Archive for August, 2009

Sir Winston Churchill



Sir Winston Churchill was one of the most prominent politicians of the 20th century in the United Kingdom. He was surely the most famous Prime Minister of the 20th century. His personality compounded talented author, outstanding speaker, artist, and a great leader that managed to escape Britain’s defeat and even be among the winning nations at the end of World War Two.

Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born on the 30th of November, 1874 in Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire in the family of Lord Randolph Churchill and Jennie Jerome. Winston’s father was a famous Tory politician, descendent of John Churchill (1st duke of Marlborough, the hero of the wars against French Louis XIV). Winston’s mother was the daughter of a prominent American financier Leonard W. Jerome.

Churchill was a very poor student at school that later resulted his father to make young Winston to join the military. Here again he did not show great results and passed the entrance examination to the Royal Military College only from the third try. However, he took studying at college seriously and graduated 20th in class out of 130. After graduating from college Winston Churchill joined the 4th Hussars and ended up in Cuba reporting on Cuban independence war from Spain. A couple of months later Churchill returned back home from Cuba and left for India along with his division. In India he for the first time he experienced being a soldier and a journalist at the same time.

The future prime minister decided to finish his career in the military and go into politics. For the living he wanted to write articles for different newspapers and magazines. The tradition to lose for the first time did not fail for Churchill when he tried to be elected as a Conservative at Oldham. Instead of a Conservative at Oldham Winston found himself in South Africa reporting on the South African War for British newspaper The Morning Post. Not being lucky was sort of a story of Churchill’s life, this time he was captured by Boers as a prisoner in military prison in South Africa. However, he managed to escape from the prison which later made him nearly a hero when he went back home.

After coming back from Africa he decided to run for the Parliament again in 1900. This time he achieved his goal. Being a member of the Parliament Churchill experienced difficulties with public speaking as he had a speech defect (that he actually never lost). It was a big challenge for him but it did not break him up and he never left oratory art.

In 1904 due to some disagreements with his party members over trade tariffs Churchill had to join the Liberals. In the new spot he quickly gained popularity for his brave debates with those who argued with him. In 1908 Churchill became the president of the Board of Trade. That same year Winston Churchill married (the first and the last time) Clementine Hozier.

At the Board of Trade, Churchill became a leader in the movement of Liberalism away from laissez-faire toward social reform. He finished up the law that set an eight hour working day for miners. He also initiated the bill that would set the minimum wages for different types of workers. In 1908 Churchill forced the rejection of the budget of 1909 by the House of Lords (which really was sensational) due to high level of taxation. Very shortly Churchill became a president of the Budget League. Tories were really furious about Churchill’s great progress and his permanent terrific speeches. In 1910 Churchill became a Home Secretary. On this position he faced everlasting strikes of workers. In 1911 he was appointed to the First Lord of the Admiralty. The very same year after German’s provocative sending a gunboat to Morocco, which was France colony, was persuaded by French to help them out if Germany attacks them in the future. Same year, Churchill sort of smelling the gunpowder of the upcoming enormous conflict decided to expand the British navy. As 1914 approached Churchill assured that the Royal Fleet was ready for the war was not a surprise for him at all. In 1915 Churchill failed the Dardanelles campaign that was greatly blamed for. In late 1915 Churchill resigned from the government and went to the Front. Being even a lieutenant colonel in the army he could not use his full capacity in the military. In 1916 he decided to Parliament as a private member. One year later Churchill had the office of Minister of Munitions where developed the use of tanks. In 1919 his next job was to be the Secretary of War. Everyone was greatly surprised when Churchill tremendously decreased the military budget. What was even more surprising is that Churchill as a zealous anti-Bolshevik made allies with Russia. In 1922 Churchill had his appendicitis attacks that greatly damaged his health and due to that failed the elections and eventually was left with nothing. He once said about that period of time “without an office, without a seat, without a party, and even without an appendix.” Even then Winston Churchill was not broken. He returned to painting and writing. That is when The World Crisis was written. In 1923 Churchill got back to what he could not live without – politics. Couple of years later he received a position of Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was not very strong in finance that actually led to a number of incidents during the time at this position. The major trouble was a general strike that took place in 1926. In 1929 the government fell.

The second time for Churchill happened the period when he was out of politics. However, he found it rather relieving. Now it was perfect time to write again what he actually did. This time his work was Marlborough: His Life and Times that was about his ancestor. Main point of the book was to defend his antecedent against the criticism of some historians. Meantime a threat from a fascist Germany was getting greater. His intuition did not fail this time either. However, his warnings were ignored this time as well. In early 1939 Churchill and his group created a truly national coalition and the country had actually accepted him as a main spokesperson.

All Churchill’s experience at his numerous positions seemed to be some kind of rehearsal for something greater. This “greater” was the Second World War. Churchill was the person to be in charge of Britain actions during the largest military campaign in the human history.

Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany on September 3, 1939. On the same day Churchill was appointed back to his old position First Lord of Admiralty. The President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in the office at that time, congratulated Churchill with his position on September 11 to which Winston the head of the British fleet immediately replied. That is when their famous correspondence had started.

As Germany was invading more countries Chamberlain who was the Prime Minister of England at that time resigned from the office. Chamberlain really wanted Lord Halifax to be his successor but Halifax made up some excuses and rejected the proposition. It was obvious that this position was waiting for Churchill. Winston Churchill was ready to direct the nation.

Now Churchill focused on the real handling the war. He used Parliament as the tool to convince the public and comfort it. For the first time Prime Minister Churchill spoke to the House of Commons on May 13. That is when one of his famous quotes “I have nothing to offer you but blood, toil, tears and sweat” was recorded. He accomplished what he promised y completely dedicating himself to the nation the war was over. Churchill did not really care who was an ally as long as they helped and shared his goals and ideas. One of the most important allies that Britain gained during the Second World War was the United States. It was Churchill’s principle idea to get the United States to help Britain. One of the most important events for Churchill and probably for Great Britain in the entire 20th century was the Battle of Britain. Now, Churchill w
as at fighter headquarters having everything that was going on in his personal control and at the same time trying to cheer up the nation. That was the time when the entire nation completely accepted him as a leader.

Another important strategic point for Churchill was when Hitler started to attack the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. Churchill did not reject what he previously saying about communism, nevertheless, he promised support to the Soviet people. His plan to create an alliance between Great Britain, United States, and the Soviet Union seemed to work out. However, it only became true in May 1942 when the Anglo-Soviet pact of mutual assistance was negotiated. The day that changed the whole perception of the war by Churchill was December 7, 1941 when Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Then Churchill and Roosevelt totally agreed that it was time to launch the strategic alliance.

After the war was over Churchill had to get back to politics. This time the nation viewed him as a war leader but not the party leader. It resulted a great defeat at the elections. This time seats of Churchill’s party in the Parliament were reduced to 213 out of 640.

Churchill was really shocked by such an outcome; he did not predict it this time. Even in this situation Winston Churchill found his place. He got a role of the leader of parliamentary opposition. Churchill now devoted himself to foreign relations. For the next couple of years Churchill was a peacetime Prime Minister. Meantime he was writing his The Second World War that he finished in 1953. Talking about 1953, it was a very important year for Winston Churchill. It was the year of coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Churchill received two greatest awards: the Order of the Garter and the Nobel Prize for Literature. However, it was a difficult year for Churchill in terms of health. On April 5, 1955 Churchill resigned from the office.

On April 9, 1963 Winston Churchill received the unique honorary U.S. citizenship from the U.S. Congress. He died in London on January 24, 1965 and buried in Bladon churchyard in Oxfordshire.

Churchill is known in the world’s history as one of the greatest politicians and orators. He had so many positions in the governing body of England that not many politicians can even think of. He was a leader that left a significant mark not only in the British history but the also in the world’s. Sir Winston Churchill was a man of so many talents that people can only admire him and read his famous quotes.

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Mold Growth in the Hvac System Can be Eradicated by Uv Light



The growth of mold in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems is a main contributor to poor indoor air quality. Mold spores are a prevalent part of bacteria and dust in the home. Ignoring a problem or potentially harmful situation involving poor indoor air quality can render an even more serious issue, so it should be taken care of immediately.

Mold allergies are a serious problem for many people. Those that are often exposed to poor indoor air quality are at a higher risk for developing some sort of respiratory complication. These people are often those that don’t even know that they could be vulnerable to such hazardous allergens.

The cause of inadequate atmosphere quality can stem from faulty HVAC equipment, poor air circulation, inappropriately operated or preserved HVAC systems, and not having a sufficient amount of external air. All of these things can cause the growth of the allergen, mold. Mold spores can lead to congestion, asthma, and other breathing difficulties for those that become exposed. During the time that HVAC systems operate they are able to transport considerable amounts of recirculated and outside air through the home or occupied space. The system becomes the channel through which toxic entities are spread.

It has been found that ultraviolet radiation is the most effective way to combat mold and other airborne bacteria in the home. UV rays can be used individually or can be combined with an EAC (Electronic Air Cleaner) to prevent or diminish the health risks that mold presents. UV light is able to restrict the reproduction process and growth of germs, allergens, and bacteria, such as mold.

To successfully kill microorganisms, found in an indoor atmosphere, ultraviolet energy waves are used. The UV radiation must make direct contact with the harmful bacteria to make sure that it is exterminated. The ultraviolet rays then infiltrate the organism, causing the molecular bonds to stop functioning properly and inducing mutilation of the cells. This remedy of doing away with mold spores in the HVAC system kills or sterilizes germs, rendering them unable to reproduce. The germs are either killed or sterilized, leaving them unable to reproduce. This is a guaranteed solution to reducing the allergens in the atmosphere in your home and improving your family’s overall quality of life.

Indoor air quality is an issue that is quickly becoming a priority problem in homes across the nation. Making sure that you and your loved ones are protected from harmful toxins is very important and should not be taken lightly. Having your HVAC system inspected and keeping up with its maintenance can mean the difference between breathing poor quality or high quality indoor air. Why not make the place that you spend a majority of your time a safer place to live and breath.

Baseball, Title Ix and Jackie Robinson: It's All About Discrimination



The baseball world recently celebrated “Jackie Robinson Day.” On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play Major League Baseball when he stepped onto Ebbets Field as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Many commentators have lamented the fact that 60 years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier, today, only 8.4% of Major League Baseball (MLB) players are black. In fact, MLB has been going backwards. The current percentage of black players is the lowest in more than 20 years. Just over a decade ago, in 1995, 19% of MLB players were black.

No one disputes that the numbers of black professional baseball players is declining, the controversy is over why.

One article I read recently attributed the decline to baseball’s legacy of segregation and racism. The writer argued that because of its history, baseball fails to “capture the imagination” of today’s young black athletes.

Others have argued that inner-city black athletes face various economic challenges that limit their access to baseball fields, equipment, etc.

All of these arguments have some merit to them. But, ultimately, they fall short because other sports, like football and basketball, share baseball’s legacy of segregation and racism. Yet, black participation in those other sports has continued to grow.

Last week, a co-worker sent me an article about Title IX by Hubert Mizell of Gainesville.com. It hit me like a thunderbolt that Title IX is the most obvious reason there are so few blacks in pro baseball.

The way Title IX has been interpreted and implemented, it effectively restricts the number of baseball scholarships colleges and universities offer. In fact, most schools, even major schools like the University of Florida, do not offer any “full-ride” college baseball scholarships at all.

I was shocked when I found that out.

Obviously, without a scholarship, many, many young black athletes cannot afford to go to college and play college baseball or, later, professional baseball. Naturally, young black athletes will gravitate towards football and basketball; sports that offer more scholarships. Over the past generation, this shift has become pronounced.

Title IX was enacted by the Congress in 1972. The law, itself, is not controversial at all. It simply states that “No person in the United States, shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

So, Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. It applies to discrimination in athletics. So far, so good. The problem comes in the interpretation of the law.

In 1979, The U.S. Department of Heath, Education, and Welfare (this was before we had a separate “Department of Education”) issued a policy interpreting Title IX. The policy provided that, in order to comply with Title IX, a college or university must pass one of three tests. The college or university must show that it:

1. Provides athletic opportunities substantially proportionate to student enrollment; or,

2. Demonstrates a continual expansion of athletic opportunities for the underrepresented gender; or,

3. Provides full and effective accommodation of the interest and ability of the underrepresented gender.

Many schools try to comply with Title IX by passing the third test. The problem is that this test is very subjective. How do you prove you are providing “full and effective accommodation of interest and ability….?” You can take surveys to get some gauge of interest. But, in the end, if a school relies on the third test, it will be vulnerable to a law suit by someone who thinks it has not complied.

Some of the larger, financially strong, schools comply with Title IX by meeting the second test. They “demonstrate a continual expansion of athletic opportunities for the underrepresented gender” by adding a women’s sports team. Every time a school does that, it is “good to go” for about five years. But, adding new sports is a money-losing proposition and smaller, less affluent, schools can’t afford to do that. At least, not forever.

So, ultimately, all schools will want, or need, to comply with Title IX by meeting the first test. And, it is this first test that has really caused the problems.

If a school has a Division I football team, it can award up to 85 football scholarships (per NCAA rules). The school can also award up to 13 scholarships for it’s men’s basketball team. Of course, to compete in these sports, at the Division I level, the school will have to award these 98 men’s athletics scholarships.

Women now make up a whopping 58% of college enrollment. So, to pass the first test, and award scholarships “substantially proportionate” to student enrollment, the school has to award about 110 scholarships to women just to equal the scholarships provided for men’s football and basketball.

And, when you add in other men’s sports – it becomes impossible to meet the “substantially proportionate” test without severely cutting scholarships in other men’s sports or dropping some sports altogether.

So, that’s exactly what schools do. When you look at sports like Tennis, Golf, Track and Field/Cross Country, Swimming/Diving – there are more scholarships awarded to women than men in each of these sports. Even in basketball – men’s college basketball teams get 13 scholarships; women’s teams get 15.

Wrestling is one of the biggest sports at most high schools. There is a large base of college wrestling fans. But, thanks to Title IX, there are few college wrestling scholarships.

James Madison University is the latest school to announce it will be dropping 10 sports; 7 men’s teams; 3 women’s teams in order to meet the “substantially proportionate” test of Title IX.

You might say: “well, they should just get rid of football.” The problem with that idea is that football is the only college sport that makes money. Men’s basketball about breaks even (if the school is lucky). No other college sport pays for itself.

This means the college will likely lose money on every other sports team it adds, including every women’s sports team. Football is the bill-payer for many of these sports at many schools. So, getting rid of football is not the answer.

So, what does all this have to do with Jackie Robinson and the lack of black professional baseball players today?

Here’s what.

Because of the way Title IX has been interpreted and implemented, college baseball programs are only allowed 11.7 scholarships. Since about 30 players are on a college baseball team, normally, no one gets a full scholarship.

So, baseball is becoming, increasingly, a sport for the relatively affluent. The reason is simple. You have to be able to afford to pay for college to play college baseball.

By contrast, in football and basketball, almost everyone on the team has a full scholarship.

For a young, black athlete, football and basketball offer a much more likely scholarship opportunity. It’s not surprising, then, that black athletes have gravitated toward football and basketball and away from baseball. It’s common sense.

It’s ironic that, Title IX, a law intended to limit sex discrimination in athletics has morphed into, perhaps, the most significant cause of sex, race and class discrimination in college athletics today.