Thursday, April 30, 2020
My Homeland Security Journey free essay sample
Either traveling, being at the airport can be a fun or a challenging moment for someone depending on issues that did happening and for which one might be seen as a danger for possible threat. According to the story of: ââ¬Å"My Homeland Securityâ⬠name tagged or identity, hometown, and travel history are most likely reason to be under such investigation. Since the 9/11 terrorist attack, the twin tower collapsed has caused thousands of people to lost their lives and live behind family members in a terrible distress. The world media was at shock. While the USA mourned the loss of his citizens, the Pakistanis and Palestinians were at clamor, celebrating their evil victory. Thus, they became America worse enemy. With that terrible threat, terrorist awakened the world to yet another nuclear threat. Hence, thorough screening investigation for every one traveling, going to the airport, getting into the airplane is required ever since. We will write a custom essay sample on My Homeland Security Journey or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page ââ¬Å"My Homeland Securityâ⬠ââ¬Å"The Terminal Checkâ⬠are examples of such screening investigation. The two stories are both about security check at the airport after 9/11 Stories if whoever reads could easily establish that there is only a few differences and different author. Examples of such parallel: ââ¬Å"When I was eighteen, I was held in custody in Panamaââ¬â¢s airport (because of the Indian passport I then carried) and denied formal entry to the nation, while the roguish English friend from high school with whom I was travelling was free to enter with impunity and savor all the dubious pleasures of the Canal Zone. On my way to Hong Kong ââ¬â a transit lounge of a city if ever there was one, â⬠¦ I was hauled into a special cabin for a lengthy interrogation because my face was deemed not to match my (by then British) passport. (Pico Lyer, 121) ââ¬Å"A month before I landed in Oââ¬â¢Hare, I found myself in a similar tiny cordoned-off area where unsightly travelers like myself were corralled at the Allenby Bridge into Israel from Jordan. Iââ¬â¢m used to the disappointed look on security personnelââ¬â¢s faces when I handed them my passport because before 2004, I carried a Pakistani oneâ⬠. (Meyer Ahmad, 126) In essay, ââ¬Å"The Terminal Check, and The Homeland Security Journeyâ⬠the screening investigation started since the 9/11 attack because ethnic background. The Pakistanis and the Palestinians revealed possible source for search in airport transit. The student felt that wherever they traveled that had no identity. They have been mistreated, discriminated, being chased by the Embassy and the FBI because their name and skin color had a lot to deal with.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Properties essays
Properties essays Chemical reactions are the heart of chemistry. People have always known that they exist. The Ancient Greeks were the firsts to speculate on the composition of matter. They thought that it was possible that individual particles made up matter. Later, in the Seventeenth Century, a German chemist named Georg Ernst Stahl was the first to postulate on chemical reaction, specifically, combustion. He said that a substance called phlogiston escaped into the air from all substances during combustion. He explained that a burning candle would go out if a candle snuffer was put over it because the air inside the snuffer became saturated with phlogiston. According to his ideas, wood is made up of phlogiston and ash, because only ash is left after combustion. His ideas soon came upon some contradiction. When metal is burned, its ash has a greater mass than the original substance. Stahl tried to cover himself by saying that phlogiston will take away from a substance's mass or that it had a negative mass, which contradicted his original theories. In the Eighteenth Century Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier, in France, discovered an important detail in the understanding of the chemical reaction combustion, oxigine (oxygen). He said that combustion was a chemical reaction involving oxygen and another combustible substance, such as wood. John Dalton, in the early Nineteenth Century, discovered the atom. It gave way to the idea that a chemical reaction was actually the rearrangement of groups of atoms called molecules. Dalton also said that the appearance and disappearance of properties meant that the atomic composition dictated the appearance of different properties. He also came up with idea that a molecule of one substance is exactly the same as any other People like Joseph-Lois Gay-Lussac added to Dalton's concepts with the postulate that the volumes of gasses tha...
Thursday, March 5, 2020
An Introduction and Guide to Real Business Cycle Theory
An Introduction and Guide to Real Business Cycle Theory Realà business cycleà theory (RBC theory) is a class of macroeconomic models and theories that were first explored by American economist John Muth in 1961. The theory has since been more closely associated with another American economist, Robert Lucas, Jr., who has been characterized as ââ¬Å"the most influential macroeconomist in the last quarter of the twentieth century.â⬠à à Intro to Economic Business Cycles Before understanding real business cycle theory, one must understand the basic concept of business cycles. A business cycle is the periodic up and down movements in the economy, which are measured by fluctuations in real GDP and other macroeconomic variables. There are sequential phases of a business cycle that demonstrate rapid growth (known as expansions or booms) followed by periods of stagnation or decline (known as contractions or declines). Expansion (or Recovery when following a trough): categorized by an increase in economic activityPeak: The upper turning point of the business cycle when expansion turns to contractionContraction: categorized by a decrease in economic activityTrough: The lower turning point of the business cycle when contraction leads to recovery and/or expansion Real business cycle theory makes strong assumptions about the drivers of these business cycle phases. Primary Assumption of Real Business Cycle Theory The primary concept behind real business cycle theory is that one must study business cycles with the fundamental assumption that they are driven entirely by technology shocks rather than by monetary shocks or changes in expectations. That is to say that RBC theory largely accounts for business cycle fluctuations with real (rather than nominal) shocks, which are defined as unexpected or unpredictable events that affect the economy. Technology shocks, in particular, are considered a result of some unanticipated technological development that impacts productivity. Shocks in government purchases are another kind of shock that can appear in a pure real business cycle (RBC Theory) model. Real Business Cycle Theory and Shocks In addition to attributing all business cycle phases to technological shocks, real business cycle theory considers business cycle fluctuations an efficient response to those exogenous changes or developments in the real economic environment. Therefore, business cycles are ââ¬Å"realâ⬠according to RBC theory in that they do not represent the failure of markets to clear or show an equal supply to demand ratio, but instead, reflect the most efficient economic operation given the structure of that economy. As a result, RBC theory rejects Keynesian economics, or the view that in the short run economic output is primarily influenced by aggregate demand, and monetarism, the school of thought that emphasizes the role of government in controlling the amount of money in circulation. Despite their rejection of RBC theory, both of these schools of economic thought currently represent the foundation of mainstream macroeconomic policy.
Monday, February 17, 2020
Value Chain Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Value Chain - Term Paper Example The company aims to achieve its mission and vision by fulfilling the needs of varied customers spread at different locations globally. The company ensures that it provides the best quality products at the best and affordable prices which are further accompanied with best services within the industry (Ashley Furniture Industries Inc, ââ¬Å"A Proud History and Poised for a Formidable Futureâ⬠). Thesis Statement The paper critically identifies the value chain activities practiced by Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc and briefly recommends on various core areas of the company in relation to value chain. Value Chain and Ashley Furniture The term ââ¬ËValue Chainââ¬â¢ was first coined by Michel Porter in his famous book ââ¬ËCompetitive Advantageââ¬â¢ in 1985. The analysis of value chain identifies the activities performed by an organization and further relates them with the organizationââ¬â¢s competitive strengths. Porter identifies primary and secondary activities as th e two major activities essential for value chain analysis. He further grouped the primary activities into five sub-heads including inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales and services which are concerned with the value creation as well as delivery of products. Similarly, secondary activities are also grouped into four sub-heads namely, human resource management, technology development, infrastructure and procurement. The secondary activities help organizations to enhance the efficiency and the effectiveness of the overall organizational operations (Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations, ââ¬Å"The Value Chainâ⬠). The basic model of value chain is being represented below: Source: (Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations, ââ¬Å"The Value Chainâ⬠) Primary Activities Inbound Logistics Ashley Furniture aims to produce world class durable furniture in attractive designs and affordable prices. Furthermore, the comp any ensures that by no means are its product qualities compromised; and customers receive value for their investment made in terms of durable and finished products. The company has partnered with best class suppliers for the supply of a variety of components required for the manufacturing of the furniture products. In addition to this, the company has the largest air-ride truck fleet in the industry which can be evident on the highways of Wisconsin (Wisconsin Manufactures and Commerce, ââ¬Å"BPES-Ashley Furnitureâ⬠). The tractors involved in the transportation of required components for the manufacturing process are equipped with auxiliary power units that result in less consumption of fuel almost by 10 percent. Additionally, the company is also striving to procure materials locally in order to reduce the cost of transportation and thereby offer its products at affordable prices to its discriminating customers (Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc, ââ¬Å"Ashley World Class Furnit ure Companyâ⬠). Operations Ashley Furniture has more than 250 acres operating space for manufacturing and distribution throughout the world. It has the biggest casegoods production related plant in the United States. The company sells furniture in more than 123 countries around the globe. The major regional manufacturing and
Monday, February 3, 2020
Response to Coments on DQ1 Smith and DQ2 Smith,WK2 Essay
Response to Coments on DQ1 Smith and DQ2 Smith,WK2 - Essay Example A way to determine whether the debt balance of a company is bad is by calculating the debt ratio and the current ratio. The debt ratio shows the ability of a company to pay off its long term debt, while the current ratio demonstrates the ability of a firm to pay off its short term debt. DQ2 The use of cash based accounting is more suitable for small operations that are highly dependent on the short term income to stay in business. An example would be a hot dog vendor. The hot dog vender uses the weekly sales to purchase more material to operate the next week. The hot dog vendor collects all his sales in cash. The majority of public corporations use accrued based accounting because they deal with large sums of money and numerous transactions. The existence of credit does not work in accounting unless the firm used an accrued based accounting system. In cash based accounting credit is not existent. Despite the differences between cash based accounting and accrued based accounting the a pplication of both systems will lead to the same accounting results. For example if the net income of a company is $10,000 under cash based accounting the use of accrued based accounting will also give a net profit of $10,000.
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Tourism PESTEL Analysis | Canary Islands
Tourism PESTEL Analysis | Canary Islands PESTEL PESTEL as acronym stands for political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors, which influence the processes within a n organization. It is an analysis, which concentrate on the environmental factors that influence the operational firm. Therefore, it is a mandatory and helping tool for managers to have better insights about the threats and opportunities and understand its majority that exist in a running business, which are affected by such factors. This analysis thus, provides a greater vision for managers for current and future purposes to compete on the market completely and effectively. The understanding of the environment that influences the business is crucial to have an overview and control of the organization to manage the plans with environmental effects. The firm, which does neglect the forces of environmental changes, hardly succeeds and survives the competition. The right apprehension of Pestel also provides a great strategy to managers about th e existing external forces that affecting the business environment. (P)olitical factors The political environment that exists in a nation can have tremendous impacts on the execution of a business including the lodging business. Governmental issues influence the day-by-day lives of numerous subjects all over the Canary Islands and companies it is a must to develop ways to adjust to the political circumstances in the nation. The political methodology received by a nation influences the quantity of nearby guests and their capacity to go around the nation. The hotel industry of Canary Islands is highly dependent on the local and international visitors. Year by year, the Canary Islands has been captivates a great amount of tourist from abroad. Canary Islands are Autonomous groups of Spain with a membership as well in the European Union. In the Council Decision of 20 June 2002 (2002/546/EC), taken on the basis of Article 299(2) of the EC Treaty, the Kingdom of Spain was authorised from 1 January 2002 until 31 December 2011 to exempt or reduce partially from the AIEM tax (Arbitrio sobre las Importaciones y Entregas de Mercancias en las islas Canarias) some products produced locally in the Canary Islands. The AIEM tax is generally imposed on products imported into or obtained in the Canary Islands. In the annex to the Council Decision is the list of products to which the above mentioned special measure applies. The difference in taxation between goods taxed on a regular basis and those to which is applied an exemption or partial reduction cannot be higher then 5%, 15% or 25% depending on the product. In the Council Decision of 20 June 2002 the reasons underlying the adoption of the special arrangements were presented. The main sources of the problems faced by the Canary Islands are isolation and fragmentation of the market. This causes various difficulties mainly connected with higher production costs (transport, energy, supplies of raw materials, treatment of waste, etc). It also contributes to the low diversification of the economy which is weaker and more susceptible to negative changes than European and global markets. In other words the special measures were introduced to counter disadvantages faced by the Canary Islands and thereby allowing the economy of the Islands to develop. They were especially targeted at strengthening domestic industry by increasing its competitive position, which is disadvantaged because of the location, structure and size of the market. Also, they are unable to benefit from globalisation. The AIEM aims at reducing those disadvantages of the market of the Canary Islands. Data provided by the Spanish Government shows that positive effects were observed after the special measures were introduced, however the problems underlying the special tax scheme continue to exist. Therefore continuation of special measures is justified. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:777c256b-adfe-11e3-86f9-01aa75ed71a1.0002.01/DOC_1format=PDF (E)conomic factors The second factor, which influences the working process and the accomplishment of Hotel Costa Calero is the economic ones. GDP growth forecast for 2015 and 2016 to 3.3% and 3.0% respectively. Overall, the greater economic dynamism encourages the creation of more than 60 000 jobs in the biennium 2015- 2016. the consolidation of the price of a barrel of oil at relatively low levels compared to the average of 2014 can be a significant boost to the Islands economy in 2015 and 2016 the European Central Bank surprised with a policy of quantitative expansion of higher volume than expected, and has left open the date of termination of the program. These actions will promote a reduction in financing costs to the private sector, especially in economies such as Spanish where fragmentation of the European financial system resulted in higher interest rates for households and firms in other eurozone countries. This will support growth in new credit operations and enhance the good performance of domestic demand. Depreciation of the euro against the dollar, that will put the exchange rate around $ 1.1 / â⠬ 2015 on average BBVA Research estimates suggest that this depreciation of the euro 20% of its value in 2014 could boost the 0.8 pp Islands economy in 2015, the result of improved export competitiveness Canary faces several challenges, most notably an unemployment rate still above 30%. Return the regional appeal, increase the participation rate of young people and, above all, of those over 54 (see Box 3) and accelerate job creation consistent with increases in productivity must be considered a primary goal for the sake of reverse the divergence of per capita income about major European regions. On the revenue side, the approved budget reflects an increase in non-interest income of 3.5% compared to the initial forecasts of 2014, driven by increased resources Economic and Fiscal Regime of the Canary Islands (REF), which will be helped by the recovery in consumption and changes policy of the Tax on imports and delivery of goods in the Canary Islands (AIEM). The tourism sector is the main engine of the Islands economy (around 30% of GDP ) and, during the last five years, 2014 closed again, posting record figures in the number of visitors. Indeed, the Canaries received 11.4 million foreign tourists, up 8% from the previous year. By country, the UK (4 million) and Germany (2.7 million), remain the main source markets. Moreover, total tourist spending in the region also set a record with more than 14,200 million euros. This represents an increase of 7.1% %, the fall in the average stay (-0.3 days) it is primarily responsible for this development. Also, other factors help explain this phenomenon. Although geographically, the fall of stay has been widespread among the major source markets, this decline has been most pronounced among travelers aged between 45 and 64 years and tourists with high income levels, which added a decrease in daily spending, https://www.bbvaresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Situacion_Canarias_Abr15_Cap31.pdf (S)ocial Factors Canary Islands have a population of 2.104.815 wherefrom Lanzarote dispose of 141.940 inhabitants. Major percentage of this population is from Spaniard origin (109.178 in Lanzarote) and the rest of includes of German, Italian, Romanian, Moroccan, English, Columbian and from Chinese origin (These major nationalities from the population of Lanzarote are noted in the paper by their number of beyond one thousand from the residential nationality origin in 2014 (datosdelanzarote.com, 2014)). http://www.datosdelanzarote.com/itemDetalles.asp?idFamilia=9idItem=6531 This means, that Lanzarote is a culturally multiple island due to its historically and up to present migration into the island/s. The age structure in the Canarias is as follows; the age group from the total population under 16 is 22.2%, in Lanzarote is 27.3%, the working force from age 16 and under 65 is 56.9 in the Canary islands and 63.1% in Lanzarote from the citizens and finally people of age above 65 is 20.9% in the Canarias and 9.6% in Lanzarote (ine.es, 2014 and datosdelanzarote.com, 2014). http://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=2853 http://www.datosdelanzarote.com/itemDetalles.asp?idFamilia=6idItem=6648 Education in the Canary Islands is compulsory for children below the age of 16 (gobiernodecanarias.org, 2010), which is a free for this aged population. Primary education is compulsory, however the rate of school leavers is 35% of the population between age 18 and 24, which might be caused the inefficient share of knowledge, demands of skill obtaining, low levels of standard education, however, according to Social and Political Pact, by 2020-2025 85% of the population would be compulsory to dispose a certificate from intermediate education (ec.europa.eu, 2012). http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/studies/pdf/rup_migratory/canarias/ex_sum_canary_en.pdf http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/educacion/5/DGOIE/PublicaCE/docsup/Estudiar_en_Canarias_Ingles.pdf (T)echnology Technology is one of the variables that could directly influence the business operations. The use of development in IT helps to maintain a smooth communication and operation in the organization and with customers as well. It largely influences the marketing and promotion of the products, so the say the service. The way of communication is changing to web based techniques. Hotel Costa Calero can be reached through their official website and social media such as Facebook, however their website should develop their channel, because of their discomposing appearance from their disordered outlook. The location of Canary Islands make possible to get around it by plane only. There are eight airports altogether in the Canary Islands and have an extensive network of highways. Numerous airlines established long distance flights to the islands such as its low budget known Ryanair, which is a great opportunity for those visitors who have limited budget for vacations. There are large ferryboats that link islands as well as fast ferries linking most of the islands. The increased use of tablets and smartphones is creating a convergence of e- and m-payments. M-payments are increasing at a rapid pace with non-banks slowly increasing their share of transactions. From 2011-2015, m-payments are expected to grow by 60.8% to 47.0 billion transactions. The mobile payments space is increasingly competitive, with banks and non-banks striving for market dominance and consumer loyalty. The slight slowdown in e-payments growth (from 19.2% in 2012 to 15.4% in 2013, a total of 29.3 billion transactions) has been due to a shift towards m-payments use, driven by increased penetration of smart phones and the internet, advancements in technology, and innovative products and services. Going forward, e-payment transactions are expected to grow in Europe as progress is made on the European Unionââ¬â¢s revised Payments Services Directive (PSD II). https://www.worldpaymentsreport.com/The-Convergence-of-E-and-M-Payments The Canary Islands have been able to transfer successfully to their African neighbours their own expertise and technological developments, mainly in the renewable energy and water technology sectors, for providing basic services such as electrification and water supply services to isolated rural communities. The Canary Islands Government is deploying in the region technology parks specialising in adaptive technologies for development. Water treatment:production of 600,000 m3desalinated water per day. The first desalinating plant in Spain was inaugurated in Lanzarote in 1965. Solar energy:more than 2,500 sunlight hours per year, with a radiation of 5-6 KWh/m2per day. Photovoltaic systems operate with the production of more than 1,700 hours. Wind power:constant winds with average speeds of 6 to 8 m/s provide wind farms the equivalent to 3,000-4,000 wind hours. Geothermal energy:there are two projects currently in progress. These renewable energies can be implemented into the hotel industry to Hotel Costa Calero specifically for electricity purposes and to expand and develop it to other firms and association for variant countries. http://www.canaryislandshub.com/en-us/sectors/naturallaboratory.aspx (E)nvironmental factors This factor became important in the last fifteen years because of increasing scarcity of raw material, pollution targets, doing business as an ethical and sustainable company, carbon footprint targets set by government. These are just some of the issues marketers are facing within this sector. More and more consumers are demanding that the products they buy are sources ethically and if possible from a sustainable source. The European Union emphasizes waste management as one of the most important issue of political movement with the elementary factors such as reduction in the volume of waste generated, optimization of recycling, reuse and safe disposal. Waste treatment Waste treatment companies2 , both of urban and non-urban origin, managed 44.9 million tonnes of waste in the year 2012, which is 10.0% more than the previous year. 96.1% of the managed waste corresponded to non-hazardous category, reaching 43.1 million tonnes (10.9% more than in 2011). Conversely, hazardous waste stood at 1.8 million tonnes (8.6% less than in 2011). Of the total waste, 53.6% was sent for recycling, 39.6% for dumping and 6.8% for incineration. In total, 24.1 million tonnes of waste were recycled in 2012, the main categories being Metallic (10.1 million tonnes), Paper and cardboard (4.9 millions) and Animal and plant (2.2 million) waste. In the Canary Islands altogether the population created 44.9 million tonnes of waste in 2012, which is increased compared with the previous year with 10%. 96.1% of the gathered waste complemented to non-hazardous category, which 43.1 million tones from the total. The hazardous waste from the total was 1.8 million tons. From the total waste 53.6 % was processed in recycling mode, 39.6 % was dumped and 6.8% was incinerated. This means, in total 24.1 million tons was recycled in 2012 wherefrom the waste was metallic (10.1 M), paper and cardboard (4.9 M) and animal and plant (2.2 M). (L)egal factor The Canary Islands have extremely transparent fiscal regulations, fully approved by the European Union and Double Treaty Agreements signed by Spain. Recently, several actions have been adopted to combat tax avoidance and offshore tax As an European region, the Canary Islands are subject to the European legal system, and, as an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, all the national regulations are applicable in their territory. The EU legal system has one of the highest standards of international legal security, which results in higher protection for companies based in the Canary Islands in many aspects, including data protection, free competition and financial regulations, evasion by the OECD and the G20 governments. These transparent fiscal regulations , administered by the Economic and Fiscal Regimen of the Canary Islands (REF), benefit companies through legal process cost reductions. Instead of VAT, Canary Islands use IGIC, which is an indirect tax and it makes possible to create and sustain efficient businesses among different countries that dispose with the ease and balance the isolated geographical location of the Canarias. http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/activity/outermost/doc/plan_action_strategique_eu2020_canarias_en.pdf Moreover, currently Costa Calero lacks of the mobile application service, which might be advised to keep up with this technological trend.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Alan Freed and the Payola Scandal Essay
In the late 1950ââ¬â¢s and early 1960ââ¬â¢s, during a time of shifting cultural identity, many Americans who held conservative views found themselves caught in a socio-cultural predicament. The social dynamic of urban communities had begun to change as more African-Americans moved from the Southern United States into the Northern and Western regions of the country. This diaspora meant better jobs and homes for African-Americans and ultimately translated into more spending power among this portion of the population. While many sectors were positively impacted by this increase in African American spending power, participants of exclusionary practices were destined to suffer. An example of this suffering was evident in the music industry where the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) had monopolized the music licensing industry until the Broadcast Music Incorporation was formed and began to provide affordable music licenses to those musicians previously excluded by ASCAP. This development signaled a ââ¬Å"changing of the guardâ⬠and the ASCAP found that the change was ultimately not in their favor (Hood-Ancklewicz 3). The individuals who supported and encouraged the proliferation of this social revolution were labeled responsible for the growing lack of ââ¬Å"social stabilityâ⬠and would be contended with under the guise of a quest for morals and justice. In 1959 the House Subcommittee launched an investigation into the existence of rigging in popular game shows and at the urging of ASCAP expanded that probe into the music industry. Given his nonconformist attitude, unapologetic support of rock nââ¬â¢ roll music, interracial dance parties and ââ¬Å"frenziedâ⬠stage shows, Alan Freed became the most popular fatality of the payola scandal. Alan Freed was not the only person guilty of accepting ââ¬Å"payolaâ⬠, but he was among the most visibly linked to the promulgation of rock nââ¬â¢ roll. Alan Freed has been credited with being the first to popularize the title Rock nââ¬â¢Roll in relation to this particular music genre. Additionally, he was the first to encourage integration by hosting wildly successful interracial Rock nââ¬â¢ Roll stage shows with solely African American performers. Freed also made no attempt to control the pandemonium created by his exhilarating lineup of performers, which generally resulted in teens dancing in the aisles, screaming wildly at performers and storming venues for the opportunity to participate by any means necessary. The ââ¬Å"firstsâ⬠associated with Freed helped to solidify his image as the Father of Rock nââ¬â¢ Roll and conversely sealed his fate as the scapegoat of the payola scandal. Mainly targeting radio stations and well known deejays and record executives, including Freed, the ââ¬Å"clean cutâ⬠Dick Clark and, others linked to the popularization of rock nââ¬â¢ roll music. The payola investigations made radio executives across the nation nervous. Many of the stations began to enact measures to ensure that they would not be implicated in any wrong doing and as a result began to require that their disc jockeys sign disclosure statements, divest themselves of questionable outside interests and cooperate with investigators as necessary. Those disc jockeys that refused to do so were fired. Many deejays resigned some suggesting that payola was as much a part of the system as any other widely held production practice, while others simply confessed to accepting cash and other gifts in exchange for promoting records. Alan Freed refused to sign documents on the moral grounds that doing so would negatively impact his ââ¬Å"reputation for integrityâ⬠as a result Freed was fired from the radio station (Segrave 110). Freed admitted that he had accepted valuable gifts but, he explained ââ¬Å"not in front. If Iââ¬â¢ve helped somebody, Iââ¬â¢ll accept a nice gift but I wouldnââ¬â¢t take a dime to plug a record. Iââ¬â¢d be a fool to; Iââ¬â¢d be giving up control of my programâ⬠(Segrave 80). The end of the payola scandal dawned with Alan Freed disenfranchised from his livelihood. Freed was forced out of the concert promotion business, blacklisted, arrested, fined three hundred dollars and given a six month suspended sentence and though by modern standards this punishment may seem mild, compared to the punishment of other deejays it was among the most calculating and exacting punishments delivered. While some critics argue that the scandal did not end Freedââ¬â¢s career it is clear that ââ¬Å"justiceâ⬠was not doled out equally among all offenders (Palmer 136). Dick Clark, who was also investigated, was questioned about outside interests that he held with various publication houses, record presses, talent firms, etc. Clark minimized the number of investments reported to the committee, his employers supported his claims that he had divested those interests. Following the investigation it was learned that the claims of divestment were not only false but that Clark had also deflated the number reported to the subcommittee. Clark was ultimately exonerated and never seemed to be in any real danger of losing his livelihood, while Alan Freed was left destitute (Segrave 110). By many accounts Freedââ¬â¢s success in the music industry was instantaneous and was bolstered by the unwavering support of his interracial teen audience. In 1952 when Freed held the Moondog Coronation Ball an estimated 30,000 teens stormed the venue causing the event to be closed down by the local police department. Soon after this incident Freed took his stage shows on tour and was arrested and charged with inciting a riot after a similar occurrence in Boston. Freed moved from Ohio to New York where his success continue to grow exponentially (Palmer 23). Of note among Freedââ¬â¢s perceived ââ¬Å"shortcomingsâ⬠was the fact that all of Freedââ¬â¢s performers were African-American and even when ââ¬Å"sanitizedâ⬠versions of African-American songs were available Freed still preferred and continued to promote the original versions (Palmer 136-139). The image of rock nââ¬â¢ roll (leather jackets and sideburns) upset the sensibilities of larger society and as a result when the investigations into payola, a practice that had existed in various formats for years, became public knowledge and the House Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight had the support and the fuel necessary to effect change, Alan Freed became target number one. Rock nââ¬â¢ roll was shunned by the more conservative personalities in American society and as a result was blamed for many societal ills. Few expected the genre to last, disgusted by the lack of perceived merit in the rock nââ¬â¢ roll genre, many of the ASCAP members and conservative American public denied its ââ¬Å"staying powerâ⬠. In her1956 article for the Miami Herald, Phyllis Battelle quotes an unnamed source as saying ââ¬Å"Perhaps the only hopeful thing about rock nââ¬â¢ roll is that itââ¬â¢s so bad. It cannot endure indefinitelyâ⬠(Batelle 4C+). This sentiment comforted few Americans while others focused on the reasons why rock nââ¬â¢ roll was not a viable music form. Rock nââ¬â¢ roll on the other hand continued to reinvent itself, to influence and morph into different genres. The influence of rock nââ¬â¢ roll is heard clearly in other genres now and has become as intrinsic to the American cultural legacy as payola in the music industry. Though rock nââ¬â¢ roll waned for a short period of time it ultimately was revived by the British invasion which also revived the folk and R&B genres (Hood-Anklwicz 4). Ironically the integrationist mentality that was once a part of rock nââ¬â¢ roll music faded in the early sixties undoubtedly influenced by the newly sanitized radio and broadcast environment, the loss of charismatic personalities such as Alan Freed and the stress of the continuously changing cultural dynamic in American society. Fears like those expressed in segregationist propaganda like the American Nationalist went unfounded as rock nââ¬â¢ roll eventually became racially segregated once more. Dick Clarkââ¬â¢s clean cut presentation of rock nââ¬â¢ roll minus the tilting pelvises and gyrations, minus the dancing in the aisles and frenzied pandemonium, minus the leather jackets and sideburns was to become the popular music among whites while African American performers performed for largely African-American audiences (Palmer, 146). Many African American performers of the rock nââ¬â¢ roll era have credited Freed with the breaking of social barriers and have recognized his attempt to encourage integration among young Blacks and Whites. Before concluding that Alan Freed was ultimately made the example for being all things rock nââ¬â¢ roll, it is imperative to note that the practice of payola was never absent from the music industry, it ââ¬Å"has never been and is not now illegalâ⬠. The 1960 law passed, did not make the practice illegal but made the failure to report payola illegal (Segrave,vii). While the concept of payola presents an ethical flaw in the system it is nonetheless a flaw that is as inherent to the music industry as is manipulation to the industry of politics. The great professor and historian, Lord Acton, is quoted as saying, ââ¬Å"power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutelyâ⬠. This notion is evident on both ends of the rock nââ¬â¢ roll spectrum on one end Alan Freed was said to ââ¬Å"be drunk with powerâ⬠(Palmer 23), so much so that he failed to see the danger in overbooking venues, was charged with encouraging riotous behavior among teens and a general failure to realize the detriment that would come to his livelihood if he continued to challenge the prescribed social norms of the 1950ââ¬â¢s. On the other end of the spectrum is the American government who continues to support censorship and participate in the creation of scapegoats when suitable to the larger political agenda. Overall, Alan Freed was a trendsetter who was perhaps ââ¬Å"before his timeâ⬠and thereby was punished accordingly for going against the grain. He lived as the champion of rock nââ¬â¢ roll firsts and died tormented by opportunities unrealized.
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