Sunday, December 29, 2019

Number of Supreme Court Nominees By President - List

President Barack Obama successfully chose two members of the U.S. Supreme Court and has a chance to nominate a third before his term ends after 2016. If hes able to push a candidate through what can be a politically charged and sometimes lengthy nomination process, Obama will have chosen a third of the nine-member court. So how rare is that? How many times has a modern president gotten an opportunity to choose three justices? Which presidents have nominated the most Supreme Court justices and had the largest impact on makeup of the highest court in the land? Here are some questions and answers about the number of Supreme Court nominees by president. How did Obama get the chance to nominate three justices? Obama was able to nominate three justices because two members of the Supreme Court retired and a third died in office. The first retirement, that of  Justice David Souter, came a short time after Obama took office in 2009. Obamas chose Sonia Sotomayor, who later become the first Hispanic member and third woman justice to serve on the high court. A year later, in 2010, Justice John Paul Stevens gave up his seat on the court. Obama picked Elena Kagan, a former Harvard Law School dean and solicitor general of the United States who was widely seen as a consensus-building liberal. In February 2016, Justice Antonin Scalia died unexpectedly. Is It Rare For a President to Get to Nominate Three Justices? Actually, no. Its not that rare. Since 1869, the year Congress increased the number of justices to nine, 12 of the 24 presidents preceding Obama successfully chose at least three members of the Supreme Court. The most recent president to get three justices on the high court was Ronald Reagan, from 1981 through 1988. In fact, one of those nominees, Justice Anthony Kennedy, was confirmed in a presidential-election year, 1988. So Why Were Obamas 3 Nominees Such a Big Deal? That Obama had the opportunity to nominee three Supreme Court justices was not, in an of itself, the big story. The timing — his final 11 months in office — and the impact his choice would have on setting the ideological course on the court for decades to come made his third nomination such a big news story and, of course, a political battle for the ages. Related Story: What Are Obamas Chances of Replacing Scalia? Which President Has Chosen the Most Supreme Court Justices? President Franklin Delano Roosevelt got eight of his nominees on the Supreme Court over the course of just six years in office. The only presidents who have come close are  Dwight Eisenhower, William Taft and  Ulysses Grant, whom each got five nominees on the court. So How Does Obamas 3 Picks Compare to Other Presidents? With three picks for the Supreme Court, Obama is exactly average. The 25 presidents since 1869 have gotten 75 nominees on the high court, meaning the average is three justices per president. So Obama falls right in the middle. Here is a list of presidents and the number of their Supreme Court nominees who made it to the court since 1869. The list is ranked from presidents with the most justices to those with the least. Franklin Roosevelt: 8 Dwight Eisenhower: 5 William Taft: 5 Ulysses Grant: 5 Richard Nixon: 4 Harry Truman: 4 Warren Harding: 4 Benjamin Harrison: 4 Grover Cleveland: 4 Ronald Reagan: 3 Herbert Hoover: 3 Woodrow Wilson: 3 Theodore Roosevelt: 3 Barack Obama: 2* George W. Bush: 2 Bill Clinton: 2 George H.W. Bush: 2 Lyndon Johnson: 2 John F. Kennedy: 2 Chester Arthur: 2 Rutherford Hayes: 2 Gerald Ford: 1 Calvin Coolidge: 1 William McKinley: 1 James Garfield: 1 * Obama has not yet nominated a third justice, and it remains uncertain whether his choice will will confirmation.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

ITEC 610 Assingement 1 Essay - 1438 Words

The relationship and interaction between XML and databases ECET610 UMUC Abstract This paper will explore the relationship between XML and databases and the way that they can be leveraged to provide data exchange on the internet. As XML gains popularity as the format for exchanging information via the internet and has become the language of choice for use in database development for Internet use.Introduction XML is a universal data standard and thereby does not need to be translated for use in different database systems. This is very important with large corporate data systems. In companies that have web presence this is a vital concern where some of the data base systems are handled by external companies that use an entirely†¦show more content†¦This presents a scalability problem in that when the system contains a few thousand documents the performance tends to degrade and become a management issue. Synchronization is also a problem between the non-database code and the database. If changes are made to the database structure the XML pointers need to be updated as well and the system is not very portable. The XML mapping style of data storage is used by web sites that map user inputs into XML schema that manages the storage and retrieval of the data as shown in the example Figure 1. This is an effective method when the existing data is in XML format. Using XML to simplify processes The flexibility of XML has made it the standard for the formatting and sharing of data via the web. XML data is easily transferable across machines and applications and is not constrained by the operating system of the host machine. This ease of translation enables XML to be transformed into non-XML formats for use with databases and their associated applications. An XML database is a database that stores the data fields in XML format. This allows for cross platform transferability and web page presentation. A web application is typically done in three layers the back office code in Java or a

Friday, December 13, 2019

Research Paper on Scrap Metal Trade in Jamaica Free Essays

Introduction The scrap metal trade is a very controversial topic in Jamaica in recent times. Outside of registered dealers/traders, the industry has garnered interests from many others as it has become a way of life for providing quick income for households. Although the trade started out as a livelihood for these persons the paradigm has shifted and now stems more negatives than positives as unscrupulous persons has used it as an avenue to participate in illegal activities that resulted in the government (Dr. We will write a custom essay sample on Research Paper on Scrap Metal Trade in Jamaica or any similar topic only for you Order Now Christopher Tufton – Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce at the time) instituting an indefinite ban on the Scrap Metal trade in Jamaica in July of 2011. Jamaica has had a number of reported cases of theft of valuable equipment and infrastructure over the last four years amounting to approximately $1 billion (Barrett, 2011). It is for this reason many argue this industry is doing us more harm than good. Scrap Metal theft however is not exclusive to Jamaica; it is a global concern and has been for the past 10 years. Kooi (2010) articulates that the rise in Scrap metal theft is driven by offenders’ recognition that ample metal supplies remain unguarded and that the price of return remains historically high based on heavy international demand. The market conditions made unsecured metal susceptible to increased theft, while causing a boom in scrap metal exports that increased the scrap metal theft problem. It is evident that the scrap metal trade offered both positives and negatives to our country’s economy. It has provided job opportunities to many youths and has given them a sense of achievement as the income allows them to positively contribute to society and their families. It has also been the largest contributor in earnings to the export section â€Å"Crude Materials† for many years (STATIN, 2012). There has been some discourse from the new Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Andrew Hylton on reopening the trade with tough new regulations. This is controversial as the industry is earning less than the losses associated with it. This research seeks to address the questions: 1) What is the public’s sentiment on this controversial issue being faced by our country? 2) How great an effect does legislation have on illegal trading of Scrap Metal presently? 3) Does the problem exist in enforcement of the legislation in place for the Scrap Metal Industry? 4) What punishment measures are in place presently and do they differ from what Jamaican people want in place for Scrap Metal Theft? Statement of the problem: There has been a tremendous level of theft of infrastructure reported from private companies being traded illegally. The focal point of this research is to explore the influence of legislation, enforcement (or lack thereof) of this legislation and punishment measures on illegal trading of Scrap Metal. Significance of the study: The contribution of the Scrap Metal trade to Jamaica’s earnings is significant, however the losses from theft and illegal trading supersedes its gains. It’s been over a year since the ban was instituted on the Scrap Metal trade and many are still suffering. The placard of a protester (someone who used to have a livelihood from collecting scrap metal) in Riverton Meadows last November read â€Å"When we have no work our kids are robbed of their future† (Jamaica Observer, November 9 2011). It’s hard not to be concerned about the future of our children. But it is also hard to see the detriment this is causing our nation â€Å"Bridges? Water Pipes? Telephone cables? Railway lines? Gates? Road Signs? Not even the dead are spared as these worthless scavengers dig up graves in order to rob the coffins of metal handles. (Editorial – Jamaica Observer July 28 2011, para. 2). As a developing nation, we need to foster growth in all our sectors but at the same time we need to be operating in public interest and for the good of the whole instead of only in the interest of particulars. Hence, in order to act in support of the livelihoods of our people and protect our infrastructure, while fostering growth within the Scrap Metal t rade sector, it is adamant that studies like this are done to look at reducing illegal trading. Research Question: What protocol can be established to minimize illegal trading in the Scrap Metal Industry of Jamaica? General Research Objective: To determine the extent to which legislation, enforcement of the legislation and punishment measures may influence illegal trading of Scrap Metal in Jamaica. Other Objectives: * To generate a public poll on this controversial issue being faced by our country. * To investigate how great an effect legislation has on illegal trading of Scrap Metal. * To examine if the problem exists in enforcement of the legislation in place for the Scrap Metal Industry. To determine what punishment measures the Jamaican people want in place for Scrap Metal Theft. General Research Hypothesis: Better legislation, enforcement and punishment measures will have a strong negative impact on illegal trading of Scrap Metal in Jamaica. Sub Hypotheses: The higher the level of legislation put in place for Scrap Metal Dealers, the lower the level of illegal trading. The higher the level o f enforcement of the legislation in place for the Scrap Metal Industry, the lower the level of illegal trading. The higher the level of punishment measures for Scrap Metal theft, the lower the level of illegal trading. Independent Variables Dependent Variable Illegal Trading Legislation Enforcement Punishment Measures Illegal Trading Legislation Enforcement Punishment Measures Literature Review This section contains a review of literature that is related to the concerns of this research paper as well as the conceptualisation of variables chosen. The literature will provide a layout and critical analyses of what has already been researched in relation to the Scrap Metal Trade Industry here in Jamaica as well as abroad. It is our hope that the literature review will provide a broader perspective on this very pertinent issue being faced by our country today. According to the Ministry Paper Trade Regulations for the Scrap Metal Industry Italy experienced severe delays in the train system due to the theft of copper wires and a number of states across the United States have also been reporting theft of copper wires that support their commercial infrastructure. This paper further states that the Caribbean countries Dominican Republic and Guyana have also experienced increased criminal activities related to scrap metal industry whereby Guyana is considering banning the export of the product altogether in an effort to stop the damage that it is causing the country’s infrastructure and other productive sectors. In recent years however, the problem has been a growing concern in Jamaica. â€Å"Prior to 2003, the scrap metal trade in Jamaica was more or less limited to a small domestic market and, consequently, the impact of scrap metal theft on other sectors was not significant†. CAPRI Policy Brief B122, January 2012 p. 4). However the article further stated that â€Å"A noticeable increase in scrap metal theft coincided with the sudden rise in scrap metal prices in 2003†, as there has been an increasing growth in the export market, increasing from US$13. 3 million in 2005 to US$99. 58 million in 2006. As a result, â€Å" a n interim response to the issue an Order, entitled â€Å"The Trade (Prohibition of Export) (Scrap Metal) Order 2007† was gazetted on October 31, 2007 to temporarily prohibit all exports of scrap metal until trade regulations are introduced. The Order recognized shipments already â€Å"entered† for export into the Customs Department system up to October 30 th 2007. (Ministry Paper Trade Regulations for the Scrap Metal Industry) The Government has banned the multi-billion dollar scrap metal trade. Dr. Christopher Tufton, the Minister of Industry, announced the ban at a press conference Tuesday afternoon in July of 2011. Dr. Tufton said the ban came against the background of the widespread theft of metals over the past three years as well as the warnings to scrap metal dealers to implement measures to curb the illegal activities in the trade. Jamaica and other countries to include different states in the United States of America recommended various policies to regulate the scrap metal trade and how to minimize illegal trading. The scrap metal trade in Jamaica does not require a copy of the seller identification be taken and kept on records by the purchasing of dealers. However the 2007 Wisconsin Act 64, requires scrap metal dealers to ask for identification and proof of ownership. The Act further stated that â€Å"seller and deliver of metals must provide motor vehicle operator license, current photograph identification which includes the person’s full name, current address, date of birth and identification number†. The Caribbean Policy Research Institution at the University of the West Indies in Mona also support this act in its â€Å"10 steps to Scrap Metal Solution† as policy 3 require that a â€Å"copy of the seller’s identification be taken and kept on record by the purchasing dealer†, and pointed out that this would ensure that a paper trail is created for transaction at the origin. Currently the Jamaica laws do not furnish a specific punishment for metal theft. However, the B. C. government is hoping to reduce metal theft, with new legislation that requires scrap metal dealers to report them to the police. Under the proposed law dealers will have to record the names and addresses of metal sellers and where the sellers got the material, and pass this information on to the police (Renzetti, London â€Å"The Globe and Mail†, July 2012). On the other hand responses in Kooi article recommended Offering reward money for tips on metal thieves. This way Police, crime prevention organizations, or companies victimized by scrap metal theft can establish hotlines and offer reward money for tips about suspected scrap metal theft. (p 31) Methodology This section will present an overview of the methods that were employed in conducting this research. Research design, population and sampling as well as the instrumentation used for data collection will be the areas of discussion. Research Design Due to the nature of the research, descriptive research was undertaken. It is felt by the researchers that this type of research was the most suitable for the topic under scrutiny. Our research is descriptive in the fact that we merely wish to observe the public’s sentiment on the issue as well as the reasons for the downfall of the scrap metal trade industry in Jamaica. The researchers do not intend to change the way Scrap Metal is traded; instead we have sought to obtain a general overview on the extent to which legislation, enforcement of the legislation and punishment measures may influence illegal trading of Scrap Metal in Jamaica. Due to the short time frame that the research was done in, it took the characteristics of a cross sectional study which takes a snapshot of the population at a given time (August – September 2012). The researchers engaged in qualitative methods of gathering data, where questionnaires were administered, an interview was conducted and previous researches on the topic were utilized. Population Sampling Non-probability sampling was applied to the research, specifically Judgemental/Purposive sampling. Due to our research topic, the population being looked at was residents of Kingston, Jamaica who were perceived to be informed on the topic. Within that population our target groups were members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, employees of the Ministry of National Security, Truckers/Collectors of Scrap Metal and general working professionals (public sector workers, Physicians, Educators, members of the Research and Economic Programming Division of the Bank of Jamaica, Students and the Self-employed). Our proposed target sample size was 100 persons, however, after 100 questionnaires were administered, only 86 questionnaires were returned. Some respondents failed to answer all questions on the instrument therefore for those questions not answered, (e. g. Questions 4, 9, 10-12) their sample size was reduced by three, four and three respectively. Instrumentation for Data Collection Due to the nature of the research topic, qualitative research in the forms of questionnaires and an interview was used to collect data. The questionnaire consisted of twelve questions of both open-ended and closed-ended response formats. There were only two open-ended response format questions (questions 1 and 9(partially) -please see appendix for a copy of the instrument). The closed-ended response format which the rest of instrument demonstrated provided fixed responses. These responses used mainly nominal ranking (e. g. Questions 1-6, 8-12) and also ordinal (e. g. Question 7). The questionnaire’s purpose was to adequately obtain the respondents’ opinions about the relationship between the independent and dependent variables outlined for this research. The combination of questions all addressed concepts such as the public’s opinion on the ban placed on the Scrap Metal Industry, where they thought the weakest link in the trade was, rules and regulations in place and punishment measures for Scrap Metal theft . An interview was conducted with a Mr. Derrick Mitchell on Wednesday, September 05, 2012. Mr. Mitchell is a licensed dealer in Clarendon and operates Mitchell’s Scrap metal. This interview consisted of open-ended questions which gave him ample freedom in his responses (please see appendix for a copy of the questions asked). In addition, electronic research as well as a thorough overview of this very current topic in the media was employed to aid in background information discussed in the literature review and throughout this paper. Findings and Discussion After giving some background to the topic of interest by reviewing relevant literature, providing the conceptualization and operational definitions of our variables, discussing how the sample was chosen and the instrumentation used to obtain data, this section will now look at our results from the interview conducted and questionnaires administered and returned. Interview Results He stated that the government is responsible for closing down the trade and that there are poor regulations in the monitoring system. He also mentioned that the customs officers are not fully monitoring the containers as they often leave the container open over night that will attract the criminals to load on illegal metals or metals that they are not licensed to be traded. He mentioned that each dealer should have license that allows them to trade various types of metals but because of the theft if gets them into trouble as there containers will be found with metal that they should not be trading. Mr. Mitchell mentioned that if the customs officers were caring out there duties properly they would detect the illegal metals before export. He recommends that instead of having one central site ( as is being proposed in the new regulations by Minister Andrew Hylton) that the government look at setting up regional sites as this may be more feasible for the rural traders. Transporting metal to the central site for checking will quickly become a costly burden for traders. Survey Results Findings There were one hundred questionnaires administered and eighty-six returned. Below are the results from the survey: Figure 1 below shows the public sentiment on the ban placed on the Industry which relates to question two of the questionnaire administered. It is evident why this issue is as controversial as it has been in recent times as the responses indicated almost a 50/50 split in opinion. 52% of respondents feel that the ban should not be lifted, while 48% feel it should be – one of this 48% exclaimed â€Å"We must recycle! Measures need to be put in place to protect the industry! † Figure 2 goes further to demonstrate how the public feels about the industry and who is to blame for the problems associated with it. This relates to question three of the questionnaire. Majority of the respondents believe the problem lies at the point of collection/scrap yards. Legislation Figure 3 relates to question eight of the questionnaire. It shows that 91% of the respondents think that Scrap Metal dealers should send a list of all metals purchased to the police in order to trace potentially stolen material. Figure 4 and 5 related to question eleven and twelve respectively. The answers to these questions were directly related. 81% of the respondents think the ban should remain on copper since it is a high target metal for theft, however that same 81% also believed that allowing select dealers only in the trade of copper was a smart alternative. Enforcement Figure 6 (relating to question six on the questionnaire) and Figure 7 (relating to question seven of the questionnaire) is showing that 93% of the public believe that rules and regulations need improving, and almost all respondents think there are â€Å"too little† measures in place currently. However, Punishment Measures Figure 8 shows the responses to question nine of the questionnaire. It alludes to how the public feels about Scrap Metal theft. Most respondents believed that being confined behind bars is the most appropriate punishment while at a close second was the punishment of paying a fine. This question also included an open-response format which allowed people to speak freely about their opinion on necessary punishment measures. Some of these responses included: â€Å"Entity suffering from the theft should be compensated to replace item†, â€Å"Person should provide labour (with stipend)to whomever was affected at the cost of the stolen metals†, â€Å"Standard meaningful fee for all, a thief is a thief – big or small! † and â€Å"Hard Labour Community service†. There were also suggestions of â€Å"Death Penalty† and â€Å"Life in Prison†, which indicate that people need the punishment measures for scrap metal theft to have some power of intimidation for these thieves. Conclusion (Answers to our sub research questions below) 1)What is the public’s sentiment on this controversial issue being faced by our country? 2)How great an effect does legislation have on illegal trading of Scrap Metal presently? 3)Does the problem exist in enforcement of the legislation in place for the Scrap Metal Industry? 4)What punishment measures are in place presently and do they differ from what Jamaican people want in place for Scrap Metal Theft? How to cite Research Paper on Scrap Metal Trade in Jamaica, Essays

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Love in The Hunchback of Notre Dame free essay sample

Love in The Hunchback of Notre Dame In the book The Hunchback of Notre Dame the author, Victor Hugo, used love as a central theme for his book. He showed that love can manifest itself in three main ways depending upon the person. Esmeralda was in a mode of self- destruction because of her lust for Phoebus. Claude Frollo turned into a man of Jealous rage because of his amorousness for Esmeralda, and Quasimodds passion for Esmeralda crumbled his heart as if it was made of stone, because of her death. Hugo used love as a central theme to capture the heart of the reader. He forced his readers to change their perspective on affection and admiration, in ways never thought of before. Hugo used Esmeraldas lust for Phoebus as his first example of how love can manifest itself in many different ways. Esmeralda, blinded by lust only saw Phoebus for what he looked like on the outside. We will write a custom essay sample on Love in The Hunchback of Notre Dame or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She was very much attracted to Phoebus, a man who was as ugly as a gargoyle on the inside, but as handsome as an angel on the outside. As a result of being blinded by lust, Esmeralda could not see the beauty of Quasimodo on the inside despite his repugnant appearance. Esmeralda had everlasting love for Phoebus and when he died Esmeralda felt as if she had no other reason to live. While talking romantically in a room, Esmeralda said to Phoebus, You are good, you are generous, you are kind; you saved me, me who am but a poor gipsy foundling. I have long dreamed of an officer who should save my life. It was of you I dreamed before I ever knew you, my Phoebus (284). When Phoebus was taken from Esmeralda, it was like taking water from a fish. She could not operate properly, and she soon fell into a state of self-destruction. Even while being tortured Esmeralda still muttered the name of Phoebus. Esmeraldas love for Phoebus destroyed her. She fell deeper into a pit of depression, self pity, and self destruction. Victor Hugo used Claude Frollos amorousness for Esmeralda as his second example of how love can manifest itself in different ways. While in the dungeon where Esmeralda was placed, Claude Frollo said, It was noon, the sun shone brightly, a creature was dancing, a creature so beautiful that God would have preferred her to the Virgin, and be chosen her to be his mother, and had she existed when he was made man (113-144). Claude Frollo found it Just to compare her to the beloved Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, Frollos love for Esmeralda caused him to kill the only man she loved out of Jealousy, hate, and rage. While talking to himself Frollo said, no one else shall have her (372). Surprisingly, when Esmeralda did not want him, he became indirectly responsible for her death. The last and the most important way Victor Hugo showed how love can manifest itself was when he demonstrated the passion Quasimodo had for Esmeralda. When describing the ugliness of Quasimodo Hugo said, The poor imp had a wart over his reastbone prominent, his legs crooked; but he seemed lively (142). Quasimodo had the features ofa gargoyle but the heart of an angel. Unfortunately, Esmeralda was too shallow to look beyond his exterior features. He loved Esmeralda more than he loved himself, and while giving her directions about staying in the church he said, Do not leave the church by day or by night. You would be lost. They would kill you, and I should die (354). He loved Esmeralda too much to live without her. He became intertwined with her heart and soul, like a dog to his master, and if she died, he ould die as well. After Quasimodo saved Esmeralda from death, she asked him why he had saved her, to which he replied, You have forgotten a villain who tried to carry you off one night, a villain to whom the very next day you brought relief upon their infamous pillory. A drop of water and a little pity are more than my life can ever repay (357). Quasimodo loved Esmeralda more than life itself. She was his oxygen and when she died he could not live. Quasimodo refused to live in the same world that was responsible for the death of the only thing he loved, so he voluntarily ended is life. When describing love Hugo said, Love is like a tree; it grows spontaneously, strikes its roots deep into our whole being, and often continues to flourish over a heart of ruins(358). Love is a powerful force that can change someone dramatically for the better or for the worse. In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Victor Hugo, the reader learns that love can take on many facets. It can drive a person to self- destruction, it can cause a person to become full of Jealousy and hatred, and cause a person to sacrifice his life, the most valuable thing a person possesses.