Johnnie Johnson - World War 2 Johnnie Johnson

Johnnie Johnson - World War 2 Johnnie Johnson Johnnie Johnson - Early Life Career: Born on March 9, 1915, James Edgar Johnnie Johnson was the son of Alfred Johnson, a Leicestershire policeman. An avid outdoorsman, Johnson was raised locally and attended Loughborough Grammar School. His career at Loughborough came to an abrupt end when he was expelled for swimming in the school pool with a girl. Attending the University of Nottingham, Johnson studied civil engineering and graduated in 1937. The following year he broke his collar bone while playing for Chingford Rugby Club. In the wake of the injury, the bone was improperly set and healed incorrectly. Entering the Military: Possessing an interest in aviation, Johnson applied for entry into the Royal Auxiliary Air Force but was rejected based on his injury. Still eager to serve, he joined the Leicestershire Yeomanry. With tensions with Germany increasing in late 1938 as a result of the Munich Crisis, the Royal Air Force reduced its entry standards and Johnson was able to gain admission into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. After undergoing basic training on weekends, he was called up in August 1939 and sent to Cambridge for flight training. His flying education was completed at 7 Operational Training Unit, RAF Hawarden in Wales. The Nagging Injury: During the course of training, Johnson found that his shoulder caused him great pain while flying. This proved particularly true when flying high-performance aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire. The injury was further exacerbated following a crash during training in which Johnsons Spitfire did a ground loop. Though he tried various types of padding on his shoulder, he continued to find that he would lose feeling in his right arm while flying. Briefly posted to No. 19 Squadron, he soon received a transfer to No. 616 Squadron at Coltishall. Reporting his shoulder problems to the medic he was soon given a choice between reassignment as a training pilot or undergoing surgery to reset his collar bone. Immediately opting for the latter, he was removed from flight status and sent to the RAF Hospital at Rauceby. As a result of this operation, Johnson missed the Battle of Britain. Returning to No. 616 Squadron in December 1940, he began regular flight operations and aided in downing a German aircraft the following month. Moving with the squadron to Tangmere in early 1941, he began to see more action. A Rising Star: Quickly proving himself a skilled pilot, he was invited to fly in Wing Commander Douglas Baders section. Gaining experience, he scored his first kill, a Messerschmitt Bf 109 on June 26. Taking part in the fighter sweeps over Western Europe that summer, he was present when Bader was shot down on August 9. Scoring his fifth kill and becoming an ace in September, Johnson received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and made flight commander. Over the next several months he continued to perform admirably and earned a bar for his DFC in July 1942. An Established Ace: In August 1942, Johnson received command of No. 610 Squadron and led it over Dieppe during Operation Jubilee. In the course of the fighting, he downed a Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Continuing to add to his total, Johnson was promoted to acting Wing Commander in March 1943 and given command of the Canadian Wing at Kenley. Despite being English-born, Johnson quickly gained the Canadians trust through his leadership in the air. The unit proved exceptionally effective under his guidance and he personally downed fourteen German fighters between April and September. For his achievements in early 1943, Johnson received the Distinguish Service Order (DSO) in June. A slew of additional kills earned him a bar for the DSO that September. Removed from flight operations for six months at the end of September, Johnsons total numbered 25 kills and he held the official rank of Squadron Leader. Assigned to No. 11 Group Headquarters, he performed administrative duties until March 1944 when he was placed in command of No. 144 (RCAF) Wing. Scoring his 28th kill on May 5, he became the highest-scoring British ace still actively flying. Top Scorer: Continuing to fly through 1944, Johnson kept adding to his tally. Scoring his 33rd kill on June 30, he passed Group Captain Adolph Sailor Malan as the top-scoring British pilot against the Luftwaffe. Given command of No. 127 Wing in August, he downed two Fw 190s on the 21st. Johnsons final victory of World War II came on September 27 over Nijmegen when he destroyed a Bf 109. During the course of the war, Johnson flew 515 sorties and shot down 34 German aircraft. He shared in seven additional kills which added 3.5 to his total. In addition, he had three probables, ten damaged, and one destroyed on the ground. Postwar: In the final weeks of the war, his men patrolled the skies over Kiel and Berlin. With the end of the conflict, Johnson was the RAFs second highest-scoring pilot of the war behind Squadron Leader Marmaduke Pattle who had been killed in 1941. With the end of the war, Johnson was given a permanent commission in the RAF first as a squadron leader and then as a wing commander. After service at the Central Fighter Establishment, he was sent to the United States to gain experience in jet fighter operations. Flying the F-86 Sabre and F-80 Shooting Star, he saw service in the Korean War with the US Air Force. Returning to the RAF in 1952, he served as Air Officer Commanding at RAF Wildenrath in Germany. Two years later he began a three-year tour as Deputy Director, Operations at the Air Ministry. After a term as Air Officer Commanding, RAF Cottesmore (1957-1960), he was promoted to air commodore. Promoted to air vice marshal in 1963, Johnsons final active duty command was as Air Officer Commanding, Air Forces Middle East. Retiring in 1966, Johnson worked in business for the remainder of his professional life as well as served as Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Leicestershire in 1967. Writing several books about his career and flying, Johnson died of cancer on January 30, 2001. Selected Sources James Edgar Johnnie JohnsonAir Vice Marshal James Johnnie JohnsonCentury of Flight: Johnnie Johnson

New Years Ressaylutions 2015

New Years Ressaylutions 2015 It’s that time of year again: New Year’s resolutions. Today I spoke with a friend whose resolutions are beautifully concrete and achievable: Declutter his journals, letters and cards from his apartment, and make sure all his and his parents’ affairs are in order, with all i’s dotted and t’s crossed. I envied the simplicity of that. In my world, one of my personal resolutions looks like this: Build relationships as I take on leading teams and prioritize those relationships over getting stuff done. But still get stuff done. And inspire my teams with energy so they want to satisfy me! This sort of goal is much less straightforward and measurable, but it’s my goal and my resolution. I hope to see great progress in that area by the end of 2015. For now, let’s check in on the resolutions I made last year for my business. How am I doing? 2014 â€Å"Ressaylutions† and Current Status: Increase college essay / personal statement portion of my business to 25% of business. As predicted in my October blog, I reached just about 10%. Most of the marketing efforts I made in good faith did not result in new clients; however I received some inquiries by people doing Google searches (great news for me) and several resume writers have referred clients (thank you- you know who you are if you are reading this!). December is traditionally a busier month for college admissions, so if you know someone applying to school please let them know about The Essay Expert! Roll out a new â€Å"responsive† (mobile-friendly) website. This project is finally on track and I expect to roll out a new site in January! Just missed my 2014 deadline by a smidge. Choose a CRM and project management system. I am still working with an Infusionsoft expert to create these systems. I have reviewed about 100 pages of email messages that will go out to clients and writers in the course of working on various projects. I have now been advised to get the website up and running before implementing Infusionsoft. I look forward to having things run seamlessly by Q2 2015! Serve 250 clients. Total clients this year is 160. I did not reach my goal. I will be looking at my lead generations strategies and expect that my new website and Infusionsoft implementation will support The Essay Expert’s expansion to a wider client base in 2015. Generate 214 success stories. I did not meet this goal (we’re at 50). When I look honestly, I think I may have gotten lazy on my follow-up efforts. I have automated messages that go out to clients but I could do more to reach out individually and personally. My 2015 resolutions are as follows: Increase college essay / personal statement portion of my business to 25% of business. I’m going for this one again and am encouraged by the uptick in this part of my business in the last month! Roll out a new â€Å"responsive† (mobile-friendly) website. This will be happening for real in January! Implement Infusionsoft. See 2015 report! Serve 250 clients. Going for this again! Publish a print version of How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile. I have a publisher all set to go on this project. The challenge is that LinkedIn’s interface changes so frequently; I was almost ready in December to move forward and then almost everything about LinkedIn’s home page and functionality changed! Nevertheless, I’m determined. Implement a robust referral program. I want to encourage people to refer clients to The Essay Expert and to reward them for their efforts. If you have an idea of what would be a great incentive for you, please let me know! Create more internal systems/guidelines. I faced a couple of difficult negotiations this year that might have been prevented by clearer agreements with my writers. Although I have detailed agreements that I sign with all writers, as well as guideline documents, I’m discovering some missing pieces and will be putting those in for 2015. Setting clear expectations is key to running a business smoothly! 2015 is looking to be an exciting year of growth, both personally and professionally (and I happen to believe they are one and the same). What are your New Year’s Resolutions for 2015 and your growth edges? Please share!

ALL SAINTS BRAND Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ALL SAINTS BRAND - Essay Example All of the All Saints stores bear a unique interior design which differentiated from each other. This reflects the brands image of uniqueness and non corporate culture. All Saints have associated itself with the music industry quite intimately. The company made strategic business collaboration with brands like U2, Kelis, Robbie Williams, etc. in order to enhance its brand equity. The company endorsed clothing for several music videos, thereby creating a brand culture associated with youth culture and casual lifestyle (Allsaints, 2015). According to Kotler and Keller (2011) the brand is defined as the perception of the customers regarding a particular product or individual or any other marketable entity. It is a mental image that a company wants its customers to have regarding its products. All Saints brand is best known for its uniqueness and focus on the gothic culture. The products’ design, the promotional activities and the aesthetics of the store are based on culture of matured and rough life style while wearing black, grey and white. The signature interiors of the store is characterized metal, worn off wood and exposed bricks, which indicates a rough and weathered lifestyle. The design of the clothes has been carefully selected that complements the gothic and dark nature of the brand. Thus it can be stated that the brand has been positioned to be youth centric thereby targeting the age group of 18 to 35 (Ferla, 2010). Apart from the uniquely mundane and muted appearance of the brand, the company has al so tried to blend fashion with rock music. Currently, All Saints is associated with a sense of decaying decadence and distress outlook with a taste of vintage lifestyle. It is one of those very few brands that barely follow market trend and try to initiate a trend in the industry. The company has successfully engaged the customers by building a close relationship with them, thereby creating a

Reactivating Federal Assault Weapons Ban Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Reactivating Federal Assault Weapons Ban - Essay Example One of the most important reasons as to why guns should be controlled is the regional gangs in the streets of U.S. Since the expiry of federal assault weapons act in 2004, it became easy for citizens to own guns. It also created legal loopholes for weapon merchants to sell guns to both deserving citizens and criminals as well. This created the biggest loophole in American safety since guns became easily accessible to regional gangs as well. Gangs have since then grown exponentially and use of guns become a common phenomenon. Murder, homicide, juvenile, burglary, and criminal shootings have soared. Although proponents of gun use argue that gangs will still have access to guns whether the act is in use or not, it is evident that when strict gun control laws are in place manufacture, supply and use considerably goes down (Valdez, 2003). The attack on government officials is on the rise. Licensing of guns makes it possible for both good and bad people to carry guns to places that threaten the safety of government officials. Political, governmental and leadership ideologies have always been a source of conflict. Such conflicts need to be solved in an amicable way using official channels. However, easy accessibility to guns has made it possible for groups of people who have conflicting ideologies with the leadership to pose a threat to the leadership. Indeed the history of America contains incidents of assassinations of some of the best American presidents. Founders of America created an excellent leadership infrastructure meant to protect America against factions. However, it is now evident that such freedom against factions is going to drains through easy accessibility of guns.

The Holidays Essay Example for Free

The Holidays Essay The Holidays The meaning of holidays is essentially a time we embark moments and share time with love one’s. In the United Sates, holidays are a very superior time that many of us embrace. Many can think back on holidays that they’ve encountered and recollect favorable moments. For many, it is the time of the year when people seem to grasp inside of one another and distinguish the best of things. Clearly, to some amount the â€Å"holiday season† gives people a sense of pleasure. Halloween and Christmas are two holidays that many people choose to rejoice. Indeed, they are both the most decorated holidays of the year, and both originate from Christian beliefs. But there’s something about the two that have mystified throughout their existence. Halloween and Christmas share similar attributes, but they are also vastly different in history, culture and traditions. On October 31, many people celebrate the eve of All Saints Day; better known to the world as Halloween. When people think of Halloween, they think of a day filled with frights, terror and fun. There are many cultural influences that have prompted to the holiday e now call Halloween; such as Day of Dead and All Souls Day. Halloween is refrained by death, but this doesnt make the holiday wicked. In fact, its a time of celebration for greeting spirits that have departed from past years. Some beliefs include wearing costumes so spirits would think that the living coexisted with the dead. Consequently, decorations on Halloween entail of skeletons, ghost, witches, and pumpkins. Simply, the idea is to decorate your house as daunting as it can be. As a tradition, children are able to stroll at night going oor to door, and receive as much candy as they can fit into their pillowcases. By the end of the night, children compete with siblings and friends to see who received the most candy. Halloween is the only holiday kids receive so much candy; it can last the entire year. It is clear that children take a joy on this event. Also, in today’s modern time it’s the only day out of the year a person can dress up as a character. However, Christmas is a sacred religious holiday; celebrated on December 25. The yearly centenary of the Christian church to memorialize the birth of Jesus. Though the original concept of Christmas is for the church service to celebrate the birth of Christ; people celebrate Christmas Day in many ways. Our culture has formed it more around giving gifts to loved ones and spending time with family. Subsequently, there are many types of decorations that are displayed during Christmas time that contain whites, reds and greens. Decorating houses with bright lights, mistletoe’s, bells, snowmen, angels and stockings is a traditional act. As for kids, they await for Santa Clause to arrive, so they can open gifts on Christmas morning. Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, is a historic, legendary and mythological individual. Believed by numerous children to bring gifts to the homes of well-behaved children. The iconic Santa Claus has been in existence since the early 1800’s who’s been portrayed as a stocky, joyful, white- bearded man with red rosy cheeks, wearing a red coat with black leather boots. Furthermore, receiving gift is one of the most exciting aspects of modern Christmas. Gift are usually items that were asked for throughout the year. In all, many citizens take the time to enjoy time away from work and dearly spend it with love ones. We come across many holidays that contribute to a social phenomenon like religion, beliefs and traditions. Despite the similarities among Halloween and Christmas, they are more different than people may present. Overall, I think people can view both in a positive or negative way, but some may agree that all holidays always have a very special meaning. A holiday give people time to experience and learn; that is how they can differentiate holidays

American Homeland Security :: essays research papers

Homeland Security Millions of innocent lives lost on 9-11-01. A problem not widely discussed in the United States much until September 11, 2001 the date of the attack from terrorist organizations on the world trade centers’ New York towers in New York City. The United States of America (USA) has not worried much about self defense or in this case homeland security. Due to the actions on September 11th homeland security has been the main goal of many politicians and voters. Homeland security builds coalitions and partnerships, protects civil rights and civil liberties, and develops human capital. Coalitions and partnerships are one of the key points of homeland security (United States 2). Homeland security was created during Cold War (Watson 1). This was to protect the USA from the possibility of a nuclear war with the communistic government of the Russians at the time. Today the USA’s department of homeland security collaborates horizontally which is between different federal agencies (United States 2). This is done to ensure communication between different federal groups. Also, this ensures that the different groups join forces concerning issues in the country. They collaborate vertically through different forms of government (United States 2). One of the many coalitions for homeland security is the U.S. Department of States. This was created in 1789 (United States 3). It was made to protect the rights of people and foreign relations. This helps benefit the different forms of government having positive relations with other countries. Also homeland security protects civil rights and civil liberties (United States 2). This is done through the two main organizations the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The CIA gathers information that protects the USA and it was created to do such (â€Å"Civilian† 8). While the FBI was founded to provide other law enforments with corporative assistance (â€Å"Civilian† 12). The rights of many people are enjoyed due to the operation of these two coalitions that sometimes seems like a partnership. These liberties and rights are taken for granted by people who don’t realize how much they rely on civil liberties and rights that are the backbone of the USA. With out these organizations there would be more illegal drug trafficking from foreign companies and also domestic drug trade. These organizations are a form of internal protection.

Tacitus Germania and Women

Germania, written by the Roman Cornelius Tacitus in 98 A. D, is a historical work on the warlike Germanic tribes located north of the Danube and the Rhine rivers. Anthropology is the study of societies, cultures, and origins of human races. In Germania, Tacitus describes the inhabitants, customs, and society of these Germanic tribes giving valuable anthropological insight. Tacitus specifically describes the role women held in these early Germanic societies.Germania is anthropologically insightful of Germanic women by showing the high regard the Germanic tribes held toward women; evidenced through the women's influence on wars, their role in society, and the Germanic marriage customs. Cornelius Tacitus was born in 56 A. D in the area of southern Gaul. By the year 75 he lived in Rome training as an orator. A year later he married the daughter of the consul Julius Agricola. In later years he wrote a biography of Julius Agricola. He eventually took up a career in politics rising from sen ator all the way up to the consulship in 97.After the consulship he continued with his political career as proconsul of Asia but began to write historical works as well. Some of Tacitus' major works include Agricola written in 97-8, Germania written in 98, The Histories, recording Roman history from 69 to 96, and The Annals, recording the history from 14 to 68. Tacitus is known as one of the greatest historians and prose stylists who wrote in Latin. His works The Histories and The Annals are among the masterpieces of Latin literature. Little evidence exists of Tacitus later life or the date of his death. 1Germania is split into 46 chapters or sections. Each one focuses on a different aspect of Germanic life and society. The book begins with a description of the geography of Germania with its boundaries of rivers, mountains, and the ocean. Tacitus then continues to describe the people themselves as a race â€Å"little affected by immigration† (37) because of their geography. T he name ‘Germania' came from the first people to cross the Rhine and defeat the Gauls. The inhabitants took the name Germani in honor of the conquerors and the terror they brought with them.Tacitus gives  descriptions of the Germani's religion, warlike society, home life, government, and the specific Germanic tribes or groups. With regards to religion, the Germani have many gods. Their most important god is Mercury. The Germani were known to give human sacrifices to appease Mercury at times. Other gods such as Hercules and Mars merely required animal sacrifices. The Germani are a very warlike society. Tacitus describes in detail their national war song to the gods sung before and during battle with a deep throaty roar. In the words of Tacitus, â€Å"The Germani have no taste for peace† (41). They are a culture of war.This warlike culture effects the home life and government of the Germani. Marriage is an important institution for the Germani and is highly revered. Tac itus cites that the women are in fact one of the men's greatest motivations for success in war. Though their kings are chosen by noble birth, they choose leaders for their valor. Neither the leaders nor the kings, however, have absolute power. Tacitus expounds upon all these aspects of Germani society in great detail. To conclude Germania Tacitus describes the specific practices of more than 20 individual nations and tribes within the area of Germania.The first evidence Germania gives of the Germani's high regard for women is apparent through the women's influence on the men during war. The women encouraged the men during war and had a great power to motivate the men. Tacitus explains how the women and children were the dearest possessions of the men and continues to say, â€Å"†¦ to them he looks for his highest praise. The men take their wounds to their mothers and wives, who are not afraid of counting and examining the blows, and bring food and encouragement to those fighti ng† (38).The women are taking a very active role in war through caring for the men. The men do not take this for granted, this is their greatest motivation. Tacitus explains more fully the women's ability to motivate the men, â€Å"Tradition has it that armies wavering and even on the point of collapse have been restored by the steadfast pleas of the women, who bared their breasts and described how close they were to enslavement – a fate that the men fear more keenly for their women than for themselves† (38).The women had such a strong power to motivate the men that they could restore the strength of a failing army. The Germani's high regard of women is evident by the women's ability to motivate and encourage the men during war. The thoughts and opinions of Germani women were regarded highly giving them a valuable role in society. Tacitus explains, â€Å"†¦ they believe that there resides in women something holy and prophetic, and so do not scorn their advi ce or disregard their replies† (39).Many societies, especially during this time, believed women to be incapable of intelligent reasoning. The Germani, however, believe women have something holy or prophetic within them. This caused the men to listen to the advice and opinions of the women rather than toss them aside as ignorant. This role of women, possessing something holy and sharing advice, shows a high regard for women in Germanic society. Lastly, the respect and honor shown to women through the Germanic marriage customs show a high regard for women.Tacitus praises the Germani's strict view of marriage. Tacitus describes their marriage customs, â€Å"They are almost unique among barbarians in being satisfied with one wife each†¦ The dowry is brought not by wife to husband, but by husband to wife. Parents and kinsmen attend and approve the gifts, gifts not chosen to please a woman's whim or gaily deck a young bride, but oxen, a horse with reins, a shield with spear an d sword† (43). By each man taking one woman for life the Germani demonstrate a value of women as more than property.The most unique and remarkable custom though regards the dowry. In most cultures the dowry is the gifts and inheritance the bride has to offer the groom. With the Germani, however, this is reversed. Instead the man must bring a dowry to offer the bride. The dowry is not made up of frivolous items for the bride to enjoy but practical items for living. This custom shows the brides worth and honor and demonstrates the Germani's view of women as being valuable and intelligent. The women of Germania are not pushed aside or placed at the bottom of Germanic society.Instead, they motivate the men in war renewing their strength when they are weary. The men value the women enough to place their safety above their lives in battle. The Germani believe the women to have something holy within them, so the men listen to them and do not disregard there advice. Finally, the men d o not trade women as possessions but honor them with a dowry and stay true to one woman in marriage. These anthropological insights of Germanic women described in Germania show the Germanic people held women in high regard in their culture and society.

Christianity and mathematics Essay

This paper deals with interrelation between Christianity and mathematics. It has been observed that God is the creator of this universe and He is also the creator of our various mathematical formulae and deductions. Like Universe and God, they are also eternal and cannot be ever destroyed. The paper has also described how Christianity has described the relation between God and our numeric system, which is the basic foundation of Mathematics. Christianity and mathematics 3 Link between Christianity and mathematics – philosophical aspect Let us consider the formulae for earth’s mass distribution, orbital path of celestial bodies and population fluctuation. They are simple mathematical formulae that describe the creation of this universe and humanity. According to Christianity, who is the creator of this Earth? It is none than the God himself. Jonathan Zderad (2003) has stated in the article written in the website http://www. acmsonline. org/Zderad-creationism. pdf that universe, that is the creation of God is hardwired by the laws of mathematics. If one have a look at the theorems of mathematics, it seemed that they were true before time began and will continue to be true after time lapses. Jonathan has mentioned this in his article in the above mentioned website. Mathematics exists beyond human thought and logic. Christianity believes that only God can create such things which are eternal and divine. Jonathan (2003) has mentioned in his article that mathematics existed beyond time and space. According to Christianity, only God, the supreme power behind this human existence can exist beyond time and space. It is very much clear from the Biblical records that god gives value to numbers. To quote from the above mentioned website, â€Å"For Christians, God’s counting is what gives the believer a place in heaven. Jesus compared himself to a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to rescue one sheep that is lost. He values each and every one of us. † (p. 6). Jonathan Zderad (2003). The Holy Bible has drawn many references from the numeric system of mathematics. How Christianity is linked to basic numeric system of mathematics Jonathan (2003) has also described in the above mentioned article how Christianity is Christianity and mathematics 4 related to our numeric system. The author has described that while the Number represents unity, number 2 is the symbol of fellowship and number 3 representing the community. The author states that these numbers represent spiritual qualities. The author has stated in the article that Bible has enough indications that it is God who has created the series of integers, rational and irrational numbers and real numbers. Jonathan has argued in the article that Bible has strong reference to the concept of counting. Numbers were generally used to describe dimension while building a place of worship. How Creation of God is linked with creation of mathematics The author has also suggested in the above article that there is a clear view of Christian view of Mathematics, which is described as creationism. Creationism has got four aspects. The first one is continuity. God makes his own creation in such a way that it is continuous. The second aspect is activity. The author has stated that he has created all these mathematical entities out of his own mental divine activities. The third one has been described as the abstract object inclusive. To quote, â€Å"As a general rule, theists would include mental objects and spiritual objects in the list of God’s invisible creation. Creationism also includes abstract objects like propositions, relations, and universals in this list of God’s invisible creation†. (p7). Jonathan Zderad (2003). The fourth one is that it is mathematically inclusive. It believes that Mathematical objects are created by God and they have an eternal quality, which can only proceed from the mind of God. Christianity and mathematics 5 Reference Zderad, Jonathan. (2003) Creationism – A Viable Philosophy of Mathematics. www. acms. org. Retrieved on 15th December, 2008, from http://www. acmsonline. org/Zderad-creationism. pdf

Hares and Pikas - Lagomorpha - The Animal Encyclopedia

Hares and Pikas - Lagomorpha - The Animal Encyclopedia Hares, pikas and rabbits (Lagomorpha) are small terrestrial mammals that include cottontails, jackrabbits, pikas, hares and rabbits. The group is also commonly referred to as lagomorphs. There are about 80 species of lagomorphs divided into two subgroups, the pikas and the hares and rabbits. Lagomorphs are not as diverse as many other mammal groups, but they are widespread. They inhabit every continent except Antarctica and are absent from only a few places around the globe such as parts of South America, Greenland, Indonesia and Madagascar. Although not native to Australia, lagomorphs have been introduced there by humans and have since successfully colonized many parts of the continent. Lagomorphs generally have a short tail, large ears, wide-set eyes and narrow, slit-like nostrils that they can scrunch tightly closed. The two subgroups of lagomorphs differ considerably in their general appearance. Hares and rabbits are larger and have long hind legs, a short bushy tail and long ears. Pikas, on the other hand, in contrast, are smaller than hares and rabbits and more rotund. They have round bodies, short legs and a tiny, barely-visible tail. Their ears are prominent but are rounded and not as conspicuous as those of hares and rabbits. Lagomorphs often form the foundation of many predator-prey relationships in the ecosystems they inhabit. As important prey animals, lagomorphs are hunted by animals such as carnivores, owls and birds of prey. Many of their physical characteristics and specializations have evolved as a means of helping them escape predation. For example, their large ears enable them to hear approaching danger better; the position of their eyes enables them to have a near 360-degree range of vision; their long legs enable them to run quickly and out-maneuver predators. Lagomorphs are herbivores. They feed on grass, fruits, seeds, bark, roots, herbs and other plant material. Since the plants they eat are difficult to digest, they expel a wet fecal matter and eat it to ensure that the material passes through their digestive system twice. This enables them to extract as much nutrition as possible from their food. Lagomorphs inhabit most terrestrial habitats including semi-deserts, grasslands, woodlands, tropical forests and arctic tundra. Their distribution is worldwide with the exception of Antarctica, southern South America, most islands, Australia, Madagascar, and the West Indies. Lagomorphs have been introduced by humans to many ranges in which they were not formerly found and often such introductions have lead to widespread colonization. Evolution The earliest representative of the lagomorphs is thought to be Hsiuannania, a ground dwelling herbivore that lived during the Paleocene in China. Hsiuannania is know from just a few fragments of teeth and jaw bones. Despite the scant fossil record for early lagomorphs, what evidence there is indicates that the lagomorph clade originated somewhere in Asia. The earliest ancestor of rabbits and hares lived 55 million years ago in Mongolia. Pikas emerged about 50 million years ago during the Eocene. Pika evolution is difficult to resolve, as only seven species of pikas are represented in the fossil record. Classification The classification of lagomorphs is highly controversial. At one time, lagomorphs were considered to be rodents due to striking physical similarities between the two groups. But more recent molecular evidence has supported the notion that lagomorphs are no more related to rodents than they are to other mammal groups. For this reason they are now ranked as an entirely separate group of mammals. Lagomorphs are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Vertebrates Tetrapods Amniotes Mammals Lagomorphs Lagomorphs are divided into the following taxonomic groups: Pikas (Ochotonidae) - There are about 30 species of pikas alive today. Members of this group include silver pikas, collard pikas, steppe pikas, Chinese red pikas, Himalayan pikas, and many other species. Pikas are notable for their short, rounded ears, lack of a tail, and round body. Hares and rabbits (Leporidae) -Â  There are about 50 species of hares and rabbits alive today. Members of this group include eastern cottontails, robust cottontails, European rabbits, antelope jackrabbits, snowshoe hares, Arctic hares, volcano rabbits, desert hares, Abyssinian hares, and many others.

Great Locomotive Chase in the American Civil War

Great Locomotive Chase in the American Civil War The Great Locomotive Chase took place April 12, 1862, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). Also known as the Andrews Raid, the mission saw civilian scout James J. Andrews lead a small force of disguised Union soldiers south to Big Shanty (Kennesaw), GA with the goal of stealing a locomotive and sabotaging the Western Atlantic Railroad between Atlanta, GA and Chattanooga, TN. Though they successfully captured the the locomotive General, Andrews and his men were quickly pursued and proved unable to do meaningful damage to the railroad. Forced to abandon General near Ringgold, GA, all of the raiders were ultimately captured by Confederate forces. Background In early 1862, Brigadier General Ormsby Mitchel, commanding Union troops in central Tennessee, began planning to advance on Huntsville, AL before attacking towards the vital transportation hub of Chattanooga, TN. Though eager to take the latter city, he lacked sufficient forces to block any Confederate counterattacks from Atlanta, GA to the south. Moving north from Atlanta, Confederate forces could quickly arrive in the Chattanooga area by using the Western Atlantic Railroad. Aware of this issue, civilian scout James J. Andrews proposed a raid designed sever the rail connection between the two cities. This would see him lead a force south to seize a locomotive. Steaming north, his men would destroy tracks and bridges in their wake. Andrews had proposed a similar plan to Major General Don Carols Buell earlier in the spring which called for a force to destroy railroads in western Tennessee. This had failed when the engineer did not appear at the designated rendezvous. Approving Andrews scheme, Mitchel directed him to select volunteers from Colonel Joshua W. Sills brigade to aid in the mission. Selecting 22 men on April 7, he was also joined by experienced engineers William Knight, Wilson Brown, and John Wilson. Meeting with the men, Andrews directed them to be in Marietta, GA by midnight on April 10. Great Railroad Chase Conflict: American Civil War (1861-1865)Dates: April 12, 1862Forces Commanders:UnionJames J. Andrews26 menConfederacyVariousCasualties:Union: 26 capturedConfederates: None Moving South Over the next three days, the Union men slipped through the Confederate lines disguised in civilian attire. If questioned, they had been provided with a cover story explaining that they were from Fleming County, KY and were looking for a Confederate unit in which to enlist. Due to heavy rains and rough travel, Andrews was forced to delay the raid by a day. All but two of the team arrived and were in a position to begin operations on April 11. Meeting early the next morning, Andrews issued final instructions to his men which called for them to board the train and sit in the same car. They were to do nothing until the train reached Big Shanty at which point Andrews and the engineers would take the locomotive while the others uncoupled most of the trains cars. James J. Andrews. Public Domain Stealing General Departing Marietta, the train arrived in Big Shanty a short time later. Though the depot was surrounded by Confederate Camp McDonald, Andrews had selected it as the point for taking over the train as it did not have a telegraph. As a result, the Confederates at Big Shanty would have to ride to Marietta in order to alert the authorities farther north. Shortly after the passengers disembarked to take breakfast at the Lacey Hotel, Andrews gave the signal. While he and the engineers boarded the locomotive, named General, his men uncoupled the passenger cars and jumped into three box cars. Applying the throttle, Knight began to ease the train out of the yard. As the train pulled out of Big Shanty, its conductor, William A. Fuller, saw it depart through the window of the hotel. The Chase Begins Raising the alarm, Fuller began to organize a pursuit. Up the line, Andrews and his men were nearing Moons Station. Pausing, they cut the nearby telegraph line before proceeding. In an effort not to arouse suspicion, Andrews directed the engineers to move at a normal speed and to maintain the trains normal schedule. After passing through Acworth and Allatoona, Andrews stopped and had his men remove a rail from the tracks. Though time-consuming, they were successful and placed it in one of the box cars. Pushing on, they crossed the large, wooden railroad bridge over the Etowah River. Reaching the other side, they spotted the locomotive Yonah which was on spur line running to nearby iron works. Despite it being surrounded by men, Knight recommended destroying the engine as well as the Etowah bridge. Unwilling to start a fight, Andrews declined this advice despite the bridge being a target of the raid. Fullers Pursuit Having seen General depart, Fuller and other members of the trains crew began running after it. Reaching Moons Station on foot, they were able to obtain a handcar and continued down the line. Derailed at the stretch of damaged track, they were able to place the handcar back on the rails and reached Etowah. Finding Yonah, Fuller took over the locomotive and moved it onto the main line. As Fuller raced north, Andrews and his men paused at Cass Station to refuel. While there, he informed one of the station employees that they were carrying ammunition north for General P.G.T. Beauregards army. To aid the trains progress, the employee gave Andrews the days train schedule. Steaming into Kingston, Andrews, and General were forced to wait for over an hour. This was due to the fact that Mitchel had not delayed his offensive and Confederate trains were racing towards Huntsville. Shortly after General departed, Yonah arrived. Unwilling to wait for the tracks to clear, Fuller and his men switched to the locomotive William R. Smith which was on the other side of the traffic jam. To the north, General paused to cut the telegraph lines and remove another rail. As the Union men finished their work, they heard the whistle of William R. Smith in the distance. Passing a southbound freight train, pulled by the locomotive Texas, at Adairsville, the raiders became concerned about being pursued and increased their speed. Texas Gains To the south, Fuller spotted the damaged tracks and succeeded in halting William R. Smith. Leaving the locomotive, his team moved north on foot until meeting Texas. Taking over the train, Fuller had it move in reverse to Adairsville where the freight cars were uncoupled. He then continued chasing General with just Texas. Stopping again, Andrews cut the telegraph wires north of Calhoun before proceeding to the Oostanaula Bridge. A wood structure, he had hoped to burn the bridge and efforts were made using one of the box cars. Though a fire was started, the heavy rain of past several days prevented it from spreading to the bridge. Leaving the burning box car, they departed. The Mission Fails Shortly thereafter, they saw Texas arrive on the span and push the box car off the bridge. In an attempt to slow Fullers locomotive, Andrews men threw railroad ties on the tracks behind them but with little effect. Though quick fuel stops were made at Greens Wood Station and Tilton for wood and water, the Union men were unable to fully replenish their stocks. After passing through Dalton, they again cut the telegraph lines but were too late to prevent Fuller from getting a message through to Chattanooga. Racing through Tunnel Hill, Andrews was unable to stop to damage it due to the proximity of Texas. With the enemy nearing and Generals fuel nearly depleted, Andrews directed his men to abandon the train just short of Ringgold. Jumping to the ground, they scattered into the wilderness. Aftermath Fleeing the scene, Andrews and all of his men began moving west toward the Union lines. Over the next several days, the entire raiding party was captured by Confederate forces. While the civilian members of Andrews group were considered unlawful combatants and spies, the entire group was charged with acts of unlawful belligerency. Tried in Chattanooga, Andrews was found guilty and hanged in Atlanta on June 7. Seven others were later tried and hanged on June 18. Of the remainder, eight, who were concerned about meeting a similar fate, successfully escaped. Those who remained in Confederate custody were exchanged as prisoners of war on March 17, 1863. Many of the members of the Andrews Raid were among the first to receive the new Medal of Honor. Though a dramatic series of events, the Great Locomotive Chase proved a failure for Union forces. As a result, Chattanooga did not fall to Union forces until September 1863 when it was taken by Major General William S. Rosecrans. Despite this setback, April 1862 saw notable successes for Union forces as Major General Ulysses S. Grant won the Battle of Shiloh and Flag Officer David G. Farragut captured New Orleans.

An Effective Speaker Paper Comparison Critique of 2 Famous Speeches Essay

An Effective Speaker Paper Comparison Critique of 2 Famous Speeches - Essay Example Steve is the most appropriate speaker for the Stanford audience, because of his experience in the technology field, for which the university is renowned. In the course of delivering his speech, Steve Jobs adopts a conversational approach. This is particularly evident when he reminisces about how he founded Apple, Inc with his co-founder, Steve Wozniak. Instead of referring to his partner with his full name he states â€Å"Woz and I started Apple.† This statement evokes a mental picture of two close allies and it is a good choice of words. This is especially because the audience comprises of graduates, who often perceive the ceremony to be a point in time when close friends diverge perhaps never to meet again. Steve also utilizes a simple and customary delivery approach. This is evident throughout the fourteen and a half minutes long speech. For instance, he summarizes his entire speech using four simple phrases; first he states that he will narrate three stories to the audienc e. He then outlines the three narrative topics as â€Å"a story about connecting dots† (0.23), â€Å"a story about love and loss† (5.32) and finally â€Å"a story about death† (14.33). ... This serves to ensure that the audience gets sufficient time to assimilate the information. For instance, at the end of his first story about backward connection of dots, Steve poses for about six seconds when he says â€Å"even when it leads you off the well-worn path†¦ and that will make all the difference† (5.18). The pause is intended to ensure that the audience acknowledges the importance of exploration and persistence. Steve’s relatively casual opening, his conversational delivery approach, simplicity and use of pauses in the course of the address, are all attributes that make his speech effective. These are all features that resonate with the principally young audience. They are also attributes that enable him to effectively convey his primary lessons on mortality, the importance of individuals loving their work and the essence of courage in following one’s intuition. However, the speech is not without few flaws. The first and most notable flaw is tha t, Steve constantly reads from his transcript and hardly maintains eye contact with his audience. This denies him the chance to fully connect with the listeners as shown by their occasional disinterest. The other outstanding fault is the speaker’s partial fail at comedic delivery. For instance, when Steve states that â€Å"I didn’t even know what a pancreas was† (10:07), he delivers the line in passing and does not even pause to relieve the audience’s tension. Another example is when he says â€Å"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there† (11:40). However, the partially failed attempt at humor could be attributable to the speaker’s effort to imitate academic oration; to evoke empathy from listeners, or to emphasize the magnitude of

Company Law in the UK Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Company Law in the UK - Assignment Example The ruling of Lord Halsbury seems to uphold the company law that provides that whenever a company is registered, it acquires a separate legal entity and that it can no longer be termed as an agent of its members. In the case of McDaid Development (Ireland) Ltd Company, Mr. Peter McDaid, also the director of the company, was the sole shareholder of the company. On bankruptcy, Mr. McDaid owed the Ireland Bank over  £38 million and about  £800 thousand to small stakeholders. When the company was put under administration, Mr. McDaid was relieved of his duties as a director for a period of eight years on the grounds of misconduct. From the court’s decision in Mr. Salomon’s case, Mr. McDaid cannot be held liable for the company’s debts. Lord Halsbury defended Salomon by the words, â€Å"Company’s debt is Company’s debt† (Wooldridge, 2009, p. 58). As such, company’s debts and the shareholders have little, if not no connection. However, in the U.K. Company law act of 2006, the director is liable to accountability in matters concerning company assets, which Mr. McDaid had failed to provide. On this ground, the removal of Mr. MCDaid is justified. In brief, Company law perceives the company as an entity that is completely isolated from its shareholders. Therefore, it is upon the members, shareholders, and debtors, to evaluate the company’s viability. Though this aspect of the law has been criticized, there is still a lot of support to this ideology of the law.... In the case of McDaid Development (Ireland) Ltd Company, Mr Peter McDaid, also the director of the company, was the sole shareholder of the company. On bankruptcy, Mr McDaid owed the Ireland Bank over ?38 million and about ?800 thousand to small stakeholders. When the company was put under administration, Mr McDaid was relieved of his duties as a director for a period of eight years on the grounds of misconduct. From the court’s decision in Mr Salomon’s case, Mr McDaid cannot be held liable for the company’s debts. Lord Halsbury defended Salomon by the words, â€Å"Company’s debt is Company’s debt† (Wooldridge, 2009, p. 58). As such, company’s debts and the shareholders have little, if not no connection. However, in the U.K. Company law act of 2006, the director is liable to accountability in matters concerning company assets, which Mr McDaid had failed to provide. On this ground, the removal of Mr MCDaid is justified. In brief, Compan y law perceives the company as an entity that is completely isolated from its shareholders. Therefore, it is upon the members, shareholders and debtors, to evaluate the company’s viability before engaging in its operations. Though this aspect of the law has been criticized, there is still a lot of support to this ideology of the law. Question 3 The U.K. company law provides clear guidelines on the duties of Company directors and the consequences of breach of the duties so stated. The expectation of the law is that the director works in the best interest of the company and does not contribute directly to any actions that would hurt the company and its shareholder. Consequently, there exist liabilities and penalties for a