The USAF and Fiscal Priorities in the 21st Century

Abstract The United States’ military budget is indeed on one of the highest across the globe. While territorial integrity and secure borders are mandatory, it is equally vital for the Department of Defense to re-evaluate its spending regimes in order to cut down on unnecessary costs.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The USAF and Fiscal Priorities in the 21st Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is against this backdrop that USAF is in the process of reviewing military spending both on the domestic and international level. However, it is prudent to mention that the military budgetary allocation is mainly consumed in the international front to fight external aggressions. This implies that the US government may even be spending undisclosed amounts towards fighting acts of terror that are beyond its areas of interests. It will be prudent if monetary allocation to the military docket is reviewed and adjus ted accordingly. For instance, there are some US military missions abroad that can be concluded as soon as possible. A case example of the withdrawal of the US troops from Iraq was indeed a bold step towards streamlining high military spending. If such missions can be reduced, then the Department of Defense can equally reduce its military expenses. Both the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces and the key defense officials have agreed on the need to restructure manpower and tools of war in a bid to reduce overall expenditure. If this initiative will work, then the US government may have some reprieve in heavy budgetary allocation. Nonetheless, the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (MDs) such as nuclear bombs should not be part of the military agenda. The latter may trigger further external aggression especially among states that consider themselves adversaries to the United States. Needless to say, any form of nuclear engagement by the US forces may only work against this grand p lan to cut down expenses.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Indeed, the fiscal constraints that are being experienced currently may get worse if strategic actions are not taken. Question: Considering future fiscal constraints, what capabilities should the American military, particularly USAF, emphasize to most effectively contribute to the strategy laid out in the January 2012 Strategy Guidance â€Å"Sustaining US Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense†? Identify and discuss at least 3 capabilities. It is definite that the United States military has been spending mammoth sums of money on military spending for the past one decade. The department of defense operates on a large budget that may not be manageable in the course of the 21st century. Therefore, there is a need for USAF to develop outstanding strategies and capabilities that will be integral in addressing both the current and future fiscal constraints. It is also prudent to mention that these capabilities are aligned within lowering federal spending especially by the military. The Department of Defense has always reiterated that it will continue to invest in its military intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance in order to remain the most effective and efficient force in the world. Nonetheless, cutting down the military spending should be done in such a way that it does not negatively affect the effectiveness of the force. International peace and security is vital and cannot be compromised even the budget cuts that have been proposed. This paper identifies and discusses capabilities that the American military can embrace and adopt in order to remain vibrant amidst the fiscal constraints in place. To begin with, it is worth to mention that the military spending of the United States has been the highest in the word for a long time. One of the impelling factors that have skyrocket ed the defense budget is a large force of men and women in uniform spread across various American establishments across the world.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The USAF and Fiscal Priorities in the 21st Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is highly recommended that the Department of Defense and especially the USAF should devise strategies that can be adopted to reduce the size of the current force. However, the capability and agility of the military should remain outstanding even as the team is made lean. The Congress has been on the forefront in fighting the proposed reduction in military spending. However, it is possible to spend heavily on the defense budget without establishing an effective team of military personnel in the field. This implies that the efficiency of the defense force is not necessarily determined by the extreme budgetary allocation. The team should be made small, but equally effec tive in delivery its mandate in the field. The notion of scaling down the size of the military comes at a time when there have been several military officers duplicating their roles on matters related to security. As a matter of fact, the Congress should always reconsider the number of military men and women who are sent on specific roles overseas. There are myriads of cases when large numbers are usually dispatched to trouble spot zones, but they end up duplicating their roles because they are performing similar tasks. For example, the department can consider reducing the number of specialized military personnel such as doctors and engineers. Such military professionals may not be required in large numbers because their duties are limited to specific emerging cases when the military is a mission. Moreover, it will be a lot easier to manage a small force than an extremely large troop. A force structure that has been reduced will also reduce the desire to conduct operations in variou s locations. When the capacity is reduced, the department of defense will often find itself less obliged to engage its forces in every security torn spots across the world.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This capability will consequently lead to reduced monetary spending of the department. Needless to say, USAF will certainly need to devise better defense planning strategies such as those which were applied immediately after the Cold War era. Nonetheless, this capability towards resizing and restructuring the military should be undertaken with proper caution due to the new and emerging 21st century security threats. The newly redefined force should be in a vantage position to undertake multiple mission types in the most effective way so that the Department of Defense does not incur additional expenses due to recurrent conflicts. Therefore, it implies that the current number of bombers, warships (both deck and amphibious), and aircraft carries will have to be maintained in order to match the demanding 21st century security threats. In any case, tools of war should be improved by adopting the most sophisticated, but state of the art technology that cannot be imitated by adversaries. F urthermore, the restructured team of military personnel will have to undergo additional training on their various areas of specialization. The United States government should consider withdrawing its military personnel from various locations where they were deployed. This approach should specifically apply to regions where clam and tranquility have been restored. It is vital to mention that the monetary expenses of the military missions abroad are usually high. Therefore, it is necessary to return the deployed teams and consequently cut down military spending that proves to be totally unnecessary. Although various tools used in war have proved to be effective against external aggressions, it will be prudent to streamline the use and operations of the current fleet of aircrafts for the military. On the same breath, this fiscal capability will also be jumpstarted by reviewing procurement procedures for new aircrafts. In other words, both the old and new fleet of aircrafts will have to be standardized in order to be in tandem with the needs of the military. Currently, there are myriads of aircraft excesses in terms of spending that ought to be checked and re-evaluated. Military aircraft fleets have been noted to demand high budgetary allocation than other areas of military operations. Therefore, only the most vital fleets should be allowed to operate during military operations. Better still; the old should be replaced with new fleets that are cost effective in terms of maintenance and fuel consumption. Besides, this strategy should make sure that a few aircrafts can be used to perform multiple operations instead of deploying a large number that is extremely unmanageable in terms of cost implications. Finally, USAF must have the mandate to safeguard new capabilities and investments in order to reduce the likelihood of incurring additional expenses that have not been pre-planned. The disruptive posterior threats will have to be clearly understood and well articulat ed by the small, lean and efficient force. In order to attain this level of capability, the team will have to use past records and experiences in building the most robust military structure. In addition, lessons from some of the latest aggressions can also be used as viable capabilities in strengthening the performance and overall agility of the newly restructured military force. From the aforementioned perspective, it means that there are quite a number of capabilities that will have to be protected or safeguarded in order to achieve the overall goal. For instance, there are capabilities that will demand increased funding because they are key in the process of minimizing financial constraints. On the other hand, there are capabilities that will surely demand to be protected at all times. Hence, the US Department of Defense will have to draw clear guidelines between high and low priority areas in defense budget. When this distinction is made, USAF will be in a position to evaluate a reas that demand additional spending and higher budgetary allocations. It will also assist in providing the needed information on the type of capabilities that should be given additional protection. A case example is the use of nuclear weapons in fighting external aggressions. It is vital to mention that the US government has been keen in monitoring states that are manufacturing and possibly intending to use nuclear bombs. On the other hand, the US has been proposing the desire to be the first country to use nuclear weapons. Such an attempt will clearly trigger nations that have been manufacturing WMDs to use them on the ground. As a result, a ripple effect will be created on the US side since the latter may be compelled to use nuclear weapons to defend its interests both domestically and abroad. Such a scenario will occasion more budgetary allocation for the military and eventually not auger well with the broad goal of reducing monetary expenses. Hence, it is highly recommendable f or the US government to safeguard and even restrict its nuclear weapons arsenals. This will deter any temptation to accrue additional spending on the military. This essay on The USAF and Fiscal Priorities in the 21st Century was written and submitted by user Landon Bowers to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Math Problems Help!

Math Problems Help! Getting the Best Math Problems The main obsession that somebody experiencing any form of memory problems need to do is seek advice from their consultant. Just as it would be hard to focus on work in the midst of a chaotic group of people, it is hard to focus a mind full of unwanted ideas and feelings. In that sense it's not very likely to become dated provided that children need assistance with their homework. If you are experiencing problems sleeping, you could always take natural sleep supplements, such as Somulin, to aid you get that essential sleep. Relying on your long-term memory and trying to answer hard things can aid in improving the brain. Once you comprehend the principles of solving an issue, it is going to assist you in understanding the approach of solving problems later on. The technique is extremely effective for students that are weak in mathematics as a result of lack in understanding of the usual arithmetic operations and mathematical language. Relying on your long-term memory and trying to address hard problems can aid in improving the brain. Seeking a brand-new hobby is another procedure to come up with your interests and use your brain to learn new facts. If you are working to figure out the interest payments on a new vehicle loan, you probably require something different. If you cannot spend much time seeking to understand the resource you're using, you require something which gets right to the point. Now, talk about an important property which is quite helpful in solving mathematical issues. The Fig ht Against Math Problems The majority of the highly desired jobs require math. On-line math help is another handy resource of learning which was made to cater to the simple educational requirements of students. He or she is a comparatively more affordable and convenient way to get help with math problems. It's possible for you to learn math online too. At Math Play you can locate a vast array of fun games that you could play online. Most games are appropriate for elementary and middle grades. There are several such free math games that you may search for online or there are even websites where it is possible to get yourself registered and let your children do their math online. Students can go for online assistance for absolutely any subject including Math. They can download free math worksheets from different websites. The Awful Side of Math Problems For instance you can use the story of the 3 little pigs to create mathematical difficulties. If you're a Net buff, in addition, there are online word and puzzle games that you're able to enjoy alone or with different folks. Your brain will function during its finest if fed with nutritious meals. There are convinced matters that you can do as a way to conquer your memory defeat problems on the opposite hand. What You Should Do to Find Out About Math Problems Before You're Left Behind It's possible to make math easier for your children by making them learn multiplication tables. You may choose the numbers for the subtraction worksheets to be applied from 0 to 10. The worksheets are generated randomly, and that means you get a different one each moment. The subtraction worksheets could be configured wit h as much as 4 digits and 2 addends. Drawing angles is easy-peasy once you own a protractor, but it is also feasible to draw angles without one. Math help sites feature text and video tutorials too, which can be convenient for a fast query. How to Find Math Problems Online Contemporary technology is excellent, so long as we don't let it make us lazy and useless. Students should focus on the problems to have solutions. Just using a computer and a broadband connection, a student can easily do away with Math anxiety. Math Problems Secrets That No One Else Knows About The correct brain training can increase the manner where the brain works and grow much superior focus and concentration. To have the ability to grow the concentration and focus in your mentality, then you have to train your brain. In order to enhance the concentration and focus inside your mentality, then you need to train your brain. Your brain is probably going to operate in its best if nourished with nourishing food.

A Powerful Anti Gun Control Example

A Powerful Anti Gun Control ExampleIf you're trying to create a compelling argument for an anti-gun control cause, then you'll want to use a persuasive essay topic. This is the single most effective way to attract attention to your cause and get the message out there.It's easy to find persuasive essay topics on the Internet today. If you're unfamiliar with writing an essay, then you should search for persuasive essay topics that are approved by a professional. They will help you generate original essays that people will find compelling.The best way to use persuasive essay topics is to compare two opposing sides of an issue. You can tell the reader why they should take one side or the other. Even if they disagree with you on a particular issue, they will listen to your reasoning. It will show them why the cause you are supporting is worth fighting for.One way to use a persuasive essay topic is to draw an anti-gun control example. Instead of using the typical outline format, use a pers uasive essay topic to tell the reader how the gun control argument has been used incorrectly. Your point will be that the argument doesn't hold up, so you'll prove it wrong.Another example for a persuasive essay topic is the civil rights movement. Look at many of the problems that came about after the Civil Rights Act was passed. How did the states stand in the way? A persuasive essay example is your chance to show that the state laws were used as a form of oppression.Go through every other political campaign that you can think of and look for examples of argumentative writing. You may be surprised at what you find. Because these arguments were used so often, people have accepted them as fact.The reason for using persuasive essay topics like the civil rights movement is that they show how an argument can be made to change people's beliefs. For example, if you found an anti gun control example that shows how the law will ruin the American family, and then you present this same argume nt from the side of the gun control group. Then the reader will get two sides to the argument.The trick to using persuasive essay topics is to present your argument and let them know why they should agree with you. They will have to come to your conclusion or they will ignore your piece. Show them what will happen if the gun control laws pass.

Top Research Paper Topics China Tips!

Top Research Paper Topics China Tips! The War Against Research Paper Topics China In the last year of college, research paper topics need to be more specific and the research needs to be in-depth. Anyway, students should not be disturbed. Often, they find it difficult to choose the right topic for their research. With the many activities that they have on their daily schedules, it can be hard to find the time to all the requisite research and writing. New Questions About Research Paper Topics China If you still feel you need help, even if you've managed to select a topic, you may always employ a custom writing service to assist you produce a fabulous research paper of which you'll be proud and will guarantee you a nice mark. You don't need to be worried about plagiarism with our cyber security paper help support. Whatever topic you are in need of a cyber security research paper in, we've got an expert ready to provide assistance to you. Every custom made research paper w ould have to be unique and for that you should collect a whole lot of information with limited sources. Now you have a great idea of the way to hunt for college research paper topics, you're ready for some suggestions. Research papers are trying, but in addition they have the capacity to be somewhat rewarding. If you're on the lookout for an excellent agriculture research paper topic, take a look at the top nine topics given below. You should try and pick a topic for your research subject based on the instructions of your professor. Locating a solid topic is just one of the most significant steps when writing any sort of paper. A great paper topic needs to be interesting and ought to incorporate an original idea or position try to prevent cliche topics which will likely bore your reader. Even if a particular research paper topic is getting a great deal of buzz at the moment or other individuals seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic if you don't genuinely have some kind of interest in it also. Detecting a topic for your study can be tough, but there are a lot of great methods to develop intriguing ideas. The topic also needs to be something that's of your interest. In the procedure for writing research articles, it's essential to adhere to a particular topic. Writing on Japan can be quite so much fun when you have the proper topic to work on. Specifically, it is all about the rules of citation, for instance, an APA research paper format. Researching any issue about government or laws may get overwhelming because of the intricacy of the issues and even on account of the wording of some laws. There's a quantity of powerful research paper topics for the most intriguing regions of investigation. Research and talk about the benefits of Catalonia receiving independence. All About Research Paper Topics China Needless to say, deciding on the suitable topic for your research paper is the initial and most important step on the best way to writing the paper itself. Many students don't understand the simple research paper format. From time to time, superior research paper topics are ju st the easiest ones. Without a proper content, they will not make sense. Attempting to compose a research paper on a topic that doesn't have a lot of research on it's incredibly hard, so before you choose a topic, do a little preliminary searching and make certain you're have all the info you must compose your paper. You might also want to suggest additional research or comment on things that it wasn't possible that you discuss in the paper. After the topic is chosen, it would be useful to make an outline so you could see whether you have sufficient information for good-structured research paper. Just like any research paper essay, the most significant thing is to construct your topic and paper with the robust evidence. Our academic writers are certain to compose impeccable papers. Professional and academic journals are also an extraordinary place to discover materials for a critique paper. Writing a great persuasive research paper is a difficult job. If it's the very first research paper out of some series, attempt to select the topic that may be used for all of these.

Sample Grad School Admissions Essay

Sample Grad School Admissions EssayYou can find a lot of information about sample grad school admissions essays on the Internet. However, most of these samples will have a specific format in terms of sentence structure, topic and question that should be answered in order to get admitted to the university or college. In order to write an admissions essay that will help you get into the college of your choice, it is very important to understand what it takes to do so.When writing an admissions essay, it is always better to write in a conversational tone. If you are writing to ask a question and have no answer for that question, then do not write it in a formal tone. On the other hand, if you need an answer to a serious question, then you should write in a more formal tone.Sample grad school admissions essays also teach you how to properly punctuate your paper. Your grammar and punctuation must match the type of paper that you are writing. Correct punctuation and grammar help to establi sh the tone of the essay. For example, if you are writing a statement of purpose, proper grammar and correct punctuation should be used.In addition, when writing a paper, you must state your thesis statement at the beginning of the paper. This will set the tone for the rest of the paper and give some ideas as to where you are going with the paper. Thesis statements are very important for any type of essay.Also, many of the sample grad school admission essays also have sections where the writers will be required to write in answer to certain questions. These questions should be prepared well ahead of time and given to the writer at the beginning of the essay. Remember, you are looking for an admission into one of the top schools in the country. Therefore, the majority of the questions in the essay must be geared towards getting admitted.You should also include a few phrases from your background at the start of the paper. Remember, that this is an admissions essay. All of the material that you have will have been taken from a resource that can be obtained on the Internet.If possible, make a study of the types of essays that are required in your specific field. If you are a successful person in your field, then there may be a specific type of essay that you will need to write. Do not assume that just because you are in the top class in your field that you will automatically be required to write a special essay.In addition, the paper that you write for admissions will always differ based on the school that you are applying to. Therefore, it is also important to know what kind of admissions essay that is required at your specific school. There are specific essays that are used by all schools. However, if you do not know what the specific essay that you are required to write will be, then you should prepare a sample essay for the school of your choice.

National Gallery of Victoria Essays

National Gallery of Victoria Essays National Gallery of Victoria Essay National Gallery of Victoria Essay The National Gallery of Victoria Name: Institution: Table of Contents Topic Page 1.0 Introduction 3 1.1 Operational Description 3 1.2 Opening Hours and Facilities 3 Classification of Attraction 3 1.3 Significance 4 1.4 Model 4 1.5 Research Questions 4 1.6 Hypothesis 4 2.1 Artwork in the National Gallery of Victoria 4 2.2 Cultural Tourism in Australia 5 2.3 Motivations for Tourists in Cultural Tourism 6 2.4 Art Promotion in NGV 6 3.0 Conclusion 6 The National Gallery of Victoria Introduction Aim This paper aims to analyze the National Gallery of Victoria and its contribution to the growth of cultural tourism in Australia. The research will examine the current growth in cultural tourism, the motivations of cultural tourists and the efforts of the National Gallery to not only promote indigenous but also contemporary art. Operational Description The National Gallery of Victoria has two branches. The first branch is NGV International that is located in Southbank along St Kilda road. The second branch is the Ian Potter centre at the federation square. The two galleries are just several miles apart within Melbourne. The NGV primarily depends on donated funds from wealthy citizens as well as donated pieces of art. The management of the National Gallery of Victoria consists of an executive management team and a council of trustees (â€Å"People Projects† 2013). The executive management is made up of three directors. Tony Ellwood is the director assisted by Andrew Clark. The third person in the executive management is the Assistant director Dr. Isobel Crombie. The council of Trustees is made up of eight people who assist in the running of the NGV. It also relies on several corporate sponsors and partners including Mercedes Benz, Macquarie, Ernst Young, Qantas, Sofitel luxury hotels among others. Opening Hours and Facilities NGV international is open to the public every day except Tuesday from 10am to 5pm. It is also open on all public holidays except Christmas and Good Friday. On ANZAC day, it opens at 1pm. Other facilities in the museum also have opening and closing hours. The NGV shop and the gallery kitchen are open from 10am to 5pm except on Tuesdays. No facility within the museum is open on Tuesday. The Tearoom and the members lounge each open from 10am to 4:30pm. The Persimmon opens from 11am to 4pm. The Ian Potter Centre is closed on all Mondays and no facilities within operate during that day. The opening hours fro the Ian Potter Centre are 10am to 5pm and like the NGV international is closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday and opens at 1pm on ANZAC Day. The NGV shops in the centre however is the only facility that opens daily from 10am to 5pm. The crossbar cafe and the members lounge are closed on Monday. The Persimmon is a dining area where visitors can order and take lunch. Visitors take tea , cakes and other light food in the tearoom. The Gallery kitchen at NGV provides visitors with the opportunity to grab a casual lunch. The crossbar cafe at the Ian Potter offers visitors with an area to take a break and enjoy light snacks. Classification of Attraction The National Gallery of Victoria is classified as an art and culture museum (NGV). The museum can be categorized among the heritage and to a minimal extent the creative tourism categories. The NGV can be related to the aboriginal-European contact eras since it holds far much more art pieces about the history and culture of the aborigines than any other museum. The Ian Potter centre especially, holds a lot of artwork on indigenous Australian culture hence its relevance to this period. The NGV is both a visitor attraction and a tourist attraction. Using Gunn’s model the nucleus of the NGV is the International museum building. The stained glass ceiling and the water wall entrance give the visitor a cultural and unique feeling. The inviolate belt is the surrounding grounds, the Grimwade gardens that give the exterior of the museum a unique ancient look. The zone of closure is the Melbourne arts precinct that offers a wide array of art related facilities. St Kilda Road also assists in accessibility. The Federation square parking lot offers ample parking space for visitors. The visitor experience is great. NGV staff politely guide and direct visitors and their issues are attended to promptly. NGV staffs are trained to communicate with visitors using different languages. Tours can be organized in different languages with provision for audio-described tours. Visitors can communicate with the administration through the phone or via email in case of any issue. Significance During recent times, there has been a growing interest in native Australian and aboriginal art. Tourists have been streaming into Australia not only to sample its fascinating scenery but also to learn about the diverse and rich culture and tradition of the Australian people. The National Gallery of Victoria has been one of the major destinations for tourists wanting to learn more about Australian culture. Finding out about the gallery’s contribution to the growth and appreciation of art will create awareness on the part of both stakeholders and the authorities on the importance of sustaining and maintaining museums and other heritage attractions. Model The research took a quantitative direction where observations were made and primary data on the National Gallery of Victoria collected. The observation involved visiting the Gallery and recording important information on the pieces in store, the activities taking place and the visitors. In addition, secondary data from magazine and journal articles, books and other recorded information on the gallery were also relied on for more information. The information gathered was compiled for the research. Research Questions This research aims to answer two main questions; 1. How does the Nation Gallery of Victoria enhance the study of historical Australian art? 2. How does the museum contribute to the appreciation of both indigenous and international artwork? Hypothesis In view of the above research aims and questions, the aims of this research were to prove the two research purposes outlined. The two hypotheses are outlined as follows: Null Hypotheses; The National Gallery of Victoria inhibits the study of aboriginal art The museum does not contribute to the appreciation of artwork Alternative Hypotheses; The Gallery enhance the study of aboriginal art The gallery contributes to the appreciation of art and cultural tourism. Artwork in the National Gallery of Victoria The NGV is a great source of information on artwork and art pieces drawn from historical and modern eras. The arts student, teacher and curious fanatic can access all sorts of varied and diverse artwork from the gallery. The national gallery of Victoria has a collection of varied artwork ranging from Australian, European to Asian art for diverse periods. International art pieces are held in the original museum while the Australian artwork was moved to the Ian Potter Art Center. NGV’s Australian collection consists of Indigenous art, impressionist painting, and paintings from the colonial period and contemporary art collections since the beginning of the twentieth century. The NGV boasts over 65,000 pieces of art ranging from many centuries ago. Some of the art pieces in NGV’s collection can be found online (about 18540 artworks). Interested art enthusiast can search the internet for artwork and collections rather than visit the museum in person. Australian artwork in ex hibition at the gallery includes paintings, drawings and multimedia. There are also pieces on Australian photography, sculptures and decorative arts. The museum is therefore a great source of information on not only modern Australian art but also ancient art. For the international arts enthusiast the NGV displays a large number of international art pieces. It is a one-stop center for all stakeholders’ art needs. The museum hosts a large collection of European art including photography, fashion items, drawing and prints, Mesoamerican art, Asian art and sculptures and antiquities drawn from all over the world. Its collections vary across Greek, European and Egyptian classics. The international collection in NGV is touted as one of the largest and most extensive in Australia. One of the highlights of the NGV’s international collection is its acquisition of an ancient painting by an Italian painter known as Corregio. Corregio was one of the most prominent personalities during the Italian Renaissance. His painting â€Å"Madonna and child† was purchased by NGV for its 150th birthday and is the most expensive single artifact ever acquired by NGV. From its rich collection and increasing improvement of its art pieces, the NGV has largely contributed to the development of artwork in Australia. Cultural Tourism in Australia Many cultural tourists in Australia visit the country to explore its rich and diverse aboriginal art and culture. Aboriginal art is indigenous Australian art made and created by Australians and affiliated people. Scholars show differing opinion on the comprehensive definition of cultural tourism. According to Hossain, Heaney and Carter (2005), cultural tourism is a kind of tourism where people visiting participate in one or two cultural events such as visiting heritage buildings and art galleries. Dallen Timothy (2011) divides cultural tourism into two; physical and abstract tourism. He says that physical cultural tourism encompasses objects such as artwork, paintings and heritages sites while abstract encompasses things such as music and language. Douglas et al. (2001) give a more comprehensive definition of cultural tourism. He explains that cultural tourism involves various aspects of culture such as learning about culture and participating in culture. Aboriginal art has rich cult ural, religious and mysterious meanings. Paintings and rock art show a great mastery of art and reveal significant cultural information on native Australian people. Aboriginal art gas a deeper meaning vested in ancient native customs, myths and beliefs (Finley 2008). Aboriginal art has been the focus of Australia’s tourism sector for many years. Visitors from within Australia and abroad have generated an interest in the cultural history of aboriginal Australia. Australia boasts of a huge and diverse cultural heritage with the interest in art increasing over the years. According to Foo and Rossetto (1998), cultural tourism all over the world has been increasing at a high rate in the past several decades. Australia itself has registered an increased number of people coming to visit its cultural heritage sites such as NGV to enjoy the variety of artwork. Tourists visit cultural sites to learn more and understand the culture of the Australian people. According to Carol Finley (20 08), aboriginal art is an interesting way to learn about the lifestyle of the Australian people. The number of international cultural tourist to Australia has increased over the years with their participation in cultural events also increasing (Hossain, Heaney and Carter 2005). Cultural tourism is thus an integral part of the country’s tourism sector attracting a large number of tourists every year. According to the Australian council for the Arts (2013), about fifty percent of all the tourists that visit Australia every year are cultural tourists. There is no dispute as to the appealing nature of aboriginal art as can be confirmed from this information. Aboriginal art has been influential in enhancing tourism with tourists attracted to a different cultural heritage site every time. Motivations for Tourists in Cultural Tourism There has been an influx of tourists into Australia in recent years. The number of domestic as well as international tourists has spiraled with statistics showing a rising trend in visitors in the tourism sector (Hossain, Heaney and Carter 2005). Several factors have been proposed to explain why there has been an increased trend in cultural tourism in Australia. A tourism survey conducted by Tourism Research Australia showed that majority of cultural tourists visit heritage and historical sites (61%) followed by museums and art galleries (57%). Among all these visitors, museums were cited as the most popular sites (â€Å"Australian Council of Arts 2013). These statistics reveal a certain preference of cultural heritage and cultural art by both foreign and domestic tourists. Douglas et al. (2001) outline several factors that act as a motivation for cultural tourists. Among the factors they cite includes a change in the preferences of tourists. According to their book, tourists are g etting used to the complex non-cultural tourism and area seeking simple and less packaged kinds of tourism (p.119). Cultural tourism provides this simple type of tourism because it provides for effective communication and interaction unlike wildlife tours. Another explanation of the increasing popularity of cultural tourism is the emergence of a different kind of tourist. Tourists have evolved and modern day tourists want experiences that are intellectually beneficial and educative (Douglas, N., Douglas, N., Derrett, R., 2001). Other kinds of tourism do not offer this kind of experience. Cultural tourism enables the tourist to interact and learn about cultural meanings and explanations. The cultural tourist therefore earns the opportunity to be more aware and culturally educated than before. Another explanation for the change in preferences is the notion that cultural tourism provides the tourist with a different kind of experience. The cultural tourist gets to enjoy new and more i nteresting tourism aspects rather than the old and relatively monotonous ones (Smith, 2009, p.33). The above factors show the increasing popularity of cultural/heritage tourism in Australia. Cultural heritage has become an influential factor in the understanding of art in the modern world. Its educative aspect as well as its popularity has made it among the best tools that can be used to understand indigenous culture. Art Promotion in the NGV The NGV has long demonstrated a desire to promote local art in Australia. The museum is dedicated to promoting knowledge and awareness about historical artwork as well as promoting new and young talent in contemporary art (â€Å"National Gallery of Victoria† 2013). The workshops and classes organized by the NGV engage the students in educative lessons and programs on the collections and exhibitions in the museum. These sessions are held every week with museum authorities providing for an activity for kids, interactive and educative talks, a performance or film and an interesting practical workshop. The art gallery also provides programs for schools and classes for little children. The emphasis on education by the NGV authorities can also be seen in their recent construction of a gallery for training on artistic work (Boland, 2013). In this room, adults and children converge to practice their painting and drawing skills. The authorities have also emphasized on increased interac tion and engagement between museum staff and visitors. Staffs are required to be knowledgeable about artwork and to carry out their duties diligently. Tourists and gallery visitors can therefore be assured of an educative experience. Conclusion The National Gallery of Victoria is a museum facility rich in cultural and artistic pieces of art. The museum has been instrumental in the promotion of arts education among art, culture lovers and tourists. Through its wide array of cultural and indigenous Australian art, the museum attracts a large number of tourists and locals every year. Its concentric structure accentuates its purpose as a cultural and heritage museum hence the large number of tourists. The museum contributes to tourist education and contemporary art development through a myriad of programs aimed at developing talent and art. The museums extensive display of aboriginal art also plays an important role in attracting art lovers who prefer cultural tourism because of its educative nature and intellectualism. The museum is thus an important source of visitor and tourist education on art issues as well as indigenous and contemporary cultural art. Bibliography Acker, T, 2008, ‘Aboriginal Art: It’s a Complicated Thing’, Artlink, 28 (3), Viewed 25 April 2013, Acker writes about the mystery and message of aboriginal art and its appeal to those who are curious. This article helps in clearly understanding the aspects of aboriginal art hitherto unexplored and reveals vital information on why the art is increasingly becoming popular. Australian Bureau of Statistics, 25 August 2006, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: Involvement in Arts and Culture, viewed 25 April 2013. This document contains statistical records from the ABS about the number of tourists and visitors that visited Australian attractions. It also characterizes the tourists by the attractions they visited and their popular sites. This document helps in understanding the current trend towards cultural/heritage sites by the number of tourists. Australian Council for the Arts, 2013, Cultural Tourism, Viewed 25 April 2013, This is a summary report by the Australian council on the number of tourists that visited Australian art and culture centers courtesy of a study by Tourism Research Australia. The report provides a simple and concise analysis of art and culture tourism from a statistical perspective. Boland, M, 16 January 2013 â€Å"National Gallery of Victoria Rolls out the Welcome Mat†, Arts, viewed 25 April 2013, Boland outlines the recent changes occurring in the National Gallery of Victoria and their possible impact on cultural tourism. The article gives the audience a glimpse of the efforts by the gallery to improve their tourist facilities as well as boost their service delivery. Corsane, G, 2005, Heritage, museums and galleries: an introductory reader. London, Routledge. This book reviews the importance of cultural attractions, their characteristics and the reasons why they attract many visitors. It also outlines the possible improvements to these attractions. This book is important in studying cultural tourism. It provides a general overview of the basic aspects of heritage sites and galleries important for this study. Douglas, N, Douglas, N., Derrett, R., 2001, Special interest tourism: context and cases. Brisbane, John Wiley Sons Australia. Douglas et al. provide specific examples of heritage sites and the challenges they face. Their book is important in comparison and in examining the intricate details of cultural tourism from a realistic perspective. It provides this research with an array of information on cultural sites. Finley, C., 2008, Aboriginal art of Australia: exploring cultural traditions, London, Lerner. Finley looks at the aboriginal art of Australia and examines the details about the art and the interesting factors in the culture. His book contains a lot of information on aboriginal art that has been incorporated into this study. Foo, L. M. and Rossetto A, 1998, Cultural tourism in Australia characteristics and motivations, Canberra, Bureau of Tourism Research. Rossetto and Foo examine cultural tourism especially the trends and information about Australia. Considering this research’s focus on cultural tourism, the book enables a clear understanding of this concept and provides vital information on heritage attractions. Gartner, W C, Lime, D W, 2000, Trends in outdoor recreation, leisure, and tourism, Wallingford, Oxon, UK, CABI Pub. Gartner and Lime identify the changing trends in tourism and leisure attractions. This book is important for this study as it analyzes the growing popularity of cultural heritage sites in recent times and provides reasons for that trend. Hossain, A, Carter, P, Heaney, L, 2005, Cultural tourism in regions of Australia, Canberra, Bureau of Tourism Research. Hossain, Carter and Heaney carry out a study on cultural tourism in Australia. Their study identifies several emerging aspects of tourism and reveals the tendency of tourists and locals to cultural attractions. Their study provides additional information on the status of cultural tourism in Australia. Ivanovic, M, 2008, Cultural tourism, Cape Town, South Africa, Juta. This book focuses on cultural tourism. The trends, the positives and the negatives. It provides different perspectives of cultural tourism and a host of other information drawn from all over the world. Kay, P, â€Å"Determinants of Cultural Event Tourist Motivation†, Victoria University, 2007. This paper analyzes the factors that motivate tourist into visiting cultural attractions. It provides insight into some of the factors that have motivated the influx of both domestic and foreign tourists to local heritage sites. Melbourne, n.d., National Gallery of Victoria, Viewed 25 April 2013, This website provides information on Melbourne and its heritage sites as well as other locations. It provides a lot of important information on the National Gallery of Victoria and its surroundings. National Gallery Of Victoria, Ryan, J., 2002, Indigenous Australian art in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, National Gallery of Victoria. This publication focuses on the kinds of aboriginal art present in the NGV; it helped this research in validating the real existence of aboriginal art in the NGV. It provided important information on NGV’s indigenous art collections. National Gallery of Victoria, 2013, People Projects, Viewed 25 April 2013, NGV’s website contains a lot of information on its management structure and collaborators as well as funding. This webpage provided information on the management structure as used in this research. Richards, G, Munsters, W, (2010). Cultural tourism research methods. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, U.K., CAB International. This book though primarily based on research methods contains some valuable information on cultural tourism. Its information on the factors motivating cultural tourism was important for this research, Richards, G, 2007, Cultural tourism: global and local perspectives, New York, Haworth Hospitality Press. Richards explores the issue of cultural tourism from the American and international perspective. He focuses on the growth of this kind of tourism especially in particular parts of Europe such as Australia. The information on Australia was a valuable addition to the ones available. Timothy, D, J, 2011, Cultural heritage and tourism: an introduction, Bristol, Channel View Publications. Timothy examines cultural tourism issues, various aspects and practices. The information contained in this book was of vital importance especially in the analyses of the NGV’s cultural art promotion.

Should You Believe Every Word in an Infomercial

Should You Believe Every Word in an Infomercial Never Believe Everything You’re Told on Television One Should Be Always Skeptical Nineteenth-century humorist Stephen Leacock once said that advertising is â€Å"the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it.† In a society in which advertising – lies, basically – is the standard, it’s a shame that Americans are still so impervious to the deception they face every single day in print and digital advertising, billboards – and especially infomercials. These advertising films bearing lie after lie after lie serve to promote a product in an informative and supposedly objective style. But it’s possibly the most subjective thing a person hears all day, and the everyday person – well, a â€Å"consumer† in this case – should not believe every word (or even most of what they are being told) in an infomercial. To begin with, one should always be skeptical of what an infomercial tells them because the video is fundamentally an advertisement – and advertisements generally lie, or at least embellish. Advertisements exploit the emotions of the viewer, the potential buyer, into thinking the product being promoted is the best thing ever made, an item that will make their lives better longer, solve all their problems and heal their illnesses; the be-all, end-all item – the product everyone will be soon be buying! In other words, it’s one big lie. Now, of course, some infomercials will tell fewer lies than others, and some of them may actually serve to truly help people. Nonetheless, advertisements generally always embellish in some way or another, so they should never be trusted entirely. One should generally be skeptical of what an infomercial tells them, regardless of how great and perfect and awesome it sounds because they cannot test the product – most of the time – before purchasing it. The infomercial generally tells them to â€Å"buy now and save 25 percent off the whole price,† so they impulsively buy the item before considering its value and credibility – to see if it works, basically. The buyer has no way of knowing this if all they have to go by is the infomercial itself. They could be thinking they are buying a one-of-a-kind pair of sunglasses that protects them from ultraviolet sun rays, that cannot break or scratch. But they don’t know this is the case – not until they purchase them and see for themselves. The infomercial will make tons of promises validating what they are saying, but the consumer could never know for sure. This is one major reason a person should never believe every word of an infomercial: They have no way of telling if what they are being told about the product is true or not. They have to just rely on what the seasoned, greedy businessman is telling them; and that is never a smart way to make a purchase. Infomercials Are Never Objective A person at home should never entirely trust what an infomercial tells them for another very important reason: if the item is as good as the infomercial says, the potential buyer will likely have already heard about it from another person – through word-of-mouth marketing, perhaps the oldest form of advertising in the world. If something works and people like it – consider the car, the Internet, Netflix, Apple computers, coffee, writing pens, almost anything – they will tell other people about it, and others will purchase the item, too. People believe friends and family members, and they are generally distrusting of salesmen. But, unfortunately, infomercials cater mostly to gullible, elderly women sitting at home, with nothing but a phone and credit card in their hand. They will believe anything. In conclusion, infomercials should rarely be trusted in entirety; one should never believe all they are told in a video advertisement. One should never trust every word in any advertisement, either. Because they are not objective, because they can easily lie about a product’s value and workability, and because word-of-mouth advertising is always the best source of truth, the words of infomercials should not be believed – only looked at with utter skepticism. Not all advertisements are lies, of course, though many do embellish a product’s usefulness in order to convince the customer to buy this product. Once again, Stephen Leacock knew exactly what he was talking about when he postulated that advertising is nothing more than tricking people into taking their money. But it’s the way it is, perhaps the way it will always be; but people should still, nonetheless, be skeptical. One should never believe everything they are told.