Saturday, October 5, 2019

Finance (China) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Finance (China) - Essay Example In China the model has achieved remarkable success and it has achieved a growth rate of almost 10% for the past 30 years. China Telecom, a state-capitalist company have come from nowhere to become mighty global companies. Similarly tens of thousands of state-owned enterprises (SOE) dominate half of the economic output of China and the Chinese government protects them by providing subsidizes to them. Any Foreign companies which try to threaten them are restricted by stringent government rules and are forced to share their technical expertise with the SEOs through joint venture and are also denied of any lucrative government business. Chinese government has made intervention in the entire financial system of China (the stock market, bond market and banking sector). But State capitalism has some flaws associated with it. Such a model will work until cheap resources are available. The economic growth of China is built on the back of cheap labour. Again state capitalist companies are less efficient and their private competitors. It is argued that state capitalism slowly but surely degenerates into crony capitalism as powerful political parties tries to extend their control over the economy. This report will discuss about the role of Chinese government in state capitalism and what were the interventions adopted by the Chinese government and how the Chinese financial systems responded to overcome the problem. There are many advantages which China has incurred due to state interventions. For example in 2007, China faced shortage of polycrystalline silicon which is an important raw material for solar panels were creating problems for rising solar energy industry. Thus the prices of polysilicon soared and hit tenfold price in 2008. But Chinese government responded quickly by developing a domestic polysilicon suppliers (Dean, Browne and Oster, 2010, p. 1). Huge amounts of money were invested by banks and stationed enterprises. The local governments expedited

Friday, October 4, 2019

ECommerce Coursework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

ECommerce Coursework - Essay Example Turban et al have compared the internet economy to the ecosystem in nature because the users find their own ways and means to generate profits and service the customers. They create an environment conducive to attract the customers and suppliers and make changes as the situation demands. Today the internet has scores of online businesses business-to-business (B2B), business-to-customer (B2C) and customer-to-customer (C2C) and has definite advantages over the traditional way of transacting business (Amit and Zott 2000). However, the internet ecosystem has a business model that has enhanced the value chain and eliminated the dis-intermediaries. There are various business models that operate on the internet each having its own advantages and benefits for the participants. This is because the internet is an open and non-proprietary platform for collaboration and communication. It has allowed free information sharing and close connections with customers and among supply chain or business ecosystems partners’ information systems (Lee and Vonortas 2003). This results in benefits like real time pricing, flexible products and services, low cost of distribution as the intermediaries can be eliminated. The extensive reach and the richness of the information can be maintained between the ecosystem partners. The digital assets for a firm include the information about the customers whereby they are able to provide value across different markets. Information is a source of revenue for the digital economy and this enhances transparency. Business offer virtual online stores where the customers can visit stores, compare prices and take an informed decision. In the digital world keeping pace with the change that is taking place is important and firms must learn to adapt to the changing business environments. Today there are definite value drivers of e-commerce, which refers to any factor that enhances the

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Situation of the local baths Essay Example for Free

Situation of the local baths Essay I am deeply honored to correspond with the local council regarding the situation of the local baths. It is also a privilege to interact and work hand in hand with the proper authorities concerning this matter. Through this one, I can be a good servant then. A question can be asked in any moment regarding the safety of the local baths. Will there be a guaranty concerning its safety? Is it complete with safety precautions? Well, every persons primary concern in going to the local baths is safety for their life and limb. Normally, it would be the responsibility of the management of local baths to make sure that every person will be guaranteed complete safety. Indeed, it is my duty to correspond with the over-all local council in dealing with this very important matter. I just hope that my recommendations will be given enough attention for appropriate review. It is a common knowledge that high tides are a hazard to the swimmers especially during Christmas and New Year season. It will prevent them from enjoying their stay in the establishment. Others are also concerned in the availability of safety precautions in whatever kind for them to be safe. Heavy tides in the sea tend to break over the cemented barrier or any barrier found in the area that will cause a back swell causing swimmers to be dragged over the northern promenade into the ocean. Is it not dangerous? That is why effective safety precautions were incorporated into the local baths to prevent any damage. I have taken so many safety precautions then. It include placing warning signs in prominent positions and installing a safety chain across the northern area. The safety chain serves to keep the people from going too far from the northern side of the pool that is known to be dangerous. Aside from that, a loud speaker system has been built in order to regularly warn any person using the pool to avoid any damage. The loudspeaker was useful because it reaches people staying in the northern poolside. There is also an organized storage of safety and rescue equipment being placed in an accesible position. However, dangers cannot be avoided in any time. This is so because high tides in the sea cannot just be controlled by human power without exerting extraordinary efforts. The problem was not so alarming until one incident happened that made the management uneasy. In this particular year, a peculiar thing happened that causes alarm to the people. What happened was that when the north-easterly swell and winds have created very heavy surf, some people are affected by it. That happened during the last Saturday of December. At that time, I boldly announced over the loudspeaker system that waves breaking onto the poolside are very dangerous. With all diligence, I gave instructions to the people in the swimming pool area to leave the northern end of the pool. That was one way of doing all my efforts together with the other employees to avoid damages due to the surf. Despite the announcement that was given to the effect that no one should stay in the northern end of the pool, three people have refused to move from the same. They ignored the instruction that was given for their benefit. That was indeed problematic and dangerous. As I walked towards the three people, a very large wave drags them back into the dangerous surf. I was shocked but tried to control myself to be able to face the situation appropriately. In fact, I voluntarily tried to radio for the surf and rescue helicopter for immediate actions. As a result, two people are rescued without any harm except the third person who was seriously injured due to the large wave that struck him. With this point at hand, there is a need to overhaul the system of operating the local baths in the area of safety. There are so many factors that causes the injuries of the swimmers in the pool. These things may have something to do with the negligence of the management and even on the side of the swimmers. The loudspeaker system is not so effective. While it was true that the swimmers were given announcements whenever there is danger, but that was not enough. Hence, what is really needed was trained lifeguards that are present in the poolside area. Lifeguards are trained employees that are responsible for the safety of the people while present in a recreational water areas. Generally, lifeguards are the people who observe swimming activities, anticipate problems and identify emergencies, give immediate first aid and report incidents in the sea (â€Å"Lifeguards†, 2007, p. 1). Therefore, it is respectfully recommended that trained lifeguards be hired to be able to make the operation of the local baths more safe and productive. The rationale of the recommendation is to give credence to the fact that hiring additional people is more logical than allowing any serious injuries and even death to happen. The presence of the lifeguards will surely prevent any accident in the local baths whether swimmers are obedient when there are announced instructions through loudspeaker system or hardheaded for that matter. In line with these, lifeguards must be trained with respect to basic techniques, rescue, aquatic injuries first aid lessons and effective coordination during emergency situations. Aside from that, the course of their training must include observation and scanning ability in the swimming pool area. The local baths needs men to do surveillance to avoid the slightest hint of any dangerous surf and heavy winds. In effect, lifeguards can do uninterrupted supervision while swimmers are enjoying in the pool especially in the most dangerous area. Finally, for the local council to approve this recommendation, it is respectfully submitted that the management of the local baths under my leadership will fully execute the policies and regulation for a positive result.

Duke Ellingtons Contribution To American Jazz Film Studies Essay

Duke Ellingtons Contribution To American Jazz Film Studies Essay The famous U.S. jazz musician known as Duke Ellington was born on April 29, 1989 to two musician parents who both played the piano. His legal name at birth was Edward Kennedy Ellington, and the nickname Duke was one he acquired from childhood friends who believed that the way he dressed and the manner in which he carried himself gave him a regal appearance. (Wikipedia, 2013). While he himself eschewed the use of the term jazz to define the kind of music he played, opting instead to refer to it as simply American music, critics have repeatedly identified him as one of the seminal figures in the development of jazz, which is often identified as one of the few authentically U.S.-developed musical forms. (Biography, 2013). Ellington was an African-American and his maternal grandmother was an ex-slave. His own introduction to music in a formal sense occurred when he was seven years old, with him commencing piano lessons. His passion for music was intense, even during his youth and he is recorded as having written his first song, :Soda Fountain Rag, which some called Poodle Dog Rag, in 1914 at a time when he was personally working at a soda fountain at a restaurant known as the Poole Dog Cafe. At the time, his formal music training did not include the reading and writing of music notes on paper. He was to develop those skills later in life. (Wikipedia, 2013). As a young man, in addition to the restaurant job, he worked at the games of the Washington, D.C. Senators baseball team as a peanut vendor. Other recreations included playing pool, and it was there that he encountered many contemporary piano players who provided entertainment there, utilizing a variety of styles, including ragtime. It was only then that he started to entertain the notion that he might himself become a professional musician. Ellington himself described both his early life and his musical career in an autobiography he published in 1973 entitled Music is my Mistress. (Ellington, 1976). By the summer of 1916, he declined to pursue an offered scholarship to study art in Brooklyn, New York at the Pratt Institute, preferring instead to provide musical entertainment in various small venues in and around Washington, D.C. for money, although the amounts earned were relatively meager compared to the success he was to experience later in life. He continued, for a time, to attend commercial art classes at the Armstrong Manual Training School, but abandoned those studies a mere 90 day or so before a scheduled graduation. (Ellington, 1976). It was after that occurred that he summoned up the courage to assemble small groups of musicians to band together to play for dances and other social events, while working on the side as a sign painter to augment his otherwise meager income. His first more permanent formal band was formed in 1917 and was known as The Dukes Serenaders, who were described as Colored Syncopators in an ad he took out in the then relatively new media of the local telephone directory. (Ellington, 1976) Because Washington, D.C. was the capitol of the U.S., Ellington also managed to survive economically in those early years by working as a messenger for the State Department and U.S. Navy. Later, his band would become quite a local hit playing at parties put on by foreign embassies located in the capitol as well as for society dances and balls. While this was an era where there was still much segregation in the U.S., his group did manage to play to both white and African-American audiences, which was unusual at the time. (Wikipedia, 2013). Ellington got married on July 2, 1918 to Edna Thompson, who had attended the same high school as he did, and they had a son, Mercer Kennedy Ellington, himself a musician skilled in the use of both the piano and trumpet, who at times operated as the business manager for his fathers more successful group while also running his own band. (Wikipedia, 2013). Looking back on his career, which only ended with his death on May 24, 1974 from lung cancer and pneumonia, music critics widely agree that his influence helped raise the regard of jazz among other forms of music in the U.S. At the time of his death, despite his advanced age and ill health, he was continuing to actively work as an orchestra leader. He did not exclusively play jazz. however, and at times delved into the areas of classical, popular, gospel and blues music, as well as composing scores for popular motion pictures. As the U.S. recording industry took off, Ellington and his groups recorded music for many companies, while continuing to tour widely and play live. In 1924 alone, Duke Ellington released eight records, indicating the beginning of a very fertile period for him that continued almost unabated until his death. (Wikipedia, 2013). Ellington became a seminal figure in the so-called Harlem Renaissance and gradually expanded the size of his musical group, with it becoming the house band in the legendary Cotton Club in Harlem, New York in 1927. Ellingtons fame grew and he was widely known for playing the bugle at the end of many performances. Radio broadcasts of his music live from the club helped him develop an audience that stretched nationwide and encompassed many people who had never seen him perform live in New York. (Biography, 2013). A song that Duke Ellington recorded with his orchestra and Adelaide Hall in the fall of 927, entitled Creole Love Call became a runaway hit, selling widely through the world, and firmly establishing Ellington and his group as star musicians. (Wikipedia, 2013) Ultimately, Ellington became perhaps best known for expanding the concept of the small jazz band, playing only in tiny nightclubs, to a full big band experience, with his group becoming a full orchestra with him as the leader. The size and scope of the group gave Ellington much more latitude to experiment with new musical pathways and attempt things never tried before. (Wikipedia, 2013). His versatility was shown by the fact that he recorded for numerous recording labels, often at the same time, an unusual thing. He sometimes would create different versions of the same compositions for inclusion on records for the different companies. (Wikipedia, 2013). He obtained even broader popularity after appearing at the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival, where his orchestras performance was met by the audiences passionate acclaim, and went on long as the festival organizers had planned to shut things down. The result was worldwide frenzied publicity, including Duke Ellingtons appearance on the front cover of Time magazine, and Ellingtons best-selling recording of his entire career, Ellington at Newport.(Wikipedia, 2013). One area where he experienced a rare lack of success was his inability to breakthrough in the new medium of television, where jazz was somewhat ignored as a form of music. But both his live performances and his popular recordings continued throughout his life. His musical career spanned the Great Depression, the Second World War, the 1950s, the turbulent 1960s with the explosion of the civil rights movement and the conflict over the Vietnam war, and the Watergate Era of Richard Nixon. Throughout those changing times, Duke Ellingtons commitment to experiment with his music and burst through staid conventions of form and length remained the one constant thing, raising the standard high for other jazz musicians to try to emulate. Critics believe that there are few, if any, figures in the development of American jazz more important and more central than Duke Ellington. (Wikipedia, 2013). Ellingtons root strength was as a skilled jazz pianist, but he is often more remembered for his orchestral arrangements and composing of both jazz and other popular musical pieces. His group for the bulk of his career was known simply as the Duke Ellington Orchestra and it continues to tour the world today under the aegis of his son, who serves as the archivist for his fathers rich legacy. (Wikipedia, 2013). Duke Ellingtons contributions to American music were recognized by no fewer than twelve Grammy awards, starting with his first one in 1959 with three awards for music he composed and performed for Anatomy of a Murder, a major motion picture. He composed and performed music for a number of other motion pictures. Most of these awards, however, were for jazz performances and compositions, with three of the awards given after his death, including the last one in 1999 for the historical jazz album The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition, collecting the recordings he made for the RCA Victor company from 1927-1973. He received a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement award in 1966. (Biography, 2013). Nine of his recordings were also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, starting with Black and Tan Fantasy in 1928 and concluding with Far East Suite in 1967. His 1932 jazz hit It Dont Mean a Thing (If It Aint Got That Swing) was also inducted, was highly popular worldwide, and is still widely played today. He was also given a Special Citation by the Pulitzer Prize Committee after his death, and received a U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. He was also inducted into the French Legion of Honor in 1973. (Wikipedia, 2013).

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Technology and its Impact on American Culture :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Technology and its Impact on American Culture As an amateur reporter for the school newspaper, I have had the opportunity to interview quite a variety of people on many different topics. One of my favorite questions to ask is, "What do you think has had the most influence on American culture?" Why do I like asking this particular question? The answer is simple: the variety and range of responses. While some answers are more interesting than others, I must say that I've learned quite a bit from all of them. For example, I once posed my 'famous question' to a teenager while waiting in line outside a movie theater. At first, she just stared at me with a look that clearly said, "Who are you and why are you asking me this?" I stood silently with one eyebrow slightly raised, waiting to see if she would come up with an answer. She seemed to consider for a moment and replied, "If we have culture, it comes from TV." I had to agree with her. Television, whether we like it or not, plays a huge role in how our society functions and how our culture has been shaped since its invention. Up until 1935, televisions were not electric as they are today. They were mechanical, powered by a small motor with a spinning disc and a neon lamp. The picture projected was very small, sometimes half the size of a business card, and only showed shades of orange and red. From 1935 up until World War II, the electric television was perfected and made ready for public distribution. The electric television provided a much larger, clearer screen with a full range of colors. In 1948-1949, during the post-WWII spending craze, the television became a must-have item for every American family, bringing a world of information and entertainment into living rooms across the country and changing the way Americans viewed many things. One effect TV has had on how we view things is in the area of advertisement. A few weeks ago in English, my class had quite a discussion on the subject of commercials. A person can tell what type of society they live in by simply watching the commercials during any TV program. One example, in America, is the numerous ads for various types of medication. From this, it is easy to see that our society cares a lot about health care and making sure that they feel healthy. Technology and its Impact on American Culture :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers Technology and its Impact on American Culture As an amateur reporter for the school newspaper, I have had the opportunity to interview quite a variety of people on many different topics. One of my favorite questions to ask is, "What do you think has had the most influence on American culture?" Why do I like asking this particular question? The answer is simple: the variety and range of responses. While some answers are more interesting than others, I must say that I've learned quite a bit from all of them. For example, I once posed my 'famous question' to a teenager while waiting in line outside a movie theater. At first, she just stared at me with a look that clearly said, "Who are you and why are you asking me this?" I stood silently with one eyebrow slightly raised, waiting to see if she would come up with an answer. She seemed to consider for a moment and replied, "If we have culture, it comes from TV." I had to agree with her. Television, whether we like it or not, plays a huge role in how our society functions and how our culture has been shaped since its invention. Up until 1935, televisions were not electric as they are today. They were mechanical, powered by a small motor with a spinning disc and a neon lamp. The picture projected was very small, sometimes half the size of a business card, and only showed shades of orange and red. From 1935 up until World War II, the electric television was perfected and made ready for public distribution. The electric television provided a much larger, clearer screen with a full range of colors. In 1948-1949, during the post-WWII spending craze, the television became a must-have item for every American family, bringing a world of information and entertainment into living rooms across the country and changing the way Americans viewed many things. One effect TV has had on how we view things is in the area of advertisement. A few weeks ago in English, my class had quite a discussion on the subject of commercials. A person can tell what type of society they live in by simply watching the commercials during any TV program. One example, in America, is the numerous ads for various types of medication. From this, it is easy to see that our society cares a lot about health care and making sure that they feel healthy.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Thomas Becket vs Henry II :: European Europe History

Thomas Becket vs Henry II The High Middle Ages was a time of power struggles between the Church and the State. Increases in royal power and expeditions like the Crusades symbolized the teeter-totter of the balance of power between the two foundations, and a prime example of the fight for power is the conflict of Henry II, King of England, and Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry II gained his throne thanks to the efforts of his mother, who fought to maintain her family's stature in the royal family tree. Thomas Becket was the son of a wealthy London merchant, and lived a life of no worries. Theobald, the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time, recognized Becket's intelligence, and he was put under Theobald's church tree. There, Becket gained experience and serious attention from his great successes as the Archbishop's trusty servant, and King Henry II laid an eye on him also. Seeing Becket's potential intelligence, Henry II appointed Becket to the position of Chancellor of England. In England, the Chancellor was second-in-command only to the King. Any man of this stature was given great power, and any man placed in this position must be able to match his expectations. Henry's instincts were accurate, and Becket performed amazingly at his new position. He revolutionized how England's government was run, and turned the quiet castle into a busy place of work. Becket's fame rose instantly, gaining attention from all over England, and quickly gained the reputation of being Henry's greatest loyal worker. Becket, aside from being Henry's most trustworthy servant, also became Henry's greatest friend. Henry frequently visited Becket for dinner, and the two would discuss issues and exchange ideas almost every night. Henry was able to derive one conclusion from their dinner sessions à  Thomas Becket was the most intelligent man in all of England. At this point in time, the Church and State of England fought mainly for power over the judicial system of England. Henry II wanted to enforce common law in his country, a system of justice with a jury that accuses suspects and royal judges that determine the sentence on the criminals. The Church, headed by the archbishop of Canterbury, wanted to keep their traditional system of canon law. The huge flaw in canon law was apparent to all of England, but the church was not willing to back down to the State. In the church's court system, the two greatest concerns were the immunity granted to church officials and the immunity granted to those who sought sanctuary.

Criminal Defense Case

Criminal Defense Case Most people are aware of process to convict a criminal defendant. The prosecutor must prove â€Å"beyond a reasonable doubt† that the defendant is guilty of the crime in question, and that the accused is not required by law to present the court with any evidence, or prove he or she is innocent. Under the United States Constitution’s Fifth Amendment, a criminal defendant is not compelled to state under oath against himself. However, in some criminal trials, the defendant wants the opportunity to prove he or she is innocent by presenting the court with a defense. The following paper will discuss the various types of defenses criminal defendants can introduce to defend against criminal charges, and differentiate between the legal and medical perspective on mental illness and insanity (University of Phoenix Course Syllabus, 2009; Law Library, 2009). In most criminal defense cases, even though the defendant may have intentionally harmed another person or property, he or she may maintain that his or her case was an exception to the standards of criminal responsibility and that, as a result, he or she should not be found guilty and undergo any penalties. According to the Law Library (2009), â€Å"There are invariably unusual situations in which people intentionally cause harm, but the purpose of punishment would not be furthered in these cases† ( ¶4). In addition, due to psychological or intellectual challenges, some individuals are not held criminally responsible for their harmful conduct. Therefore, to accommodate these types of cases, defendants have the opportunity to avoid criminal responsibility by presenting defenses (Law Library, 2009). Two categories can identify criminal defenses: â€Å"I did not do it† (factual) and â€Å"I did it, but †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (legal). Defendants of the â€Å"I did not do it† category, try to avoid punishment by claiming that he or she did not commit the act in question. Defenses that fall into the â€Å"I did not do it† category are the Presumption of Innocent, Reasonable Doubt, and the Alibi Defense. Defendants of the â€Å"I did it, but †¦Ã¢â‚¬  category do not deny committing the act in question but instead, try to avoid punishment by claiming that the act was due to unusual circumstances. Defenses that fall into the â€Å"I did it, but †¦Ã¢â‚¬  category are Self-Defense, the Insanity Defense, Under the Influence, and Entrapment (Nolo, 2009; Schmalleger, 2010). The presumption of innocence means that every individual is presumed innocent until convicted, either as the result of pleading guilty or in a trial. This presumption means the defendant does not have to defend himself on his behalf, but instead, the prosecutor must convince the jury of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant may remain silent during the entire court process, not call upon any witnesses, and simply argue that the prosecutor failed to prove their case. The defendant goes free, if the prosecutor fails to convince the court that the defendant is guilty (Find Law, 2009). Defenses of reasonable doubt, the prosecutor must convince either the judge or jury assigned to the case that the defendant is guilty â€Å"beyond a reasonable doubt. † This could be a difficult standard to meet. Because the high burden of proof, means the evidence in favor of the defendant are to be resolved of all doubts by judges and jurors. With such a difficult task imposed on the prosecutor, a defendant may simply argue that there is indeed reasonable doubt (Nolo, 2009). The alibi defense is different from other major defenses; alibis are based on the claim of actual innocence. The defendant present evidence and or witness testimony proving that he or she was somewhere during the time the alleged crime was committed. For example, Jason Jones, 26, and his brother, Corey Jones, 29, were release from jail when federal prosecutors failed to counterattack the brother’s alibi. Frederick H. Cohn, a lawyer for Jason Jones, was able to prove that during the time of a federal witness killing in the Bronx, both brothers were approximately five miles from the scene of the crime according to Jason Jones MetroCard (The New York Times Company, 2009). Self-defense is commonly asserted by individuals charged with a crime of violence, like battery, assault with a deadly weapon, or murder. The defendant does not deny committing the crime, but instead, claims that his or her action was justifiable due to the other person’s threatening actions. The fundamental issues in most criminal trials are, who was the aggressor, was self-defense necessary, and was the reasonable amount of force used by the defendant. Although people are allowed to protect themselves from physical harm, it must be in the belief that a physical attack is about to occur. Further, an act of self-defense cannot exceed more force than is believe reasonable. A person who uses too much force may be guilty of crime. For example, the aggressor physically tries to attack the defender with his fist and the defender defends the aggressor back with a knife, stabbing the aggressor several times. The defender would be guilty of the crime since the force use was not reasonable (Nolo, 2009). The insanity defense is based on the standards that a person cannot be criminally responsible for the crime in question, if he is incapable of controlling his behavior and cannot understand the differences between right and wrong. Since some individuals’ do suffer from a mental disorder, the insanity defense prevents them from undergoing any criminal penalties. Here are some important points of interest. Not often, but when a defendant does enter a plea of â€Å"not guilty by reason of insanity,† judges and jurors almost never supports it. Maybe it has to do with the conflicting agreements between the legal and medical perspective. There are several definitions when it comes to insanity since both the legal system and medical experts cannot agree on one single meaning. McNaghten† defines insanity as â€Å"the inability to distinguish right from wrong. † â€Å"Irresistible impulse† defines insanity as â€Å"a person’s act may be wrong, but because of the mental illness his actions cannot be controlled. † Further, defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity is not released by confined to a mental institution for further evaluations, and in some cases, spends more time in the institute than they would if they were in prison. On behalf of the defense, a psychiatrist must testify after examining the case and defendant’s history (Find Law, 2009). Defendants that commit a crime while under the influence of alcohol or drugs sometimes argue that they cannot be held accountable for their actions since their mental functioning was impaired. However, intoxication, especially voluntary does not excuse criminal conduct. Most people are aware of the side effects of drugs and alcohol, thus holding them legally responsible for committing crimes as a result of their voluntary use. However, in some states, if the criminal crime requires â€Å"specific intent,† the defendant can argue that he was too intoxicated to have formed that intent. Although the defendant is still partially to blame for his actions, the punishment is less severe (Find Law, 2009). Entrapment takes places when a government official forces a person to commit a crime and then tries to punish them for it. In some cases, however, even if a government agent did suggest the crime and then help the defendant commit it, the defendant could still be guilty if the judge or jury believes the defendant would have committed the crime anyways. Entrapment defenses, thus, can be difficult for defendants with prior convictions of similar crimes (Find Law, 2009). In conclusion, a defendant is given the opportunity to present evidence on his or her behalf, even though he or she is not obligated to do so under law. Throughout this criminal defense case analysis, we were able to discuss the differences between criminal defenses of â€Å"I did not do it† (factual) and â€Å"I did it, but †¦ ,† (legal), as well as explain the various types of defenses under each category. Further, we are able to conclude that although there are a variety of criminal defenses that can be used to defend a person’s innocence, does not necessarily mean that the courts will agree with his or her actions or defense to actions. Reference Find Law. (2009). Criminal law: Common defenses: Defenses to criminal charges. Retrieved December 01, 2009, from http://criminal. findlaw. com/crimes/criminal-overview/common-defenses-to-criminal-charges. html Law Library. (2009). Criminal law principles: Defense principles. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from http://jrank. org/pages/18462/Criminal-Law-Principles-Defense-Principles. html Nolo. (2009). Defenses to criminal charges. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from http://www. nolo. om/legal-encyclopedia/article-30275. html Schmalleger, F. (2010). Criminal law today: An introduction with capstone cases. (4th ed. ) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. The New York Times Company. (2009). Murder case dropped after MetroCard verifies alibi. Retrieved December 01, 2009, from http://www. nytimes. com/2009/01/01/nyregion/01murder. html University of Phoenix Course Syllabus. (2009). CJA 343: Criminal Law. Retrieved November 30, 2009, from the University of Phoenix Student Web site.