The Financial Crisis Of The Great Depression - 1571 Words

In the words from Ben Bernanke, â€Å"September and October of 2008 was the worst financial crisis in global history, including the Great Depression† (Yahoo Finance 2014). The effects from the banking, or credit, crisis were felt worldwide. Starting back when the investment banks went public and lobbying for deregulation, resulting in risky investments with creative ways to hide these investments can be directly correlated with the causes of the crisis. The effects, consequently, are catastrophic and are still lingering on six years later. What was one of the first causes for this meltdown? Even six years after the fact, people are still unsure. I believe that it started when the investment banks went public. When a company goes†¦show more content†¦The Gram-Leech-Bliley Act allowed this merger to be legal. This act, which revoked the Glass Steagall Act, was the largest achievement for the lobbyists for Wall Street (Repealing Glass-Steagall section, para. 7). This allowed the banks to keep growing and growing so that they were becoming too big to fail. Allowing this merger made it clear to firms that with enough time and money, anything can happen. In the movie Inside Job Willem Buiter states that â€Å"why do you have big banks? Well, because banks like monopoly power; because banks like lobbying power; because, banks know that when they’re too big, they will be bailed† (2010). When a single entity has this much power, they will be riskier in their investments which leads to higher short run earnings but destroys the firm in the long run. And with that assurance of being bailed out, they will not care how risky the investments are, just as long as they get their large bonuses. Christine Lagarde brought up this point during Inside Job in saying that â€Å"the financial industry is a service industry. It should serve others before it serves itself† (2010). She is insisting that ethics should be one of the fir st things under consideration. I believe that the paying customers should always be the top priority. Firms usually want to sell their loyal customers a great product, but in this case the firms sold their customers crap investments

Noises Off a Comedic Play by Michael Frayn

Englands Daily Telegraph reviewed the  touring production of Noises Off, calling it the funniest comedy ever written. Thats a bold claim, especially since weve met people who have seen the play and were not amused. They offered such opinions as: Its too long.Too much slapstick.I thought it was vulgar. As we  spoke with these unimpressed audience members, we learned that they had never been involved in the theater. Playwright Michael Frayn created Noises Off   in the early 1980s. It is a love letter and an inside joke to those of us familiar with the thrilling and unpredictable nature of the stage. Noise Off Noises Off   is a play within a play. It is about an ambitious director and his troupe of mediocre actors. The cast and crew are putting together a silly sex comedy titled, Nothing On - a single-set farce in which lovers frolic, doors slam, clothes are tossed away, and embarrassing hi-jinks ensue. The three acts of Noises Off   expose different phases of the disastrous show, Nothing On: Act One: On stage during dress rehearsal.Act Two: Backstage during a matinee performance.Act Three: On stage during a delightfully ruined performance. Act One: the Dress Rehearsal While the impatient director, Lloyd Dallas, trudges through the opening scene of Noises On, the actors keep breaking character. Dottie keeps forgetting when to take her plate of sardines. Garry keeps challenging the stage directions in the script. Brooke is clueless about her fellow performers  and constantly loses her contact lens. Act One lampoons the common problems which typically occur during the rehearsal process: Forgetting your lines.Second guessing your director.Misplacing your props.Missing your entrances.Falling in love with fellow cast members. Yes, aside from all of the physical comedy, the conflict of Noises Off   is intensified when several of the theater romances turn sour. Because of jealousy, double-crosses, and misunderstandings, tensions mount, and the performances of Nothing On go from bad to worse to wonderfully awful. Act Two: Backstage Antics The second act of Noises Off   takes place entirely backstage. Traditionally, the entire set is rotated to reveal the behind the scenes events which unfold. It is fun to watch the same scene of Nothing On from a different perspective. For anyone who has been backstage during a show—especially when something goes wrong—Act Two is bound to conjure a flood of hilarious memories. Despite the characters backstabbing one another, they somehow manage to get through their scene. But thats not the case with the final act of the play. Act Three: When Everything Goes Wrong In Act Three of Noises Off,, the cast of Nothing On has been performing their show for nearly three months. They are seriously burnt out. When Dottie makes a few mistakes during her opening scene, she just begins to ramble, making up lines from off the top of her head. The rest of the characters then make a series of mistakes: Garry cant improvise his way out of a paper bag.Brooke doesnt pay attention to the changes that are rapidly occurring—she just keeps doing her lines, even when they arent appropriate.The veteran actor, Selsdon, cant keep away from booze. By the plays end, their show is a comical catastrophe—and the audience is rolling in the aisles, loving every moment. If you have never experienced theater as an actor or a crew member, then perhaps Noises Off   is simply an entertaining show with a lot of laughs. However, for those of us who tread the boards, Michael Frayns Noises Off   might very well be the funniest play ever written.

Decriminalization of Marijuana Free Essays

Darnell Taylor M. Channing English 1B March 5, 2013 Decriminalization of Marijuana As I researched the internet for information about the decriminalization of marijuana, I found so much information concerning this project that it was hard putting together some thoughts. Through my research of the different topics I came to the conclusion that the ones I am writing about seem to be the most important concerning the decriminalization of marijuana. We will write a custom essay sample on Decriminalization of Marijuana or any similar topic only for you Order Now Should a person go to jail for smoking marijuana? A lot of people would say no, a person should not go to jail for smoking it. Marijuana is not a narcotic, such as heroin, or a stimulant like caffeine or tobacco, or a depressant, like alcohol. It would be easy to say marijuana is less of a threat to a person’s health than alcohol or tobacco. Marijuana became illegal on August 2, 1937 with the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act. Discrimination and racism played a big part in this because it was said that Blacks and other minorities were the majority of marijuana users. Politicians and lack of understanding of the drug is why marijuana is still illegal today. The scientific name for marijuana is cannabis. There are two main strains of marijuana and they are called Indica and Sativa. Cannabis is known in the streets, by many other names such as dank, bud, buddha, maryjane, weed, or reefer, and has been used medically since the beginning of civilization. The oldest known evidence of cannabis use comes from a tomb in the African country of Egypt, where cannabis was found in big bundles beside the tomb. In Canada, a high-level public official said the current marijuana prohibition was not working for the benefit of that country . The number of known marijuana users has grown from 55,000 to 350 million, a fact showing that prohibition of marijuana is not working. The big push for the United States to decriminalize marijuana started in the 1970’s, when almost half the states either approved it for medical use, decriminalized it, or completely legalized it. The people for decriminalization argue that legalizing cannabis would free up billions of dollars that we now use to prosecute users, pay for a large portion of law enforcement resources, and pay for large amounts of prison resources. It would reduce the income of street gangs and organized crime that grow, import, process, and sell illegal marijuana. With decriminalization and regulation it would provide large amounts of tax revenue and reduce enforcement costs, with little or no effect on how much is used. Decriminalization would lower the number of non-violent offenders in the prisons. The number of marijuana possession cases would also decline allowing less pressure on the Criminal Justice system. Decriminalization and legalization of marijuana are favored just because it is believed that a person’s rights should be respected. How a person lives his life, as long as he’s not hurting others, should be allowed. Users wouldn’t have to be scared of getting caught’ a person’s life would not be ruined for having a small amount of marijuana. A person wouldn’t lose his job because he had a little marijuana. College careers wouldn’t be ruined because of marijuana possession. The opposition also argues that cannabis on the streets today has a higher percentage of THC (the primary intoxicant), than in cannabis of an earlier time and that decriminalization will lead to more usage, more crime, and more abuse of dangerous illicit drugs. The Legal History of Marijuana in the United States: Decriminalization (1970-2000s) Check all the places that have decriminalized non-medical marijuana in the United States. Most of the states are in favor of decriminalization. They have started programs such as Drug Education or Drug Treatment in place of jail time or criminal charges for possession of small amounts of marijuana. This offense is now the lowest priority for law enforcement. In 1972, President Richard Nixon set up a committee to study marijuana use. The Commission found out that the fairness of cannabis prohibition was unclear, and that the Executive and Legislative branches had a responsibility to obey the Constitution. Even in the absence of a court ruling to do so, they did not put the study’s recommendations in action. In 1973, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize marijuana. In 1974, a Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, chaired by Senator James O. Eastland on the Marijuana-Hashish Epidemic and its impact on United States security said that evidence collected on marijuana had turned against this drug. By 1978 Alaska, California, Colorado, Mississippi, New York, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Ohio had some form of marijuana decriminalization. Certain cities and countries, especially in California, had adopted laws to further push decriminalized cannabis. When speaking against decriminalization, a 1974 study by the United States government and endorsed by then-President Ronald Reagan is being used. The results claim that in a test using monkeys, loss of brain cells was discovered. Unknown to the public was that this story was totally unfair. The monkeys were made to wear gas masks and marijuana was then pumped into their lungs non-stop for 5 minutes at a time with no fresh oxygen. It was a miracle the monkeys didn’t die and suffered only brain damage in this act of animal cruelty. Another study published in ‘The Journal of Clinical Investigation† shows that cannabis use actually stimulates cell development. It is not possible to overdose on marijuana, unlike most prescription and illegal drugs. Marijuana has yet to be proven addictive or deadly. No deaths have been linked to marijuana use. It has no known lethal dose. Health issues and family responsibilities, not legal issues, are reasons given for stopping or never starting the use of marijuana. Even the thought of it being a â€Å"gateway† drug is controversial. Research shows the real â€Å"gateway† is the illegal drug market. The â€Å"gateway† effect for marijuana could be because exposure to other illegal drugs when buying marijuana â€Å"on the streets† increases the opportunity to use other illegal drugs. Several states have taken steps about the marijuana issue by decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of the drug, reducing sanctions for amounts suitable for personal use. For marijuana that means one ounce or less. In recent history, there have been a lot of unsuccessful attempts to decriminalize cannabis. In 1974, Dr. Robert DuPont, the White House Drug Czar, began to publicly support the decriminalization of marijuana. When DuPont left government he changed his mind, seeing marijuana as a health problem and declaring â€Å"decriminalization is a bad idea†. Robert DuPont is still an active opponent of the decriminalization of marijuana. A law to legalize marijuana state-wide was put on the California Ballot in 1972. Proposition 19 was rejected by 66 percent of the votes. The Initiative reads as follows: 1. No person in the State of California, 18 years or older shall be punished, or be denied any right or privilege, by reason of such person’s planting, cultivating, harvesting, drying, processing, otherwise transporting, or possessing marijuana. 2. This provision shall in no way be construed to repeal existing legislation, or limit the enactment of future legislation, prohibiting persons under the influence of marijuana from engaging in conduct that endangers others. In Gonzales vs. Raich the courts ruled in a 6-3 decision that the Commerce Clause and the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution allowed the Federal government to ban the use of cannabis (including medical use) because Federal law is â€Å"supreme† and overrules State law. Further legalization of cannabis came in 2012 as two of three things to vote on were put on the general ballot of November 6th and were successful by wide margins. Washington’s Initiative 502 (2011) and Colorado’s Amendment 64 (2012) passed in the general election, as Oregon’s Ballot Measure 80 (2012) failed. Both of the successful measures restricted cannabis possession to adults aged 21 or over, restricted the total amount allowed and included a â€Å"DUID† (Driving under the Influence of Drugs) provision against driving under the influence of marijuana. Both specifically regulated cannabis much like hard liquor has been since the end of prohibition in the United States and avoided any changes to medical marijuana law. Initiative 502 defined marijuana based on its THC content and controlled all growth; processing and sales of marijuana based on its THC content and controlled all growth, processing and sale of marijuana under the Washington State Liquor Control Board, with restrictions against public consumption. The Colorado Measure allowed â€Å"private grows† in addition to commercial regulation. The failed Oregon law established a new State agency to regulate and tax cannabis but was less specific and allowed possession for all adults, aged 18 or older. Illegal marijuana cost taxpayers $7. 5 billion a year (enforcement, prosecution, incarceration and monitoring). It also makes growing hemp, which can be used to make cloth, paper and rope, against the law. When imported from places like Canada, Russia, and China hemp products are legal. In 1645 hemp was a cash crop in America and Europeans were growing it before that. Almost one million people a year are in trouble with the law, about marijuana. 15 billion a year goes to the â€Å"War on Marijuana†, which doesn’t look too successful. Decriminalization will reduce these numbers. There is little proof that decriminalization of marijuana use leads to an increase in marijuana use. Almost one million people a year are in trouble with the law, about marijuana. $15 billion a year goes to the â€Å"War on Marijuanaâ₠¬ , which doesn’t look too successful. Decriminalization would reduce these numbers. In January, 2011, first year Arizona Republican Legislator John Fillmore introduced House Bill 2228. This bill would decriminalize marijuana possession of 2 ounces or less to a petty offense with a penalty no more than a $100 fine, similar to the laws in Colorado and California. On January 1, 1975, Senate Bill 95 made possession of under one ounce of marijuana for non-medical use punishable by a $100 fine; tougher punishments exists for amounts of more than an ounce, possession on school grounds, or violation of marijuana laws for sales or cultivation. If the offender is under the age of 21, his or her Driver’s License may be suspended for up to one year. In Mendocino County, voters in 2000 approved Measure G, which called for the decriminalization of marijuana when used, or cultivated for personal use. Measure G passed with a 58 percent majority vote, making it the first county in the United States to declare prosecution of small-scale cannabis offenses The â€Å"lowest priority† for law enforcement. Measure G does not protect individuals who cultivate, transport, or possess marijuana for sale. Measure G was passed at the local government level making it law only in Mendocino County and does not affect existing state or federal laws. On September 30, 2010 California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law, S. B. 1449. A bill that decriminalizes the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. The bill reduces simple possession from a misdemeanor to an infraction. This would eliminate the need to appear in court and would treat possession of less than 28. 5 grams like a traffic ticket, punishable by a $100 fine. Also in 2010, Proposition 19, titled the â€Å"Regulate, Control, and Tax Act 2010†, qualified for the November California Ballot. It was rejected by 54 percent of the voters. The Initiative would have legalized the recreational use of marijuana and its activities in the state of California. It would have let local governments to regulate and tax the cannabis market. In Colorado marijuana has helped the state economically with millions of dollars in revenue generated with the legalization of marijuana for adult use, regulating and taxing it the same way alcohol is regulated. Before November 6, 2012 the cities of Breckenridge and Denver, Colorado had passed Measures to make possession of up to one ounce of marijuana legal, even though possession was still a crime under tate and federal laws. Amendment 64 to the Colorado Constitution, which passed November 6, 2012, legalized recreational marijuana use under State law. In 2006 Amendment 44 was rejected by 59 percent of the voting population. Amendment 44 would have legalized possession of 28. 45 grams (approximately one ounce) or less by adults 21 or older. California is estimated to have saved a billion doll ars in a twelve year period between 1976 and1988 as a result of decriminalizing marijuana. In 2003 the United States spent $12. billion on law enforcement and court costs; and $16. 9 billion in penitentiary costs, with Alaska spending as much as $25 to $30million per year enforcing marijuana prohibition laws. There is little proof that decriminalization of marijuana use leads to an increase in marijuana use. The cost of arresting and prosecuting marijuana offenders were lower instates where possession of marijuana in small amounts had been decriminalized. In places where marijuana possession is still a criminal offense and not decriminalized, there has been an increase in marijuana use. In countries where marijuana has been decriminalized there are lower rates of drug use when compared to countries where marijuana possession in small amounts is still a criminal offense punished by jail time. In 2006, marijuana was the top cash crop in 12 states, one of the top 3 cash crops in 30 states and one of the top 5 cash crops in 39 states. United States marijuana production is estimated at $35 billion annually. Some Health Benefits of Marijuana Use Should marijuana still be illegal in the United States based on its health effects, medicinal value and costs to the country? Some people suffering from afflictions have to break the law to relieve chronic pain. 1. For asthma and the common cough – Marijuana is one of the best dilators of the bronchioles (The first passageways by which the air passes through the nose to the air sacs of the lungs). 2. For AIDS Wasting Syndrome and Eating Disorders – Where â€Å"munchies† from smoking marijuana increases the user’s appetite. 3. For Crohn’s Disease, Cancer, and Migraines – Marijuana’s pain relieving qualities help. 4. For ADD and ADHD – Besides being an alternative to Ritalin, marijuana helps without any of the Ritalin side effects. . Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) – Reduces pain in severe cases of PMS. 6. Tourette’s and OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) – Marijuana slows down the tics in people that have Tourette’s and the symptoms of the people with OCD. 7. For Anxiety-Marijuana calms 8. Hepatitis C-Marijuana helps improve dr ug therapy treatment 9. Marijuana also helps with Schizophrenia, Epilepsy, Depression, and Multiple Sclerosis. I tried to give as much information as I could to let you know what’s going on. I hope I did that. Works Cited â€Å"Decriminalization of Marijuana†, Lawrence, B. K. Studymode. com, 6 May 2005, http://www. Studymode. com/Essays/Decriminalization-marijuana-56452. html â€Å"Decriminalization of Marijuana†, 123HelpMe. com, 10 Mar 2013 â€Å"Decriminalization of Marijuana†, Termpaper. com, 12 Apr 2012 http://Termpaper. com/Essay-on/Decriminalization-Of-Marijuana/79942 â€Å"Decriminalization vs. Prohibition†, 123HelpMe. com, 10 Mar 2013 http://www. 123HelpMe. com/view. asp? id=61687 â€Å"Illegal Drugs: Legalization of Marijuana†, Marijuana. com, 19 Apr 2010 â€Å"Smoke In The Air†, 123HelpMe. com, 10 Mar 2013 http://www. 123HelpMe. com/view. asp? id=86223 How to cite Decriminalization of Marijuana, Essay examples

Descriptions of Several Coronations System †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Descriptions of Several Coronations System. Answer: Introduction: Survey of London is one of the most famous works published in the 16th Century that gave detailed accounts of the buildings, social conditions and customs of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It is one of the historical sources that describe the condition of London during that time, though some scholars have doubts about some of the accuracy of the information provided in the book. John Stow was the author of this book. The books second corrected version was later published and st6ill a third version was launched after the death of the author. Chronicles are written accounts based on facts and these describe, events, lifestyles and peoples stories. These are records. The Chronicles are very important sources to understand the historical value of a place and the lifestyle of the people at that particular time period. The Chronicles from very early periods are often doubted of their informative accuracy management and there are contradictions in some of them. In the work Survey of London John Stow has described in great details many of the features of the London city at that point of time. The language of the records and the spellings are often difficult as old English is used. In the chapter called the Langborne warde for example descriptions are given as follows. Langborne warde, so called of a long borne of sweete water, which of olde time breaking out into Fenchurch streete, ranne downe the same streete, and Lombard street, to the West end of S. Mary Woolnothes Church, where turning south, and breaking into smal shares, rils or streams, it left the name of Share borne lane, or South borne lane (as I haue read) because it ran south to the Riuer of Thames. Therefore there are detailed geographical details along with names of streets and many other details and the reader can make out exactly how the place appeared like. In the following lines the work goes on t6o describe lanes, churches, buildings and other places and their detailed exp lanations are given as well. The historical source of the names of the Churches are also given in the accounts, Fenne-church streete tooke that name of a Fennie or Moorish ground, so made by means of this borne which passed through it[4]. Therefore these records can be used to understand the geography of London of the time period described in the chronicle. Henry Machyn was one of the famous Chroniclers of the 16th Century London from whose accounts many interesting aspect of the city life can be understood[5]. He had recorded various important events such as changes on the throne, state visits, insurrections, executions and festivities. His diary is one of the important sources to know the contemporary life of London and various important events. Various turbulent and disturbing times were recorded by him and these can be analysed by the first-hand accounts he presented. He had maintained his diary in a systematic way and dated all the entries according to years and months which directly corroborates the dates of the important events. If the entries between the January-June period be analysed from the year 1554, several important events are dotted along with description of the lives of the people. The ij day of January the king of Spain's ambassadors landed at Tower wharf. During whose landing there was great shooting of the guns. The lord Wylliam Haward dyd saff-gard them; and so rod to-gether, and in Fanchyrche stret my lord of Devonshire and dyvers odur mett them, and rod with them unto Durram Plasse, and ther they dyd a-lyght[6]. The spellings and the language is the older form of English language. In this entry the landing and reception of Spains ambassador is described. There are descriptions of several coronations, executions and state visits throughout the accounts. Therefore everyday life of the royals and the people can be understood from this Chronicle, however because of the use of old English sometimes it becomes difficult for the layman to understand what has been stated in these texts management. The analysis of the two Chronicles, the diary of Henry Machyn and the Survey of London by John Stow can give a very clear idea about the life of the people of the contemporary times and the geographical map of the city. It is very evident that these authors have taken extensive effort in noting down what real life incidents they experienced or the geographical characteristic features they saw. However there may be certain technical mistakes that may not be true, but it will be wrong to completely dismiss the accounts as works of fiction because of the presence of some of the minor mistakes that may have been there in the accounts. Reference: Beer, B. L. (2013). John Kyngston and Fabyans Chronicle (1559).Library,14(2), 199-207. Gordon, A. (2013). Henry Machyns Book of Remembrance. InWriting Early Modern London(pp. 11-59). Palgrave Macmillan, London. Gordon, A. (2013).Writing Early Modern London: Memory, Text and Community. Springer. Kingsford, C. L. (Ed.). (2015).Chronicles of London. Cambridge University Press. Maitzen, R. A. (2013).Gender, Genre, and Victorian Historical Writing. Routledge. Stow, J. (1842).A survey of London.