviews and Approvals For High Priority Infrastructure Projects: Trump signed this executive order on Jan. 24, 2017. The order  requires the government streamline and expedite, in a manner consistent with law, environmental reviews and approvals for all infrastructure projects, though T rump is vague on exactly how the order should be carried out. Trumps order does require the chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality to determine whether a project is a  high priority,  and subject to fast-tracking, in  30 days or less.   Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States: Trump signed this executive order on Jan. 25, 2017. It cuts off federal money to so-called sanctuary cities, municipalities that do not enforce immigration laws. Sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States willfully violate Federal law in an attempt to shield aliens from removal from the United States. These jurisdictions have caused immeasurable harm to the American people and to the very fabric of our Republic, Trump wrote. The order also expanded the definition of undocumented immigration the government could deport.Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements: Trump signed this executive order on Jan. 25, 2017, in a first step at fulfilling his campaign pledge to build a wall along the United States border with Mexico.  It is the policy of the executive branch to secure the southern border of the United States through the immediate construction of a physical wall on the southern border, monitored and supported by adequate personnel so as to prevent illegal immigration, drug and human trafficking, and acts of terrorism, Trump wrote. The order did not, however, spell out a mechanism to pay for the wall, although Trump said a tax on imports from Mexico os 20 percent could be among a buffet of options. Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States: Trump signed this executive order, by far his most controversial, on Jan. 27. In order to protect Americans, the United States must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles. The United States cannot, and should not, admit those who do not support the Constitution, or those who would place violent ideologies over American law, Trump wrote. The ban on immigrants from seven countries was to last 90 days. The ban on refugees was to last for 120 days.Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Appointees: Trump signed this order on Jan. 28, 2017. The orders requires executive branch employees to sign an ethic policy that bans them from lobbying their agency for at least five years after leaving the government. It also prohibits them from working on behalf of a  foreign government or foreign political party, and  accepting gifts from registered lob byists and lobbying organizations. Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs:  Trump signed this order on Jan. 30, 2017. This order requires the federal government to eliminate two regulations  for every one new regulation issued. â€Å"If you have a regulation you want, No. 1, we’re not gonna approve it because it’s already been approved probably in 17 different forms. But if we do, the only way you have a chance is we have to knock out two regulations for every new regulation. So if there’s a new regulation, they have to knock out two,  Trump said while signing the executive order. The order states that the cost of imposing and enforcing new regulations must not add spending to the federal budget, essentially requiring the elimination of older regulations.       Trump Criticism of Executive Orders Trump made use of executive orders even though he criticized Obamas use of them. In July 2012, for example, Trump used Twitter, a favorite social media tool of his, to knock the president: â€Å"Why is BarackObama constantly issuing executive orders that are major power grabs of authority?† But Trump didn’t go so far as to say he would decline the use of executive orders for himself, saying Obama â€Å"led the way.† I wont refuse it. Im going to do a lot of things, Trump said in January 2016, adding that his executive orders would be for the â€Å"right things.† â€Å"I’m going to use them much better and they’re going to serve a much better purpose than he’s done,† he said. Trump actually promised on the campaign trail that he would use his authority to issue executive orders on some issues. In December 2015, Trump promised he would impose the death penalty on anyone convicted of killing a police officer via executive order. One of the first things I do, in terms of executive order if I win, will be to sign a strong, strong statement that will go out to the country - out to the world - that anybody killing a policeman, policewoman, a police officer - anybody killing a police officer, the death penalty. Its going to happen, OK? Trump said at the time.

Emile Berliner and the History of the Gramophone

Emile Berliner and the History of the Gramophone Early attempts to design a consumer sound or music playing gadget began in 1877. That year,  Thomas Edison invented his tin-foil phonograph, which played recorded sounds from round cylinders. Unfortunately, the sound quality on the phonograph was bad and each recording only lasted for only one play. Edisons phonograph was followed by Alexander Graham Bells graphophone. The graphophone used wax cylinders, which could be played many times. However, each cylinder had to be recorded separately, making the mass reproduction of the same music or sounds impossible with the graphophone. The Gramophone andRecords On November 8, 1887, Emile Berliner, a German immigrant working in Washington D.C., patented a successful system for sound recording. Berliner was the first inventor to stop recording on cylinders and start recording on flat disks or records. The first records were made of glass. They were then made using  zinc and eventually plastic. A spiral groove with sound information was etched into the flat record. To play sounds and music, the record was rotated on the gramophone. The arm of the gramophone held a needle that read the grooves in the record by vibration and transmitted the information to the gramophone speaker. Berliners disks (records) were the first sound recordings that could be mass-produced by creating master recordings from which molds were made. From each mold, hundreds of disks were pressed. The Gramophone Company Berliner founded The Gramophone Company to mass manufacture his sound disks (records) as well as the gramophone that played them. To help promote his gramophone system, Berliner did a couple of things. First, he persuaded popular artists to record their music using his system. Two famous artists who signed early on with Berliners company were Enrico Caruso and Dame Nellie Melba. The second smart marketing move Berliner made came in 1908 when he used Francis Barrauds painting of His Masters Voice  as his companys official trademark. Berliner later sold the licensing rights to his patent for the gramophone and method of making records to the Victor Talking Machine Company (RCA), which later made the gramophone a successful product in the United States. Meanwhile, Berliner continued doing business in other countries. He founded the Berliner Gram-o-phone Company in Canada, the Deutsche Grammophon in Germany and the U.K based Gramophone Co., Ltd. Berliners legacy also lives on in his trademark, which depicts  a picture of a dog listening to his masters voice being played from a gramophone. The dogs name was Nipper. The Automatic Gramophone Berliner worked on improving the playback machine with Elridge Johnson. Johnson patented a spring motor for the Berliner gramophone. The motor made the turntable revolve at an even speed and eliminated the need for hand cranking of the gramophone. The trademark  His Masters Voice was passed on to Johnson by Emile Berliner. Johnson began to print it on his Victor record catalogs and then on the paper labels of the disks. Soon, His Masters Voice became one of the best-known trademarks in the world and is still in use today. Work on the Telephone and the Microphone In 1876, Berliner invented a microphone used as a telephone speech transmitter. At the U.S. Centennial Exposition, Berliner saw a Bell Company telephone demonstrated and was inspired to find ways to improve the newly invented telephone. The Bell Telephone Company was impressed with what the inventor came up with and bought Berliners microphone patent for $50,000. Some of Berliners other inventions include a radial  aircraft  engine,  a helicopter, and acoustical tiles.

Should Child Labor Be Permitted or Not in Third World Countries Essay

Should Child Labor Be Permitted or Not in Third World Countries - Essay Example Proponents of child labor have argued their case through the prism of economics. This group support child labor on the following grounds. First, some of them argue that child labor helps a family to earn extra income, as many jobs are low paying. This presents a complex situation in which governments find it difficult to enforce policies on education. Others have also argued that child labor in developing countries prepares the children to be responsible. They claim that since there are limited formal employment opportunities, it is good for the child to learn a means of survival. In some instances, such proponents of child labor also argue that traditionally, African families were polygamous and large. Parent and children tilled land together, planted together and reaped. Boys were supposed to herd animals as girls did domestic chores. In Asian countries, child labor may be seen in the form of working in rice plantations and other informal settings. Another emerging argument in mode rn times with respect to education is that the cost of living has risen, and some parents cannot afford education for their children. Rather than be idle, they argue that taking them to work offers the best solution for their unique challenges. Where the government has subsidized tuition fee in education, proponents of child labor argue that they still have to meet other expenses. They point out that it is still equally difficult to raise the boarding fee, money for uniform, shoes and other supplementary requirements and still put food on the table. Even so, the so-called benefits of child labor are just justifications. Child labor indeed has a bigger negative side. First, scholars have observed that child labor denies the child the right to grow up as any other child should (Das and Biswal, 2012). These scholars observe that child labor socializes the child with the adult population, as opposed to growing up with peers. This is harm to the child’s social development. Some scholars have also pointed out that child labor leads to exploitation of the child. They argue that employers underpay and exploit at their various places of work. In the end, many of them do not see the full benefit of their toil. In Asia, there have also been reports of children being exploited in sex tourism (Aziz and Iskandar, 2013). I would oppose child labor in all its form.

Comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Comparison - Essay Example That’s why it is possible to say that what people are used to considering as American culture in fact is a combination and compilation of bunches of different cultures with their own authentic features like mentality, traditions, customs, and even physical appearances. Chinese culture is one of the most ancient and stable cultures in the world. The traditions that Chinese people have and their customs haven’t been changed for almost five thousand years and they form the entire Chinese nation and the culture. The very first crucial thing that makes these two cultures different is their core religions, which are totally opposite. Even though the United States citizens have freedom to confess any religions they want, still the most popular religions of American culture are Protestantism and Catholicism. These two religions have Christian roots, so the people who confess these religions have deep faith in the only one God, as the religions are monotheistic. Chinese most widespread religions are Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. These three religions are not based on faith in the only God. The religions are combinations of ethical doctrines which proclaim respect for ancestors (Confucianism), as well as some meditative techniques and faith in the greatest prophet Buddha. When American religions more look like religions with all their attributes, Chinese religions are more like philosophies that direct people’s lives. Also, Chinese and American cultures are based on totally different languages, which in fact are two different systems of describing signs. English language which, is being used in the USA, is based on letters and their combinations which form certain words and have etymological meaning. Chinese hieroglyphs are combinations of signs themselves. Each of the signs has its own meaning and forms broaden language

Workforce Preparedness Is An Integral Venture in Public Health Assignment

Workforce Preparedness Is An Integral Venture in Public Health - Assignment Example Notably, the workforce is an instrumental and invaluable infrastructure within the healthcare sector. This, therefore, implies that preparation of the workforce towards discharging their duties is an important way of ensuring the infrastructural strength of the firm is accounted for. This strengthening program can be accomplished through strategic training. Through such training, the workforce acquires essential skills that enable them to discharge their assigned tasks with uttermost commitment and comfort. In addition, such training help in unveiling the innovative nature of employees, an aspect that is important in ensuring sustainability in service delivery (Scutchfield & Keck, 2003). In some instances, it has proved essential for any given public health institution to form linkages and alliances with like-minded institutions. Such partnerships promote professional interactions between employees. Through such ideological exchanges, the subject workforce is empowered to tackle arising situations with enhanced sobriety. Further, the institutions should establish or subscribe to a learning resource center. Such centers enable the workers to access current information and trends in the healthcare sector. Through such understanding of trends, the firm is able to plan effectively. In summary, workforce preparedness is an integral venture in public health. As such, the employees must be subjected to environments suitable for educational advancements. For instance, the firm can offer incentives to facilitate employees access to competency enhancing lessons. With enhanced employee competency, evidence-based practice will be observed in the firm. Such a practice is vital in promoting positive client experience hence continued partnership. It is equally important for the firm to create opportunities for the employees. Such opportunities can be important in boosting their morale leading to higher work turnover. Above all, the various strategies used by the firm in a bid to foster employee preparation must be workable and achievable.

Safety Of Road Workers On Maintenance Of Highways Construction Essay

Safety Of Road Workers On Maintenance Of Highways Construction Essay Highways maintenance and road workers ensure that roads and pavements are safe and well maintained in towns, cities and rural areas throughout the country of operation. They might also build new roads and look after the repair, building and resurfacing of the countrys motorway networks. Highway maintenance safety involves safety of workers working on highway or road network services including road markings, pothole patching, road signs, road and footpath resurfacing, gully or drain cleaning, flooding, safety barriers, school crossing patrols, winter maintenance (snow removal), vegetation control, emergency services installing cats eyes, digging access trenches for cable and pipe laying, applying specialist surface treatments (such as high friction surfacing) traffic lights, fencing and street lamps and many more. All these maintenance activities need proper road safety awareness and control when they are executed, so working safely is aimed at staff from any road sector with no super visory or managerial responsibility to be made aware of the risks involved. It is of utmost importance to provide the essentials of health and safety for everyone at work to have an understanding of why they must work safely and this can be achieved by training road workers through the use of seminars and workshops. In Britain, roads are some of the busiest and dangerous in the world, but in today`s traffic conditions, it shows that live in carriageway of any highway is a very-very dangerous place to work and injuries to road workers have been increasing against the national trend. Road workers or operators will often be responsible for setting up warning signs, cones and temporary traffic lights and redirecting pedestrians. They may also manage traffic flow while colleagues are working, communicating with another operator via radio or hand signals further down the road are commonly used devices. As a road supervisor before conducting roadwork jobs, review the required tasks, location, and time of day to determine the necessary equipment, personnel, and materials required.   Plan how you will control traffic along the road and within the construction zone.   Have enough trained flaggers to complete your work.   Gather the signs, cones, flags, drums, and/or message boards that you will need for the job.   Inspect your signage to make sure it is in good repair and highly visible.   Clean or discard dirty equipment with limited visibility. Get training on traffic control and safe work practices.   Set up and maintain your roadside work zone properly.   Get training on the equipment that you will use and drive, from the smallest tool to the largest moving vehicle.   The operation of tools and equipment must be according to the manufacturers recommendations.   Know the hazards of the chemicals and materials that you use and get training on the personal protective equipment that you are required to wear, including its uses and limitations.   Wear high visibility garments on your legs and chest.   Wear your assigned persona protective equipments, including a hardhat, safety shoes, and work gloves.   Consider earplugs or muffs, safety glasses, and fall protection depending on the job task. In the work zone, workers must watch for fast-moving motorists and large construction equipment.   Set up parking zones for your working vehicles such that they have safe entrances and exits from the highway that is maintained and group your vehicles on the same side of the road for visibility.   As a supervisor you can set-up the job site and tasks to minimize the need to cross the active road time and again and also  set up traffic lanes within the jobsite for clear access and visibility. When working on road, work facing traffic and stay alert, or station a lookout to watch oncoming traffic.  The workers should have an escape route or a plan of action in place for any emergencies.   Watch for backing vehicles because the driver often has a limited view.   Practice good communication and make sure all vehicles have backup alarms.   If you are flagging, acting as a lookout or traffic director you must remain alert,  do not drink, smoke, or have a conversation while performing these duties. Road work is a physical job requiring strength and endurance, worker must  stay fit so that their bodies can do the work.  Road work occurs in all types of weather and throughout the year.  They should wear appropriate clothing for the climate.   Light coloured layers and sunscreen protect them during the hot months while layers of moisture-wicking clothing protect you in the cold.   The road workers must get plenty of rest, eat right, and drink no-alcoholic drink s enough to stay healthy and alert on the job. From the Road Workers Perspective, there are few jobs more important than highway maintenance. It may go largely unappreciated by the end customer the motorist, but road workers are looking after some of the busiest roads in the world in the face of continued growth in Britains vehicle fleet, and the inevitable consequences of that growth for wear-and-tear on the network. And by helping to tackle congestion, road workers are directly supporting the British economy. And they do this despite working in some of the most difficult conditions that anyone has to tolerate. The risk of death or injury at work, faced daily by the workers who maintain Englands motorways and trunk roads, is highlighted by the results of a recent industry survey. Almost one in five workers suffers some injury caused by passing vehicles in the course of their careers while working on our road network. More than three-quarters suffer verbal abuse from drivers, and many have reported having objects thrown at them by motorists. Road Workers even change the light bulbs in the central reservation. Surveys have been previously contacted and road workers were asked if they had experienced near miss, verbal abuse, slight personal injury, major personal injury caused by road users vehicle and the responses were: 13% of road workers surveyed had sustained slight injuries; 3% had sustained major injuries; 77% had suffered verbal abuse from passing drivers 54% had a near miss with a vehicle 40% had experienced missiles deliberately thrown at them From these studies road workers felt most at risk during the morning and evening peak travel periods and in the early hours of the morning. There are believes that there is a vital need to educate drivers to start taking the problem of speeding and the outcomes of speeding more seriously. The habitual speeders know that other people dont necessarily disapprove of their actions in the same way as they disapprove of drink-driving syndrome. It took a long time to change attitudes to drink-driving, but by communicating the message at every opportunity, with intelligent advertising and marketing, the Government can and has eventually succeeded in most countries, likewise today, drink-driving is socially unacceptable in the community. Therefore a similar change is required with speeding and peoples attitude to road works. In UK, Highway Traffic Management Agency was launched in 2005 and since it was launched issues that dominated are the road maintenance safeties. Its goal is to have zero road injuries and zero fatalities by getting a reasonable balance between the needs of the road user and the safety of road workers using a risk based approach as a short term. The long-term aim was to plan future improvements that make the working environment safer, including: design for maintenance/operation, which has the added benefits of whole-life cost savings, less interventions and less congestion; reduce road workers exposure to live traffic and lessen the risks to road workers when on the network; highlight the importance of road workers and their safety to the public by raising awareness and the industry consistently maintaining the highest standards. Finally it was to improve road user awareness and responses by improving driver education. At a general level, the government has taken the Road Safety Bill through Parliament, including new drink-driving legislation, driver training schemes, and a revised penalty system and is looking at improvements to the speed camera network and working with the police to fight back against anti-social use of roads. The Highways Agency Road Worker Safety Action Plan was unveiled at the conference held in 2006, with some of potential solutions listed in the including a review of procedures to reduce the exposure of road workers to live traffic and cut the risks of working on the highway. A review of maintenance priorities so workers dont have to be on the network so often more targeted speed limits at road works which can be altered to match safety requirements. Improving of the accuracy and content of variable message signs to give road users more warning of works and the presence of road workers also improving the training of workers on high-speed roads, the promotion of better driver awareness and improved driver education, also finally the development of an incident and near-miss reporting centre. The Importance of Traffic Management When considering the traffic management plan for any major scheme the safety and security of both the travelling public and the workforce is the primary aim. By the very nature of road works operations, the element of risk is introduced when managing traffic on high speed roads. The first essential element is to reduce the risk by reducing the speed. This can be achieved to a certain extent through the use of traffic management measures but experience has proven that the only reliable way of achieving consistently reduced speeds is through the use of safety cameras. The introduction of a temporary speed limit and safety cameras is done in conjunction with the respective Safety Camera Partnership, who follow a risk assessment process which considers the level of exposure to risk of the public and the workforce. This is the reason that a variety of different traffic management measures can often be found at road works sites. However, the biggest single risk to road workers occurs not i n major schemes but during routine maintenance operations and emergency lane closures. During these operations it is often only a line of cones that separates the workforce from high speed traffic. During these operations there is a clear need for motorists to act responsibly and respect the rights of road workers. Planning Road works Traditionally, if there is one thing that causes motorists more frustration than any other, it is the overnight appearance of a forest of cones with little or no warning or information as to the reason. Hopefully, this aspect is largely becoming a thing of the past as a significant amount of planning is now undertaken prior to any major road works scheme. Such projects are now often planned several years ahead taking cognisance of issues such as the optimum time and the likelihood of reliable weather where this is a requirement. The substantial rise in traffic volumes over the past decade has significantly impacted on road works planning, through not just the increased maintenance requirements brought about by the additional volume, but through the challenges to keep congestion at a minimum as any reduction in available road space can have significant consequences for journey times. While safety and security are the primary drivers when planning road works, contractors also incorpora te extensive consultation with affected local communities and a targeted media campaign designed to advise drivers who use the affected route of the proposed works and levels of disruption. This forward planning and awareness through the media allows for drivers to plan their journey accordingly. Engineering technology on road worker`s risk. This can be achieved both through measures at the construction stage and through the use of new and improved technology for maintenance operations. New construction processes and standards mean a much longer design life can be achieved at the outset, significantly reducing the amount of routine maintenance operations required. In addition, where a maintenance requirement is identified during construction, the facility to achieve this without significantly impacting on traffic flow is considered carefully and where appropriate, additional engineering measures are introduced. In respect to maintenance operations on existing structures and highways the Highway Traffic Management Agency has been actively involved in developing technology in association with the Highways Agency, and over the past few years a number of innovative solutions which have had a positive impact on safety have been introduced. New techniques to improve safety and reduce congestion at road works on high-speed road s, for example, are now undergoing trials. Automated cone laying machines, fixed to the rear of a traffic management vehicles, can place and collect standard road cones without the need for road workers to stand in a live carriageway next to fast moving traffic. The machines accurately positions cones on the road surface at 15mph laying up to 40 cones per minute and reducing the time taken to establish and remove temporary traffic management. Road users will benefit from the shorter period of time taken to change from normal carriageway to a coned-off area. Using the new machines, traffic cones will be laid and taken up more quickly, removing manual handling and enabling more routine maintenance work to be undertaken during each closure so reducing the frequency of road works and congestion. A new barrier transfer machine, which can lift 12 tons of concrete safety barriers for motorway road works into place at a speed of 7 mph, is also now in operation, offering a higher level of b arrier protection to motorway road workers. The mechanical broom which are now mostly used have improved the road worker`s safety and compared to manual sweeping. In June 2006, a new revised Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual was launched that gives guidance on best practice for temporary signing and management of traffic on the highway. Also it was designed to make traffic management for road works safer and less stressful for both workers and drivers. It talks about new measures like flashing cones on the approach to works; mobile carriageway closures; and improved incident management. It also encourages more effective use of speed limits at road works. Drivers should expect consistent limits to be set depending on the work being carried out, without confusing variations. That should be combined with speed detection equipment and other methods of persuading people to reduce speed. RECOMMENDATIONS Changing the behaviour of risk-taking drivers tends to require hard interventions, which require the involvement of police or other law enforcement organisations. For complying drivers, soft interventions such as the Respect campaign can be used; other interventions that could be applied to the issue of road worker safety and driver behaviour can include: Training road workers By training road workers through the use of seminars and workshops can make them aware of their risks and conscientious those involved on how best they can be aware of the job related risks. Improving driver skills There is a need for further training of professional drivers and specific training of all drivers to raise their awareness of the issues of driving through road works. Better self knowledge The public are an important partner in improving safety through road works. There is a need for greater awareness of personal skill levels and abilities to encourage better self pacing and improved behaviour when driving. This can be achieved through a high profile advertising campaign to raise the public profile of road worker safety. Such an approach aims to demonstrate the risk to drivers and road workers from speeding through road works. Improving the task It is important to ensure that the driving task when approaching and driving through road works is made as simple as possible to prevent overloading drivers with information. All those involved in applying the principles contained in the Traffic Signs Manual: Chapter 8 need to review their road works layouts in order to make the driving task as easy possible for an uninformed driver CONCLUSION It can be concluded that the behaviour of drivers towards road workers indicates that there is little respect for road works and road workers. At best the works and workers are tolerated, at worst the works are ignored and workers are abused either verbally or physically. Changing the attitude of drivers to road works is essential to improve the safety of both road workers and the drivers passing through road work sites. The behaviour of road drivers is directly or indirectly the cause of most road accidents, including those at road works. Influencing driver`s behaviour to prevent accidents at road works will improve road worker safety as well as that of the road user.