Abstract Recently, there has been much controversy surrounding "StampingGround", an Aboriginal-inspired piece choreographed by Jiri Kylian. The debate focuses on what Jiri Kylian took from the Aboriginal culture and if it was, indeed, an imitation. To explore this issue in fuller detail, this paper presents insight into Jiri Kylian and the Aboriginal culture. Based on these findings, the paper argues that Jiri Kylian has not imitated Aboriginal dance in "StampingGround"; if he had, it would be regarded by the Aboriginal community as a theft.
From the Paper "The jumps in Stamping Ground were also quieter, less impact noise on the surface. Aboriginals tend to exhibit a great deal of energy and aggression in their dances that is accompanied by a tremendous amount of sound, whereas the first half hour of Stamping Ground is performed with no music at all. Most importantly, the major difference observed between the work of Jiri Kylian and the Aboriginals is the number of people involved in the dance. The Aboriginals always perform in groups, in Stamping Ground, the majority of the time only one dancer is performing. There are at most three performers on stage at any time (Road to the Stamping Ground)."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the food stamp program, one of the largest welfare programs in many developed (and increasingly developing countries). The paper points out that it is a rather expansive program, which has many proposed economic benefits for the society. Using the tools of consumer theory, the food stamp program is examined in relation to a cash incentive program. The paper then examines whether cash transfers, as opposed to food stamps, lead to consumers being on a higher or similar utility curve or preference set . The paper relates that this analysis is not only applicable to the food stamp program in the United States but can be applied to the plethora of real world programs adopting in-kind transfers. In conclusion, the paper maintains that cash transfers can provide an outcome that is clearly superior to in-kind transfers.
Outline:
Introduction
Modeling the Superiority of Cash Payments to In-Kind Transfers
Consumer Theory
Why are Governments Engaging In a Less Efficient Outcome: Should the Government Be Issuing Cash?
Understanding the Dominance of In-Kind Transfers: A Case Study of Fiscal Year 2008 United States Federal Budget
Appendix (includes graphs)
From the Paper "Transfers like the food stamp shift the budget set upward, however, the food stamps place a kink in the budget set, since there is a threshold over which consumers cannot go. This is because food stamps can only buy certain classes of goods, and all other goods will not necessarily increase. On the other hand, cash transfers, will lead to a complete shift of the budget set, rather than, a kinked upward shift; so the budget constraint goes beyond I/PA in Figure 1. Clearly, with cash transfers, the consumer will always be on an indifferent curve that is higher or the same level as the in-kind transfers which is food stamps in this example; which implies that cash transfers are preferred to in-kind transfer when compared to the food stamp program."
Abstract The 22nd postage stamp in the Black Heritage series features a photograph of Malcolm X whose controversial ideas, sharpened America's debate about racial relations and strategies for social change. This paper debates whether the United States Postal Service should have honored a man or movement whom the federal government believed to have been dangerous, anti-democratic, or simply too militant. It argues that Malcolm certainly deserved a postage stamp in the Black Heritage series for his impact on the aspects of the African- American movement that he participated in, whether he was more flexible regarding the civil rights issues in the later stages of his 37-year life or not.
From the Paper "Historian and Columbia University professor Manning Marable, among the most respected chroniclers of Malcolm X's life, has been working for the past ten years on a new biography about the slain African-American leader called Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention. Marable is the founder and head of "The Malcolm X Project" at Columbia University; in a May, 2007 interview with "Democracy Now" journalist Amy Goodman, Marable quotes Malcolm as telling Coretta Scott King why he came to Selma. These quotes are pivotal for those who are not aware of Malcolm's change of heart from militant black separatism to an urgent and fervent desire to unify the myriad movements for black justice."
Abstract This paper discusses the Food Stamp Program in the United States, which provides food to low-income people. It explains that, although the United States Department of Agriculture administers the program, each state, individually, distributes the benefits. The program as it exists today has gone through several evolutionary stages. These changes are examined in the paper.
From the Paper "The first Food Stamp Program (FSP) was implemented in 1939. The program allowed people who were on relief to purchase orange stamps that were equal to their normal food expenditures. For every $1 worth of orange stamps that were purchased, the FSP gave them 50 cents worth of blue stamps. The orange stamps could be used at food retailers for whatever food the recipient wanted to buy. The orange stamps, however, could only be used by surplus foods determined by the Department ("Food Stamp")."
Abstract This paper examines how grounded theory is utilized in performing a qualitative research and how it recognizes and allows the subjectivity of its participants, but attempts to still be objective and avoids researcher and participant biases. The paper also looks at how there are three basic elements of grounded theory: concepts, categories, and propositions. In addition, the paper looks at the advantages and disadvantages of the theory as well as its relevance to nursing research.
Outline:
Description of Grounded Theory
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Grounded Theory
Relevance of Grounded Theory to Nursing Research
From the Paper "There are three basic elements of grounded theory: concepts, categories, and propositions (Pandit, 1996). A theoretical concept is not the data itself, but it unifies these small data into one phenomenon. Small data are recognized as codes. A concept determines if a certain data is encountered is relevant to the subject being studied. A concept is a little bit more abstract than data collected. Concrete ideas such as "taking pain relievers" or "sleeping" may be considered as activities to "removing pain". The second element of grounded theory is the use of categories. Grounded theory makes use of more abstract labels, or categories, to organize data. As more seemingly random concepts arise, a relationship among them can be found. "
Abstract This paper explains that both ethnographic and grounded-theory research seek to find a scientifically valid and effective way of conducting research on a variety of subjects. Ethnographic research tends to be more of a mixture of qualitative and quantitative measures, whereas, grounded-theory research tends to be more purely quantitative. The author points out that ethnographic research is a naturalistic, observational method, which elicits rich descriptions of context and culture, alternating between a narrow and a broad focus. The paper relates that, because it deals with an explicitly theoretical research problem, grounded-theory methodology is more direct, more rationalized and quantitative in nature, and primarily seeks to answer research questions through the proposition that scientific research cannot be proposed without substantive or grounded data to back it up.
From the Paper "There are many approaches to conducting research, some qualitative and some quantitative, and some which have facets of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Quantitative research designs serve the purpose of showing causal motivations, observing present conditions and longitudinal comparisons, and establishing relationships with evidence from a sample size that is generally large or, in some cases, deferred to a larger statistical research body. Qualitative designs, on the other hand, focus more on specifics than the
generalities suggested by these tendencies towards large sampling groups in quantitative research."
This paper discuses grounded theory, which is one method of qualitative research and a form of field research, and applies this approach to the field of nursing.
Abstract This paper explains that the outstanding feature of grounded theory is that researchers never begin with a theory but identify various constructs in the data generated by the study. The author points out that underlying grounded theory is the sociological perspective of symbolic interactionism. The paper defines the theory of symbolic interationism stating that the way people behave and interact is determined by the way they impose their meanings and interpret the symbolism they encounter in their lives. The author relates that grounded theory is of great value to nursing research because it can be empirically tested. The paper reports that grounded theory has been used effectively to investigate issues relating to the nursing profession such as nursing education, practice and administration.
From the Paper "Any concepts and variables that emerge are then interrelated by using core variables. Core variables are extremely important as the discovery of a core variable is the whole purpose of grounded theory. The core variable is what gives meaning to the central theme and also explains what is taking place with the data. The core variable also is the central concept for the sake of theory generation and the entire value of the theory depends on that core variable. There are six features associated with the core variable."
Abstract This paper is a research on how America will be able to protect their ground-based assets from terrorist attacks, such as down-link radar sites, launch facilities including control rooms and fuel supplies. The author examines electronic-warfare, which is warfare is enabled through information technology and electronic communications on and off the battlefield, in space and on ground, and in real-time. The paper also includes literature reviews on the same topic and reports findings that more location specific initiatives are needed in addressing vulnerability assessments and solutions for security for these ground-based space assets of the United States military.
Outline:
Objective
Introduction
Literature Review
New Types of Training
Growing Reliance on Space: Dangerous Dependence
More Distributed and Redundant Satellite Systems
Smart Planning to Ensure Key Capabilities Remain in Place
Importance of Local Vulnerability Assessment
Terrorism in "Location Specific"
Summary of Literature Review
Bibliography
From the Paper "The literature reviewed in this study has indicated that the most vulnerable targets in terms of United States space assets are space assets located right here on earth in the form of ground stations and control centers which are communication links to and from satellites and likely to be targeted in attacks from distant computers. Even the American armed forces have experienced difficult in finding the appropriate amount of bandwidth for use due to the many electronic systems presently in operation. While space is important, it is ever so much more important that location specific vulnerabilities be assessed and the limitations and shortcomings of vulnerability that exist be addressed and solutions established."
Abstract This paper explains that the legal standard applied by the courts in deciding whether the Army's combat exclusion violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution is the Intermediate Scrutiny Standard, which the Supreme Court used in "Craig v. Boren" as the test for deciding discrimination based on gender. The author believes that the Army should repeal its combat exclusion rule and allow qualified women, who have gone through extensive ground combat training and have passed the physical and mental tests, to join direct ground combat troops. The paper relates that, although there are many cases supporting women's equality in the Army, "Rostker v. Goldberg" supports the Army in exercising its rights under Congress, which may be seen as its only legal argument.
From the Paper "'Women In The Armed Forces", a study which was conducted to get a better understanding of the impact of employing women in the most demanding close combat roles, found that "differences between women and men in their capacity to develop muscle strength and aerobic fitness are such that only approximately one percent of women can equal the performance of the average man"[1]. The study also reported that in that finding, lifting and such tasks as carrying on average women would have to work fifty to eighty percent harder to achieve the same results, and that this puts them at greater risk [1]. In load marching, which are another fundamental task, and other simulated combat tasks, women were found to perform worse than men and the greater the load, the greater the discrepancy. The physiological aspect of the study concluded that, "about 0.1% of female applicants and 1% of trained female soldiers would reach the required standards to meet the demands of these roles"[1]."
Abstract This paper examines the book "Common Ground" by J. Anthony Lukas, a tale of race and racism in the real world without using theories or philosophies. It discusses how Lukas tells his tale of racism, which deals with the lives of three Bostonians in purely human terms and in a factual and well-researched manner. It looks at how the novel details what happened in the city of Boston in the years immediately following the assassination of Martin Luther King and analyzes his characters and their families, their environment and their points of view concerning the racial tensions and conflicts in Boston.
From the Paper "In the publicity surrounding the book's receiving of the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for NonFiction, much was made of the fact that the book was based on more than 500 interviews and great historical research. However, the skill of a journalist as opposed to a historian is to pick and choose what events and statements best reflect a point of view. As the connection among the three main characters and their neighborhoods becomes more clear, the book loses some of its objectivity and the three characters at times seem like characters out of a play who are being used to spread the message."
Abstract This essay will examine Sartre's example of an absent figure in an cafe and will argue that Sartre creates a type of dialectic between being and nothingness in order to affirm that nothing is not derivative of being, but that being grounds itself in nothingness.
Abstract This report outlines the management cycle of a project that deals with the inspection of tanks and the determination of the structural integrity of the tanks. The report explains the need for inspections, the possible problems that can arise with above-ground and underground storage tanks, how to create a schedule for inspection, maintenance, and repair of the tanks, and how to implement the project schedule.
From the Paper "The project developed for the purpose of this report deals with the inspection of tanks and the determination of the structural integrity of the tank for a pre-defined service-life. The tanks that are considered for these inspections are used to store chemicals, petroleum and petroleum by-products. Almost all manufacturing and production organizations maintain a few tanks on their locations to ensure steady supply of the products as and when needed. These tanks are not considered the core business for these organizations and often an external contractor may be responsible for the day-to-day running operations and the periodic maintenance that may be required to maintain the tanks. Tanks used for storage of liquids are generally of two categories: Aboveground Storage Tanks (AST) and Underground Storage Tanks (UST.) The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Environmental Protection agency along with the American Petroleum Institute (API) determine the guidelines by which these tanks need to be inspected, repaired and tested prior to usage."
This paper discusses the rising crime rates on university campuses while also examining the effectiveness and costs for implementing video access control security systems on the grounds.
Abstract This paper outlines the video security system which depends not only on cameras but also on card readers and other security measures. This paper details the effectiveness of this security system which was installed at Harvard University as well as on various university campuses in Germany. The writer of this paper examines the primary goals of this security system which is primarily to ensure a feeling of safety among residents and visitors to the campuses. This paper explores the various benefits of this system including the fact the publicizing the installation of this type of security system would let would-be criminals know that they are unlikely to escape undetected should they attempt to commit a crime on campus grounds. This paper also contains a price list illustrating the cost for this particular security system.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Outline of the Program
Benefits of the System
Costs of the Program
Process
References
From the Paper "Obviously, costs will vary from campus to campus, depending on the number of access points to be protected. However, estimates per campus can be made from the following information regarding a four-camera closed-circuit system, using existing computer power at the university as needed. This package would be adequate for a residence hall with four doors. The figures are the costs of the cameras and auxiliary equipment in both U.S. and Canadian dollars; however, similar packages available in Germany would exhibit similar price points. Added to this cost is the cost of programming computers to turn cameras on and off, if that was desired, equipment for viewing captured tape, and the labor costs of installation."
Abstract This paper discusses how, beginning with his preface to the "Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals", Kant is unambiguously clear in his assertion that moral dictates hold universally, since if a law is to be morally valid, then it must carry with it absolute necessity. It also discusses how for Kant, morality is fundamentally based on his three formulations of the categorical imperative and how in general, Kantian morality does little to resolve many of the everyday moral debates present in contemporary society.
From the Paper "Despite the appeal of the categorical imperative, follows its dictates proves to be seemingly impossible, and even in some instances, undesirable. When adhering to the principles of Kantian morality, it is clear that moral reasoning is reduced to a strict moral calculus, whereby there is only one correct answer to the question, "What am I to do?" This process, moreover, does not allow for any deviations from this strict normative standard, and morally ambiguous areas become non-existent. However, in some situations, certain actions that are in violation of the categorical imperative might be morally necessary. For example, during the Holocaust, people often had to lie to the Nazi SS when harboring Jews in their home. It seems obvious that lying violates at least formulations one and two of the categorical imperative. "
Abstract This paper explains that, while the changes have moved in a direction that is supposed to help families get out of the system, they still fall short of the mark; welfare is bad for families because it encourages dependency on the program, which can be multi-generational. The author points out that welfare in every state pays stipends that vary in what they lay out in cash, but the payments are all well below the national poverty level and not enough to live on. The paper relates that food stamps open the door for fraud; if the family adults go to work, the entire family loses the food stamps.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Problems
Conclusion
From the Paper "While this is a sad plight, it also proves that families can survive without the benefit of a welfare program. Welfare dependency goes deeper than financial issues. Welfare stigma can create a depression and embarrassment of the person who collects it. Welfare is frowned upon by John Q. Public and those who are on it often lose confidence in their ability to tackle their problems and overcome their plight. That defeatist attitude can be made worse each time a participant in a welfare program has to pull out a food stamp card in a store, or enroll their child in a state run free day care program. Another thing that can be discouraging is that many employers get tax benefits by hiring welfare recipients. Those recipients disclose to the employer that they receive welfare and that can be embarrassing so the recipient chooses not to look for a job at all."
