Gerald Ford Essays (1116 words) - , Term Papers

Gerald Ford When Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, he declared, "I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances.... This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts." It was indeed an unprecedented time. He had been the first Vice President chosen under the terms of the Twenty-fifth Amendment and, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, was succeeding the first President ever to resign. Ford was confronted with almost insuperable tasks. There were the challenges of mastering inflation, reviving a depressed economy, solving chronic energy shortages, and trying to ensure world peace. The President acted to curb the trend toward Government intervention and spending as a means of solving the problems of American society and the economy. In the long run, he believed, this shift would bring a better life for all Americans. Ford's reputation for integrity and openness had made him popular during his 25 years in Congress. From 1965 to 1973, he was House Minority Leader. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1913, he grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He starred on the University of Michigan football team, then went to Yale, where he served as assistant coach while earning his law degree. During World War II he attained the rank of lieutenant commander in the Navy. After the war he returned to Grand Rapids, where he began the practice of law, and entered Republican politics. A few weeks before his election to Congress in 1948, he married Elizabeth Bloomer. They have four children: Michael, John, Steven, and Susan. As President, Ford tried to calm earlier controversies by granting former President Nixon a full pardon. His nominee for Vice President, former Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York, was the second person to fill that office by appointment. Gradually, Ford selected a cabinet of his own. Ford established his policies during his first year in office, despite opposition from a heavily Democratic Congress. His first goal was to curb inflation. Then, when recession became the Nation's most serious domestic problem, he shifted to measures aimed at stimulating the economy. But, still fearing inflation, Ford vetoed a number of non-military appropriations bills that would have further increased the already heavy budgetary deficit. During his first 14 months as President he vetoed 39 measures. His vetoes were usually sustained. Ford continued as he had in his Congressional days to view himself as "a moderate in domestic affairs, a conservative in fiscal affairs, and a dyed-in-the-wool internationalist in foreign affairs." A major goal was to help business operate more freely by reducing taxes upon it and easing the controls exercised by regulatory agencies. "We...declared our independence 200 years ago, and we are not about to lose it now to paper shufflers and computers," he said. In foreign affairs Ford acted vigorously to maintain U. S. power and prestige after the collapse of Cambodia and South Viet Nam. Preventing a new war in the Middle East remained a major objective; by providing aid to both Israel and Egypt, the Ford Administration helped persuade the two countries to accept an interim truce agreement. Detente with the Soviet Union continued. President Ford and Soviet leader Leonid I. Brezhnev set new limitations upon nuclear weapons. President Ford won the Republican nomination for the Presidency in 1976, but lost the election to his Democratic opponent, former Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia. On Inauguration Day, President Carter began his speech: "For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land." A grateful people concurred. When Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, he declared, "I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances.... This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts." It was indeed an unprecedented time. He had been the first Vice President chosen under the terms of the Twenty-fifth Amendment and, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, was succeeding the first President ever to resign. Ford was confronted with almost insuperable tasks. There were the challenges of mastering inflation, reviving a depressed economy, solving chronic energy shortages, and trying to ensure world peace. The President acted to curb the trend toward Government intervention and spending as a means of solving the problems of American society and the economy. In the long run, he believed, this shift would bring a better life for all Americans. Ford's reputation for integrity and openness had made him popular during his 25 years in Congress. From 1965 to 1973, he was House Minority

List of Free Online Public Schools for Hawaii Students, K-12

List of Free Online Public Schools for Hawaii Students, K-12 Hawaii offers resident students the opportunity to take online public school courses for free. Below is a list of no-cost online schools currently serving elementary and high school students in Hawaii. In order to qualify for the list, schools must meet the following qualifications: classes must be available completely online, they must offer services to state residents, and they must be funded by the government. Virtual schools listed may be charter schools, state-wide public programs, or private programs that receive government funding. List of Hawaii Online Charter Schools and Online Public Schools Connections Public Charter School (off-site link)Halau Ku Mana New Century Charter School (off-site link)Hawaii Virtual Academies (off-site link) About Online Charter Schools and Online Public Schools Many states now offer tuition-free online schools for resident students under a certain age (often 21). Most virtual schools are charter schools; they receive government funding and are run by a private organization. Online charter schools are subject to fewer restrictions than traditional schools. However, they are reviewed regularly and must continue to meet state standards. Some states also offer their own online public schools. These virtual programs generally operate from a state office or a school district. State-wide public school programs vary. Some online public schools offer a limited number of remedial or advanced courses not available in brick-and-mortar public school campuses. Others offer full online diploma programs. A few states choose to fund â€Å"seats† for students in private online schools. The number of available seats may be limited and students are usually asked to apply through their public school guidance counselor. (See also: 4 Types of Online High Schools). Choosing a Hawaii Online Public School When choosing an online public school, look for an established program that is regionally accredited and has a track record of success. Be wary of new schools that are disorganized, are unaccredited, or have been the subject of public scrutiny. For more suggestions on evaluating virtual schools see: How to Choose an Online High School.

Genesis of Different Cranial Placodes in Vertebrates Essay

Genesis of Different Cranial Placodes in Vertebrates - Essay Example Vertebrate six genes play major roles in eye, muscle, kidney, and craniofacial development (Kawakami et. al 1996; Brodbeck and Englert , 2004) In vertebrates, Six and Eya genes are also coexpressed with Dachshund (Dach) and Pax genes (including Pax6 but also members of other Pax subfamilies such as Pax2) in various tissues. These include the kidney, somites, retina, and several placodes. Three six genes are expressed in vertebrate PPE, placodes, and/or placode derivatives. However, as reviewed by Brugmann and Moody (2005) the expression patterns across the vertebrates are not identical. The result is not clear whether the differences are the result of true species variation or whether incomplete descriptions from diverse experimental techniques and different developmental stages make the patterns appear disparate. (Sally, 2007). In general the six1 and six2 are expressed in the PPE, the placodes, the lateral line organs, the muscle precursors, the kidneys, the genitalia, and the limb buds. Six4 is typically expressed in the PPE, the placodes, the muscle precursors, the kidneys, the brain, and the eye. It is important to fully describe the developmental expression patterns of these six genes across all of the animal models and humans to fully understand their roles in placode development and congenital syndromes. (Sally, 2007). Eya genes encode protein tyrosine phosphatases, which act as transcriptional coactivators of Six genes (Due to gene duplication, there are four Eya genes in vertebrates, whereas invertebrates have only a single Eya gene All Eya genes except Eya3 are widely expressed in cranial placodes, with each placode expressing at least one Eya gene, although the distribution of the different paralogues among placodes differs for different species. (Schlosser, 2006) Eya1 and Six1 were both identified as genes underlying particular forms of inherited deafness in humans known as branchio-otic (BO) or branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome, which are associated with branchial or branchial and renal defects, respectively. In Drosophila, it has first been shown that sine oculis and eyes absent-homologues of the vertebrate Six1/2 and Eya genes, respectively-form a regulatory network essential for compound eye development together with the nuclear protein dachshund and the Pax6 homologue eyeless. compound eye development. Conversely, these genes synergize in promoting ectopic eye formation after misexpression and Niimi et al., 1999 T. Niimi, M. Seimiya, U. Kloter, S. Flister and W.J. Gehring, Direct regulatory interaction of the eyeless protein with an eye-specific enhancer in the sine oculis gene during eye induction in Drosophila, Development 126 (1999), pp. 2253-2260. View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (68). Because the same set of genes is also coexpressed elsewhere in the embryo, a similar regulatory network may operate in other developmental contexts, although this has not been rigorously analyzed. Furthermore, some regulatory intera

Adam Smith Inquiry on the Wealth of Nations Essay

Adam Smith Inquiry on the Wealth of Nations - Essay Example As the discussion highlights subject to his arguments, Adam smith is onto something. First, by saying that specialization and division of labor is the key to prosperity, he was indeed very right because the two attributes leads to perfection and high productivity. At the same time, specialization allows for the maximization of technical skills and relevant innovations. This amounts to effective and quality labor that guarantees better performance in all fields. However, to achieve the skills for specialization and division of labor, adequate knowledge is required. This is only transmitted in a structured education system that starts at childhood and hence the need for widespread education for children. Though this trend was not famous at the time, it would be highly effective upon implementation. Indeed, in the absence of specialization and division of labor, innovations, perfection, high quality labor, and improved performance can never surface. Lack of specialization leads to gener alization and lack of specific goals that is detrimental to the economy of any nation. The poor on the other hand develop general skills that are very efficient in their livelihood but have no chances of advancement since there are no innovations. Hence, Adam advocates for widespread education that will improve the skills of the citizens and enhance specialization and division of

How White People Became White Essay Example for Free

How White People Became White Essay The story of how white people became white in the United States goes as far back as the 15th and 16th century. People born white in this country were born with great privilege. It was an honor to be classified as a white man, or woman because white people had the pleasure of enjoying the many benefits that other cultures could not. If a person was classified as anything other than white, they were called minorities. Being a minority meant that one had no rights. People of all cultures set out to prove that that they belonged to the white heritage, and that’s how the story of How White people Became White began. â€Å"Whiteness does not stand alone. It draws part of its meaning from what it means to be nonwhite†. (Phillip C. Wanderer, 2009). â€Å"The roots of racial classification emerge from the naturalistic science of the 18th and 19th centuries†. (Phillip C. Wanderer, 2009, p. 30) â€Å"During this time, scientific studies extended the classifications of humankind developed by zoologists and physical anthropologists by systematically measuring and describing differences in hair texture, skin color, average height, and cranial capacity in various races†. (Phillip C. Wanderer, 2009, p.30). Racial classification was a way of being able to separate the whites from the nonwhites. For European immigrants, racial identity was not always clear. â€Å"The process of becoming white and becoming â€Å"American† involved a whole range of evidence, laws, court cases, formal racial ideology, social conventions, and popular culture in the form of slang, songs, films, cartoons, ethnic jokes, and popular theater suggested that the native born and older immigrants often placed the new immigrants not only above African, and Asian Americans, but also below white people†. (Roediger, 2009, p. 36). Because of this immigrant workers wound up in between races. The literal in between’s of new immigrants suggests what popular speech affirms: The state of whiteness was approached gradually and controversially. (Roediger, 2009) Some of the changes set in motion during the war on fascism, lead to a more inclusive version of whiteness. Anti-Semitism and anti-European racism lost respectability. Instead of dirty and dangerous races who would destroy U. S. democracy, immigrants became ethnic groups whose children had successfully assimilated into the mainstream, and had risen to the middle class (Brodkin, 2009). Although changing views on who was white made it easier for Euro ethnics to become middle class, it was also the case that economic prosperity played a very powerful role in the whitening process. (Brodkin, 2009) In 1980, the U. S. Bureau of the census created two new ethnic categories of Whites: â€Å"Hispanic, and â€Å"non-Hispanic†. The Hispanic category an ethnic rather than racial label compromised Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Panamanians, and other ethnic groups of Latin America descent. (Foley, 2009, p.55). Creating a separate ethnic category within the racial category of White seemed to solve the problem of how to count Hispanics without racializing them as nonwhites. (Foley, 2009, p. 55). Mexican Americans began insisting on their status as Whites in order to overcome the worst features of Jim Crow’s segregation, restrictive housing covenants, employment discrimination, and the social stigma of being â€Å"Mexican†, a label that in the eyes of Anglos designated race rather than one’s citizenship status. (Foley, 2009, p. 56). Mexican Americans supported strict segregation of Whites, and Blacks in the school and public facilities. (Foley, 2009) The basis for their claim for social equality was that they were also white. (Foley, 2009). A group of Mexican Americans founded their own organization in 1929 called the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). LULAC members sought to set the racial record straight. Mexican Americans did not want to be associated with blacks because being associated with Blacks or other colored race was considered an insult. (Foley, 2009, p. 56). Mexican Americans first challenged school segregation in 1930 the same year they achieved segregated status in the census. Mexican American plaintiffs of Del Rio, Texas sought to prove that the actions taken by school officials were designed to accomplish the complete segregation of the school children of Mexican, and Spanish decent from the school children of all other white races in the same grade. This clever wording recognized that Mexicans were not white in the sense that Anglos were, but that they belonged to a parallel universe of whiteness. (Foley, 2009)Mexican Americans then learned that the courts ended officially sanctioned segregations of Mexicans only when they insisted on their status as Whites. (Foley, 2009) Growing numbers of middle class Mexican Americans made Faustian bargains that offered them inclusion within whiteness provided they subsumed their ethnic identities under their newly acquired White racial identity and its core value of White supremacy. (Foley, 2009) In the war on who was white, and who wasn’t, it’s safe to say that most people of white heritage were born into their whiteness. Those who were not born into it had to fight for their whiteness, and their rights as American Citizens. Not every culture became white or was recognized as white in the same ways. Some had to fight harder than others†¦ Works Cited Brodkin, K. (2009). How Jews Became White Folks. In P. S. Rothenberg, White Privilege. Worth Publishers. Foley, N. (2009). Becoming Hispanic: Mexican Americans and Whiteness. In P. S. Rothenberg, White Privilege. Worth Publishers. Phillip C. Wanderer, J. N. (2009). The Roots of Racial Classification. Worth Publishers. Roediger, J. E. (2009). White Privilege Third Edition. In P. S. Rothenberg, White Privilege. New York: Worth Publishers. Rothenberg, P. S. (2009). White Privilege. New York: Worth Publishers.

99 Cent Store Case Study Essay -- essays research papers

99 Cent Only Business Strategy v. The Competition David Gold, founder and CEO says the 99 Cent strategy is â€Å"to create the shortest path possible between the customer and the sale† (Rae-Dupree, 2004). This is important in deep discount retail in order to purchase close-out and other special-situation merchandise at prices substantially below wholesale that sell at prices significantly below regular retail (Symplicity, 2005).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Over the past two years, the company has suffered a $17.00/share loss on its stock (from $30 to $13.00) mainly due to declining operating margins (Domash, 2004) caused by over-optimism in the Texas market. Competitors were more deeply entrenched than their research had shown, and reduced earnings forecasts combined with declining operating margins were the sell signal for many investors in the company. Also, the need to upgrade their IT infrastructure to support expansion in its California base market was the second company downfall. The following is a summary of the company strategy: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Focus on brand name consumables. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Broad selection of regularly available merchandise. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Attractive and well-maintained stores. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strong supplier relationships. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Focus on larger stores and wider demographic of value-conscious customers. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Welcoming and Flexible ...

Children’s Health Fund

CHF began as an idea and then evolved into a large program. Dr. Redlener wanted to be part of the healthcare solution, not contributing to the problem. (Brown, DeHayes, Hoffer, Martin and Perkins, 2012). Delivering medical care to rural areas, working earthquake relief and other noteworthy deeds made Dr. Redlener realize that with some support he could help the under privileged. (Brown, et. al, 2012). After reading the case study, I realized that mobile medical clinics will always be needed. I have worked Hurricane cleanup and know that mobile food trucks, mobile Laundromats, showers and medical care is needed immediately. Mobile medical units would give volunteers the equipment needed to treat people in need during natural disasters and to the under privilaged. At the same time mobile medical clinics could be used to assist in the growing AIDS epidemic, early detection of breast cancer, teen pregnancy, drug addiction, and assist in the number one health problem in the United States, obesity. Challenges facing CHF is how to provide expert medical care to under privileged individuals living in rural areas, homeless shelters, and poverty stricken areas. These challenges include continuation of funding, access to accurate patient medical records, limitations in telecommunications networks and medical databases, and healthcare providers. So what is the solution to getting expert medical care to the under privileged? More mobile medical clinics and stationary clinics located within the needed areas? However, then we encounter the issue of cost. I see the solution as having medical students serve part of their residency or their training by assisting in the mobile medical clinics. If this was part of their training, then CHF cut their budget by not having to pay for all the provider services. An advantage is free labor, but a disadvantage is they are not fully trained, which could be detrimental to the cause. Retired doctors and nurses who want to work a few days a week would be a great asset while letting them keep up their skills. The risks that I see with either of these solutions is that the interns have not completed their training and the older group may not be as techno savvy as they need to complete the tasks. Allocations from the government would help with some of the financial aspects. The rest would have to come from private donations. However, the implementation of state and federal legislation will bring medical coverage to an additional 30 million uninsured Americans. I don’t believe that private donations and federal and state funding will cover all the under privileged we currently have and then to add an additional 30 million will only add to the burden of funding. Our government is cutting the budget currently, so any money from state or federal funding may not last for long. The Affordable Care Act is changing the way health care is paid. Hospitals will have to embrace innovation to cut costs and deliver quality medical care. Hospitals, clinics, and doctors need to work together with the public to advocate needed changes in respect to reimbursements and privacy issues. I believe that the new HITECH regulations will provide the accurate patient files that are needed to provide the best care possible. Innovations in technology will soon solve the problems with limitations in telecommunications networks. Embracing new technology will allow providers access to patient records and accurate accounting of current treatments. Taking the time to learn all this new technology may be challenging at first but will reward both providers and patients as time passes. Currently the government has been granting hospitals and clinics millions of dollars to upgrade existing medical technology and IT programs. A central database will reduce duplication of patient’s records, treatments, billing and other medical services. Security is the biggest disadvantage that has Americans worrying about who will be allowed to see their medical history. I don’t feel this is any more insecure than banking online or purchasing merchandise. Databases from the federal government to credit card companies have been hacked. We just have to believe that our information will be safeguarded. Are there newer more affordable network communications solutions that should be tried? Cloud computing, social networks and big data analytics are innovations that can help network communications now by lowering cost, improving outcomes and increasing access to medical care. (mHealth, 2012). Watch any commercial and you will see that technology innovations are growing by leaps and bounds. No sooner do you purchase a Smartphone or computer when something ewer comes out. Medical residents who use new technology, such as tablets are more efficient, they save about an hour a day and treatments and prescriptions are ordered earlier. (Hyek, n. d. ). The use of mobile devices to access medical records, check real-time vital signs or test results translates into direct improvement in treatment and outcomes. (mHealth, 2012). The invention and innov ation of faster, cheaper, portable, and more powerful computers make it an affordable solution to communications. Physicians on call can receive images and start the treatment before they arrive at the hospital. The time saved using portable devices will make hospital staffs more efficient, treatment quicker, and save lives. CHF should upgrade their systems with portable devices that are smaller, faster and works in remote areas. Will the federal government’s HITECH stimulus funds and Meaningful Use standards lead to better software integration solutions? Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Ace (HITECH) is a government program established to advance the use of health information technology to save lives and reduce costs. (Blumenthal, 2010). The HITECH stimulus will definitely lead to better software. Incentive bonuses are being provided to providers who meet the â€Å"meaningful use† of electronic health records (EHR) adoption. (Blumenthal, 2010). Medical practices of the future will have to use EHR to stay in practice. Providers currently have their own systems of electronic health records but they are not connected to other providers, clinics or hospitals. As a military Soldier our medical history is linked. We still hand carry our medical records from duty station to duty station, but the system will allow my current doctor to see tests and reports from my last duty assignment. The problem is that if I’m sent to a civilian medical facility for additional tests, it is not entered into our system and I have to request paper copies of the documents. It will take some time but I do believe that HITECH will eventually evolve into a nationwide program that will link all patient data. This will ensure that patients are no longer over medicated or jumping from doctor to doctor to get their next fix of prescription drugs. A National Health Information Network (NHIN) is being developed to facilitate the exchange of health information among EHRs. HITECH is a complex health information system for the 21st-century but will continue to evolve as it is implemented, but will require the support and patience of providers and patients to be successful. (Blumenthal, 2010). â€Å"The HITECH Act’s programs strive to create an electronic circulatory system for health information that nourishes the practice of medicine, research, and public health, making health care professionals better at what they do and the American people healthier. † (Blumenthal, 2010, para 17). Will the increase in software adoptions at physician offices make it more difficult for him to retain his staff? I believe that the increase of software adoptions will make it difficult for doctors to retain their staff. The military has become much computerized, what use to take several clerks to handle can now be completed by one clerk. Yes, we got rid of some clerks but had to train Soldiers in information technology to resolve issues and problems. Providers will need less staff to schedule, change or cancel appointments, but will need to hire employees proficient in computers. Each employee will experience different views on implementing new technology. . (Rivers, Blake, & Lindgren n. d. ). Some will welcome the changes as a way to acquire additional knowledge, while others may see this as an intrusion into their routine. (Rivers, et. al, n. d. ). Providers will be able to electronically transmit prescriptions from their desk to the pharmacy. Technology can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of patient care. Wireless headsets allow nurses to answer phones no matter where they are. My dad is receiving in home health care and they bring a laptop to chart his progress, once back at their office, they send the chart to the doctor, which is saving valuable time. Providers use technology daily in the form of personal data assistants (PDAs), tablets, and Smartphone’s. (Rivers, et. al, n. d. ). These devices eradicate duplicate charting, test for drug interactions, compute dosages, schedule procedures, order medicine and computerize other clinical duties, therefore reducing the possibility of errors and increasing patient wellbeing. Rivers, et. al, n. d. ). What combination of conditions could emerge that render the mobile medical clinic model obsolete? The biggest thing that could render mobile medical clinics obsolete is the use of mobile networks to enhance healthcare (mHealth). Help from technology megatrends, such as social networking, cloud computing and big data analytics will transform global health care. (mHealth, 2012). â€Å"The evolving mHealth vis ion is patient-centric but with information services and data analytics at its core. † (mHealth, 2012, P. 7, para 2). Mobile phone applications will have the ability to collect, store, analyze and upload environmental and personal data to healthcare providers to assist in illness prevention and treatment. (FREng, Sherrington, Dicks, Gray, and Chang, 2011). mHealth would allow patients to be monitored from home to avoid hospital or residential stays which might lower health costs. (FREng, et. al, 2011). The increased awareness and attention to prevention, education, and wellness will produce patients with fewer medical issues and knowledge of their medical history. Mobile networks are continually upgrading their data capacity which includes high-resolution images, video and large file exchanges. (FREng, et. al, 2011). We use our smart phones for banking, trading stocks, finding the cheapest gas, and now we want to make doctor appointments, pay the doctors bill and access our medical records. In 2011, over 44 million health-related medical applications were downloaded. (Hyek, 2012. ). Smart mobility is now enabling patients to control our electronic medical records while incorporating wellness and fitness applications into our lifestyle. (mHealth, 2012).