EFFECTIVE RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE + ISM Case Study

EFFECTIVE RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE + ISM - Case Study Example This can act as a delimiting factor at times. However, I feel that with a little bit of push I can make it to the top. I don’t feel that I possess any kind of threat. There are immense opportunities which I can cash upon. My curious nature, my cognitive thinking skills and my ability to work under pressure. All this will ensure that I produce high quality work in less time. The article is an empirical study on the role and scope of knowledge management systems in organizations. The article’s aims were well defined and chalked out. The article tried to test hypothetical the belief that the technologies used for information purposes in organizations and to lend support to business operations need to more in sync with each other. The focus was to redefine and reanalyze the purpose of KMS in light of the ways most organizations perceive Knowledge management. The study made use of findings from Delphi study and various in-depth interviews were conducted by them. Eventually, it concluded in a suggestion for developing organizational knowledge management systems. It was a qualitative analysis that came to the conclusion that knowledge management systems should be better integrated with the overall technology used in the firm. Thus instead of using a Knowledge Management system as a distinct entity the focus should be put the KMS in context with the prevailing technologies and enhancing their potential through the KM capabilities. The quality of the article was good. It was well researched, well explained and well substantiated. The limitations of the study were clearly indicated in the end and the discussion of the findings was very comprehensive. I believe that a qualitative study should be conducted for this research. As explained by many researchers, a qualitative study is more helpful when complex human behavior need to be researched and studied. In this study, current human behavior towards tutorial systems, prospect attitude towards them and a complex

Motorcycle industry analysis Essay Example for Free

Motorcycle industry analysis Essay Definition Motorcycles fall into the category called Recreational Vehicle, Motorcycle and Boat Retail Industry. These are companies that retail recreational vehicles, boats, motorcycles, jet skis, and/or related accessories. In Hoover’s classification, based on the North American Industry Classifications System (NAICS) and the older U. S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system, motorcycles fall under a smaller subcategory called Motorcycle, ATV, and Personal Watercraft Dealers Industry. This U. S.industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing new and/or used motorcycles, motor scooters, motorbikes, mopeds, off-road all-terrain vehicles, and personal watercraft, or retailing these new vehicles in combination with repair services and selling replacement parts or accessories. Statistics In terms of looking at the whole industry, motorcycle dealers make up a majority of the industry when compared with ATVs and personal watercraft dealers. The chart below shows statistics from 2002 comparing the motorcycle dealers with all other motor vehicle dealers in the industry. As the charts illustrates, motorcycle dealers made up 91. 5% of sales in this industry, while ATVs and personal watercraft dealers only contributed to 8. 5% of sales. Year 2002 Motorcycle DealersAll other motor vehicle dealers (ATV personal watercraft dealers) Total Establishments4,3845144,898 Sales ($1,000)14,636,299 (91. 5%)1,353,829 (8. 5%)15,990,128 (100%) Annual Payroll1,429,316106,6811,535,997 Paid Employees46,0374,18850,225 www. industries. hoovers. com Analyzing data for motorcycle dealers between the years of 1997 and 2002 reveals some important information. The results show the growth and percent changes in certain categories pertaining specifically to the motorcycle dealer industry. While the number of establishments only increased approximately 21 percent, the amount of sales increased almost 99 percent. The annual payroll (excluded from the graph) increased 100 percent and the paid employees rose by 59 percent. These figures, illustrated through a bar graph below, indicate a growing industry especially for those companies already in the business with establishments formed. Motorcycle Dealers. Although there are many nonfranchised retailers in the industry, 80 percent of the industry’s business is made up of franchised outlets. The average franchised motorcycle outlet generates sales and services almost six times that of nonfranchised outlets. In addition to selling motorcycles, dealers make up almost half of their business through sales of parts, accessories, and apparel. In 1997 approximately 6. 5 million motorcycles were owned in the United States, with California having almost two times more retail outlets than any other state. In terms of rider distribution, California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Ohio accounted for more than one-third of all motorcycle ownership in the U. S. In terms of a target market there seems to be no specific or clear differentiation. Below are some statistics that allow one to make judgments based on the Harley Davidson demographic profile. Gender20002001200220032004 Male91%91%91%90%90% Female9%9%10%10%10% Purchasers (2004) †¢ 42% Owned Harley-Davidson ® motorcycle previously †¢ 31% Coming off of competitive motorcycle †¢ 27% New to motorcycling or havent owned a motorcycle Background and Competition. â€Å"The earliest motorcycles were basically bicycles powered by small engines, and the motorcycle was considered a relatively cheap alternative to the more expensive, early automobiles. Many U. S. manufacturers produced motorcycles before World War I, contributing to a dynamic, if not booming, domestic market. Harley Davidson, Orient, Henderson, Cyclone, and Indian were the primary competitors at that time. Henry Fords affordable Model-T, however, doomed many motorcycle manufacturers. In fact, by the end of the Great Depression, the only remaining manufacturers and sellers of motorcycles were Indian and Harley-Davidson. Indian closed down production and distribution in 1953. The late 1950s and early 1960s saw the first influx of low-priced, smaller Japanese motorcycles and scooters into the United States. Honda began U. S. distribution of its products in 1959, with the slogan, You meet the nicest people on a Honda, to combat the negative image associated with the sport. Yamaha starting selling motorcycles in the United States during 1960; Suzuki followed in 1963; and Kawasakii joined the competition in 1967. BMW opened a U. S. distribution arm in 1975, incorporating in New Jersey. Harley-Davidson ended years of private ownership in 1965 with a public offering of its stock, and eventually merged with industrial giant AMF in 1969. The oil crisis in the 1970s prompted the popularity of the smaller motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters that were made primarily by Japanese manufacturers. Dealers sold vehicles to those interested in conserving gas and finding cheap transportation. Harley-Davidsons market share, already dropping, was further threatened by Hondas 1969 entrance into the heavy and super heavyweight segment of the market. By the late 1970s Harley-Davidson faced severe production quality problems in addition to stiff competition. A management buyout in early 1981 set the course for the companys revitalization. It was protection under higher tariffs however, recommended by the International Trade Commission that helped shut Honda out of Harley-Davidsons key market. In response, Japanese manufacturers evaded the tariffs by setting up assembly plants in the United States. Harley-Davidsons resurrection and Hondas sagging sales worked to even the motorcycle market by the early 1990s. † (www. answers.com/topic/motorcycle-dealers) Below is a pie chart that shows the motorcycle industry major players and their market share relative to one another. â€Å" The Big 4 Japanese have 70% of the capital dollars in the motorcycle industry. BMW and H-D combine for another 26%. Everyone else is pretty much a rounding error. At least by this measure these six companies (the Big 4 Japs, BMW, and H-D) utterly dominate the motorcycle market in every way that really matters. † http://www. muddywatersmx. net Industry Trends and Current Events â€Å"Motorcycling remains one of Americas most popular forms of recreation and transportation. The number of people who enjoy motorcycle activities is comparable to the number of people who engage in fishing, golfing, and camping. Because there are many sizes of vehicles available, motorcycling has become a family recreational activity. In addition to providing enjoyment, motorcycles, scooters, and all-terrain vehicles are used in industry in various ways. † (www. answers. com/topic/motorcycle-dealers) â€Å"The retail motorcycle, moped, and all-terrain industry is strongly affected by national economic trends. Recessionary and expansionary trends essentially dictate the retail consumption levels of vehicles. † According to Irwin Broh Associates’s 1998 survey, the average motorcycle rider was a 38-year-old married male with a college education earning $44,250 per year. â€Å"These older, more affluent riders of 1998 could afford heavier, more comfortable, more expensive motorcycles. Also, the ranks of women motorcyclists continued to grow in the 1990s, rising from 6. 4 percent of riders in 1990 to 8. 2 percent in 1998. † (www. answers. com/topic/motorcycle-dealers) â€Å"The growth from exports became a major player for the motorcycle industry in 2000. † The demand by the foreign market was expected to grow well into 2007. The chart below shows the Top Destinations for U. S Motorcycles and Parts Exports by country for 2002 to 2003. The top two major players are Canada and Japan. â€Å"On December 23, 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted the newest set of emission standards for highway motorcycles†¦Beginning in 2006, motorcycle manufacturers would have to reduce emissions of HC and oxides of nitrogen by 60 percent. (www. answers. com/topic/motorcycle-dealers).

Representations of Native Americans in Dances with Wolves and The Searc

â€Å"Film is more than the instrument of a representation; it is also the object of representation. It is not a reflection or a refraction of the ‘real’; instead, it is like a photograph of the mirrored reflection of a painted image.† (Kilpatrick) Although films have found a place in society for about a century, the labels they possess, such as stereotypes which Natives American are recognized for, have their roots from many centuries ago (Kilpatrick). The Searchers, a movie directed by John Ford and starred by John Wayne, tells the story of a veteran of the American Civil War and how after his return home he would go after the maligned Indians who killed his family and kidnapped his younger niece. After struggling for five years to recover his niece back, who is now a young woman, she is rescued by his own hands. Likewise, Dances with Wolves is a Western film directed and starred by Kevin Costner. It is also situated during the American Civil War and tells t he story of a soldier named John Dunbar that after a suicide attempt; he involuntarily leads Union troops to a triumph. Then, by his request he is sent to a remote outpost in the Indian frontier â€Å"before it’s gone†. There, the contact with the natives is eminent and thus it shows how through those contacts this soldier is transformed into another Indian that belongs with the Sioux to tribe and who is now called Dances With Wolves. While both John Ford and Kevin Costner emphasize a desire to apologize to the indigenous people, they use similar themes such as stereotypes, miscegenation, and the way characters are depicted; conversely, these two movies are different by the way the themes are developed within each film. John Ford’s The Searchers was giving the intention of ap... ... due to the way their roles interact with the Amerind people in the film. As a result, both films represent Natives Americans under the point of view of non-Native directors. Despite the fact that they made use of the fabricated stereotypes in their illustrations of the indigenous people, their portrayal was revolutionary in its own times. Each of the films add in their own way a new approach to the representation of indigenous people, their stories unfold partly unlike. These differences make one look at the indigenous not only as one dimensional beings but as multifaceted beings, as Dunbar say, â€Å"they are just like us.† This is finally a sense of fairness and respect by the non-native populations to the Native Indians. Works Cited Jacquelyin Kilpatrick , Celluloid Indians. Native Americans and Film. Lincoln and London: University of Nebraska Press, 1999

Iago the villain Essay -- essays research papers

Iago the villain William Shakespeare, in his play, â€Å"Othello the Moor of Venice†, brings to life one of his most complex villains, Iago. Iago plays the ancient of Othello, who is the general of the Venetian forces. As an ancient, Iago is to be a loyal servant to Othello. However, Iago has grown bitter and contempt and uses his supposed loyalty as a wedge to cause Othello’s demise. It has been said of Iago that he is the devil incarnate or that he personifies the devil (pg. 244) this accusation comes to life as you read the play and discover for yourself that in each scene in which Iago speaks one can point out his deception. It is not clear whether Iago has a master plan or if he is just winged it moment by moment with his ultimate gain in mind. However, what is clear, and what we will point out in the following, is that Iago has the ability to use word play to say the right thing at the right time. He is quick witted and that is what makes him a successful villain. Iago’s is filled with rage and envy because he was passed over for a position he felt he deserved. Without conscience, Iago vows to take back what he feels is rightfully his by whatever means necessary. As we can see right from the beginning of Act 1, Iago begins to weave his web by revealing his true intentions to Roderigo as he justifies his hatred toward Othello. â€Å"O, sir, content you; I follow him to serve my turn upon him.† (Pg. 246, lines 41-42). Iago snares Roderigo, a man who is in love with Desdemona, by being the barer of bad news that she has just married Othello the Moor. It appears to Roderigo that Iago has his best interest at heart and that he wants to help him to win Desdemona over from Othello. Once Iago gains the trust of Roderigo he convinces him that they must do what is right and tell of Othello’s marriage to Desdemona the senator, her father. Iago accompanies Roderigo to the door of the Senator, Brabantio, and convinces Roderigo to call up to him to tell of this news. Once the senator is waked, Iago flees to tell Othello that trouble is on its way. This was the first clue that he was up to no good. Toward the end of Act 1, we find Iago and Roderigo speaking again. This time Roderigo is at his rope’s end and is contemplating suicide because of his lost love for Desdemona. Iago tries to reassure Roderigo that it is a matter of time that Desdemona will come to her sens... ...sio â€Å"Ay, if you dare yourself a profit and a right† (pg. 280, line 232). In the final Act, Act 5, we find Iago’s wife about to uncover his treachery, but before she can, Iago kills her to keep her quiet. In doing so he still hangs onto the hope that his plan is not all lost. Instead he flees to stall for time, however this is an admittance of guilt. â€Å"He’s gone, but his wife’s killed† (pg. 286, line 238). When Iago’s treachery is finally unmasked the justification he offers almost cheats the audience at first glance, as he stands there almost speechless â€Å"Demand me nothing. What you know, you know† (pg. 287, lines 303-304).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In his final words Iago offers no justification and conveys no expression of guilt for the treachery he bestowed upon Othello and the others. His willingness to lie, steal and kill is evidence that he is willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goal. One may ask what motivated Iago to commit these acts; it may seem that his motivation was his anger toward Othello for passing him over for the position of lieutenancy. However, to the contrary, true villains need no motivation, to be malicious and evil is their motivation.

Five Points of Architecture

Five Points of ArchitectureLe Corbusier is one of the most important designers from the twentieth century. He is known as one of the innovators of modern architecture due to many of his thoughts and‘recipes’within architecture. One of his most celebrated was  Ã¢â‚¬ËœThe Five Point of a New Architecture’that he had explained in ‘L'Esprit Nouveau’  and the book ‘  Vers une architecture’, which he had been developing throughout the 1920s. Le Corbusier’ development of this thought altered the architectural promenade in a new manner, which was presented in 1926. [ 1 ] The five points are as follows: pilotis, the roof garden, free program, free facade, and the horizontal window. Le Corbusier used these points as a structural footing for most of his architecture up until the 1950’s, which are apparent in many of his designs. The essay‘Les Cinq points d'une architecture nouvelle’by Le Corbusier focuses on inquiries that are raised within architectural design, proposing a foundation and agreement in it. Similar texts for illustration the advancement of‘cellule’and figures of the Maison Standardisee, do non hold relation to the design procedure of the five points. The Modulor, which is the survey of proportions of the human organic structure graduated table that is used as a system to be after a figure of Le Corbusier’s edifices, is another theoretical effort, which did non accomplish a proper relation to the design procedure and besides the architectural hunt for signifier that personifies the five points. On the other manus, these thoughts can be portrayed more freely as ‘merely theoretical ideas’ . [ 2 ] One exclusion is the construct of the tracis regulateurs ( modulating lines ) , which uses proportions of geometry in edifices. It predicted certain thoughts behind the five points in a figure of facets. The first point is the piloti, which are columns or wharfs that elevate a construction off the land. The fact that the construction is lifted provides many functional advantages. As the pilotis raise the edifice off the land, it allows circulation beneath the house, which frees the edifice site, and allows a private road, parking infinite, or a garden to be placed beneath the house. The pilotis provides many advantages, and besides new constructional possibilities. The artistic minutes every bit good as the drawn-out utility are the consequences of those‘recherches assidues’and those‘acquis de laboratoire’[ 3 ] . The same country is besides gained on the level roof. This country is known as the following point, which is the roof garden. This is to equilibrate the green country that was already used by the edifice and substituted it onto the roof, which is so used for domestic intents. Free program is the following point, which means the floor infinite can be arranged freely without the concern for back uping walls into suites. Replacing interior supporting columns from walls spliting the infinite, and traveling the construction of the edifice to the outside is a manner to accomplish this. Le Corbusier designed an unfastened floor construction called the Dom-ino house in which the theoretical account removed supporting wall and the back uping beams for the ceiling. This innovation was most unexpected at clip ; it was a‘forecast of the potencies of strengthened concrete, of mass-production, of human graduated table, of the modern mill.’ [ 4 ] The frame did non depend on the floor programs of the house, giving the designer freedom when planing the inside. Free facade is another point. It is the ability of planing the facade freely as the walls are non-supporting, which is the consequence of the free program. The following point is the horizontal window. This allows the facade to be cut along its full length. By making so it allows maximal light, better airing and besides gives positions of the environing pace, which is apparent in the Villa Savoye. The five points were demonstrated in many of Le Corbusier ‘s architecture throughout his calling. One of first designs that Le Corbusier attempted to include the points in was the Maisons Citrohan. The house was developed through different versions. Numerous elements of the houses design turned out to be indispensable factors, which make up Le Corbusiers manner. Certain features of the Maison Citrohan can be detected in most of the Villa in the 1920’s. [ 5 ] Maison Citrohan introduced the‘five points of new architecture’ .The house was elevated by pilotis leting free circulation on the land, and besides consisted of a reinforced-concrete frame construction, which was achieved from the Dom-ino’s constructional system. The unfastened infinite created by the pilotis and the level roof increases the little country that already exists. It besides had a roof garden/terrace. Le Corbusier voiced himself on the topic of the Maison Citrohan in the first volume of the‘Oevre compldte’:â€Å"Stuttgart, c'est I'occasion enfin! â€Å" .Le Corbusier did non talk of single objects or designs ; he talked about the changeless development of an thought stretched over many instances. [ 6 ] Le Corbusier studied the indispensable doctrines of Egyptian, Hindu, Byzantine, and Grecian architecture in‘Vers une architecture’ ,which is a aggregation of essays that supports survey of the construct of modern architecture. [ 7 ] Egyptian and Grecian architecture were peculiarly of import for Le Corbusier ‘s application of the five points. From Egyptian architecture, Le Corbusier acquired the thought of symmetricalness and repeat. In add-on, Le Corbusier obtained the impression of motion and reverses from Grecian architecture. The lesson of regular repeat from Egyptian architecture, as mentioned above, provided the thought of utilizing repeat in perpendicular supports that Le Corbusier would subsequently use to his architecture as â€Å" a changeless graduated table, a beat, a reposeful meter † . Le Corbusiers design theories were put in pattern to a certain degree within a figure of his designs such as the Maison Cook, the Villa Stein, and besides at the Villa Savoye. In these edifices‘the regular grid of columns served as a foil to the organic forms of the curving walls and stepss, which together combined to form a pleasant architectural promenade with unsymmetrically balanced views’harmonizing to the lessons of Grecian architecture. [ 8 ] Similar to the Citrohan House, the Villa Stein had a roof, which became a patio garden ; on a regular basis spaced structural wharfs, which allowed freely curved interior dividers, and besides horizontal Windowss that extended across frontages. The Maison Cook was a patio house. The upper floors of the house were supported by concrete piloti, and the land floor consisted of a unfastened program which had a parking infinite, entry, and a patio. The roof was besides used as a garden patio. Le Corbusier wanted to demo that the dividers of the suites on each floor were independent of structural supports, therefore the dividers were curved. [ 9 ] The Villa Savoye follows the five points best purely, and can be considered as a reinforced program of Le Corbusier’s five points. The exterior maintains the thought of symmetricalness as all four lifts are truly similar, which consist of horizontal Windowss and gaps running the breadth of the facade at the 2nd floor degree, supported by on a regular basis spaced pilotis. [ 10 ] Within the points, the free program is the most of import in the design, where the big wall curves freely between the pilotis on the land floor, which reflects the thought of the ‘free plan’ the strongest. Equally much as the five points have contributed to the development of modern architecture greatly, some points such as the horizontal Windowss are non necessary in footings of the designing of good architecture. Besides the thought of the roof garden has been criticised over the old ages for leaking, it besides would be considered really unusual in domestic houses in states such as the UK, as they use the more traditional pitched roof as it seems more homely. Furthermore, Le Corbusier abandoned the thought of the piloti shortly after some point ; his ulterior work does non purely follow the points. Le Corbusier’s‘Five Points in Architecture’pronunciamento, as explained above, has had great influence on modern architecture. This is apparent in The Villa Savoye, which summed up the five points, which turned out to be a chef-d'oeuvre of the twentieth century design and one of the greatest plants by Le Corbusier. The five points have allowed a broad assortment of thoughts and possibilities within planing architecture even to this twenty-four hours such as the usage of free facade in Zaha Hadid’s Performing Arts Center in Hague ( 2010 ).

Free Essays on World War II

The most sinister and evil war in world history was fought from 1939 to 1945. This war came to be known as World War II (WWII). The entire world was at war. On one side there was the Allied Powers and on the other side there was the Axis Powers. The Allied Powers included the United States (didn’t join until 1941), France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union (didn’t join until 1941). The Axis Powers included Germany, Italy, and Japan. The United States fought two wars, one in Europe and the other in the Pacific. When Japan bombed the U.S.’s Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii the United States entered WWII the next day. Franklin Roosevelt called it â€Å"a ate which will live in infamy.† (Cybriwsky, Encarta) In 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry was sent to Japan on a peace mission. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan was still in the feudal age where the Shogun was the head of the government and the Emperor was just the face of the government. They were still living in the medieval age. In the process Perry showed the Japanese all of his modern tools and weapons. This in fact triggered the industrialization of Japan. The war brought an economic boom to the small island nation. The Imperialism age soon came to Japan and they decided to do the same thing every other country started to do in the latter part of the 19th century. As of 1900 the Japanese spheres of influence had reached Korea, Russia, Taiwan (then known as Formosa), and parts of China. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 427) In WWI Japan joined the side of the Allies against Germany and the Austria-Hungarian Empire. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 455) In 1904 Japan attacked the largest country in the world at Port Arthur, Russia. Then the Russo-Japanese War followed. After one year of battle the Russians were ready to negotiate. Japan got possession a Russian island and the Liaodong Peninsula. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan had defeated the largest country in the world. In 1906 Japan took over Kore... Free Essays on World War II Free Essays on World War II The most sinister and evil war in world history was fought from 1939 to 1945. This war came to be known as World War II (WWII). The entire world was at war. On one side there was the Allied Powers and on the other side there was the Axis Powers. The Allied Powers included the United States (didn’t join until 1941), France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union (didn’t join until 1941). The Axis Powers included Germany, Italy, and Japan. The United States fought two wars, one in Europe and the other in the Pacific. When Japan bombed the U.S.’s Naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii the United States entered WWII the next day. Franklin Roosevelt called it â€Å"a ate which will live in infamy.† (Cybriwsky, Encarta) In 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry was sent to Japan on a peace mission. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan was still in the feudal age where the Shogun was the head of the government and the Emperor was just the face of the government. They were still living in the medieval age. In the process Perry showed the Japanese all of his modern tools and weapons. This in fact triggered the industrialization of Japan. The war brought an economic boom to the small island nation. The Imperialism age soon came to Japan and they decided to do the same thing every other country started to do in the latter part of the 19th century. As of 1900 the Japanese spheres of influence had reached Korea, Russia, Taiwan (then known as Formosa), and parts of China. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 427) In WWI Japan joined the side of the Allies against Germany and the Austria-Hungarian Empire. (Boorstin and Kelly, PG. 455) In 1904 Japan attacked the largest country in the world at Port Arthur, Russia. Then the Russo-Japanese War followed. After one year of battle the Russians were ready to negotiate. Japan got possession a Russian island and the Liaodong Peninsula. (Cybriwsky, Encarta) Japan had defeated the largest country in the world. In 1906 Japan took over Kore... Free Essays on World War II World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese bombers were speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch weaved in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until finally all his ammunition was spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to at least clip off a wing or tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. He was desperate to do anything he could to keep them from reaching the American ships. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the camera mounted on his plane told the tal...

Livia Drusilla the 1st Empress of Rome

Livia Drusilla the 1st Empress of Rome Livia (58 B.C. - A.D.29) was a long-lived, influential matriarchal figure in the early years of the Roman Principate. She was held up as an example of womanly virtue and simplicity. Her reputation has also been negative: she may have been a murderer and has been described as treacherous, avaricious, and power-hungry. She may have been instrumental in the banishment of Augustus daughter, Julia. Livia was the wife of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, mother of the second, Tiberius, and deified by her grandson, the Emperor Claudius. Livias Family and Marriages Livia Drusilla was the daughter of Marcus Livius Drusus Claudius (note the Claudian, the gens that had produced Appius Claudius the Blind and the colorful Clodius the Beautiful, among others) and Alfidia, daughter of M. Alfidius Lurco, in c. 61 B.C. In his book,  Anthony Barrett says Alfidia appears to have come from Fundi, in Latium, near Campania, and that Marcus Livius Drusus may have married her for her familys money. Livia Drusilla may have been an only child. Her father may also have adopted Marcus Livius Drusus Libo (consul in 15 B.C.). Livia married Tiberius Claudius Nero, her cousin when she was 15 or 16- around the time of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. Livia was already the mother of the future emperor, Tiberius Claudius Nero, and pregnant with Nero Claudius Drusus (January 14, 38 B.C. - 9 B.C.) when Octavian, who would be known to posterity as the Emperor Augustus Caesar, found he needed the political connections of Livias family. He arranged for Livia to be divorced and then married her after she gave birth to Drusus, on January 17, 38. Livias sons Drusus and Tiberius lived with their father until he died, in 33 B.C. They then lived with Livia and Augustus. Augustus Adopts Livias Son Octavian became the Emperor Augustus in 27 B.C. He honored Livia as his wife with statues and public displays; however, instead of naming her sons Drusus or Tiberius as his heirs, he acknowledged his grandchildren Gaius and Lucius, sons of Julia, his daughter by his previous marriage to Scribonia. By 4 A.D., Augustus grandsons had both died, so he had to look elsewhere for heirs. He wanted to name Germanicus, son of Livias son Drusus, as his successor, but Germanicus was too young. Since Tiberius was Livias favorite, Augustus eventually turned to him, with provision made for Tiberius to adopt Germanicus as his heir. Augustus died in 14 A.D. According to his will, Livia became a part of his family and was entitled to be called Julia Augusta from then on. Livia andHer Descendants Julia Augusta exerted a strong influence on her son Tiberius. In A.D. 20, Julia Augusta interceded successfully with Tiberius on behalf of her friend Plancina, who was implicated in the poisoning of Germanicus. In A.D. 22 he minted coins showing his mother as the personification of Justice, Piety, and Health (Salus). Their relationship deteriorated and after the Emperor Tiberius left Rome, he would not even return for her funeral in 29 A.D., so Caligula stepped in. Livias grandson the Emperor Claudius had the Senate deify his grandmother in A.D. 41. Commemorating this event, Claudius minted a coin depicting Livia (Diva Augusta) on a throne holding a scepter. Source Larry Kreitzer  Apotheosis of the Roman Emperor  Larry Kreitzer  The Biblical Archaeologist, 1990Alice A. Deckman  Livia Augusta  The Classical Weekly, 1925.