Monday, September 30, 2019

Deming Concept

W. Edwards Deming was considered to be way ahead of his time. His philosophical ideas were also considered radical in the United States during the 1950’s, but were quickly adopted by Japan. He developed what later became known as Deming’s 14 points, that would later launch the Total Quality Management Movement in the United States, which were not actually accepted until the 1980’s. One of his philosophies that I found interesting was Point #5: â€Å"Improve constantly and forever the system of production and service, to improve quality and productivity, and thus constantly decrease costs. This philosophy was foreign in the 1950’s, where managers’ philosophy was focused more on power and control. Deming’s concept leaned more towards a teacher/student relationship, instead of the power and control focus of his time. Humans are very resistant to change however, and that is why I feel this is an important concept that some companies still strugg le with today. My employer for example, Lowe’s Distribution Center, has some managers that don’t like to change processes because â€Å"it is the way they like it to be done†. Deming’s philosophy involved a new focus, which involved management to constantly be looking for improvements that can be made in both their processes, and technology that would reduce cost. Our computer system that controls every function in our facility is about 22 years old, and is outdated to the point where it has employees repeat steps to convince the computer system the task has been completed. Inefficient methods lead to higher cost. Higher costs in turn seem to add to our society’s need for power and control, resulting in increased pressure on team members to make up for the inefficiencies of the system. At this point, team members than reduce quality to meet increased expectations, resulting in decreased customer satisfaction. The long-term result involves lower profit margin and decreased sales, which all could have been avoided if Deming’s points were followed in the first place, by replacing or updating the equipment. Deming’s philosophy also referred to the service industry. If improvements were made to meet the expectations of customers, than overall costs would be decreased. This is commonly still seen today with new technology being put on the market, only to be recalled later when it is tested and announced to be â€Å"unsafe. For example, the recall of the Toyota model Prius, which was found to have quality issues with the clips that hold the floor mats in place. If the clips came loose, the mats could slide and hold down the accelerator, which risked causing an accident. This recall was estimated to cost Toyota around two billion dollars, as well as a loss o f $100,000 in sales in both the U. S. and Europe. Imagine if Toyota had invested more in the quality side of producing the clips, and the savings that would have came with it. Deming’s philosophies triggered the Total Quality Management movement in the 1980’s. Beforehand, factories focused solely on productions numbers, without even taking quality into consideration. I can see why Deming’s ideas weren’t accepted at first, if you think back to how things probably were in the 1950’s. Not to mention the increased costs that comes with higher quality. For example, a shoe factory probably only had two options for shoes, black or white. Now we have a large selection of brands to choose from, each representing a different level of quality. With the focus now being on quality, businesses can provide a higher level of customer satisfaction, bringing different levels of quality to meet their customer’s budget, as well as expectations. Having strict levels of quality guidelines in the service industry, especially in fast food, customers are more reassured that they are consuming food that is safe, and has met requirements set by health inspectors. Deming’s philosophies have also made our business processes more efficient. Businesses today focus on the future, and predict possible changes they would need to adopt to survive. Technology is constantly changing, and is also bringing a higher level of quality to both manufacturing and service industries. In conclusion, I think Deming’s philosophies are vital today to businesses survival. For a business to get ahead of the competition, they need to not only be efficient, but also possess a certain level of accepted quality by consumers. Quality continues to improve as new technology emerges on the market, and processes are continually evaluated. Any business would benefit by following Deming’s 14 points.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Technology In Our Daily Lives

Technology is increasingly dominate the lives of human race for the last hundred years. We are becoming more dependent on it in many regards. It is very useful in assisting us on doing household works, education and transports. Despite it’s peaceful use the advancement of technology is still a subject of much controversy. Many argue that the production or consumption of it can be very undesirable for the society. It’s because new kind of weapon develop as new technology advance. Besides, new type of crime also can occur. The dropping of two atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki pictured modern technology as a threat to humanity.Our modern technology is also seen as something that can wipe out lives in a blink of an eye especially when we are talking about weaponry. Since the end of the First World War humanity has raced to develop weapons of mass destruction. During the Cold War, the American and Soviet Union had enough nuclear stockpiles to annihilate the human race. They both are trying to dismantle as much as they can since the Cold War ended long ago. But people are still fear the danger of nuclear terrorism. It’s when nuclear weapons fall to the hand of terrorist.The movie â€Å"Sum Of All Fears† dramatizes things that could happen when terrorists have a control over nuclear weapon. New type of crime also taking place as our technology advance. Cyberbullying can be one of the examples. It’s the use of information technology to harm or harass other people in a deliberate, repeated and hostile manner. It’s a very serious offence in some countries like in the United States, United Kingdom and many other developed nations. Other than that, new type of scams like voice pitching also occur as the way we communicate change because of advancement in communication technology.However, many also argue that the improvement of our technology improve health care services in many ways. In the last 50 years, doctors and scientist s have developed many new approaches and cures for deadly and contagious diseases like Tubercolosis. Also, doctors now able to detect symptoms of diseases earlier before it can cause harm to the patient. Now, surgeons also able to perform a surgery without physically present in the surgical room. This thing can happens because the help of our modernization of our communication technology and modern computer.Nevertheless, technology is also an engine of prosperity. It gives benefits to our economy as new machineries able to produce more variety of goods and provide better services. Economy able to satisfy the increasing needs and wants of the society as new technology enable producer to process things quicker. At home, machineries also assist us in finishing many of our household works. Now, working mother able to cook dishes without having to cook it by themselves. They can use their smartphone application to get it done for them.It affects educational field in many terms at the sam e time. Schools and universities able to provide better service by confronting students with up to date information from the internet. The invention of new software like Turnitin helps lecturers to prevent their students from plagiarize someone’s work. In conclusion, technology is very beneficial for the live of human race. It’s offers us a better medical care as its prolonged our life span. Besides, it’s also serve as an engine of prosperity as it can satisfy our needs and wants better and also it increases human well being.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

British Airways

Airways (BA) is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. It is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations and second largest measured by passengers carried, behind easyJet. The British Airways Board was established in 1971 to control the two nationalised airline corporations, BOAC and BEA, and two smaller, regional airlines, Cambrian Airways, from Cardiff, and Northeast Airlines, from Newcastle upon Tyne. On 31 March 1974, all four companies were merged to form British Airways. After almost 13 years as a state company, that was sold in February 1987 as part of a privatisation plan by the Conservative Government. The carrier soon expanded with the acquisition of British Caledonian in 1987 and Dan-Air, Gatwick-based carrier, in 1992. A long-time Boeing customer, British Airways ordered 59 Airbus A320 family aircraft in August 1998. In 2007, it purchased 12 Airbus A380s and 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, marking the start of its long-haul fleet replacement. The centrepiece of the airlines long-haul fleet is the Boeing 747-400; with 55 examples in the fleet, British Airways is the largest operator of this type in the world. British Airways is a founding member of the Oneworld airline alliance, along with American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and the now defunct Canadian Airlines. The alliance has since grown to become the third largest, after SkyTeam and Star Alliance. British Airways parent company, International Airlines Group, is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the FTSE 100 Index. On 12 November 2009, British Airways confirmed that it had reached a preliminary agreement to merge with Iberia. On 14 July 2010, the European Commission approved the merger under competition law, also allowing American Airlines to co-operate with the merged entity on transatlantic routes to the United States. The merger was completed on 21 January 2011, formally creating the International Airlines Group, IAG, the worlds third-largest airline in terms of annual revenue and the second largest airline group in Europe. In 2012, IAG purchased British Midland International (BMI) and announced plans to open a new subsidiary based at London City Airport operating Airbus A318s. [4] British Airways was the airline partner of the London 2012 Olympic Games. On 18 May 2012 it flew the Olympic flame from Athens International Airport to RNAS Culdrose while carrying various dignitaries including Lord Sebastian Coe, Princess Anne, Olympics minister Hugh Robertson and London Mayor Boris Johnson, together with footballer David Beckham. History [edit] Main article: History of British Airways A Boeing 747-100 in BOAC-British Airways transition livery. British Airways (BA) was created in 1974, when the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) and British European Airways Corporation (BEA) were combined under the newly formed British Airways Board. [5] Following two years of fierce competition with British Caledonian, the second-largest airline in Britain at the time, the Government changed its aviation policy in 1976 so the two carriers no longer would compete on long-haul routes. [6] British Airways and Air France operated the supersonic airliner Aerospatiale-BAC Concorde; the worlds first supersonic passenger service first flew in January 1976 from London Heathrow to Bahrain. 7] Services to the US were inaugurated to Washington Dulles airport on 24 May 1976; flights to New York JFK airport started on 22 September 1977. A service to Singapore was also operated in co-operation with Singapore Airlines, as a continuation of the flight to Bahrain. [5] Following the Air France Concorde crash in Paris and a slump in air travel following the 11 September attacks in New York in 2001, it was decided to cease Concorde operations in 2003, after 27 years of service. The final commercial Concorde flight was BA002 from New York JFK to London Heathrow on 24 October 2003. 8] A British Airways Hawker Siddeley Trident in transitional scheme with BEA livery but with British Airways titles. In 1981, the airline was instructed to prepare for privatisation by the Conservative government. Sir John King, later Lord King, was appointed Chairman, charged with bringing the airline back into profitability. King was credited with transforming the loss-making giant into one of the most profitable air carriers in the world, while many other large airlines struggled. 9] The flag carrier was privatised and was floated on the London Stock Exchange in February 1987. [10] In July 1987, British Airways effected the takeover of Britains second airline, British Caledonian. [11] The formation of Richard Bransons Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1984 created a strong competitor for BA. In 1993, the intense rivalry between British Airways and Virgin Atlantic culminated in the former being sued for libel arising from claims and counter claims over a dirty tricks campaign by BA against Virgin. British Airways campaign against Virgin included poaching Virgin Atlantic customers, tampering with private files belonging to Virgin and PR undermining the reputation in the City. Following a libel case, British Airways agreed to pay ? 110,000 damages to Virgin (and ? 500,000 to Branson) and ? 3 million legal costs causing BA management to apologise unreservedly for the alleged dirty tricks campaign. An action filed in the US in 1993 by Virgin against BA over domination of the trans-Atlantic routes was thrown out in 1999. 12] Six months after the dirty tricks campaign, Lord King stepped down as chairman in 1993 and was replaced by former deputy, Colin Marshall, while Robert Ayling took over as CEO. [13] British Airways first Concorde at Heathrow Airport on 15 January 1976. In 1992, British Airways expanded through the acquisition of the financially troubled Dan-Air, giving BA a much larger presence at Gatwick airport. In March 1993, British Asia Airways, a subsidiary based in Taiwan , was formed to operate between London and Taipei. Additionally in 1993, BA purchased a 25% stake in Australian airline Qantas in March, and acquired Brymon Airways in May to form BA Connect. [13] In September 1998, British Airways, along with American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and Canadian Airlines, formed the Oneworld airline alliance. Oneworld began operations on 1 February 1999, it is one of the largest airline alliances in the world, behind only SkyTeam and Star Alliance. [11] Benefits under CEO Robert Aylings leadership included cost savings of ? 750m and the establishment of Go Fly in 1998. 14] However, one year on, in 1999, British Airways reported an 84 percent drop in profits, its worst for seven years. [15] In March 2000, Robert Ayling was removed from his position and British Airways announced Rod Eddington as his successor; Eddington would make further workforce cuts due to reduced demand following the 11 September attacks in 2001. [8] In September 2004, BA announced the sale of its Qantas stake. [16] In September 2005, Willie Walsh, former Aer Lingus pilot and Managing Director, became the Chief Executive Officer of the company. 17] In January 2008, BA unveiled its new subsidiary OpenSkies which takes advantage of the liberalisation of transatlantic traffic rights between Europe and the United States. As of 2008, OpenSkies flies non-stop from Paris to New York and Washington D. C. [18] British Airways and Iberia merged in January 2011, forming the International Airlines Group, one of the worlds largest airlines On 30 July 2008, British Airways and Iberia, a Spanish fellow Oneworld partner, announced a merger plan; the two airlines would retain their original brands, similar to KLM and Air France in their merger agreement. 19] An agreement to merge was confirmed in April 2010. [20] In July 2010, the European Commission and US Department of Transport permitted the merger and to co-ordinate transatlantic routes with American Airlines. [21][22] On 6 October 2010, the alliance between British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia formally began operations; the alliance generates an estimated ? 230 million annual cost-saving for BA, in addition to ? 330 million by the Iberia merge. [23][24] British Airways ceased trading on the London Stock Exchange on 21 January 2011, after 23 years as a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. 25] On 21 January 2011, British Airways and Iberia merged, resulting in the worlds third-largest airline in terms of annual revenue and the second largest airline group in Europe. [20][26] Prior to merging, British Airways owned a 13. 5% stake in Iberia, thus it received ownership of 55% of the combined International Airlines Group, Iberias other shareholders received the remaining 45%. [27] In September 2010, Willie Walsh, the CEO of IAG, announced that IAG is looking at other airlines; and that a shortlist of twelve possible acquisitions existed. 28] In early November 2011, IAG announced an agreement in principle to purchase British Midland International from Lufthansa. [29] Fleet [edit] British Airways 747-400 and 777 aircraft at London Heathrow Terminal 5 With the exception of the Boeing 707 and early Boeing 747 variants from BOAC, the airline as formed in 1972-4 inherited a mainly UK-built fleet of aircraft. The airline introduced the Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 into the fleet in the 1980s, followed by the Boeing 747–400 (British Airways is the largest operator with 57), Boeing 767 and Boeing 777 in the 1990s. 11][13] Boeing-built aircraft for British Airways are allocated the customer code 36, which appears in their aircraft designation as a suffix, such as 737–436, 747–436 and 777–236. [80] Although British Airways utilises a large Boeing fleet, it has always operated aircraft from other manufacturers. [81] British built aircraft were transferred from BEA (e. g. Trident) and BOAC (e. g. VC10), and in the 1980s the airline operated the Lockheed L-1011. [82] It also operated the DC-10 and Airbus A320-100 through the acquisition of British Caledonian Airways in the 1980s. In August 1998, British Airways placed its first direct Airbus order, for 59 A320/A319s, to replace its own ageing fleet of Boeing 737s and A320-100s. [83] British Airways replaced the L-1011 and DC-10 tri-jet fleet with more fuel-efficient, twinjet, Boeing 767 and 777 aircraft in the 1990s. In September 2007, BA placed its first order for long-haul Airbus jets, consisting of 12 firm orders for Airbus A380s and seven options. [84] The Boeing 757 was withdrawn from British Airways service in late 2010. 85] British Airways will take delivery of its first Airbus A380 in July 2013 and have three in service by the end of the year. [86] It will begin regular services to Los Angeles on 15 October 2013, followed by Hong Kong from 15 November 2013. [87] The combined International Airlines Group entity, that BA is now a part of, operates over 400 aircraft, carries over 62 million passengers annually, and serves more than 200 destinations. [20] As of May 2013 the British Airways fleet includes the following aircraft.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Managing Activities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing Activities - Essay Example Since the team will be working hand in hand with the consumer, then there will be a need for autonomy in work. The divisional head will only be consulted in adverse cases as most of the decisions will be made on sub-divisional levels. However, the divisional head must make sure that all the respective team members perform their tasks. (Eade, 2003) The first issue that will need to be addressed upon creation of the new Division is identification of the product. In this case, the product will be digitalising traditional broadcast methods within the company. The major item in the agenda is transmittance of live shows. Currently, there is a high demand for live reality shows in a variety of media outlets. In order to stay competitive, the company needs to take control of these live media events. Consequently, the company will have to incorporate IT solutions in order to make the transmission process much faster and also to enhance the consumer’s viewing experiences. This will be possible by transmittance of digitally compressed episodes into KYB’s archive centre. This will go a long way in enhancing management of content because it allows the company to improve its live broadcast. At the same time, the company will be providing some of the most valuable information to its employees with regard to the nature of the p rograms on offer. The essence of the program will be to create a digital video storage system for the company. The following objectives will be achieved through this service The latter objectives will be achieved through one of the Digital Video Broadcasting technologies available today. It should be noted that the traditional methods used by KYB will not be undermined or forgotten in this process. As a matter of fact, the service will be demonstrating how traditional broadcasting methods can be merged with modern methods. (Deren and Ward, 2001) This will be implemented through team work amongst stakeholders in the project

Thursday, September 26, 2019

HISTORY - choose 1 of the questions to answer Essay - 7

HISTORY - choose 1 of the questions to answer - Essay Example It also fired a round lead ball. The efficient range of the smoothbore musket was only 200 yards (Adams 1). The Mississippi Rifle, on the other hand, which fielded simply to an extremely limited extent, is considered as one of the first army rifles. The rifle incorporated rifling, and was noticeably more precise than the smoothbore musket, but its main difficulty was that it fired a round orb making it hard to reload and not as precise as the future Minie Ball (Adams 1). The American Civil War led to the death of numerous traditional styles of warfare, the performance of new weapons, and the start of new creations. It also confirmed how unarmed inventions like rail, steam, as well as the telegraph, could renew the way war was fought. As weapons become more successful, warfare became harsher than in the past. Military conditions were in frequent instability during the mechanized age as fresh weapons were developed and communication, as well as transportation, improved. Fresh technology made it feasible to produce a lot of weapons with improved power, precision and range. New inventions comprised of the percussion cap, breech-loading, cylindro-conodial bullet, metal cartridges, machine guns, magazine-fed small arms, smokeless powder and the TNT explosives with timers. Mass production of firearms, during the American Civil War, contributed to more dependence of technological weapons than normal weapons (Adams 1). Army Generals, in both sides, failed to adapt quickly to this change as they were acquainted to the old weapons making it hard for them to change immediately (Adams 1). When the soldiers used the musket, they only aimed in the path of the opponent and fired volleys. The soldiers were acquainted to the musket, which was extremely inaccurate that they were taught to aim just to the general direction of the opponent. The suggestion of the volley was to gather as much ground towards the opponent as possible. It was, therefore, hard for the soldiers to

Revise the paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Revise the paper - Essay Example This paper focuses on Bird’s article â€Å"College is a Waste of Time and Money†, the paper analyses and critiques the arguments that Bird offers in support of her view that college education is a sheer waste of time and money for the majority of people. The paper concludes with a recommendation on what need to be done so as to improve college education. The main theses of Bird in her critical view of college education is that college education is not good for many young people, and many young people go to college not because they want to learn or they see any value in college education, but, they go to school for some other reasons. Bird claims that many young people go to college because of reasons that are not relevant to the actual meaning of education. For instance, Bird claims that many young people go to college simply because going to college has become the conventional thing to do after completing high school; Bird also claims that some other young people go to college because they do not want to work, so that they can get the financial support of their parents or taxpayers. Caroline Bird goes on to argue that since many students do not go to school willingly and they do not see any sense of college education, many of college students are sad and sullen throughout their college lives; the students feel unwanted and they fee l that they have been damped in college to stay there temporarily because the world had no place for them. Consequently, Bird concludes that college education is a sheer waste of time and many. A critical review of Bird’s argument on this issue, however, reveals some logical fallacies that Bird committed in supporting her theses. Before we expose the two logical fallacies in Bird’s argument in support of her theses, let us explain the main strength of Bird’s argument. The main strength of Bird’s argument

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

SMC Orchestra Concerto Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

SMC Orchestra Concerto - Essay Example The first piece was Overture to â€Å"Don Giovanni,† K.257 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with the conductor of the piece being Fang-Ning Lim. The piece authored by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in 1787 consisted of ten instruments each connected to the other. In the first part, the conductor introduced the andante with the flute 1 being the instrument of choice with the part ending in C major with a flute 2. Conversely, the second pair of instruments used in part was oboes, with oboe one starting in the andante while oboe 2 ended in D major. After the oboes, the clarinets started with the first clarinet in A major starting whereby the oboe 2 ended. Thereafter, the second clarinet took over in F major. Other instruments used in the piece were two bassoons, horns, violins, trumpets, horns, timpani, violas, cellos and basses. Importantly, slow movements all through marked this andante and the entire piece and by the end of the piece, I had a feeling that the show had just started. After the first piece, the second piece introduced by James Martin was Keyboard Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1052 by Johan Sebastian Bach. James Martin told us that Johan composed the piece in 1734. Importantly, the piece included three movements, which are allegro, adagio, and then back to allegro with the piano as the instrument of choice in this piece, which was played by Yuko Terashima playing the instrument. This movement is marked by a tempo that is faster than the tempo in the first piece. In effect, the tempo made the place and the hall livelier, and it was evident that those attending the concert were beginning to appreciate the show as I was doing. After the first movement, an adagio followed the allegro and the tempo became more leisurely. In effect, I experienced a relaxed feeling and I appreciated the good music playing all along. The conductor, Fang-Ning Lim introduced the third piece as the Double Concerto, which is played in E Major and was composed by Max Bruch in 1734. April Sh ih played the violin while Douglas Rezende was playing the viola. With these two instruments, I expected the tempo to be relaxing and slow since the movement of this piece was moderato. I realized that the tempo progressively rose with the shape of the volume increasing in a crescendo. I I felt calm as this piece played while I was also filled with enthusiasm and anticipation at the same time. After the piece was over, the next piece followed since the conductor was the same although the violin was the only instrument used. In this case, the piece was Concerto in G Minor composed by Max Bruch with Lim telling the audience that the piece was composed between 1739 and 1738. Paul Lee played the only instrument in this movement, which was the violin with the movement being in andante allegro. In this case, the violin played in a slow tempo at the beginning and ended in a tempo that were fast and energetic. I realized that many people who had attended the concert were singing in apprecia tion as the movement progressed to a fast tempo. The fourth piece was the Concerto in D Minor, K.466 composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1785 as Lim told the audience. In this piece, Aidan Short played the piano in the movement that was an allegro. The movement

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Developing a Lens Claim Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Developing a Lens Claim - Essay Example 410), a venue where the Chinese people can integrate their culture to a language fundamentally foreign to theirs, but nevertheless necessary for survival in a very dynamic world, and global village. Like that of soccer hating (Foer, p. 412), Chinglish hating is also triggered by specific and special events. Though the Chinese government has been promoting for the eradication of Chinglish from everyday conversation, its effort during the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai was its biggest and most comprehensive effort. Lastly, just like in soccer, globalization will continually provide the "subtext" (Foer, p. 413) for the Chinese cultural split. However, if it appears that Chinglish can lessen the negative impact of such cultural divide, then letting it be could be the best course of action. Jacobs, A. (2010, May 2). Shanghai Is Trying to Untangle the Mangled English of Chinglish. New York Times. Accessed on October 5, 2010, Available at http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/05/03/world/asia/20100503_CHINGLISH.html.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Busines economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Busines economics - Essay Example Primarily among these tool is the GDP. It refers to the net market value of the goods and services provided by a country. It can also be used to assess the standard of living of citizens in that country and can be used to gauge the demand and the buying capacity of individuals during that financial year. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the UK shrunk 0.60% during the latter half of the financial year in 2010. It has been calculated that United Kingdom’s average quarterly growth rate was 0.59% which climbed the charts steadily to 5.30% and also witnessed a record low of -2.5%. (United Kingdom GDP Growth Rate, 2011) The UK as a robust economy has its GDP usually boosted by the strong performance of the banking and insurance services. The manufacturing industry meanwhile faced a recession and the key to overcoming this problem lies in more government involvement while at the same time continuing its social welfare initiatives. One of the most current statistics that have been obtained indicated the following Country Interest Rate Growth Rate Inflation Rate Jobless rate Government Budget Exchange Rate UK 0.50% -0.60% 4.00% 8.00% -11.40% 1.62 (United Kingdom GDP Growth Rate, 2011) However when compared to 2009 there has however been a slight improvement of 1.5% GDP in the last quarter of 2010. The manufacturing experienced a slight boost in the latter half of 2010 climbing by 1.1% and the utility production also grew by 4.6%. The mining sector experienced a slight meltdown falling by 4.5%. The construction industry was also severely hit as several major construction projects were put on hold due the banking crisis that arose in 2009-2010. It fell by 2.5 %. Other sectors that experienced a drop were the business services and the transport sector at 1.1% and 1.4% respectively. (United Kingdom GDP Growth Rate, 2011) The German economy on the other hand fared better compared to its counterpart. The GDP increased by 0.40% in the latter half of 2010 compared to 2009. It also had its share of ups and downs with its average GDP growth at 0.29%. This reached a peak of 2.30% in June 2010 and a nadir of 3.50% in March 2009. (Germany GDP Growth Rate, 2011) Export forms the backbone of German economy and accounts for almost one third of its income. Germany has performed better than UK during this taxing period as shown by the market indicators and its strong commitment in engaging to closer European cooperation between member countries in both economic and commercial policies is reaping benefits. Country Interest Rate Growth Rate Inflation Rate Jobless rate Government Budget Exchange Rate UK 1.00% 0.40% 2.00% 7.40% -3.00% 1.42 (Germany GDP Growth Rate, 2011) Comparing both the Macroeconomic performance of UK with its European counterparts over the past ten years, one finds that its performance of attaining an annual GDP growth of 2.3% places it third behind US and Canada. However rising levels of both private sector debt and public sector debt ha ve held back the government in providing sufficient fiscal stimulus to the manufacturing and industrial sector. Trade, an area where Germany has made rapid progress also has declined in the context of the UK market. (BIS Economic Paper No.9, 2010) Business investment has also taken a backseat in UK. Post 2000, survey estimates indicate that UK is ranked behind

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The Definition of Success Essay Example for Free

The Definition of Success Essay Success The American Dream is a large house, a speedy car, and financial freedom. For some, it includes a boat, a RV, and a cottage by the lake. However, another definition of success doesn’t list any of these. Success does not have anything to do with material goods but is rather tied to broader concepts. One measure of success is how happy a person is. For some people, they might feel their happiest when they have luxurious items. However, this is not universally true and is consequently not a true measure of success. Happiness for most people is a happy and loving family. If this is someone’s definition of success, then their family is what defines their success. For some, this success might mean trying new things and a lifestyle that supports it. Success is tied in with happiness because they are both highly subjective. Health can also be considered a defining factor in success. People feel unsuccessful if they, or someone they love, are not healthy. For instance, can father feel successful if his child is ill? This is why doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and hospitals are so important. Not only do they allow people to live longer, but they also allow people to feel successful in their life. Finally, success can mean overcoming hardships. No one likes hard and rough times with tears and pain. Someone who has come through the pain often feels like he or she has accomplished something. An individual that has overcome an obstacle achieves a measure of success. As David Brinkley has stated, a man can be proud if he has laid â€Å"a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.† The most valuable lessons can come from failures. Like Dale Carnegie said, â€Å"Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.† And who could understand the meaning of success if they did not experience disappointment? Light would not exist without darkness and success would not be truly achieved without failure. But we all hope that this failure is only temporary. People want to achieve success and make plans to reach it. However, with a  narrow interpretation of success, many people have no chance of finding it. They will continue to find themselves going the wrong way, missing out on opportunities, and happy moments along the way.

Friday, September 20, 2019

My Favourite Car

My Favourite Car My favourite car If I had to choose a car I liked the most, I would definitely pick Cadillac Escalade. SUVs are my favourite cars in general, but no SUV is more stylish than the Cadillac Escalade. Even though it has all of the roomy features that make SUVs a popular choice for families, its design, chrome trim and wheels and overall style make it attractive to the youth as well. The design elements of the Cadillac Escalade are all made with style in mind. The mirrors are angled and blend into the curves of the vehicle. The windshield angle flows into the roof line seamlessly. The tall headlights have standard High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting with an option to add the â€Å"IntelliBeam† system, which automatically adjusts the brightness of the headlight beams. The Cadillac Escalade comes standard with 18 inch wheels, but also has the option to add 22 inch chrome wheels to the vehicle. The interior of the vehicle continues the theme of comfort combined with a highly stylized design. The dashboard and consoles are made of high quality vinyl, with instrument panel displays located in perfect vision lines for the driver. Seams for the assembly of the dashboard are constructed tightly and barely visible. The true beauty of the Cadillac Escalade, however, comes in its power. It features a standard 6.2 litre V-8 engine that allows for quick acceleration. Traction control, four wheel drive and four wheel disc brakes allow for a comfortable and powerful driving experience. The Cadillac Escalade is well equipped to handle driving off road but versatile enough to be an effective city driving vehicle as well. The Cadillac Escalade is also versatile in its capacity. A third row seat allows the vehicle to transport up to seven passengers. The seat is also removable, maximizing the vehicles cargo space. The Cadillac Escalade has also earned a four star safety rating from the U.S. government. Safety features include anti-lock brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, stability control, rear parking sensors, a rear view camera and a blind spot warning system. The Cadillac Escalade is superior to other SUVs because it combines all of the practicality of a traditional SUV with the style of a luxury car.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Sir. Baldric and The Evil Threshmit :: essays research papers

Sir. Baldric and The Evil Threshmit   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was a frigid night at Rockland Palace. The wind blew hard, and howled out of the night, as the rain beat down on Sir. Morgan as he stood outside the castle walls. He had just returned with the news from King Crenshaw. Suddenly from the dark of the night came Threshmite, the great enemy of man. The description of the beast given by the churl , who stood witness to Sir Morgan's dismemberment, was that of a giant, man eating firs snorting, three headed savage warthog gargoyle. As the lightening flashed, and the thunder clapped, the it reared it's center head up, and gave a fell glare into the eyes of the helpless peasant, who was frozen in a horrified Position.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It took nearly five hours, and the help of the resident magician to get that out of him. He is as skittish as a hind , afraid to venture out of the castle walls, or even let down the drawbridge, for fear of becoming Threashmis' next meal. King Lenson grieved deeply over his departed friend. He then asked for volunteers to hunt down the scatheful beast. The reaction to his request was pathetic, not a man stood. It seemed as though King Lenson's valiant knights were nothing more than a flock of recreants. At last Sir. Baldric stepped forward, he had risen to the occasion, proving true to his troth. He was truly a stalwart knight.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Early the next morning Baldric awakened, in preparation for his endeavor. He dressed himself with care, methodically arranging his raiment. As he pulled his hauberk over his head, and sweeping shoulders the lady of the castle mad her way gently into the room. She helped him finish dressing, and when he went to leave the room she made a tryst between herself and Sir Baldric. They would meet in the church before he left. She softly kissed his cheek, and departed. He went to the arms room, and took down his sword from it's place on the wall. It shone bright in the morning bask. It was whet after every use and now ready for action. He saddled his horse, and went to go meet with lady Lenson in the church. He found her in the last pew, dolorous and weeping. She begged him not to go, so he pledged his mission in her honor. He was bound by heart, and soul to seek and destroy Threshmiter. The king sent him out on his way, and told Sir Baldric he would return victorious.

Syrian Civil War: Causation Essay example -- arab republic, ottoman rul

Middle East Project: Syrian Civil War: Causation After four hundred years of indecisive Ottoman rule, and three decades fighting the mandate of the French, the many diverse peoples of Syria finally could call Syria their own. Yet, independence was not synonymous with peace. Without a common enemy, the Syrian people remembered their differences and began to squabble amongst themselves. Even now, seven decades after the formation of the Syrian Arab Republic, peace is yet but a far-flung dream. In June of 2000, then-President Hafez al-Assad, of the previous Ba’ath Party, passed away and his title was left, through an unfortunate accident, in the hands of his second, less determined son, Bashar al-Assad. With his death came strife. Powerful clashing forces previously kept quashed by Ba’ath Party Rule began to emerge yet again, and Syria was plunged into conflict. The Syrian civil war crisis, commonly accepted to have begun with the rule of Bashar al-Assad, had roots in history extending past Hafez al Assad (Ba’ath Party Ruling) and, through a combination of external pressures, environmental and foreign, and internal inconsistency and weakness blossomed into the situation today. The Ba’ath Party, the name Arabic for â€Å"Renaissance† or â€Å"Resurrection† (Polk), was founded in 1947 by Michel Aflaq, a Syrian teacher whose views on nationalism gained him support from Arabs across the area (â€Å"Profile†). Quickly merging with other parties, the now-Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party became real competition to its opposition as its popularity surged among students of the nation. Historically, as Syrian people were (and are) extremely diverse, a wide range of opinions on nationalism and religion have been presented, each addressing a different aspect of ... ...LIO, 2014. Web. 5 Mar. 2014. "Urban and Rural Human Geography in Syria." News and Events: Point of View. Geography Services, n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2014. . Warner, Andy. "Syria’s First Family." Slate. SlateGroup, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2014. . Washington Post. "Syrian Civil War: A Rising Death Count." Washington Post. Washington Post, n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2014. . Zahler, Kathy. The Assads' Syria. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century, 2010. Print. Dictatorships. Zuhur, Sherifa. "Bashar al-Assad." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2014. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Essay --

Hypnosis Hypnosis is like guided daydreaming, a form of relaxed concentration. What is relaxed is first, the body and second, the conscious part of the mind. Hypnosis can be helpful at any age. Getting a good night's sleep, or conquering a phobia, are just two of the benefits you can bring to yourself with hypnosis, whereas other benefits include controlling pain, dealing with disease, positive idea about illness or serous diseases, reduction of medications, getting a good night’s sleep, overcoming guilt, resisting disturbing memories, improving relationships with family members and those around you are some of the benefits and positive uses of Hypnosis. Hypnosis has also been defined as a form of conditioning. A person learns, through direct experience or the media, how to behave 'hypnotized.' Another way to see hypnosis as something learned is to assert that a person becomes conditioned to a word stimulus such as "Relax." Once having allowed himself to relax, the client is thereafter conditioned to repeat the experience of relaxing upon hearing the stimulus-word. Yet another definition of hypnosis, one that has wide support among researchers, is that it is a form of dissociation. That is, that in some as yet unexplained way, the mental functioning of a person is compartmentalized and one part can be isolated from the others. The art and science of hypnosis is at once both old and new. Old, because it was used in ancient times and has a pedigree that stretches back to the beginning of mankind’s conscious development. New, because only over the past 100 years has it been subject to the full force of scientific scrutiny, after the discovery (re-discovery) that the unconscious mind, emotions and personal history directly affect ... ... 75-year-old who had no trouble sleeping at night but who found he could no longer enjoy his afternoon nap. At the root of his difficulty in letting himself sleep in the afternoons was a fear that he might never awaken. This was easily dealt with by providing Harold with an audiotape that put him into a pleasant state of hypnosis, with positive suggestions about enjoying a deep, refreshing sleep and awakening at the time he chose. Now Harold drifts off to sleep whenever he wants. Hypnotherapy is very effective in helping a senior who, many years ago, suffered sexual or other abuse. Even when the trauma has caused you decades of distress you can free yourself from its suffocating aftermath. This is done with the remarkable ability of hypnosis to, in a sense, rewrite your history. So you know the event happened, but you are no longer tormented by it. Bibliography

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Homeschooling vs. Public Schooling Essay

Homeschool and public school, which one is better for my child? What about the cost? Which educational setting will my child benefit the most from? These are questions that parents need to ask before making a decision such as this one. Also, parents need to know that both homeschool and public schools appeal to people of all race, religion, and political viewpoints (Romanowski, 2001). Whether a parent chooses to homeschool their child or send them to public school, is a decision that needs to be researched on the performance, cost, and their child’s life after school. First, when choosing which educational setting is best for their child, parents need to research students’ performance for both types of schooling. Studies have shown that children who are homeschooled score better on test than those who are in public school (Some Fascinating Facts, n.d.). Possible reasons being that the homeschooled child has more one-on-one time with the teacher, and they are able to spend as much time as they need to on the subjects that they are struggling with, if any. The time that is allowed for each part of the curriculum may be too fast or too slow for the child who is attending public school (Homeschooling vs. Public, n.d.). Children who go to public schools are able to participate in group discussions and debates (Homeschooling vs. Public, n.d.). Students are able to develop their social skills, and learn to interact with children their own age. Next, the cost can also affect whether the parent decides to homeschool or  send their child to public school. Depending on the choices that a parent makes and the supplies that are needed, homeschooling one child can cost from $300-$2500 per year (Mohr, 2012). According to the National Retail Federation in 2012, the average cost for a parent to send their child to public school was around $634 per year (Klein, 2013). Lastly, depending on which educational setting the parent chooses can affect the student’s life after school. Children who were homeschooled had a GPA of 3.41 their freshman year of college, compared to other students who had a 3.12 (Some Fascinating Facts, n.d.). Students in public schools may even discover that the lessons they learned outside the classroom, in extracurricular activities such as basketball or chess club, help them cope with future challenges in the workplace (I Have A, n.d.). Therefore, choosing to homeschool or send a child to public school is not a very easy decision for parents to make; much thought and research needs to be done on students’ performance, the cost of each, and what is in store for the student after graduating. Homeschoolers score better on tests than those in the public setting. Though, children who are homeschooled are not able to participate in group discussions or even class debates. Homeschooling, for one child, can cost anywhere from $300 to $2500 per year; parents who decide to send their child to public school pay on average $634 a year. Homeschooled children had a better GPA their freshman year of college than the students who graduated from public school. The students who attend a public school and also are involved in some type of extracurricular activity, are able to cope better with the challenges in the workplace. Whatever educational setting the parent decides is best for their child, they need to know that there ar e both benefits and disadvantages with each decision. References â€Å"Homeschooling vs. Public Schooling.† (n.d.). _Homeschooling Ideas._ Retreived on May 24, 2014 from http://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/homeschooling-vs-public-school.html. I Have A Plan Iowa â„ ¢. (n.d.). _- Article_. Retrieved June 6, 2014, from https://www.ihaveaplaniowa.gov/Home/Article.aspx?articleId=IGeYH2kUApurN7JfmoFVeQXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&level=3XAP2FPAX6J7I3kztATGuYyXAP2BPAXDahIQXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX. Klein, R. (August 20, 2013). â€Å"Back-To-School Shopping Costs: How Much Parents Should Expect To Spend This Year.† _Huffington Post._ Retrieved on May 24, 2014 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/back-to-school-shopping_n_3751079.html. Mohr, A. (August 27, 2012), â€Å"How To Start Homeschooling Your Kids.† _Investopedia._ Retrieved on May 24, 2014 from http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0812/how-to-start-homeschooling-your-kids.aspx. Romanowski, M. H. (2001). Undoing the ‘Us vs. Them’ of Public and Home Schooling. _Education Digest_, _66_(9), 41. â€Å"Some Fascinating Facts About Homeschool vs Public School.† (n.d). _Homeschool World_. Retrieved on 24 May 2014 from http://www.home-school.com/news/homeschool-vs-public-school.php.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Thorn Queen Chapter Eighteen

The village I'd passed earlier was called Marmant, and I had to get directions from Maiwenn's guards to make sure I didn't accidentally take some twisted Otherworldly path in my attempt to return. I rode there with troubled feelings, still replaying the events with Kiyo and trying to decide if our assorted arguments today had qualified as true fights. I soothed myself a little by reaching out and manipulating the air, creating gusts and eddies and attempting to see how big a blast I could make. At one point, I made a scrubby tree bend pretty far, but it tired me out. I had to practice more to sustain true gale-force winds, and lightning still remained out of my grasp. The people of Marmant greeted me with that same mix of fear and awe I had come to expect. Word of the changes being wrought in the land was getting around, so they were grateful and allowing themselves optimism at last. Yet, my fearsome reputation always lurked on the horizon, so they spoke gingerly around me, fearful of enraging the dangerous monarch who had forced this dangerous land upon them. â€Å"How is everything?† I asked, hoping I seemed concerned and nonthreatening. Rather than a mayor, this town had a council of five that made decisions, and they'd invited me inside for a private meeting. They were ordinary-looking men and women-still with that peasant feel so common in the Otherworld-but there was an air of competence around them. â€Å"You've got water and food now?† â€Å"Yes, your majesty,† said a middle-aged woman who seemed to be the speaker of the group. â€Å"Thank you, your majesty.† â€Å"Good. I'm sorry it's been so hard on you. Things should be better now.† There was a brief silence in the group, one heavy with unspoken meaning. I looked from face to face. â€Å"What?† â€Å"We don't want to trouble your majesty†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Trouble away. It's what I'm here for.† This got another round of exchanged looks. It was still apparently an odd concept for these people. â€Å"Well,† began the woman, â€Å"near the outskirts of our town's boundaries, there have been some attacks.† â€Å"What kind?† â€Å"Bandits, your majesty.† â€Å"Son of a bitch,† I said. We'd known the group had moved, but they'd been quiet thus far, allowing me to hope I could take Kiyo up on his offer and deal with them before they caused more trouble. â€Å"We actually have many fighters and strong magic users,† she said with some pride. â€Å"But we could not stand against their monsters.† â€Å"You mean demons.† She gave a nervous nod. â€Å"Son of a bitch,† I said again. This had to be dealt with, and at this point, I really was willing to be a bastard and hold a gun to Jasmine's head. â€Å"Don't worry. They're going to be taken care of. Soon. Very soon.† The woman looked startled at the menacing tone in my voice, but her words were grateful. â€Å"Thank you, your majesty.† â€Å"Anything else I should know about?† This time, it was a man who spoke up. â€Å"We don't want to trouble you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I groaned. â€Å"Just tell me what it is.† â€Å"We heard your majesty has been seeking missing girls.† I straightened up. â€Å"Yes. What about it?† â€Å"One of ours disappeared two days ago. My neighbor's daughter, Markelle.† A small, wry smile crossed his lips. â€Å"She's a wild one, often wandering off where she shouldn't. But she hasn't come back†¦and she always does†¦.† I felt my fists clenching and forcibly relaxed them. I didn't need to scare these people any further. â€Å"Aside from the bandits, have you seen anyone else lurking around? Humans, maybe?† He seemed even more afraid to discuss this topic. â€Å"We see humans sometimes, your majesty.† I think he thought mentioning my own kind would anger me. â€Å"It's not uncommon. Often there are humans who†¦ah, give chase to some of the denizens of this world.† Shamans like me, he meant. â€Å"Usually, they leave us alone once they've found their quarry.† I thought back to Jasmine. â€Å"Any soldiers or warriors of the gent-shining ones?† â€Å"Occasionally. I presume they're deserters from King Aeson.† Not a bad theory, actually. â€Å"But we see none of them regularly. There's no one in particular who keeps returning.† I leaned forward, some part of me feeling like everything was about to fall together. â€Å"But there is a human you keep seeing, isn't there? Especially since the girls began disappearing?† He nodded. It was here. Everything was here. â€Å"A man, right? A man with a red snake tattoo?† â€Å"No, your majesty.† â€Å"I-what?† I froze for a moment. â€Å"Then who?† â€Å"A woman, your majesty. A woman with graying hair that she wears in a long braid.† I stared at him for several seconds, and then I laughed. This seemed to scare them all more than if I had burst into a rage. â€Å"Abigail,† I said at last, more to myself than them. â€Å"Your majesty?† I waved a hand at them. â€Å"Never mind.† Abigail. Fucking Abigail and Art. Working together to†¦what? Abduct gentry girls? But why? I'd toyed with the idea of Art as some kind of sick rapist, but where did Abigail fit in with this? Surely that would hold no interest for her. With a sigh, I pushed the questions to a small box in my mind, needing to wrap this up and get back to the human world. I needed to have that talk with Roland. â€Å"Anything else going on I need to know about? You've got copper nearby, right?† Finding water and food was naturally essential, but it was copper that was going to truly change things in the Thorn Land. It was what all our trade agreements were being based on. â€Å"How's the extraction going?† â€Å"Slowly until today, your majesty,† the woman admitted. â€Å"Our magic users are skilled in many things, but we have few who can work with metal. Much of our labor has been manual.† I frowned. â€Å"Why did things change today?† â€Å"Why,† she said in surprise, â€Å"because you sent the Oak King to us.† â€Å"The Oak-wait. You mean Dorian?† I exclaimed. â€Å"He's not here now, is he?† They were all clearly surprised at my surprise. â€Å"Yes, your majesty,† said the guy who'd spoken earlier. â€Å"He's out with the workers now. I thought you knew.† I stood up, still full of shock. â€Å"I have to see him. Excuse me.† They all murmured polite farewells and nearly knocked each other over with bows. I didn't stick around to return the formality. Instead, I headed back out into the bright afternoon sun, lightly jogging to where I'd seen the workers on the far side of the village. At first, I saw no indication of Dorian. Men and a few women were digging diligently, sweat rolling down their faces. Then, suddenly, I heard a slight rumbling, and the ground trembled. Huge chunks of rock rose from the earth, a few of them glinting in the sunlight. They lifted in a cluster and then slowly drifted off to the side of the work site, gently coming to rest on a pile of similar stones. Turning, I looked to the opposite side of the area and finally found Dorian, his hands moving in the air as he guided the ore. His clothes were simple today, but that hair burned and rippled in the sunshine like liquid fire. His face was filled with concentration as he watched the rocks, but once they'd come to a halt, he broke into a smile as he strode forward. â€Å"My lady Thorn Queen, what a delight.† I let him kiss my hand for the sake of appearances-seriously, why were the gentry so into that?-and then pulled him out of earshot of the others. â€Å"What the hell are you doing here?† I exclaimed. â€Å"Why, retrieving my copper.† â€Å"That's not what I mean!† He shrugged and wiped sweat off his brow. His devil-may-care expression aside, it was clear he was tired. I grabbed hold of his arm and led him back toward the town. â€Å"Come on, get something to drink before you get dehydrated. And start explaining.† â€Å"I heard there was some difficulty with your copper, and I decided to come help, seeing as it benefits me too. My sword is in need of replacement, you know-and that's not a metaphor. The metaphorical one is just fine. Besides, you don't honestly think I can let you take all the glory as being the most helpful monarch around, do you? You're making us all look bad.† â€Å"Dorian,† I groaned. Because there was really no other response. If people had fallen all over me when I arrived, the two of us together created quite the stir. Again, I was reminded of some celebrity tabloid couple. We returned to the council hall, at which point I used my queenly authority to get some privacy and some refreshment. It was a bit startling to see how quickly my orders were obeyed. Once we were alone and Dorian was sprawled in a chair, I truly got a good look at just how exhausted he was. â€Å"How long have you been out there doing this?† I asked, pouring him water from a pitcher. â€Å"Most of the day. And I'll take the wine, my dear.† He nodded toward a nearby decanter. â€Å"It'll dehydrate you further,† I scolded, handing him the cup of water. He scowled but drank it down eagerly. I watched him, still perplexed. â€Å"But why? You don't need the copper that badly.† â€Å"Perhaps not. But you do.† He finished the water, and I gave him a refill. â€Å"Thank you. Waited on by a queen-truly the dream of many a man.† I pulled over a chair of my own. â€Å"You didn't need to do it,† I protested. â€Å"You've practically killed yourself.† â€Å"Hardly. Give me and my stamina some credit.† â€Å"I still don't get it.† He finished this cup too and then gave me a look that was both exasperated and amused. â€Å"Eugenie, why do you keep having such a hard time believing I'd do things for you?† There was earnestness in his voice, and I realized we kept having this conversation over and over. Out of everyone in my life lately, it seemed like he was the only reliable one. â€Å"I don't know why. I'm sorry. I just run into few people who give something for nothing. Mining isn't going to get me into your bed.† â€Å"Well,† he said cheerfully, â€Å"nobody knows that for sure, but even if not? It doesn't matter. You need it. It makes you happy. End of story.† I looked away. Dorian truly was my friend. â€Å"Thank you. It does make me happy. One less thing in a sea of problems today.† He handed me the cup. â€Å"Get me wine this time, and tell me what your problems are. You can even sit on my lap.† â€Å"No thanks,† I said, but I did get him the wine. â€Å"I saw you and the kitsune pass earlier, actually. Is that part of your problem?† He answered his own question. â€Å"Yes, yes. Of course it is.† I was a bit surprised to hear myself pouring my thoughts out to him again. I didn't even have the excuse of being drunk this time. â€Å"I saw the baby today.† â€Å"Cute?† â€Å"Very. And it just made me feel†¦I don't know. Kiyo thinks it's jealousy, but it's more than that. I just can't explain it.† â€Å"Kind of a questioning of your own life and the choices-or lack thereof-before you?† I looked up, startled, and met his eyes. They were unusually serious. â€Å"Yes, exactly.† Dorian remained silent, and I found myself rambling more. â€Å"He's having a hard time getting all of it lately-the magic, the girls, the demons†¦he doesn't like me spending time over here. Neither does Roland.† I couldn't help a smile. â€Å"Hell, neither do I. But†¦I have to. I have to put things right around here.† â€Å"I know you do,† he said, face serious. â€Å"Dorian†¦what would happen if I got a crown?† This made him a smile a little. â€Å"It would make you look even more beautiful.† â€Å"No, I'm serious. Kiyo says it's a bad idea. That it would make all this real.† â€Å"It's already about as real as it's going to get, my dear.† â€Å"That's what I told him! But I don't get the big deal. You never wear a crown.† â€Å"Not often. But I have one, and I was crowned and all my people swore fealty to me. That's what a crown would lead to. You want one for ornamentation? Sure, that's easy. But put one on and walk out among your people-especially in a city like Highmore-and say, ‘This is who I am, I am your queen†¦' Well, that's what the kitsune fears. You're already queen. No crown can affect that. But you accepting one and declaring your authority is when you truly believe you're a queen. And as far as Kiyo is concerned, that's where the danger is.† â€Å"Wow,† I said, nearly as surprised to have such a thorough explanation from him as I was by the content itself. â€Å"Are you afraid of it?† He snorted. â€Å"Hardly. I don't need a crown to know you're a queen. It radiates off of you. But I would like for you to know you're a queen.† If dealing with all the crap I had on my plate didn't make me think I was a queen, then I didn't really know what else would. I let the crown issue go and instead recapped my latest intel about the bandits and Abigail. â€Å"I can't figure out her role here. You mentioned before that Art's motives would be†¦uh, understandable. But why her? Unless she's just enough of a pal to help him score some gentry action.† Dorian was still in his pensive mode. He'd poured himself yet another glass of wine and handed me one too that I sipped sparingly. â€Å"Let me ask you this. Why do men of the shining ones so often abduct your women?† â€Å"Easy,† I returned. â€Å"Because we're more fertile. You guys might have sex in public, but it doesn't usually result in anything. A guy who wants a kid has better luck with a human.† Dorian nodded. I had a feeling he'd already made some leap of logic and was prompting me here to figure it out myself. â€Å"And what about humans? Are you hoping for children each time you make love?† I laughed, thinking of my stock of condoms and birth control pills. â€Å"Hardly. We go to a lot of trouble not to. Too easy for us.† He leaned toward me, green eyes shrewd. â€Å"Then think about it. You understand why we would want humans. Why would humans want us?† I studied him, trying to catch up to what he'd already thought of. A few moments later, I got it. â€Å"Because you'd fulfill the opposite need. A human could have sex with a gentry girl and not worry too much about her getting pregnant. Or getting a disease.† Gentry were healthier than us in that regard. It seemed to go along with them having such long life spans- â€Å"Oh God. That would be part of it.† The more I followed his logic, the clearer and clearer it became. â€Å"You guys live longer. Gentry girls would stay young and beautiful for a long time†¦.† The horror of it was setting in. Until that moment, I had thought there were few sexual crimes worse than gentry guys consistently trying to rape me to get me pregnant. As shocking as it seemed, I was wrong. If this were true†¦if this idea that Dorian was suggesting was true†¦well. That was worse. Gentry girls taken because they were the ideal sexual partners: young, disease resistant, hard to get pregnant-even with a human. I almost laughed. It was like Tim's poem about the maiden who'd come from another world, whose beauty and youth were so great that mortal men had coveted her. The question was, how did the gentry girls feel about this role? A lot of girls wanting to get pregnant might wholeheartedly embrace human lovers-literally and figuratively. But Moria's traumatized state suggested her stint with Art hadn't been welcome†¦ I stood up and rubbed my eyes. â€Å"Oh God,† I repeated. â€Å"The stuff†¦all the stuff†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"What?† asked Dorian, understandably confused. Dropping my hands, I looked back at him. â€Å"These shamans, Abigail and Art. They live well. They have more possessions†¦nicer things than they should for the jobs they have.† Art's giant house in an upper-class neighborhood. The shiny SUV. Abigail's luxurious-albeit messy-apartment. Her extensive jewelry collection. â€Å"I don't know how, but they're making money off it. Off these girls.† I slumped against the wall. â€Å"And I don't know what to do about it.† Dorian rose and came to stand by me. â€Å"You'll stop them.† I shook my head. â€Å"It's not that simple. Art was right-there's no shaman council. I can't report them to anyone, certainly not human authorities. There's no accountability, no laws that apply here.† â€Å"They're breaking your laws,† he said, leaning toward me. â€Å"Therefore you have every right to stop them. Treat them as you would any other criminal in your land. Kill them.† â€Å"I can't!† I exclaimed. â€Å"I'd have to actually catch them here, and so far I haven't been able to. And I'm certainly not going to go to Texas and kill them there.† â€Å"Why not? If a murderer from my kingdom killed someone in yours, I wouldn't bat an eye if you came to slay him.† â€Å"It's different. They're†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Human?† I hated to admit, but yes, there it was. I had chased Otherworldly monsters from my world back to this one and never hesitated to kill them or banish them directly to the Underworld. But somehow, the thought of intentionally tracking humans and killing them†¦ I didn't need to voice my answer for Dorian to understand. Exasperation flared on his face, this time mixed with†¦anger. â€Å"Damn it, Eugenie. You just told me you had to put things right! Which is it? Or does it only depend on what's easy at any given time? What your mood is? Who you like better that day?† â€Å"It's not that easy!† I exclaimed. â€Å"You don't understand. You can't understand. I'm caught between two worlds here, with two sets of loyalties. I've spent my entire life being human-being part of that world. You can't expect me to throw all that away and betray my own kind.† He opened his mouth to retort and was interrupted by a faint roll of thunder. Whatever words he'd been about to utter disappeared, and he laughed. â€Å"Do you hear that? That's you, Eugenie. Your anger.† I shook my head. â€Å"I can't control thunder and lightning yet.† â€Å"Not control, no. But you can summon it unconsciously. Do you think there's anything in this land that isn't tied to you?† He gestured around us. â€Å"All these people here†¦all the people in this village looking at you with adoring eyes†¦they are your own kind too. This is what I meant when I said you're the only one who doesn't seem to realize you're a queen yet! All these people are looking to you to protect them and do what's right. If you can't do that, then you might as well back off and do what the kitsune and your stepfather want you to do.† â€Å"Dorian, I can't kill in cold blood!† He gripped me by the arms, voice calm but infused with anger. â€Å"You can do whatever it is you have to do! You are a queen. Forget all this talk about Storm King's grandson. Right now, you are his heir. You are on the verge of becoming one of the most powerful rulers in this world, which means you don't have the luxury of being squeamish. You can rule with love, but you have to rule with ruthlessness too. You are going to go down in history, Eugenie, as one of the greatest monarchs we have ever seen. And it is going to start with this-this wrong that you're going to right. If you can't do it, if you can't stop those who are hurting your people, then you might as well stop the rest of this charade. Go out there and tell those people you can't do anything for them, that you can't feed them or protect them because they aren't your kind and aren't worth bloodying your hands for!† He was shouting now, breathing heavily. I stared at him, eyes wide, filled with a little of that fear I always got when his temper rose. Moments like these reminded me of just how powerful Dorian was physically and magically. His lazy, lean appearance was deceptive; I'd seen him fight. Between that and the power he wielded, I hoped there would never come a day when we were truly antagonists. Outside, I heard thunder again. It took me several seconds to muster an answer, and when I spoke, my voice was very small. â€Å"I can't,† I said. â€Å"I can't tell them that.† â€Å"I know you can't,† he whispered. And then, still gripping me, he leaned down and kissed me. More astonishingly, I kissed him back. It seemed like all the emotions that had consumed me recently-all the rage and confusion-were poured into that kiss. My teeth bit against his lips, and when he shoved me against the wall, I welcomed the brief pain. Our hands were all over each other as we kissed, mine running the length of his body while his more aggressively hiked up the dress I'd earlier regretted wearing. In a matter of seconds, it was pushed over my hips, leaving my legs bare. With one hand still holding the skirt up, his other pushed between my thighs, slipping underneath the thong I'd put on this morning in the hopes of getting intimate with Kiyo. Those clever fingers slid into me, stoking a wetness I hadn't thought could come on so fast. My small exclamation was muffled in his crushing kiss as he alternately thrust his fingers into me and pulled out to tease and dance with my clit. It was the latter he eventually settled on, circling and stroking as heat built between my legs and made all my muscles tense up. Then, the burning flood of sensation exploded, and I came with another cry that his kiss smothered, a cry that faded into a moan as my body trembled and spasmed from the shock waves of heat and electricity still shooting through me from his touch. My orgasm created no pause in the action, though. The hand that had just brought me such pleasure moved from between my legs to his pants as he began to unfasten them. His mouth finally left mine, moving on to my neck, his kisses hot and fierce. He shoved his pants down, and I felt him against me, hard and ready as he pressed his hips to mine. My hands were tangled in his hair as I tilted my head back to receive his kisses, but his hands, busy as always, were prying off my underwear. The reality of what was happening sank in. â€Å"Wait†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I murmured, lost as his mouth bit against my skin. â€Å"No, we can't†¦I can't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You can,† he breathed in my ear. â€Å"Let me†¦let me do it. Let me bury myself in you. Let me spread your legs and take you like I did before. We are gods in this world, Eugenie, with no other lovers who are our equals. No others who are worthy of this joining.† The thong was on the ground now, and I could feel his erection pressed against my skin, so, so close to sliding in and doing all the things he promised. He rested his hands under my thighs and hoisted me up against the wall so that my legs wrapped around his hips. â€Å"Dorian†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I gasped. â€Å"I'm with Kiyo†¦.† â€Å"So? You're a queen. Do you think you can't have as many lovers as you like?† â€Å"It's†¦it's wrong. We can't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"We can,† he said, voice low and full of promise. â€Å"And when we do, this land will be reborn†¦.† Afterward, I would never be entirely sure if I would have let him do it. I like to think I would have stopped him. I was in love with Kiyo, after all, and loyal to him. Surely I would have said no and shoved Dorian aside. I wasn't in love with him†¦or was I? In those moments before we'd kissed, I'd felt like he truly got me and understood the things in my head. I think I'd probably loved him since around the time we'd met; I certainly never lost the attraction. Still, that didn't make cheating on Kiyo right. Whatever decision I would have made was taken from me when there was a knock at the door. I jerked away from Dorian and hastily shoved my skirt down. He more casually turned away to pull his pants back up, seeming in no particular hurry. The door opened, and the lead councilwoman stuck her head in. Even with Dorian's back to her and me dressed, it had to have been obvious what was going on-particularly with my underwear on the floor. If she found it shocking, though, she didn't show it, and I recalled how free the gentry were in public. â€Å"Your majesties,† she said politely, â€Å"there's a storm coming in, and the workers were wondering what the Oak King wanted to do.† Dorian, decent once more, turned around and gave her a laconic, charming smile. â€Å"A storm? Really? How truly unexpected. Well, tell them to bring as much of the ore as they can into storage before the rain and cover the rest up. I'll come check on it in a moment since I have a feeling the Thorn Queen is about to depart with some haste.† The woman gave a quick curtsey and shut the door once more. â€Å"You're right,† I said, jerking my thong back on. â€Å"I'm leaving.† â€Å"Yes,† he agreed, still smiling. â€Å"Because that's your normal course of action when something happens that you don't know how to process.† â€Å"That's the thing,† I growled. â€Å"Nothing happened here, okay? None of this did.† His eyebrows rose. â€Å"Really? Because I could have sworn that something happened when my hand was between your-â€Å" â€Å"No!† I would have approached him with clenched fists to drive home my threat but was afraid of what would happen if I was close to him again. â€Å"This didn't happen. This was anger and confusion and me in a weak place, okay? I appreciate what you've done here with the copper-really. And for the advice on the girls. But that's it.† I turned, not wanting to look into those green eyes or see that smirk anymore. I didn't want to admit that loving two men was just like the rest of my life, ripped into two worlds. I needed to get out of here and get back home-though I wasn't sure which home I meant. Dorian didn't try to stop me, but his voice rang out after me as I hurried out and rain began to fall outside. â€Å"Don't forget what I said, Eugenie. Crown or not, you are a queen, so don't be afraid to do what you have to do. Love and ruthlessness. Those are the keys.†

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Protocol numbers Essay

Protocol numbers are used to configure firewalls, routers, and proxy servers. In Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4, Request for Comments [RFC] 791I), the protocol number can be found in the Protocol field of an IP header.ICMP Echos are used mostly for troubleshooting. When there are 2 hosts which have communication problems, a few simple ICMP Echo requests will show if the 2 hosts have their TCP/IP stacks configured correctly and if there are any problems with the routes packets are taking in order to get to the other side ICMP Echo Information Type Name Reference Echo Reply [RFC792] Codes No Code 1 Unassigned [JBP] 2 Unassigned [JBP] 3 Destination Unreachable [RFC792] Codes 0 Net Unreachable 1 Host Unreachable 2 Protocol Unreachable 3 Port Unreachable 4 Fragmentation Needed and Don’t Fragment was Set 5 Source Route Failed 6 Destination Network Unknown 7 Destination Host Unknown 8 Source Host Isolated 9 Communication with Destination Network is  Administratively Prohibited 10 Communication with Destination Host is  Administratively Prohibited 11 Destination Network Unreachable for Type of Service 12 Destination Host Unreachable for Type of Service 13 Communication Administratively Prohibited [RFC1812] 14 Host Precedence Violation [RFC1812] 15 Precedence cutoff in effect [RFC1812] 4 Source Quench [RFC792] Codes No Code 5 Redirect [RFC792] Codes Redirect Datagram for the Network (or subnet) 1 Redirect Datagram for the Host 2 Redirect Datagram for the Type of Service and Network 3 Redirect Datagram for the Type of Service and Host 6 Alternate Host Address [JBP] Codes Alternate Address for Host 7 Unassigned [JBP] 8 Echo [RFC792] Codes No Code 9 Router Advertisement [RFC1256] Codes 0 No Code 10 Router Selection [RFC1256] Codes 0 No Code 11 Time Exceeded [RFC792] Codes 0 Time to Live exceeded in Transit 1 Fragment Reassembly Time Exceeded 12 Parameter Problem [RFC792] Codes 0 Pointer indicates the error 1 Missing a Required Option [RFC1108] 2 Bad Length 13 Timestamp [RFC792] Codes 0 No Code 14 Timestamp Reply [RFC792] Codes 0 No Code 15 Information Request [RFC792] Codes 0 No Code 16 Information Reply [RFC792] Codes 0 No Code 17 Address Mask Request [RFC950] Codes 0 No Code 18 Address Mask Reply [RFC950] Codes 1 No Code PORT NUMBERS Service names are assigned on a first-come, first-served process, as documented in [RFC6335]. Port numbers are assigned in various ways, based on three ranges: System Ports (0-1023), User Ports (1024-49151), and the Dynamic and/or Private Ports (49152-65535); the difference uses of these ranges is described in [RFC6335]. System Ports are assigned by IETF process for standards-track protocols, as per [RFC6335]. User Ports are assigned by IANA using the â€Å"IETF Review† process, the â€Å"IESG Approval† process, or the â€Å"Expert Review† process, as per  [RFC6335]. Dynamic Ports are not assigned. The registration procedures for service names and port numbers are described in [RFC6335]. Assigned ports both System and User ports SHOULD NOT be used without or prior to IANA registration.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Relative ethics Essay

Relative ethics is where decisions are made with the circumstances in mind. For instance the culture and traditions of the place, the individuals, and society. Examples of relative ethics is utilitarianism and situation ethics. Relative ethics can be seen to be a fair approach to decision making because it is tolerant of different values, it is more realistic that nothing is right or wrong, it is more open to atheists, and is considers emotions as important. However it is more complex and makes decisions harder, it can be used as an excuse to act in an immoral way, it implies that we should not have laws and it does not protect worldwide human rights. Relative ethics is tolerant of different cultures. For example just because in one place it is considered wrong for women to have an education in one country e.g. Islamic countries, it doesn’t mean that in the UK women should not have an education. The UK is not morally superior and should not try to implement its own morals on any other country. This may seem fair in one way but it actually means that any act can be acceptable and doesn’t protect our human rights, sexism is wrong and women should never be discriminated against no matter their religion. Some laws need to be absolute. Someone in a different country may claim that for example kidnap and torture are part of their culture, but we know this is wrong. Relative ethics can be seen as fair because in it there are no absolute objective rights or wrongs. The right thing to do depends on the situation. For example, if a woman stole food out of greed then it would be wrong. However if she stole food to feed her starving children then this is right. It is fairer than absolute ethics because an absolutist would say that the woman shouldn’t steal even if he children are dying of starvation. Obviously, this is wrong and so the relativist view if a fairer approach to decision making The idea that there are no objective rights or wrongs can make relative decision making a slow process. In Utilitarianism, the consequences of each option have to be predicted and consequences. When each individual situation has to be considered, it can cause complications and ensuring every person gets a good result is difficult. Some may argue that the time it takes to make a decision about the morality of an act is causes those involved more suffering and is unjust. In conclusion I think that relative ethics is the best approach to making fair ethical decisions. However, I believe that some actions are wrong no matter the culture or time or individual. For example, discrimination is always wrong and torture of innocents and kidnapping is wrong. Despite this, relative ethics is tolerant of all cultures and does not believe that in any situations that one persons or country’s morals are superior to anothers.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 22

Research - Essay Example A facts and circumstances test aimed at establishing whether a worker is subject to the control of the recipient of the service is the most appropriate test used to distinguish between an employee and an independent a contractor. This control is not only based on the nature of work, but also the circumstances the service is undertaken. Although this distinction is sometimes set out by statute the most effective method of testing control is using the 20 factor test developed by the IRS. The level and significance of each factor in the test differs depending on the job and the context in which the services are rendered. The 20 factor test takes into consideration factors which include training provided, work instructions, delegation of responsibility, nature of relationship, mode of payment, working time and the termination of the relationship. The underlying principle of the 20 factors covered by the test is the determination of the level of control. Where control is established throu gh the use of these factors, then the relationship is an employer/employee relationship and lack of control signifies an independent contractor relationship (Wears, and Sandra 164). A civil servant, for instance, is required by the employer to adhere to instructions regarding where, when and how the work is to be done. The training, especially job related training, is provided by the employer and the service provided by the civil servant is integrated into the employers operations. A civil servant is also required to render his services personally and where assistants are employed these are controlled by the employer and not the civil servant. The worker also enjoys a continued relationship with the employer and the employer sets out the times the worker is required to work. Civil servants are also required to be full time employees who work from the employer’s premises and follow an order of work provided by the employer. Civil servants are often paid on a

Thursday, September 12, 2019

To critique a research article from a professional journal Essay

To critique a research article from a professional journal - Essay Example is historical, perhaps in memory of the role of hygiene in preventing the spread of infectious diseases based on the experiences of Snow and Chadwick in 19th century London (Course Notes). The second may well be described as a curious interest on a topic so basic but commonly neglected – even in a country like Switzerland that is known for being fastidious about cleanliness – as to be ironic. These made the article an entertaining and educational read and increased the author’s appreciation of evidence-based practice, or EBP, in the medical field. As defined by Sackett, et al. (1996), EBP is â€Å"the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.† When medical practitioners and health care professionals learn to combine in a balanced way what they learn from clinical experience and research findings, they are able to improve the knowledge of their profession so as to practice it in the best way possible for their patient’s benefit. Learning to critique a research paper is an important part of this process of improvement because it trains the practitioner to discern which of the prodigious amounts of information or evidence are useful and, at the same time, helpful for the patient. We first look at the question, the answer to which is the rationale for the research study. We then proceed to critique the different parts of the paper and end with a set of recommendations. Most social research begins with a general problem that needs to be narrowed down to a specific research question that can be addressed in a single study. Any reader of a paper that clearly attempts to answer the basic question: â€Å"why do physicians fail to practice good hand hygiene? (Pittet et al. 2004, 2)† will initially register a degree of shock and ask, â€Å"What? Doctors do not wash their hands?† The article’s background reveals that a specific problem was identified – less than half of the

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Advanced critical writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Advanced critical writing - Essay Example This is especially the case where employees are set for promotion and career growth. The noble cause of training and developing the human resources is however not without flaws. Training carries potential financial risks and brain drain, especially when trained employees quit immediately after receiving the training. In light of this, training should be accompanied by best practices in employee management such as motivation and proper staffing in order to achieve the best outcomes. This paper argues that employee training is vital to organizations and individual staffs. Employee training and development improves the performance by eliminating most of the weaknesses in the staffs in the workplace. A training initiative enables the organization to sharpen those skills needed by each staff to limit errors and carry out tasks satisfactorily and within a reasonable duration of time (Jayakumar, David, & Sulthan, 2014). Such programs bring all the staffs covered by it to a higher pedestal where the skill-sets and knowledge are relatively uniform. This limits any weaknesses within the human resources which may otherwise prompt heavy reliance on a few staffs to complete certain tasks. Providing the vital training and development creates generally knowledgeable workforces who can stand in for one another and thus improve functioning teams that can work independently without continuous assistance and supervision (Sung, & Choi, 2014). In addition, Latif, Jan and Shaheen (2013) suggested that training limits employee burnout and high turnover rates which otherw ise would be ubiquitous in a workplace environment where the company relies of a few skilled employees to perform non-technical jobs. A structured employee training and development initiative ensures that the staffs have reliable experience and contextual knowledge to handle virtually any corporate challenge which they may come across. Jayakumar, David and

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Chinese Communist Party Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Chinese Communist Party - Essay Example This country has several more amazing features. The land contains nearly 9.57 million square kilometers of which mountains occupy about one-third, numerous liquid flowing paths where one measures nearly three thousand miles called the Yangtze, and steppe as well as deserts. Not to forget a dazzling 1.3 billion inhabitants (Farah 124-129). The country went through horrible times during which Chinese citizens were suffering of starvation, anguish, and the outcome was death upon innocent beings. The main cause of this ordeal was a man who contributed to the change of the Republic of China. This intelligent but mad communist brought the concept of Communism to the third largest country of the world and that is no other than Mao Zedong (a great fan of Marx theory of communism) or rather say:" scientific socialism".(Wikipedia: free encyclopedia) Although under a totally different concept of living, China is a well respected and a highly productive industrial nation. Forty-eight million representatives make up the* CCP 1today. The CCP functions in a completely different way because authority does not only control politics, but also it reaches deep into the lives of the Chinese (Farah 220). Many reside in agricultural sections where food and crops are produced. Work-strength depends on human and animal force, but nowadays farmers are able to purchase efficient tools (Farah 221). Since its founding in 1921, the Chinese Communist Party gradually expanded its guiding principles to incorporate the philosophical musings of Russia's Vladimir Lenin as well as homegrown revolutionaries Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. The party has traveled a long ideological path from its Marxist roots to its present struggle to maintain its relevance in China's modern and increasingly capitalistic society. Now the whole world looks at it as a country whose scale dwarfs the United States-1.3 billion people, four times America's population. For more than a hundred years it was dreams of this magnitude that fascinated small groups of American missionaries and businessmen-1 billion souls to save; 2 billion armpits to deodorize-but it never amounted to anything. China was very big, but very poor, all that has changed totally. But now the very size and scale that seemed so alluring is beginning to look ominous. And Americans are wondering whether the "China threat" is nightmarishly real. China is now the world's largest producer of coal, steel and cement, the second largest consumer of energy and the third largest importer of oil, which is why gas prices are soaring. China's exports to the United States have grown by 1,600 percent over the past 15 years, and U.S. exports to China have grown by 415 percent. All these figures are so thrilling to here. At the height of the Industrial Revolution, Britain was called "the workshop of the world." That title surely belongs to China today. It manufactures two thirds of the world's copiers, microwave ovens, DVD players and shoes. China's rise is no longer a prediction. It is a fact. It is already the world's fastest-growing

Monday, September 9, 2019

Business Simulation Game (Individual Report) Essay - 1

Business Simulation Game (Individual Report) - Essay Example Fruits are starting to bear for the few steps already covered though we still have a long way to go. Strategic management planning and implementation has been in place for the six years. Our work in the office has been to implement these plans for the last three years and into the future in order to realize the full implementation. The next three years will be about much to do with consolidating the gains made in the last three years in order to maintain the market dominance that we have gained since. There is still room for improvement in our market segment we are pursuing. In internet marketing for example, we are relatively doing well but there are still a number of companies ahead in terms of these segment sales volumes. The same is true in private label and wholesale where competition is very high. Claude Footwear Company core business is the manufacturing of sports footwear. Our markets cover or divided into four geographical regions for ease of doing business; North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe-Africa. These geographic areas are covered and managed from divisional headquarters located in each. The world head office and manufacturing plant is located here in London United Kingdom. As part of the strategic plan in the future is to put up manufacturing plants in some of the regions if we consider that it might be a strategic low-cost measure. This could be implemented sooner in emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Specialty footwear still could be a factor to consider in putting up those plans if you consider country or region specialty sports like long distance running in East Africa, short distance, baseball, basketball, and American football in the Americas and football in Europe. The company in the medium term is implementing, as mentioned earlier a strategic plan which include product innovation, new product lines, marketplace scope expansion, and diversification and

An inconvenient truth (Movie report) Movie Review

An inconvenient truth ( report) - Movie Review Example Some men heeded Marsh’s call and forest reserves were established soon after. Meanwhile, John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club helped in the establishment of the Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Park because he believed that all living things had a part to play in the subsistence of the whole world, and must be preserved because they exist. From these early efforts sprung worldwide environmental organizations calling for a more ethical use of the earth’s resources. By 1972, out of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, the Stockholm Declaration was born The Declaration recognized man as both a â€Å"creature and molder† of his environment, acknowledged the role of the environment in the sustainability of mankind, and mandated man to protect his environment (United Nations Conference on the Human Environment). It demanded accountability in all citizens and communities, enterprises and institutions to shape the future of the environment. From the early awareness of the importance of nature to man’s survival came an understanding that the Earth is a living being. In 2010, the Earth Declaration (World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth) afforded Mother Earth with equal rights as humans. It was perhaps the first document to compel nations to reco gnize the interdependence of life on the planet and that â€Å"in an interdependent living community it is not possible to recognize the rights of only human beings without causing an imbalance within Mother Earth† (World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth). I mention these developments in the environmental movement because I wish to believe that climate change will not end the world, instead, it will help man discover who he truly is. George Mash once said, The fact that, of all organic beings, man alone is to be regarded as essentially a destructive power, and that he wields energies to resist which,

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Marketing DB Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing DB - Coursework Example The reason to move ahead is indeed the atmosphere that one is talking about here. The shopping experience at a retail store becomes more satisfying when the aura and aromas get manifested in the most proper sense. This means that this experience gets better if the aura and aromas are highlighted in a positive fashion – one that suggests immense room for a better retail experience for the end consumer. If the consumers are given a smell that they would like to feel good about, they will definitely visit this retail store (Frazier, 1996). Similarly, if they are welcomed by an activity which is indeed a hallmark of the retail chain, they shall do every effort to be there and thus finish their joyride as well as accomplish their shopping mission. The need is to understand what the consumers want and how they are going to achieve what they have in mind. This suggests that the retail experience needs to be defined and later on re-defined to have a cumulative stance so that the consumers are always at a benefit. The vertical management system is a channel arrangement where one of the channel members might own some of the others and bring upon them its influence which is available in the wake of better power that comes from bargain, contracts and other requirements. The implications and opportunities of this VMS channel arrangement for my company is that it will aim to better the relationships that exist amongst the channel members and allow them to grow beyond the expected returns. This will enable the channel members to bring their best to the fore and give the best price in terms of bargains and so on. Eventually the consumers’ shopping experiences would become better and they will get the best deals and discounts which are available within the related industry. The retail format that is most appropriate for my company since it is CAD and based on a computer is an online model. This will bring immense

Saturday, September 7, 2019

The concept of hell makes no sense discuss Essay Example for Free

The concept of hell makes no sense discuss Essay Hell is said to be a wicked place of suffering and a place where unrighteous souls are punished. In the Christian Bible Hell is described as a place of fire and brimstone. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The son of man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, (Matthew 13:40-42, quoting Jesus). This passage describes how evil people who act unmorally and sinful will be picked out and discarded into the fiery depths of Hell. Most modern Christians would see Hell as the eternal punishment for unrepentant sinners, as well as for the Devil and his demons. Fundamentalists believe that evil doers and non-religious people would go straight to Hell. Most modern Christians would believe that Hell is a spiritual notion of physical suffering or material fire. They believe many biblical images of Hell are non-literal and Hel is more a state of separation from God. Although not all Christians would agree with this modern view. Fundamentalists believe the Bible to speak the absolute truth and take the descriptions and images of Hell told in the Bible as the truth. Therefore they would believe all non God believers would go straight to Hell and anybody who isnt a believer would not be saved, as Jesus stated in Johns gospel, I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the father, but by me. (John 14:6). This would mean a relatively small number of the population are to be saved. Exclusivist Christians follow a similar view to fundamentalists although exclusivist Christians are much stricter in there views. They believe anyone who doesnt follow the Bible would be sent to Hell. Therefore everyone who isnt Christian and also some Christians who take the modern view of the Bible. This would mean an even smaller population would be saved. Various interpretations of the torments of Hell exist, ranging from fiery pits of wailing sinners to lonely isolation from Gods presence. In Islam Muslims believe in Jahannom (resembles the versions of Hell in Christianity). In there holy book the Quran there are descriptions of a fiery Hell, and in contrast a garden like paradise which resembles Heaven. Another religion which has a different view of Hell and Heaven in Hinduism. In Hinduism there are many contradictions as too whether Hell exists. This is because Hindu philosophy is concentrated on reincarnation, which is the disembodied soul casting out one body and taking on others. The process which decides the nature of this is karma and the deeds that are preformed in this life will influence the next incarnation. Therefore most Hindus believe in Hell being a metaphor for a conscience, although there are versions of Hinduism which do believe in the concept of Hell. They believe people who commit paap (sin) will go to Hell to go through a series of punishments are reborn according to their Karma. Richard Dawkins is a British ethologist, an evolutionary theorist, and an established writer. Dawkins is an Atheist and in his book the God delusion; he attacks religion and the existence of God. Dawkins concentrates on the teaching of Hell in two main religions Christianity and Islam in a television documentary the root of all evil, he likens the teaching of Hell as to child abuse as some churches such as the one he visited in America scared children into believing they would go to hell if they didnt believe in God and follow the bible word for word. He also interviewed an Islamic extremist who explained that the main aim of the terrorist attacks which take place were because young Muslims believe they will die a martyrs death and receive the ultimate prize after death which is to reach paradise and have all there desires and needs met as a reward. Richard Dawkins explains how he believes that this is indoctrination and dangerous for people to believe in. Karl Marx also had a similar view to that of Richard Dawkins. Marx suggested that religion and the idea of Hell was used as a kind of social control over the people to keep them in there place morally. John Hick is a contemporary British philosopher and theologian. Hick is a liberal Christian who is against the concept of Hell. He argues that the idea of Hell is something that Humanity could achieve on earth without the need for a reality in the next world. Hick believed that life is a journey towards death but the journey does not stop there but continues after death as does the divine purpose to make us more perfect. Another argument which is brought about is the conflicting ideas that you could be evil and religious all your life and on your death bed repent and get into heaven, which is unfair when there are non-religious people who live morally good lives and are told they wouldnt get to heaven because they werent religious. Immanuel Kant said there is no justice in this world. Kant said that people desire the Summum Bonum which is to achieve where virtue and happiness could coincide. Therefore God and the afterlife must exist to bring about the Summum Bonum and you need the existence of Hell to bring justice in the universe. In conclusion taking in all these accounts what you personally believe can be dependant on many factors such as, what your parents believed, your family background, where you live for example in Europe there is a higher proportion of Catholicism and Christianity than in the Middle East where Religion such as Islam are practiced. Therefore in answer to the question concepts of Hell make no sense, depending on your faith, the strength of that faith, the beliefs of people around you and where you live your opinions may vary on the idea of Hell.