Thomas Bell's Out of this Furnace is the story of a three generation struggle to find better lives in the United States. Beginning in the 1880s with the first generation and Djuro Kracha, it continues up until the 1930s with Dobie Dobrejcak's success in unionizing steel workers. Telling a riveting story, Bell's narrative weaves through the political, social, and economical history of immigrants, capitalism, and progress in America. But truly, Out of this Furnace aims to tell the true story of new immigrants to America and the experience of their lives upon their arrival. Out of this Furnace ultimately is the story of the people that not only survived, but worked hard to better themselves, in the squalor of the steel furnaces. The furnaces represented everything to them; the furnaces were why they had jobs, the reason they lived where they did, at times the cause of death, and always a dictator of social and economic conditions. Bell tells this story, showing the r

One of the reasons that the abortion debate in the United States has historically been vehement, ugly, and impossible to resolve is that people on both sides of the issue have refused to acknowledge that there are compelling arguments favoring both the traditional pro-choice and pro-life positions. Unfortunately, as the American public has grown increasingly polarized about the topic of abortions, so have American politicians. The problem with a politician taking an absolute pro-choice or pro-life stance is that such a position shows a tremendous amount of disrespect and lack of empathy for those Americans who hold opposing views. Therefore, the new administration's policy should not be based on traditional notions of pro-choice or pro-life policies, but reflect a more modern and inclusive position; a pro-life stance that recognizes that societal changes, not legal ones, will be what changes the face of the abortion debate. The fact is that the world has changed dramatically

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is among the signs that we have truly evolved into a world marketplace independent of any one country's economy. For many years the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the United States was the top authority on business reporting standards. Scandals in American business, however, in addition to the differing needs of businesses in emerging economies has required the international business economy to take a stronger role in setting the standards of international business reporting. "IASC [International Accounting Standards Committee] was founded in June 1973 as a result of an agreement by accountancy bodies in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Ireland and the United States," (http://www.iasb.org/About+Us/About+the+Foundation/ History.htm, 2006). "A role of the IASC, then, is to consolidate many countries' accounting regulations into internationa

Umm, this pizza is good, and the crust is especially chewy and crispy. I think I need a little more saliva from my salivary glands to help wash this down! Chew, chew, chew, now that's better, little pieces are much better to digest than big pieces, and they float down the esophagus much better, too. What's that I feel? It's the chemical enzymes in my saliva, already acting on the chewed food to break it down before it begins the long journey through my body....what a trip! Oh, the enzymes cool my food too, so it doesn't burn my stomach when it arrives. After I chew my pizza, it travels down the esophagus, past the trap door (epiglottis) that makes sure my already digesting pizza doesn't take a side trip to the lungs, and mixes with more enzymes as it flows down the tube to the stomach, otherwise known as the esophagus. It's muscular, yet flexible, just like me...oh, I digress. As I swallow, the esophagus contracts, or undergoes peristalsis, moving the food right along to the stomach. I'm a big eater, and luckily, my stomach

Prior to 9/11, terrorism was just another key problem in American policy and different agencies were tasked to curtail its growth and influence – whether it is domestic or international terrorism. 9/11 changed the landscape to the point of having an all-source, central governing body that ensures 24/7 monitoring, prevention and stopping of all terrorist activities. The agency is the Department of Homeland Security tasked "to coordinate defense against, and responses to, terrorist attacks on U.S. soil combining border control and consequence management functions as well as a coordinating e

Authors and writers of varying interests and specializations have expressed their thoughts about globalization – that it is not a new thing but rather a continuous and evolving process happening at different eras and places. Thus, Dixon states in Globalization and American Foreign Policy (2005): "Globalization is not a new development; it has been progressing for most of human history Globalization is the integration of human activity across geographic space. This covers many areas of human activity (economics, warfare, social and cultural contact, environment, etc.)." American foreign policy as a result of globalization has stood the test of time considering today's only superpower has been instrumental in the rise of globalization throughout history. As a result of the current globalization atmosphere, U.S. foreign policy is "constantly pulled in tw

A lot of changes have happened to the Middle East since the United States of America made a self-declaration that it would commit to helping and bringing a new life to the said country. A new form of governance has been trying to establish, different business activities were gradually initiated, and several political and economic systems were planned and laid down. All these are still in the initial phase of change and reforming the Middle East. But what will happen when the US changed its present leadership? What will happen tight after the election that will commence in 2009? What are the next possible course actions concerning the Middle East? Continuous Reform of the Middle East It should be noted that during the past couple of years, majority of the citizens in the Middle East (from the Islamist-inspired urban poor to emancipated women concerned about personal status rights) have been so keen and involved about their country's political system. They are so involved that they

Productivity is probably the most important factor when determining an economy's health degree. It is generally defined by "the amount of output per unit of input".1 Economic welfare depends on the rate of productivity growth. As Governor Ben S. Bernanke stated in 2005, "the most important economic development in the United States in the past decade has been the sustained increase in the rate of growth of labor productivity, or output per hour of work".2 Infinity Furniture is a company specialized in manufacturing and selling chairs and other custom furniture (like contemporary chairs, classic chairs, tables, benches, bar stools and lounge chairs) for hotels, restaurants, banqueting halls, and casinos. Although the company offers good quality custom furniture, with a price to match, the forecast sales objective for the previous year has not been attained, as only 50% of the manufactured goods have been sold. Given the fact that the goods' quality and pr

Although Garrett Hardin's essay entitled "The Tragedy of the Commons" was written nearly 40 years ago, it has even more impact today than when it was written as we watch the population of the world continue to climb exponentially. His concern with overpopulation caused by, as he terms it, "the freedom to breed" is prevalent in all parts of the world today. In the third world where population is increasing at the greatest rate, starvation and disease run rampant. In the industrial world, the current population is beginning to tax natural resources such as fossil fuels, land and water just as Hardin predicted. Hardin begins by attacking the way in which the world would like to deal with the problem of overpopulation. In the modern world, we seek a technical solution by looking to improvements in agriculture or exploration of the sea. Hardin says that these measures will not solve the problem. He clearly states that there is no technical solution or, in other words, no easy way out. We do not know if the Earth's resources are finite; however, we do know that population, if left unchecked,

The future of society depends on our children's achievement today. But some children do not get the opportunities they need in order to achieve success. The film Boyz in the Hood is filled with disturbing images of children growing up in the inner city surrounded by rubble and filth, dysfunctional families, drug addiction, violence and chaos. It's not difficult to see that children who don't feel safe don't make good students. Hearing about the Pilgrims, for example, doesn't have much meaning when you've just seen a dead body and blood flowing in the street, when ordinary conversation is about guns and violent events, and children with crack-addicted mothers raise themselves as best they can. This kind of disorderly environment is not conducive to good citizenship, good health, or emotional balance. Typically, society responds to the problems of youth by constructing some sort of program to meet the individual problem (such as teen pregnancy or gang involvement). Tipps (2006) describes it: "We tend to believe that every possible transgression is best remedied with a program that focuse

Each and every individual has personal ambitions and dreams. Yet, the individuals who actually devote their lives to their dreams and ambitions are rare and far between. Ann Patchett was one of these individuals, she yearned to be a writer since her early childhood and through her perseverance, strict discipline and amazing writing style she accomplished her goal. Within the short story "The Language of Faith" she artfully explains where her ability to write came from and how she used her faith as a tool to craft and hone her ability to write novels. Her self-reflection is blended with a strong air of sweet innocence and divine passion, and as a result she turns a deeply personal narrative into a true catharsis for herself and the audience. Ann Patchett uses her autobiographical narrative to create a multi-dimensional explanation of her passion for writing that draws a deep connectivity with her audience. "The Language of Faith" is a narrative about how Patch

The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of human disease. Specifically, it will discuss the human papillomavirus. It will include a thorough description of the disease/condition; current statistics of those affected; discuss how the various body systems are affected; and any medications/treatments that are available, if any. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is actually a group of viruses with over 100 different strains ("Genital HPV infection," 2004). At least 30 of these strains are transmitted sexually (STD), and they can affect various areas of the genitals in both males and females. They can also cause complications in pregnancy, and can lead to some types of reproductive and genital cancers. HPV can affect the skin and/or mucous membranes around the genital area, including the anus, penis, and vulva, and can affect the linings of these areas, as well. These viruses are extremely common. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates there may be

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the impact that spirituality has on substance abuse treatment. The writer explores the field of substance abuse treatment and relates it to the foundation of spirituality by examining research indicating its strength for maintaining abstinence. There were six sources used to complete this paper.

I believe that learning is a lifetime journey. Though I had already attained a level of success in my field of interest, I knew that without further education I would soon come to a standstill as my peers moved forward without me. In addition to the professional development and the benefits that it would provide to me I was interested in personal development as well. On a personal level I pride myself on learning new skills and educating myself in areas that may not serve me professionally at this point, but at a later date would possibly do so. I think the role of learning is a significant role in my life, both personally and professionally. As a single mother of two daughters I want to instill a love of lifetime learning in them and hope by attending classes at University of Phoenix they will see by example how enjoyable learning can be. My level of professional competence when it came to problem solving was above average. Working in an insurance office provided many opportuniti

The Cincinnati Bengals finished a paltry 8-8 last season, in party due to the arrests of nine team members. Although Coach Marvin Lewis defends his coaching style and claims to have revamped his hard-lined disciplinary approach, the Bengals undoubtedly suffered from their athlete's run-ins with the law. The most recent mishap occurred when cornerback Johnathan Joseph was arrested for marijuana possession. If Joseph's arrest was an isolated incident, it may not have impacted the team. However, a string of arrests in only one season tainted the reputation of the Cincinnati NFL franchise and undoubtedly also hurt the image of professional football as a whole. The Bengals' problems also reveal universal human relations issues. Lessons learned from Cincinnati and the NFL can be applied easily to any organization. The main lessons evident in the Bengals crisis include leadership; teamwork; discipline; and restructuring. The National Football League is unavoidably hierarchical

The social and cultural conditions in the city of Athens between 440 and 370 B.C.E., a time when philosophers and military leaders such as Aristotle, Socrates and Pericles were at the height of their powers, can be compared to the current situation in the United States in three important ways. First, in the decades just before the Peloponnesian War, the city of Athens reached the pinnacle of its power and prosperity, often referred to as the Golden Age of ancient Athens. Economically, the city was much like any of a number of modern American cities like New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, due to society being divided into classes based on economic income. For

"In those days. . . there was an island situated in front of the straits which you call the Columns of Heracles. . . the island was larger than Libya and Asia put together and was the way to other islands and from the islands you might pass through the whole of the opposite continent which surrounded the true ocean. . .Now, in the island of Atlantis, there was a great and wonderful empire. . . " (Spence, 45). This quote from Plato's Timaeus, written circa 360 B.C.E., serves as part of the only primary source for the story of Atlantis, the legendary lost continent which according to Plato was located somewhere off the coast of northwest Africa/southern Europe near the "Columns of Heracles," now known as the Straits of Gibraltar. Beginning approximately in the 19th century, a great debate has raged in archeological and scholarly circles as to whether or not Atlantis truly existed. Critics of the Atlantis theory support the view that the tale of the so-called &

In his book Technique of the Drama (1863), the German critic Gustav Freytag created a method for understanding the narrative structure of a drama called Freytag's Triangle, also known as Freytag's Pyramid because of its focus on the climax of the tale as the most important part of any story("Freytag's Triangle," EnglishBiz, 2007).The first few scenes or moments, also known the incisive action, touches off the story, introduces the major characters and issues, and arouses the interest of the viewer. The causes or the reasons for the drama are downplayed, the effects or the emotional impact of the scenes are stressed ("Freytag's Triangle," EnglishBiz, 2007). This is perfectly embodied in the beginning of Sophocles' tragedy of "Oedipus Rex," when the current king of Thebes vows to discover the cause of the plague afflicting his adopted city. He will expel the man who brought down the curse upon

The story of Oedipus Rex and later, Creon within the classic series of plays by Sophocles portrays the classic interpretation of Greek "tragic heroes". The characteristics that describe tragic heroes are ideally shown in both of these characters. Both Oedipus and Creon are men of noble stature. Oedipus became the king of Thebes upon killing the last king, who ironically turned out to be his father. Creon, in turn assumed the throne upon the death of Oedipus and his sons. Both of these men are good individuals, though not perfect. Oedipus for instance attempted to rule with wisdom and believed strongly in justice. Creon is also strongly committed to the concept of justice, sentencing his own daughter in law to death for burying her brother in the field of battle. Both of these men therefore commit their own downfall through "an act of injustice", or the Greek term hamartia. Although this act may be made through ignorance or from conviction that there is some greater

Perception, whether right or wrong, can be everything in beliefs and decisions. These articles show this, and so do many personal experiences throughout life. How a person looks can affect how people react to that person, whether that perception is right or wrong. For example, one person might view another person with a large amount of tattoos as frightening or "tough," while another might not see that at all. Neither of these perceptions probably has anything to do with the person themselves, they are simply perceptions people build up about how people look or things appear. That is the trouble with perceptions – often they have nothing to do with reality. A good example of this comes in "The Cadaver Who Joined the Army" by Mary Roach. Relatives who donate their deceased loved ones to science perceive their bodies will be used for scientific purposes and to help others, when in reality, they can end up as targets for any number of ballistic experiments. Roach notes of

In today's hyper-competitive world, attracting and retaining the best talent possible is key to competitive advantage. One of the many ways organizations accomplish this is through the implementation of retirement plans for their employees. "A retirement plan is an arrangement to provide people with an income, possibly a pension, during retirement when they are no longer earning a steady income from employment, or an asset from which a person may draw an income from as needed" ("Retirement plans", 2007). This paper will overview the historical development of retirement plans and how they are currently being utilized today as a significant recruitment tool. Retirement Plans Introduction: In today's hyper-competitive world, attracting and retaining the best talent possible is key to competitive advantage. One of the many ways organizations accomplish this is through the implementation of retirement plans for their employees. "A retirement plan is an arrange

Introduction: Just in Time (JIT) is a business strategy involving inventory management that helps organizations realize greater profitability through reduced costs. JIT can not only positively affect the organization's return on investment, but also their efficiency, quality, and overall competitiveness within the marketplace. As such, when implemented correctly, it can be a powerful tool for organizations. One of the areas that JIT affects is accounting. This paper discusses how JIT affects accounting as well as the future of JIT method of accounting. How JIT Affects Accounting: JIT is a business philosophy that focuses on simplification and the process of continually reducing waste in all facets of an organization's activity. Teamwork and continuous improvement are the cornerstones of JIT. Traditional accounting techniques, including standard costing and variance analysis, traditional budgeting and cost volume profit analysis, are not as useful in the JIT manufacturing environ

Von Willebrand disease is a condition the effects approximately 1% of the general population (Lipkind et al, 2005). In years past, there has been a great deal of research conducted related to the treatment of the disease. The purpose of this discussion is to explain what the condition is, what causes it and how it can be prevented. The research will also investigate the risk factors associated with the disease and treatment options. What causes the condition and how can it be prevented? According to the Indian journal of Medical Research Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a bleeding disorder that is an inherited ailment (Sucheta et al, 2005). The disease can also be acquired in some rare cases (Lipkind et al, 2005) The journal explains that this disease occurs as a result of a quantitative or qualitative deficie

To be an entertainment attorney you must first attend and graduate from a four year school, then from law school; and then you must pass the state bar exam. Several good law schools that offer good curricula for entertainment work, according to www.top-law-schools.com include: USC, UCLA, Stanford University, Pepperdine University, Loyola Law School, and California Western, all in California; and New York University, Columbia University, and Cardozo School

In "Consider the Lobster," author David Foster Wallace notes that food and food names seem to relate to how much humans "identify" with the food they eat. Language, as Wallace shows, has a great deal to do with perception. He writes, "Try to imagine a Nebraska Beef Festival at which part of the festivities is watching trucks pull and the live cattle get driver down the ramp and slaughtered right there on the World's Largest Killing Floor ..." (Wallace 62). Language like "slaughtered" as a huge deal to do with perception and how we