Mark Haddon Essay

Throughout the novel, the chapter headings are labelled in prime numbers instead of the normal cardinals, which is an important fact. This helps us to understand the character behind the surface. At the start of chapter 2 (headed 3), he says he knows all the prime numbers up to 7,507. This tells us that he is very good at maths and enjoys puzzles. People with Asperger’s syndrome are usually very intelligent, but find it difficult to express, since they easily get confused if somebody asks too many questions. At the start of chapter 7, Christopher says â€Å"this is a murder mystery novel†, which would indicate that there will be some detective terminology (a particular lexical register) used later on in the book. He also says that his hero is Sherlock Holmes (who incidentally solved a case called the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – where the title of the book comes from), who has the ability to â€Å"detach his mind† from anything not related to the problem, which is exactly what Christopher does. He could be â€Å"detached† when he does not do what he is told. In terms of semantics, Christopher only refers to the denotations of words, since he finds it difficult to understand connotations. The reader knows the literal meanings of the words, but also, they create certain negative connotations. When Christopher talks or writes, he does not take the connotations of the words into account. In the book, there are no metaphors, similes or any linguistic devices, as he tells us at the start of chapter 5, â€Å"this will not be a funny book, because I cannot tell jokes, because I do not understand them†. His lack of a sense of humour could be demonstrated by his total lack of understanding when Siobhan laughed. He does appear to feel anger when he tears the paper. He doesn’t use euphemisms, because he cannot see the point in evading the truth (incidentally, he doesn’t tell lies). For example, on page thirteen, he says â€Å"and people will be burnt to death, even if they live in tunnels†. Here, it is possible to detect a hint of pessimism. The choice of words that the author uses is not typical of the teenage social peer group. For example, he doesn’t say â€Å"wicked† since this would be a metaphor. This also enforces Christopher’s social isolation. Christopher does not use any of the more common spoken English techniques, for example; contractions, â€Å"But I could not be certain about this†. The contraction would be â€Å"couldn’t†. The language that Mark Haddon uses throughout the book is very formal. There are very few conjunctions since the book is written from Christopher’s point of view, and Christopher thinks very logically, in a structured, simple way. In conclusion, it can be seen that the opening chapters of this novel manage to seamlessly meld together the symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome, with narrative devices. The use of numbers and illustrations, allow the reader to enter a world which although strange to us is a familiar and usual one of the main character. The language structures, such as the use of short sentences echo the thinking methods of Christopher, and the author’s use of unemotional and denotative vocabulary is an excellent way to demonstrate Christopher’s own lack of complex emotions. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Conan Doyle section.

Lord of the Flies & To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

John Quincy Adams once said â€Å"Always stand on your principle, even if you stand alone†. The two novels To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Lord of the Flies by William Golding, can greatly relate to this quote. The characters that are portrayed in both novels can really relate to one another in terms of the theme in the quote. Also the books themselves share similar themes and moral lessons. Atticus Finch from to kill a mocking bird is a character that plays a father; he is a strong role model and leader. Atticus is a wise man; he learns and teaches moral lessons to his children. Even though the odds are against his favor he still stands by his principle. Someone who can relate to Atticus Finch is Ralph from Lord of the flies. Ralph is a character in Lord of the flies that shows a great deal of leadership just like Atticus he stands by his principle and does whatever is right. Scout from to kill a mocking bird, is the daughter of Atticus Finch, she has very many opportunities to stand but her principle but she is rarely heard. But even though she is not really heard she takes initiative as much as possible. Piggy from Lord of the flies can relate to Scout, Piggy has so much potential to do more than he is capable of. Although Piggy always seems to find a way to get his ideas heard and recognized. Another comparison between the two novels is Miss Maudie and Simon because they are such honest people and that is one of their principles. Ralph and Atticus Finch both portray their characters as role models and leaders; Ralph in particular is a leader that does everything and stays with his accusations to prove that he is doing the right thing. The lord of the flies takes place on a deserted island after a dramatic plane crash and the only survivors are a bunch of little boys. Their first decision is to vote on a leader, the boys all chose Ralph as their leader. At the beginning of the novel, Ralph was leader, but when his followers decided to abandon him he stayed with his beliefs. He can relate to this quote because Ralph was standing on his principle even though he was alone. His friends chose to become savage beast and hunt, while Ralph stayed pure and civilized he showed that he knew his moral and stands up for what he believes in. Ralph comes across trouble thought when hes friends doubt his ideas and suggestions. When his friends turned his back on him, he still decided to stick to his ideas and his plan to be rescued and in the end it was worth it because they were saved. Another person that could relate to Ralph would be Atticus finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. Like Ralph, Atticus is another strong leader and independent leader, but in the novel To kill a mockingbird. Atticus relates to John Quincy Adams quote because Atticus fights for what he believes in, which is exactly what John Quincy Adams is meant by standing by your own principle. Atticus Finch plays a Father in working as a lawyer in the novel, but he lives in a time of discrimination and prejudice. A part of the story is when Atticus is appointed to defend Tom Robinson; a black man that was accused of raping a white woman. Atticus knows that the jury will be prejudice and that there is a slim chance that Tom Robinson will win the case. Even though he knows this information he still does everything in his power to defend Tom. Atticus says that he has nothing but pity for the jury and that he is disappointed that there society is like this (Lee 213). Atticus is a character that truly does stand by his principle and shows respect and leadership. Ralph and Atticus can relate to each other because they have similar characteristics and stand by their principles. Piggy is a character from Lord of the Flies that is discouraged. Piggy plays a huge role in the novel; he is wise and has the potential and the right to be heard. Piggy in the novel was the reason that the boy had fire, he was picked on and his ideas were ignored because of the way he looked. Piggy was wise he had ideas such as making sundials and hats. Ideas like these could have really helped the boys in being successful in being rescued. Piggy was wise and the boys failed to recognize this. When Ralph was abandoned by the boys that wanted to join Jacks hunting tripe it was only Piggy, Simon, Samneric and a few littleuns. With such little people, Ralph and Piggy talked and Piggy was hears and finally recognized for his ideas and wisdom. Piggy has a lot of smart ideas that could be implemented. He can relate to the quote by John Quincy Adams because he doesn’t give up, even though he is alone, he finds a way to be heard. Scout Finch and Piggy are character that can relate to each other, and to the quote said by John Quincy Adams. Scout is a character that plays Atticus’ daughter. Scout is very smart for her age, and has many bright ideas. Although this is true her ideas are not as recognized as they should just because of her age, she is much wiser than she appears to but is not recognized for it. â€Å"We don’t write in the first grade, we print. You won’t learn to write until you’re in the third grade. † (Lee 23). This shows that Scout truly does stand by her principles but she is not recognized for it. Scout respects her father very much, but even though this is true she still denies his judgments, if she believes it is the right thing to do. An example if this would be when the Sarum group visited Atticus Finch and threatened him, Scout, Jem and dill all came to protect him. Even though Atticus told his children to return home they stayed there, this ended up helping Atticus bypass the sarum group after all. Simon is a character in Lord of the Flies that portrays a mature and wise. Simon is very honest. When Simon is told that there is a â€Å"beastie† loose on the island he adventures off on his own. He comes across a hanging parachute and realized that, the parachute was the beastie all along. When Simon knew that there could not be such thing as a beastie, he searched for the truth. Simon shows that he stayed with his principles and was determined to find the truth. He does not keep this new found information to himself or only to Ralphs tribe but he tells both Ralph and Jacks tribe. He was honest and wants to make life on the island a lot easier for the boys. He was generous enough to tell the tribes, but it was too late because Jacks tribe was so paranoid about the beastie and that he accidentally killed Simon. Although Simon had died trying to help he kept his principles in mind Simon showed how determined he was to be honest and set his friends straight. The quote by John Quincy Adams can have a lot of themes to express one of those themes that I could tell is honesty. Miss Maudie is a character in To Kill a Mockingbird that plays an honest woman. When Scout asks Miss Maudie about Arthur Radley and if all the rumors about him are true, Miss Maudie sets her straight and gives her full and honest opinion about Arthur Radley (Lee 48). This shows that Miss Maudie shows her moral conscience by admitting to Scout her honest opinion. She is also standing by her principle and passing on her wisdom to Scout. She tells Scout to find the truth and not create rumors and gossip about something that is not for certain. Miss Maudie shows a great deal of respect to the people around her. She stood by her principle as John Quincy Adams said. The quote represents honesty and Miss Maudie is a good example of honesty. There are many relations between the two novels and the quote. The quote by John Quincy Adams â€Å"Always stand on your principle, even if you stand alone† has themes that do relate to the themes and character in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies. Atticus Finch and Ralph both show there leader ship and determination, when times are tough they persevere and try their hardest to make things right. This shows how determined they are to stand by their principle. Also Piggy and Scout, there are two completely different characters that play the same role. They both have such great potential to be a more recognized character; even though they seem ignored they both stand by their principles and become recognized. Simon and Miss Maudie two completely different people yet so similar in the sense that they are honest to one another. Overall there are many comparisons between these two novels and that they both have themes and characters that relate to standing by your principle.

The Course Of Entrepreneurship.Self Reflection Essay

The Course Of Entrepreneurship.Self Reflection - Essay Example In an academic field of study, the student is constantly involved in a learning process. The process of academic education allows individuals to constantly come across new skills and techniques and this learning enhance and polish the respective skills and techniques for the individual. This report discusses on the reflection I have while I was developing the plan for a new venture from the perspective of an entrepreneur. This was a group project and all the group members had certain roles and duties to fulfill for accomplishing the desired task. Throughout the project I came across different course contents that allowed me to relate things to real life and hence this project was a good learning experience for me as well as my group members. This project helped me to develop a good insight about the professional business world and how entrepreneurs need to deal with the various business circumstances they come across in their daily business activities. Summary of New Learning The ent repreneurship module allowed me to gain hands on knowledge and skills regarding the theories involved in the area of entrepreneurship as well as the practical applications required for entrepreneurship and initiating new business ventures in the business world. This course allowed me to understand that the requirements of becoming a successful entrepreneur and it also requires the individual to possess certain intellectual and physical skills along with have strong emotional skills so that the new business can be initiated in a successful manner. After learning about the importance of emotional skills, I developed a mindset that I need to work upon improving my emotional and social skills so that this helps me to become a successful entrepreneur. The course gave me a deep insight regarding the activities of an entrepreneur and also allowed me to understand the importance of the small and businesses that are operating in the country. The support that these small and medium businesses give to the economy is really remarkable to know and understand. Each and every business, be it small or big, plays a vital role towards the economy of any country, hence all entrepreneurs need to start up businesses for which there is a demand in the economy. I was able to evaluate my skills and abilities at the end of the course and planned out on the areas on which I need to improve for my future professional career. Entrepreneurship Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities This course taught me the various entrepreneurship skills that are possessed by entrepreneurs. Starting up new businesses by an entrepreneur can be a very challenging task. The entrepreneur needs to carefully devise the business plan and also allocate resources accordingly. Businesses require investments, while starting up the business the entrepreneur needs to analyse the investments available so that the business strategies can be planned accordingly. Financial aspect of any business is a very crucial part that nee ds to be given a strong consideration by all entrepreneurs. By analysing the financial position of the business the future decisions can be taken as businesses that are low on investments cannot implement financial strategies to a large extent on the firm. I am not that good in numbers therefore after learning about the importance of finance for entrepreneurs; I will be working towards my financial subjects. Keeping a strong and check and balance are also important for entrepreneurs as they can plan business expansion and diversion based upon their level of profitability with the business. Targeting new market segments also requires good investments and financial stability

Impotance of career planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Impotance of career planning - Essay Example As a function of such differing aspects of personal well being and growth, this brief analysis will consider a few of the reasons why career planning is essential to maximizing success and satisfaction in life. In order to accomplish such an analysis and/or investigation, this author will integrate with career planning based upon the following determinants: the necessity of performing career planning in order to define and differentiate what actions must be accomplished in order to direct ones path towards the ultimate goal as well as the necessity of career planning in order to maximize satisfaction. Firstly, the reader can and should integrate with an understanding of the fact that it is necessary in order for the individual to make something of a road map of future actions that must be completed in order to realize the goals they have set for themselves. One can easily take a quick glance around their local academic institution and quickly realize that a very large majority of the students within the system have not a clue or the foggiest notion with regards to how they will accomplish the goals after university. As a function of this, creating a set of metrics and milestones that will help define and guide the shareholder in the correct direction is a requirement to proper career planning (Babik 7). This is not to say that career planning is something of a concrete science that cannot be bent or changed as time goes on. Rather, it is the understanding of this author that unexpected eventualities will shift the way in which the shareholder expects to accomplish the goals that he/she has set; however, having a plan and being able to change that plan is of vital importance due to the fact that without it there is little hope that much in the way of proactive planning or thinking will be accomplished. An aspect of career planning that is often ignored is the fact that proper career planning can easily help an individual to realizes a far greater degree of satis faction than they would had they not engaged in any level of planning (Chen & Fulmer 15). This strikes at the very root of what proper career planning can effect due to the fact that this is the connection between hopes, dreams and realities. Without a clear idea in mind of the aspects of one’s career that can bring the highest level of success and personal satisfaction, the individual oftentimes finds themselves in situations that hardly resemble what they had previously imagined (Magnuson & Starr 99). This is not to say that without proper career planning the individual will necessarily find themselves in a miserable career with little to no satisfaction in the work that they are performing; rather, it merely helps to underscore the fact that without career planning the likelihood that satisfaction will be evidenced in one’s work environment is necessarily reduced (Greenhaus 4). As a function of these determinants that have been listed in this brief analysis, the rea der can come to the understanding that proper career planning is an integral component of helping to maximize personal satisfaction and success. By creating a definitive road map for how key

Nike Ethics Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nike Ethics - Case Study Example Hazardous in the sense, even if the workers had skin or breathing problems, they were not transferred to departments free of chemicals and the employees who dealt with dangerous chemicals were not provided protective masks or gloves. (Case). If the employees wanted any leave from work, they had to work extra time to finish all the allocated work, then, only they are allowed to go. Even children were involved, and â€Å"Air Jordans,† range of shoes were alleged to be put together by 11'year-olds in Indonesia making 14 cents per hour. So, all these ethical issues, featured in the case, gave a negative ethical image for Nike 2. These ethical issues are important The above mentioned ethical issues are important for Nike because unless they solve it successfully, whatever success it achieves, it will get diluted. Because in current times, the target customers, media, certain groups and even other business organizations will view an organization favourably and associate with it, onl y if the organization incorporates ethics in every aspect of their functioning. If they miss ethics and carry out certain unethical actions, negatively impacting human rights, labour rights and even child lights, those organizations will not only be abhorred by various target groups, but will also be punished by relevant authorities. With Nike also being accused of such ethical violations, it is crucial for it to focus on these issues and take corrective actions. 3) Ethical guidelines in Finance and its relation to Nike Ethical guidelines may differ according to the various industries and also based on their role, company size, type of financial transactions that are carried out, etc. When one focuses on the financial discipline or sector, there are also many ethical guidelines according to the type of organization, the role and job of financial professionals, etc. However, there are certain common ethical guidelines in the financial sector. For example, finance code of ethics aids organizations and its top management to avoid significant legal problems or regulatory fines. (Codjia). For that, the code of ethics stipulates that organizations should avoid activities, which can be considered as illegal and/or unprofessional. U.S. regulations require a public accountant to maintain ethical values including correct procedures, secrecy, correct valuation without any external influence, etc, when auditing a company listed on a securities exchange. (Codjia). Thus, the financial professionals shall under no circumstance succumb to the pressure of the management in reporting the actual facts. 4. Reasonable solutions to Nike’s ethical issues Nike faced ethical issues mainly in its management of employees in its manufacturing units in the Third World Countries. It did not face ethical issues in its financial management matters. Although, the ethical codes related to finance sector may not be correlated to Nike’s ethical issues, and also the solutions cannot be found, there are still some applications and solutions. The main finance code of ethics talks about avoiding significant legal problems or regulatory fines, and from that perspective, Nike should carry out ethical activities in its manufacturing unit, so that they do not elicit any fines from the host governments. In addition, Nike should avoid acti

Maps as a Form of Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Maps as a Form of Communication - Essay Example According to the report philosophical understanding with regard to the study of mapping is vital as maps have two distinct trademark features â€Å"offering a framework for knowledge, and a set of assertions about the world itself.† This means that thinking about mapping must therefore provide a distinction between the process of mapping as an exercise, and the type of claims that knowledge asserted within maps is able to make.From this discussion it is clear that  cartography aims to be a scientific process, and it is of course deeply rooted in the study of landforms and other surveying practices. The map should represent the world through ‘visual inventorying’, forming an accurate representation of the land itself and the spatial relationships around it. The map is an effective tool for communication only if it displays a scaled abstraction of the land to a known and standardised degree of precision. The beginnings of research into map communication and a more user directed interpretation started to develop in the 1950’s. Up until this point the demands for the map to reflect ‘true’ to life representation had certainly been an objective of cartographers, but as the demands from various consumers of maps such as the military and property owners grew, the need was seen for a move away from the art of cartography.  Arthur Robinson, designer of the Robison world map projection, wanted to form a science of cartography, whereby design principles would be based on what was easiest for the map user to interpret.

A Ethical Dilemma that was Shaped or Influenced by the Application of Assignment

A Ethical Dilemma that was Shaped or Influenced by the Application of Nursing Research - Assignment Example Ethical dilemmas can also arise when a patient’s autonomy is not respected. This is to do with the kind of treatment the patient wants, including refusal to treatment and euthanasia (Stevens, 2006). The article states that such ethical dilemmas can be solved if the nurses have better knowledge and skills, communication skills, authority and a proper knowledge of ethical principles guiding the nursing practice (Parker, 2007). Ethical dilemmas are difficult to solve. A single decision by the nurse may not please everybody concerned, including hospital management and the patient’s guardians and relatives. Although it is important to have the basic ethical principles and knowledge from research, it is still very difficult to make a decision in an ethical dilemma. Credentialing and statutory regulations are significant components of nursing practice. Without these important elements the nursing profession lacks authority to ensure protection of interests of the public (Bandman & Bandman, 2002). Licensing is meant to protect the public from unprofessional and unsafe medical practitioners while credentialing helps to verify the qualifications of medical practitioners, including

Usability training for TUI course developers and usability testing of Essay

Usability training for TUI course developers and usability testing of their courses - Essay Example With the emergence of the virtual schools, the demands for on-line teachers are increasing. However, it is not an easy task since lot of in-service training (both short term and long term) and guidelines have to be provided to the faculty so that the education standard meets the requirement of the students and the institutions. The teachers must move from the image of mere knowledge provider to the more consolidated image of knowledge facilitator through their continuous involvement in the students’ activities by providing them the opportunity to expand and express. First of all, the teachers should be trained to create flexibility in their approach and the strength to undertake experiments with extensive writing skill. For the effective development of the course, it is important to design the materials keeping the target audience at the top priority level. While designing the materials, it is to be kept in mind that the contents should be more specific in accordance to the in stitutional curriculum. These products are continuously evaluated so that the necessary modifications can be implemented to improve the quality. The structure of the material encompasses the activities and their classification, easy navigability, selective use of texts and images, simple language and appropriate presentation. The interactivity has to be imposed as it facilitates a feedback from users enabling the testing of usability. After having decided upon the design, the next step involves the collection of resources such as tools, products, technologies and participants in accordance to the planned objectives. On the basis of development procedure, the roles and responsibilities are segregated. The implementation stage encompasses setting up the technology and tools, effective training for the teachers and students and finally the easy navigation of students. Summative evaluation helps to determine

International Operational And Logistics (REPORT) Assignment

International Operational And Logistics (REPORT) - Assignment Example In Dell, Suppliers are viewed as the integral part of operating business and a key variable for success. The last part of repot analyzes an improvement proposal that could possibly improve the logistics and supply chain of the company thereby enhancing its competitive advantage. The proposal focused on use of information technology in supply chain management of Dell through Oracle 10G and use of e-commerce in its supply chain management. Introduction Dell was incorporated in 1994 by Michael Dell while he was a student at University of Texas, Austin. From its very first initiatives, direct selling model was adopted. In the beginning PC’s were sold over the phone and they were customized according to customers’ specifications. Dell returned to its direct selling model after using the retail channel from 1990 to 1994. In mid 1990’s, the company grew rapidly, thus becoming number one PC seller in the US and number two worldwide in 1999. Dell’s success continue d over the following years, but it was not able to avoid the crisis in PC industry in the new millennium. Dell’s growth rate fell, resulting in the fall of its stock price. However, over the time, Dell managed to remain a highly successful company, and its growth rate continued to outperform the industry as a whole. Dell’s strategic choices and ways of realizing those choices have played an effective role in story Dell’s success. The supply chain management of the company is the key element in its successful business model. The core element of the company’s business model is its direct sales model, referred as ‘direct mode’, with the build to order strategy. Current Operations and Supply Chain Business Model This differentiated model of dell help it creates a niche in the distribution channel and eliminates the entire mid channel members to arrive at cost leadership position in the industry. The basic principle of Resource based view is that the competitive advantage for any particular organization completely depends upon the resources which are available at any company’s disposal. It is a management tool to determine the important resources available for any organization. It is very important for success of the organization that these resources are valuable and are not imitable. The direct sales model refers to the fact that the company does not use any retail channels for selling its products, but sells its products directly to its customers through its corporate website, Dell.com. The above figure shows hot the direct model of Dell was different from the indirect distribution channel of the rest of industry. In its direct sale model, the intermediary steps that add cost and time are eliminated, and the company is directly able to link with its customers. Dell directly sells to all its customers, regardless of a home-PC to world’s largest corporations. The direct relationship with individual customer cre ates a great source of competitive advantage for Dell. This creates a valuable information about the end customers, and thus Dell knows who are the end users of their product, what they have purchased from the company, what are their future preferences, a fact that allows the company to stay closer to their customers by offering add-on products and services. Company distinguishes three customer segments, namely large organizations,

Organizing function of management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Organizing function of management - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that there are four main functions of management such as planning, organizing, leading and controlling. The fourth function of management which is controlling includes monitoring activities and resources efficiently and effectively within an organization. Technological resources include an organization’s ability to innovate and speed with which innovation occurs (The internal environment: A resource-based review of strategy). In order to be successful in the business, companies need to understand and observe customers closely. Only after knowing the customers, we can personalize products and services as per their needs and requirements. Technology is an important organizational resource with which companies can do wonders for their customers if managed this resource wisely. Technology provides companies to add as many features as they would like in a single product. For example, if you go back a decade or two, the function of the mos t advanced cell phone was to make a phone call or send a message. Now, times have changed. Drastic changes have come in the field of technology. The new iPhone by Apple has 10,000 features including wireless Internet, digital camera, global positioning system, and even audio/video player. Apple is the most valuable technology company in the world. Apple introduced tablets and other advanced gadgets in the market which no one can compete. It attracts all the technological freaks towards its latest inventions with its innovative features and great looks.

Animal Testing Is Cruel and Unnecessary Essay Example for Free

Animal Testing Is Cruel and Unnecessary Essay Is the Statement Animal Testing is Cruel and Unnecessary Correct? It is common knowledge that many animals are used in medical and scientific research. These innocent animals are often obliged to undergo countless of cruel processes and endure great suffering as a result. Despite all the disputes and discussions regarding whether or not animal testing is actually necessary, they wouldnt change the fact that it is, in fact, an extremely cruel thing to do. Therefore, it is only to be expected for the need for product testing involving experiments on animals to be strongly debated. The debates themselves usually revolve around scientific, ethical and even political implications, often based upon biased beliefs. For example, an animal lover would clearly be against animal testing. They would, in fact, not care whether it is necessary or not. A doctor desperate for a new research, on the other hand, would clearly think animal testing is necessary, and ignore the fact that thousands of animals are endangered because of it. I personally think animal testing is cruel. It is an inhumane thing to do, as animals too deserve to be treated normally, and not as objects that are just used to test whether a mascara is safe enough for a persons eyelashes or not. Furthermore, it has been proven that about 9% animals such as rats, rabbits and mice end up dying after going through these experiments. Do you honestly think the decreasing number of these animals is worth a new type of blush-on or eyeliner? Regarding the statement Animal Testing is Cruel and Unnecessary, I would have to agree with the first point: Animal testing is, indeed cruel. Nevertheless, as I am not exactly experienced in the medical field, I managed to do some research, and eventually found a rather interesting quote said by two doctors, Ray and Jean Greek, who briefly mentioned the necessity of animal testing in their book Sacred Cows and Golden Geese. They said: Animal experimentation is not necessary. It is expensive. It is inaccurate. It is misleading. It consumes limited resources. And further, it is detrimental to the very species it professes to be working to help humankind. Coming from doctors, I found their explicit quote to be rather surprising. Moreover, even though animal testing is not always accurate, there isnt a definite answer as to whether the term Animal Testing is Cruel and Unnecessary is true or not. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, to each their own, thus I couldnt help but fathom their statement. With all these advanced technology, knowledge and finances, have we indirectly dehumanized ourselves?

Online social networking industry

Online social networking industry Online Social Networking Industry The concept of social networking as a platform for engaging a community is distinctly not novel. What is novel is how technology has facilitated the evolution of virtual social platforms that broaden the reach, ability and latent of community (Web 2.0 in Social Networking sites Industry Analysis, 2009). The new emerging technologies are invariably altering the means through that consumers can interact with each other. Previously, the main technology used by consumers for communicating was telephone but throughout the 1980s and the 1990s, personal computers and the Internet vastly broadened the choices accessible for consumers to intercommunicate with each other with services like email, chat rooms, online bulletin boards, instant messaging etc. The Online Social Networking Industry constitutes companies that are attempting to navigate, analyze, or display social associations of friends, co-workers and acquaintances. The online social networking industry is developing quickly with a kind of both personal and business tailored applications rising tapping into the global marketplace (Web 2.0 in Social Networking sites Industry Analysis, 2009). The more advanced features of the industry players allow weak links and friend-of-a friend links to be tapped for social or business networking aims. Porters Five Force Analysis of Social Networking Industry Online Social Networking firms extend quite a few variations of the products on the basis of their target audience and the aim of the product. Some firms concentrate primarily on one aspect whereas other firms may incorporate all of these offerings and some of these offerings: Business Network Building Business Network Searching Social Network Building Social Network Searching (George, 2003). Usually, the Network Building firms of the industry offer a search potential, whereas the Network Searching firms have concentrated on assembling Internet-based information from public informants or clients. The position and the attractiveness of the industry would be considered effectively with the help of its porters five force analysis that is as follows; Threat of New Entrants: A number of players are entering the industry with an aim to grow and attain a prominent position but still the industry is dominated by few social networking players. The network effects of the companies are not assisting them in retaining their market share. More and more companies are entering but only some of them are able to attain a specific position and in this way, it could be said that the threat of new entrants in the industry is moderate. Buyer Power The prominent buyers of the social networking industry players are advertising companies and the subscribers of â€Å"premium services†. The power of industry service buyers is high as the advertisers and the premium users may also get the same services from other social networking sites at more effective prices (Yang, Kim Dhalwani, n.d.). The switching costs are very low and due to this the buyers easily get switch to different providers. Supplier Power In the online social networking industry, the main supplier to a social networking site is the visitors who visit social networks. The importance of visitors as suppliers is due to the determination of visitors that how attractive the site is to likely advertisers. In contrast, other kinds of suppliers that provide the server hardware, software, or network bandwidth to the site play a comparatively less important role. In this way, it could be said that the power of suppliers in the industry is low. Threat of Substitutes The threat of substitute products or services is moderate in the industry as in present all are trying to come up with something new and innovative. The prominent players in the industry are few and due to this the threat of substitute products and services is not so high (Yang, Kim Dhalwani, n.d.). Industry Rivalry A number of online social networking sites have been launched, since the concept had emerged and employed. More and more companies are trying these products and services that demonstrate that the rivalry in the industry is very high. Assessment of Industrys Overall Attractiveness Key Success Factors With the Porters five force analysis of the industry, it could be stated that the overall attractiveness of the industry is moderate and as soon as the technology will be developed more and more industry players will become more lucrative. The attractiveness of the industry could be analyzed with the example of some famous social networking sites like MySpace, Face book, Orkut and Twitter. All these social networking companies had attained their position in the global market place with the help of effective strategies and continuous improvement and innovation with their sites. The most effective key success factors for a social networking website are as follows: People-to-people interaction Speed of innovation Network effects Availability of Applications User engagement (Web 2.0 in Social Networking sites Industry Analysis, 2009) Competitive Environment of Industry Company Long-term Goals With this detailed analysis of the industry, the determination regarding the companys long-term goals can be made easily. The long-term goals of the company in concern to social networking web sites should be the continuous improvement and innovation with its social sites so that users can get benefits of latest technology and effective intercommunication (Xu, Tjoa Chaudhry, 2007). Only with these long-term goals, the company can attain a significant position in the industry as the competition is increasing day by day in the industry. More and more companies are trying to offer new and innovative features to its users with the help of their social networking sites. In the end of the discussion, it could be said that the company should operate in the industry with the overall objective of be creative and engaging more and more users with effective network effects and applications.

Patient-Focused Pharmacy Arguments

Patient-Focused Pharmacy Arguments Catalysts For Change: Will Pharmacy in the United States Embrace Them? David A. Latif, M.B.A., Ph.D. OBJECTIVES: To briefly discuss previous paradigm change calls for pharmacy practice to move toward a more patient-focused profession, and to make the case that several catalysts are in place to move toward a more patient-focused profession in the near future. SUMMARY: From Eugene White’s â€Å"Office Based† practice model to Helpler and Strand’s â€Å"Pharmaceutical Care† model, during the past 50 years there have been no shortage of expert advocates for the pharmacy profession moving toward a patient-focused one. The results so far have not been as optimal as many would have hoped. An argument is made that the confluence of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, pharmacist manpower stability (and fear by many of an impending oversupply), and the imminent and future impact of automation and technology serve as excellent catalysts to influence the profession to move much more rapidly toward the patient-focused care paradigm. CONCLUSION: The profession must embrace the opportunities discussed regarding moving quickly toward the patient-focused paradigm. Although several barriers still exist, especially in the community setting, it is difficult to see a path whereby pharmacy can rely on dispensing for its livelihood to the extent it has historically. Therefore, the profession has little choice but to embrace the role of the pharmacotherapy expert in collaborative health care practice. During the past half century several authors have called for a paradigm change in the pharmacy profession away from a drug product focus to a more patient and clinically focus.1-7 From Eugene White’s concept of an â€Å"office-based pharmacy† practice in the early 1960s (in violation to the profession’s 1952 Code of Ethics) to Donald Brodie’s thoughtful â€Å"Drug-Use Control† in the 1969 to Hepler and Strand’s â€Å"Pharmaceutical Care,† in the late 1980s there has been no shortage of expert advocates espousing the need for pharmacists to reduce their reliance on the distributive function of prescription medications and emphasize the cognitive component.2,5,6 The need for the paradigm shift revolved around several themes, including the following: 1. To reduce preventable drug-related morbidity and mortality; 2. To regain the professionalization of pharmacy that was ameliorated due to the rise of prepackaged and premixed drugs after Wo rld War II; and 3. To protect against future loss due to automation.1-7 Despite this, especially in the community setting, there is wide-spread agreement that patient-focused care is not practiced as optimally and consistently as it could be practiced.8,9 In addition, historically there have been many barriers to patient-focused care, including time constraints at the community level.10 Perhaps the most significant barrier is the fact that pharmacies have not been reimbursed at a profitable level for providing patient care services. 10,11 One major reason for the underwhelming changes relates to the fact that, with significant shortages of pharmacists during the recent past resulting in meaningful salary increases, there was not a sense of urgency to consistently and fundamentally change pharmacy practice. The situation may be different today due to at least two major factors. First, according to the Aggregate Demand Index (ADI) most of the United States is â€Å"in balance† with a minority of states in moderate demand.12 This contrasts to a high demand for pharmacists as recently as 2007.12 Contributing factors to this supply change include an unprecedented growth in both new schools and colleges of pharmacy, as well as significant expansion of current programs.13,14 Also, some will argue that many pharmacists are working longer than they expected due in part to the Great Recession of 2008. A second reason for why the situation may be different today has to do with the advances in automation and technology. Although there have been previous discussions regarding automation and technology and their impact on the profession, there is some evidence to suggest that the distributive function of pharmacy (i.e., dispensing) will be negatively impacted in the near and long term. A recent summary by Colvin regarding the advances made in technology spotlights the impact these advances may have on the world of work. 15 According to Colvin, the key question to ask is: â€Å"What can people do better than computers?† For example, what impact will Google’s autonomous car have on the future of trucking? What is happening to lawyers is a useful example of how technology can impact professional jobs. In the discovery phase of litigation, computers are much better than people for screening documents for relevance related to germane law cases. They are also better at predicting Supreme Court decisions than humans. That does not bode well for high salaries and full employment in the law profession. Watson, IBM’s cognitive computing system, is not only smarter than we are, but has become 240% faster in the past 2 years! In pharmacy, the robot at University of California at San Francisco’s hospital has replaced all dispensing and has not had an error in 350,000 prescriptions.16 Although the hospital has not reduced its pharmacist staff it is possible that they could in the future. In addition, the technology can be used in other pharmacy organizations to potentially reduce the need for pharmacis ts. On a macro-economic level, economists struggle to explain why the 2008 economic recovery was so tepid. In past recessions, it has taken only 18 months for the U.S. economy to return to pre-recession levels. It has taken 77 months for the 2008 recession. Could advancing technology be a factor in why real wages have stagnated? Former Treasury secretary and economist Larry Summers recently stated: 17 Until a few years ago I didn’t think this was a very complicated subject; the Luddites were wrong, and the believers in technology and technological progress were right. I’m not so completely certain now. We now have the lowest work participation in decades for those in the 25 to 54 age range. Why? What is the answer in pharmacy to the question â€Å"What jobs can humans do better than computers?† Certainly, pharmacists cannot dispense prescriptions better than computers. But pharmacists can perform the non-routine task of patient-focused care better than computers (although some believe that future automation will include robots that can show empathy and emotion). Quality investigations such as the Ashville Project have demonstrated that pharmacists can reduce health care costs and improve patients’ medication therapy outcomes.18 Despite these successes, due to a myriad of reasons such as lack of consistent reimbursement for pharmacist services, many pharmacists’ clinical skills remain underutilized. Interestingly, former APhA President Bruce R. Canaday’s gave a thought provoking inaugural address on March 21, 2006 when he stated the dilemma facing the pharmacy profession.19 He stated that pharmacy needs to change its model of practice â€Å"Becaus e if we don’t, we could become extinct, with our roles in the health care system replaced or eliminated.†19 He cogently argued that optimal medication order fulfillment can be done from anywhere in the world; therefore not changing may result in the pharmacist’s job being marginalized. Since 2006, automation and technology have become more advanced. Paradigm changes often are precipitated by catalysts for change. The catalysts today present tremendous opportunities for pharmacists to utilize their previous underutilized skills in optimizing patients’ complex medication management therapy. In addition to the threat on pharmacists’ jobs from remote medication order fulfillment serving as a catalyst to change, provisions stemming from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that includes Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) and Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) may serve as meaningful catalysts.20,21 These provisions have the goal of reducing costs while imp roving quality. Because of ACA, millions of more citizens and residents of the United States have health insurance. Subsequently, the aforementioned opportunities exist for many health professions, including pharmacists, to optimize patients’ health outcomes. To realize these opportunities, a necessary first step is to be recognized as a Health Care Provider under Social Security. Then, the profession must find a consistent way to get paid for their services in a consistent manner. Because of the Pay-For-Performance incentive programs inherent in ACA the environment is amenable to the cost-saving pharmacist services that pharmacists can excel at. White and Latif presented a model that could work where the pharmacist (with residency training) works as the pharmacotherapy expert in physicians’ offices throughout the United States.22-24 These highly skilled pharmacists would initiate and monitor patients’ complex medication management outcomes. About a third of pri mary care physicians’ time is spent with chronic medication patients.25 By combining the physician’s expertise (diagnosis) with the pharmacists expertise (optimal pharmacotherapy outcomes) the synergy gained may optimize patient outcomes and reduce health care costs due to drug misadventures. White and Latif discussed the changes needed for such a model to work.22-24 The United States spends approximately 50% more on health care than the next most expensive country, Norway.26 If health care were a country, it would be tied with France for the 5th largest economy. The rate of increase of health care expenditures is unsustainable. At its current pace, 50% of our GDP could go to health care by 2070! Therefore, there will be intense pressure on the industry to reduce its costs. In addition to nurse practitioners and physician assistants, pharmacists can play a crucial role in reducing health care costs. Despite the aforementioned positives for pharmacy three key issues remain to be seen: 1. Will pharmacy be awarded Provider status in the near term?; 2. If and when they are awarded Provider status, will they be able to consistently procure fair reimbursement for services that save the health care system money?; and 3. Assuming #s one and two come to fruition, will the United States need as many pharmacists as pharmacy schools are producing? It could b e that highly trained pharmacists will add significant value to the health care system, but because the dispensing function ameliorates fewer pharmacists are needed. In summary, healthcare and pharmacy has and will continue the change. Health care costs must be reduced in the coming decades or the United States economy will collapse (i.e., it is not possible to have 30 to 50% of GDP going to Health Care). The next 5 to 10 years will be critical for the pharmacy profession. Because it is difficult to see a path whereby pharmacy can rely on dispensing for its livelihood to the extent it has historically, pharmacy has little choice but to embrace the role of the pharmacotherapy expert in collaborative health care practice. As former APhA president Canady stated regarding the alternative: â€Å"Because if we don’t, we could become extinct, with our roles in the health care system replaced or eliminated.† 19 REFERENCES White EV. An interesting pharmacy. VA Pharm 1962;46(3):24-7. White EV. How the family medication record was originated. Pharm Times. 1971; 34-37. White EV. The development of the family prescription record system. Am Pharm Assoc. 1973; NS13; 357-359. Hepler, CD. Pharmacy as a clinical profession Am J of Hosp Pharm. 1985 42, 1298-1306 Hepler, CD, Strand LM Opportunities and responsibilities in pharmaceutical care. Am J of Hospital Pharmacy.1990 47(3), 533-543. Brodie, DC, Drug Utilization and Drug Utilization Review and Control, U. S. Depart. of health, education and welfare, 1969. Knapp, DA, Wolf, HH, Knapp DE. The pharmacist as a drug adviser, J Am Pharm Assoc. 1969, 502-505. De Young M. A review of the research on pharmacists’ patient-communication views and practices. AJPE, 1996, 60, 60-77. Shah B, Chewning B, Conceptualizing and measuring pharmacist-patient communication: a review of published studies. Res Social Adm Pharm. 3006, Jun; 2(2) 153-85. Raisch DW., Barriers to providing cognitive services. Am Pharmacy. Vol, NS33(12), 54-58. Scott MA, Hitch B, Raye L, Colvin B. Integration of pharmacists into a patient-centered medical home. J Am Pharm Assoc.2011;51(2):161-166. Aggregate Demand Index, Pharmacymanpower.com. Accessed Jun 15, 2014. http://www.aacp.org/about/pages/vitalstats.aspx. Accessed June 15, 2014. Brown D., From shortage to surplus: The hazards of uncontrolled academic growth. Am J of Pharm Educ., 2010; 74(10) Article 185. Colvin G., In the future will there be any work left for people to do? Fortune, June 2, 2014. Rush-Monroe K., New UCSF robotic pharmacy aims to improve patient safety.March 7, 2011. www.ucsf.edu. Accessed on July 20, 2014. Summers L. The 2013 Martin Feldstein lecture. National Bureau of Economic Research. 2013(4). Cranor CW, Bunting BA, Christensen DB. The Ashville Project: Long-term clinical and economic outcomes of a long-term community pharmacy diabetes care program.J Am Pharm Assoc.2003;43(2):173-84 CanadayBR. Taking the fork in the road†¦and changing the world!J Am Pharm Assoc.2006;46:548–50 Abelson R. The face of future health care. The New York Times. March 20, 2013. Accessed June 5, 2014. Smith M, Bates DW, Bodenheimer T, Cleary PD. Why pharmacists belong in the medical home. Health Aff (Millwood). 2010;29:906–913. White EV, Latif DA. Office-based pharmacy practice: Past, Present, and Future. Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2006 40: 1409-1414. Latif DA, White EV. Reengineering pharmacotherapy delivery to maximize the role of the pharmacist and improve patient outcomes. Research in Soc and Admin Pharm. 2007 3: 223-235. White EV, Latif DA. Restructuring the role of the community pharmacist. J Am Pharm Assoc.2006 46(5); 532-35. Ghorob A, Bodenheimer T. Sharing the care to improve access to primary care. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:1955–1957. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(2010),â€Å"OECD Health Data†,OECD Health Statistics(database). doi: 10.1787/data-00350-en (Accessed on 14 February 2011).

I Intend to Pursue Engineering :: College Admissions Essays

I Intend to Pursue Engineering The college admissions and selection process is a very important one, perhaps one that will have the greatest impact on one’s future. The college that a person will go to often influences his personality, views, and career. Therefore, when I hear people say that â€Å"it doesn’t matter that much which college you go to. You can get a good education anywhere, if you are self-motivated,† I tend to be rather skeptical. Perhaps, as far as actual knowledge is concerned, that statement is somewhat valid. Physics and mathematics are the same, regardless of where they are taught. Knowledge, however, is only a small piece of the puzzle that is college, and it is in the rest of that puzzle that colleges differ. At least as important, or even more important, than knowledge, is the attitude towards that knowledge. Last year, when my engineering team was competing in the NEDC Design Challenge, held at Hopkins, after the competition I and a few friends talked to a professor of civil engineering. What struck me is the passion with which he talked about his field of study. At Hopkins, everyone-the students, the faculty, the administration-displays a certain earnestness about learning. This makes Hopkins a good match for me, as I, too, am very enthusiastic about the subjects I study. I love learning, and when those around me do too, it creates a great atmosphere from which everyone benefits. My enthusiasm and activeness extend not just to academics, but to other aspects of life as well. I am very involved in extracurricular activities, participating in my school’s engineering club and math team, and I love sports, having played on the varsity soccer and tennis teams for three years. This makes Hopkins, with its great sport traditions and a multitude of clubs and organizations, a great choice. Further, while in college I intend to explore new activities. Because of my school’s small size and dual curriculum, there is a relatively narrow spectrum of activities available for me. Hopkins affords a great opportunity for me to branch out and participate in organizations to which I previously had no access. Another aspect of Hopkins that attracts me greatly is its student body, diverse and multicultural, but at the same time uniformly strong academically. Since I myself am a refugee from Russia, where I experienced social and cultural anti-Semitism, multiculturalism and acceptance of different groups are very important to me, not to mention that it allows me to meet people of different backgrounds and learn of their varying perspectives.

Executive Summary Of Pepsico :: essays research papers

Executive Summary of Pepsico Through my research of Pepsico, I have calculated the cost of capital. A firm's cost of capital is imperative because it represents the funds used to finance the firm's assets and operations. First you have to estimate the cost of capital in order to minimize it. In estimating the cost of capital, you first have to find the cost of each capital component and then combine the component costs to find the weighted average cost of capital. First, I calculated the cost of debt. Pepsico's bond consisted of 7 5/8 coupon rate, maturing in 1998 at a price of $1023.80. I figured the payments to be $38.15(.0763*1000/2). I then used my financial calculator to find the bond yield of 5.16% by entering in 1023.80=PV, 1000=FV, 2= N, 38.15=PMT. The bond was calculated semi-annually, therefore I multiplied the answer for I/Y times 2 to get 5.16%. The next step would be to calculate the preferred stock, however my stock had none. I then went to the third step of calculating cost of retained earnings. First I found the three growth rates which were historical, forecast, and sustainable growth. The historical and forecast annual rates I simply pulled directly from Value Line under Past 10 years and estimated years of the dividends. They both were 14.0%. The sustainable growth is calculated by taking the retention rate (b) and multiplying it by the return on equity (r ). To find b, I first calculated the dividends payout ratio which is DPS/EPS. I pulled DPS and EPS from value line under 1997. Then to find the retention rate, I subtracted the ratio from 1. Next, I calculated r, by taking net income and dividing it by net worth. These figures I also pulled from Value Line. My b= .352, and r=28.68%. Then the third growth rate was 10.10(.352*28.68). Still calculating the cost of retained earnings, I then calculated my cash flows by the discounted cash flow approach. For the first three cash flows, I took the dividend of the stock over the price of the stock, and then added the growth rate to it. My first cash flow equaled to 15.38%, second was also 15.38%, and the third one was 11.45%. To find the cash flow four, I used the CAPM approach. This formula is Ks=Krf + (Km-Krf)bs. I found beta on Value Line which was .95. The risk free rate was found by obtaining the current yield on a 20yr. T-bond from the Wall Street Journal. It equaled 6.60%. The Km-Krf was found in the book, and equaled 7.

Cahill Essay -- essays research papers

The Gifts of the Jews Catholic author thanks Jews for Western values Review by April Witt for Miami Herald Published: Tuesday, April 14, 1998, If not for the Jews, no one would know to love justice, yearn for freedom, struggle for faith in one God or hope for a tomorrow better than today. Jews helped invent Western culture and without Jewish ideas and values there would be no civil rights movement, democracy or even history. That's the central, sweeping premise of The Gifts of the Jews, the latest book by Roman Catholic scholar and best-selling author Thomas Cahill. ''The Jews gave us the Outside and the Inside -- our outlook and our inner life,'' writes Cahill, who will be at Temple Judea in Coral Gables tonight to talk about the book. ''We can hardly get up in the morning or cross the street without being Jewish. We dream Jewish dreams and hope Jewish hopes. Most of our best words, in fact -- new, adventure, surprise; unique, individual, person, vocation; time, history, future; freedom, program, spirit; faith, hope, just -- are the gifts of the Jews.'' Cahill, 58, has his own gift: making history accessible, even compelling to a mass culture largely ignorant of its patrimony. His last book, How the Irish Saved Civilization, was a New York Times bestseller for more than a year and a half. The Gifts of the Jews, the second in a planned series, climbs onto the list next week. ''I tell history as a story and people love stories,'' Cahill said in ...

Themes in Catch-22

In Catch-22, Joseph Heller explores the value of life and morality and the absurdity of war through his contrasting characterizations of Milo Minderbinder and Yossarian, the military base setting, and the conflict between Yossarian and Colonel Cathcart. Catch-22 is a satire on the bureaucratic nature of the military during World War II. Throughout Catch-22, Heller explores different character’s reactions to the insane and arbitrary nature of the military bureaucracy. The protagonist, Yossarian, desires above all to preserve his life. However, his life is continually threatened by the increasing number of missions Colonel Cathcart, the principle antagonist of Catch-22, requires him to fly. Heller characterizes Milo Minderbinder through the physiognomy of his last name. Minderbinder combines two of Milo’s characteristics – â€Å"mind† and â€Å"bind†. Milo has the lowly job of mess hall officer when he arrives on the military base in Pianosa. Milo explains to Yossarian that his goal is â€Å"give the men in this squadron the best meals in the whole world† (64). Milo creates an international syndicate that makes money by trading between the companies it owns. Even Yossarian frequently fails to understand how such a system is possible. Milo explains the system behind the syndicate: â€Å"I make a profit of three quarter cents apiece when I sell [the eggs] to me and a profit of two and three quarter cents apiece when I buy them back from me. That’s a total profit of six cents an egg† (230). However, what starts as a brilliant scheme to make money by buying food becomes sidelined when Milo begins selling information to both the Americans and the Germans. Heller explains Milo’s ability to manipulate both sides: â€Å"His planes were able to steal over in a sneak attack without alerting the German antiaircraft gunners; and since Milo knew about the attack, he was able to alert the German anti-aircraft gunners in sufficient time for them to begin firing accurately the moment the planes came into range† (255). Milo convinces the Germans to pay him for every American plane they shoot down, and convinces the Americans to pay him for every target they destroy. Because both sides of the war pay him for their efforts, Milo symbolizes the absurdity and arbitrary nature of the war. While Milo uses the war to make profit, Yossarian does his best to escape the absurdity of the war. Heller characterizes Yossarian through a flashback scene. During the Siege of Avignon, Yossarian’s friend Snowden dies in Yossarian’s arms. While in the hospital, Yossarian reflects on the lesson that incident taught him: â€Å"Man was matter, that was Snowden’s secret. Drop him out a window and he’ll fall. Set fire to him and he’ll burn. Bury him and he’ll rot, like other kinds of garbage. The spirit gone, man is garbage† (440). The lesson Yossarian learns about the value of life from his friend dying in his arms characterizes Yossarian and presents the central meaning of Catch-22. Earlier, while introducing Havermeyer, the lead bombardier of Yossarian’s squadron, Heller explains, â€Å"Havermeyer was a lead bombardier who never missed. Yossarian was a lead bombardier who had been demoted because he no longer gave a damn whether he missed or not. He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt, and his only mission each time he went up was to come down alive† (29). Yossarian’s desire to live epitomizes Heller’s central theme that life is valuable. The bureaucratic culture of the military base in Catch-22 represents blatant disregard of life, and by contrast, the value of life and morality. In the military base, men can be court-marshaled simply because they are disliked by one of their superior officers. Clevinger, one of Yossarian’s friends, who Heller describes as being â€Å"one of those people with lots of intelligence and no brains† (68), is court-marshaled, and, as Heller states, â€Å"the only thing missing was something to charge him with† (71). Clevinger’s trial is ridiculous; Lieutenant Scheisskopf spends so much time correcting the way Clevinger speaks that Clevinger cannot say a word in his defense. Heller goes as far as to say, â€Å"Clevinger was guilty, of course, or he would not have been accused, and since the only way to prove it was to find him guilty, it was their patriotic duty to do so† (81). In such an environment, where men are convicted of crimes simply for the revenge or amusement of their superiors, life becomes absurd. Through contrast with such an environment, Heller presents the actions of characters who try to separate themselves from the meaningless bureaucracy of the military base and live on the basis that life and morality have meaning. The central conflict of Catch-22 is the conflict between the opposing moralities represented by Colonel Cathcart and Yossarian. Colonel Cathcart’s greatest desire is to become a military general. Cathcart pursues promotion in an altogether unscrupulous manner. Heller explains that â€Å"forcing his men to fly more missions than everyone else was the most tangible achievement he had going for him† (214). Cathcart sets his goals ahead of morality. He is willing to force hundreds of soldiers to risk their lives for his promotion. Heller appears to have little respect for Cathcart, â€Å"Colonel Cathcart did not have a chance in hell of becoming a general† (215). Yossarian, on the other hand, is unwilling to make a decision that would benefit him at the expense of the lives of other soldiers. In response to Yossarian’s unwillingness to participate in the war, Colonel Korn offers him the choice to be sent home with an honorable discharge or be court-marshaled. During the process of presenting the plan to Yossarian, Korn establishes the basis of Yossarian’s later refusal of the plan: â€Å"You’d have to be a fool to throw it all away just for a moral principle† (428). Yossarian initially accepts the deal, in what he later describes as a â€Å"moment of weakness† (441). Later, however, Yossarian realizes that the deal is â€Å"best for Cathcart, Korn and me, not for everyone† (442). On moral grounds, Yossarian refuses a contract that presented him with an opportunity to obtain safety and honor. By contrasting Cathcart’s unscrupulous pursuit of promotion with Yossarian’s willingness to jeopardize his life for the sake of morality, Heller demonstrates the importance of life and morality. Catch-22 is an undeniable classic for Heller’s presentation of a man who finds meaning and morality within a setting that promotes absurdity. Heller contrasts the characterization of Milo Minderbinder with Yossarian, sets Catch-22 in a military base, and establishes a conflict of ideals between Colonel Cathcart and Yossarian in order to highlight the meaningful nature of life and morality.

Second Chance? Illegal Immigrants

Illegal Immigration has been a rising controversial problem among policy makers. There are 11 million immigrants that currently reside in the United States. They immigrated to this nation to seek a new life, a job, and a brighter future, but obtaining a citizenship won’t be on the same level as immigrating here. One wrong step would lead them to deportation. I believe that illegal immigrants should be given a chance to become U. S. citizens. This is due to several reasons: (1) Families that have been previously separated by deportation can reunite. (2) Illegal Immigrants contribute to the economy. (3) Immigration is a human right. These reasons proves that illegal immigrants should be given a second chance. According to government records in 2011, approximately 200,000 parents has been deported from the United States because they did not have a citizenship. The government has teared many childrens from their parents and countless families apart. Childrens have been traumatized of this. These illegal immigrants should be given a second chance of obtaining a citizenship instead of staying deported because of traffic violations and other minor transgressions. One such case was when a Mexican immigrant named Felipe Montes was deported from North Carolina. He left behind three children and a wife. Eventually he won but he had to go to Mexico with them. This was all just because he had a bunch of traffic violations. Illegal Immigrants also contribute to the economy as well to the government. Offering to get paid low wages, the immigrants help companies compete with low priced products from other companies. By granting citizenship on the illegal immigrants, the tax revenue would also increase by 4. 5 billion dollars in a span of three years according to the Congressional Budget Office. This would be a big aid to the economy as well to the government. It would also as well increase the labor force as more people retire and this would benefit the economy preventing lack of labor force. Immigration should be a right inherited from humanity. Just as we are allowed to breath and eat, we should be allowed to immigrate. It should be a right entitled to us automatically to have freedom. The constitution says that all men should have freedom but this issue on illegal immigrants completely defies it. This law is not even based on if you have citizenship or not, it said all men. This is a reason why they should also not be deported. In conclusion, I believe that illegal immigrants should be given a chance to obtain a citizenship. It is unfair that they should be left out on the freedom that everyone should be entitled to.

Prostate Cancer in African American Men Essay

Cancer has always been one of the most dreaded diseases of humans. This incurable disease has broken the hearts and spirits of many, and has continuously left an indelible mark in its patients’ lives. One of the cancer types associated with men is prostate cancer. The National Cancer Institute website defined prostate cancer as the type of cancer occurring in the male reproductive system, more specifically in the prostate tissues. This type of cancer is normally triggered in older men (n.d.).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition to this, the disease also reiterates that genetically mutated cells, known as cancer cells, are present in the prostate. The Prostate Disease website also added that tumors are formed, spreading to the different areas in the body. The spread of the said cells causes permanent damage to the normal functions to the different organs (2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Aside from the fact that cancer is genetically transmitted, the underlying causes of prostate cancer are still undecipherable. The profile of an individual candidate for prostate cancer is usually taken into consideration. Since males are the only ones with prostates, the women are fortunately exempted from acquiring this disease. Race is another factor affected.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Intercultural Cancer Council website stated that Prostate Cancer affects 37% of African American men (Baylor College of Medicine, 2007). It was also stated that the percentage rate of men afflicted with prostate cancer is relatively higher in Europe and in North America, as compared to Asia, Africa, and South America. Diet is one of the most unrecognizable causes of prostate cancer. Eating of food rich in carcinogens can increase the cancer rate in the body.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to the National Prostate Coalition website, African American males are afflicted by Prostate Cancer far more than the other types of cancer. In an estimation made by the same website, there were 4,240 prostate cancer deaths in 2007. The chances of genetically acquiring the disease are very big for African Americans. For a close relative afflicted with the disease, the individual has a one out of three chance of acquiring the cancer. For those who have two relatives afflicted with prostate cancer, the chances increase, with an 83% possibility. Worse, if there were three or more members afflicted, the possible acquisition of the disease is 97% (NPCC, 2007). Quite disappointing, but true.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The early stages of prostate cancer inhibit the patient from experiencing and seeing the symptoms. This is primarily due to the fact that these symptoms may also be caused by the presence of other diseases. Such symptoms may include frequent urination, urinary incontinence, presence of blood in the semen and in urine, erection difficulties, and agonizing ejaculation. Presence of at least two of the above mentioned should be enough basis for the patient to consult an oncologist or urologist at the soonest possible time (Marks, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Biopsy is one of the most reliable tests done in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. With the presence of a Urologist, a tissue sample is harvested from the patient using a needle. The sample is then forwarded to the Pathologist for extensive examination that could lead to the possible detection of prostate cancer. Several other tests are also performed after biopsy that act as the other opinions in proving the presence of cancer cells. Some of the tests include   a CT scan, bone scan, and an MRI (Strum, Pogliano, 2005).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With the rampant upgrades in technology, several treatment methods have been available for prostate cancer. According to the website of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the tumor spread of prostate cancer plays an important role in the type of treatment used (2008). The most common treatments used were Radical Prostatectomy, Radiation Therapy, Cyrotherapy, and Active Surveillance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the used surgeries is Radical Prostatectomy. This process focuses on the extraction of the prostate gland and the nearby tissues from the body. This surgery requires the patient to undergo a general anesthesia, so as to avoid the unbearable pain that can be felt during surgery. As replacement, a catheter is placed through the penis so that urination may be facilitated while the wounds are healing (Blasko, Grim, Sylvester, 2003) .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Undergoing Prostatectomy is one of the most certain treatments for prostate cancer. The removal of the prostate and its nearby tissues inhibits the spread of the cancer cells to the other parts of the body. This also gives the doctor firsthand information of the results, giving them enough evidence as to whether the cancer will spread or not.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radiation Therapy on the other hand, does not involve any surgery. Instead, the procedure makes use of x-rays whose energy is high enough to kill cancer cells. For this specific disease, two types can be used. These are the External beam and the Internal. The External beam uses a machine that beams radiation from the outside of the body. The target of the beam is the prostate, making sure that radiation is exposed on the pelvis and in the prostate. The side effects for this treatment include diarrhea, rectal irritation, bleeding and painful urination. Sometimes, this therapy may also cause impotence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Internal radiation therapy, as compared to the external beam, emits radiation seeds that were implanted on the prostate. These seeds are powerful enough to kill cancer cells, but may be very painful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cryotherapy, according to the Prostate Cancer Institute website, is one of the newest therapies discovered in the 1990’s. The treatment utilizes the freezing of the prostate gland, destroying the whole organ, including the cancer cells that may be incorporated in the process. The process requires the patient to undergo general anesthesia, and is over in about two hours. The side effects experienced by the patient are usually treated after a few weeks. These may include urinary incontinence, pains in the pelvis, and swelling in the scrotum (2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Active surveillance, on the other hand, is yet the most simple among all treatments. The patient does not undergo a specific treatment, and instead is in close communication with the physician. This process includes regular tests and exams that monitor the health of the patients (2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Having to bear the pain of prostate cancer and the thought of actually dealing with the disease is heartbreaking for anyone. The best thing to avoid such heartbreaks is to try and avoid contacting the disease. According to the WebMD website, the consumption of food rich in fiber can be very beneficial in the prevention of the disease. These include the consumption of tomatoes, vegetables, and soy products. In addition to this, researches are being conducted in finding the correct preventive measures of prostate cancer. Some of these researches include the fact that the administration of a Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) helps in the protection of men from having prostate cancer. Another is the fact that drinking red wine also helps in the prevention of prostate cancer (July 24, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Regardless of what the effects of prostate cancer are, what is important is the fact that people, cannot avoid such disease. May they be Caucasians, Asians, or even African Americans; no one is exempted from having such. We all just have to take good care of our bodies, and of our lives. References (24 July 2006). Prostate cancer health center: Prostate Cancer-Prevention. Retrieved March 20,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008 from http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/tc/prostate-cancer-prevention.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   American Academy of Family Physicians. (2008). Prostate Cancer Treatment Options.   Ã‚   Retrieved March 20, 2008 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/cancer/treatment/264.html Intercultural Cancer Council. (2007). African Americans & Cancer. Retrieved March 20,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008 from http://iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts/cfs1.htm Strum, S.B., & Pogliano, D.L. (2005). A primer on prostate cancer: The empowered patient’s   Ã‚  Ã‚   guide. Life Extension Media. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate Marks, Sheldon. (2003). Prostate and cancer: A family guide to diagnosis, treatment and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   survival. Perseus Books Group. Grimm, P., Blasko, J., Sylvester, J. (2003). The prostate cancer treatment book.   Contemporary    Books. Prostate Disease. (2006). Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.prostatedisease.org/prostate_cancer/default.aspx Prostate Disease. (2006). Prostate Cancer- Causes and Risk Factors. Retrieved March 20,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008 from http://www.prostatedisease.org/prostate_cancer/risk_factors.aspx Prostate Cancer Institute. (2006). Cryotherapy for Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008    from  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.prostate-cancer-institute.org/prostate-cancer–  Ã‚  Ã‚   treatment/cryosurgery.html

Analysis of Robert Hayden’s poem “Those Winter Sundays” Essay

In â€Å"Those Winter Sundays† by Robert Hayden the story between the speaker and the father embraces the ideas of unseen love and the speaker’s regret. The poem is a result of the speaker’s reflection on his or her past experiences with his or her father. Hayden shows all the little things the father does, and how the speaker takes it for granted that the father just kind of did those things. Looking back, the speaker has now realized and understands what the father really had gone through for him. The descriptions Hayden uses expresses to the reader both the love of the father and the regret from the speaker’s reflection. Hayden goes into detailed explanations of examples of the father’s devoted love. His love isn’t shown through hugs and kisses, but through caring little things that bring happiness to the speaker’s day. This happiness can be seen by the regret the speaker shows when he says things like, â€Å"No one ever thanked him†(5). The father’s devotion is seen in lines 3-5, â€Å"with cracked hands that ached from labor in the weekday weather made banked fires blaze†(3-5). It is evident that the father, regardless of his own cares, makes the effort on those winter Sundays to try to make things a little easier for the speaker. Unseen by the speaker, the loving father has gotten up early and brought warmth into their home, and into the speaker’s day. Also, in line 12, â€Å"and polished my good shoes as well†(12), the feeling once again is presented of this father doing all he can to take care of the speaker, and show his love through his a ctions. This unseen love can also be noticed in the speaker’s thoughts. This poem is a reflection of his or her regret for not having been more thankful towards this man who cared so much for him or her. Once again line 5 shows us just how regretful the speaker was, â€Å"No one ever thanked him†(5). The use of the exaggerative word, ever, just shows how now the speaker has realized his folly and regrets not being more loving towards the father in turn. Also, in line 10 the word â€Å"indifferently† further points out the speaker’s realization. In the second to last line â€Å"What did I know, What did I know†(13), it seems like the speaker is almost scolding himself for this indifference. This line also especially exemplifies the speaker’s regrets. It almost seems like they’re are wailing over the fact that they had not  been more loving because of the repetition of the question. So, the unseen love of the speaker is not present directly in the poem’s text, but can be felt through further analyzation of the poem as one full of regret. Maybe the speaker had not realized this love do to the lack of communication between himself and the father. Line 9, â€Å"fearing the chronic angers of that house†(9) makes it seem like the father showed â€Å"tough love.† His intentions were always good, but maybe he pushed the speaker too hard and led to some lack in communication. This lack of a relationship with the father could be just another reason for the speaker’s regret. â€Å"Those Winter Sundays† presents both directly and indirectly the idea of unseen love. Directly when talking about the fathers actions, and indirectly through the reminiscing of the speaker. This poem in its entirety is about regret for taking for granted the love of the father, and not having returned that love, or shared a better relationship with the father.

LC Financing. Comparison between an Islamic and a conventional bank in Essay

LC Financing. Comparison between an Islamic and a conventional bank in Qatar - Essay Example It is a financial agreement – a secure mode of payment - between an importer and exporter for goods shipped (Finance). In Wall Street Words, David L. Scott defines a letter of credit as â€Å"a promise of payment in the event that certain requirements are met. A letter of credit essentially substitutes the credit of a third party (usually a large bank) for that of a borrower. In the case of municipal bonds, an LOC generally permits a trustee to draw six months' interest and sufficient funds to retire outstanding bonds at par in the event of default† (qtd. in Letter of Credit). Since L/Cs carry a risk for the issuing bank in case the client defaults, the bank assesses the client’s creditworthiness and financial position to evaluate his ability to pay in the future. In some cases, the bank may ask for a security to minimize chances of loss. There are various departments within the bank which cater to such analysis and evaluation in order to judge whether the custom er is worthy of providing credit or not. If the customer simply is asking for a letter of credit then the bank assumes responsibility for the traded goods coming into the country. In that case, checks and balances are even stricter and require that the customer is of extremely good credit worthiness based on which financing and LC facilities are then provided. Corporate and commercial banking departments are formulated where teams sit and evaluate companies for their creditworthiness as well as their capacity to pay back the loans that they have taken. Other departments that may be involved in this case may include Risk Management department, Credit management department, Commercial Banking and Audit as well as a committee that is formulated especially to evaluate credit packages that are developed through the corporate or commercial banking departments. (Islam). Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (UCP 600), issued by the International Chamber of Commerce, includes the latest rules which govern letter of credit transactions in international trade finance worldwide. What are  L/C finance contracts? There are various financial solutions offered by banks for trade financing. L/C finance contracts are one of them, with modern banks offering a wide range of L/C financing products to meet complex needs of traders. One of these is export contracts through which the exporter's bank extends a loan to him. Trade loans are regarded as an important trade finance technique. They are especially suitable for wholesalers and manufacturers as they can be utilized for both one-off and regular purchases of raw materials, goods, etc. The bank can extend finance until payment from the on-sale of goods is provided by the client (Barclays). L/C finance contracts in Islamic bank Muslim jurists believe that reward for capital needs to be linked to the outcome of any project if financing is being extended by the bank. They are of the view that gains should be made v ia trade involving sale and purchase (Hanif 3). Islamic banks have thus come up with alternate, Shariah-complaint financial solutions for customers as compared to conventional banks. Murabaha is one of the most commonly used principles in Islamic trade finance. It refers to: â€Å"†¦a contract of sale and purchase at a profit margin between the supplier and the purchaser of the good. The

Cultural Sensative Counseling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cultural Sensative Counseling - Essay Example 72). The ultimate goal is for the counselor to be â€Å"culturally sensitive† in that he/she â€Å"is aware of, shows recognition of, demonstrates some knowledge of, and expresses an interest in the client’s ethnic identity and cultural background† (Day 2008, p. 72). This is very important because conduct in one culture may be more distressing in another culture. For example, a Filipina student going against her parents’ choice of major may be more of an issue than for an American student. In other words, there is no universal prescription for dealing with all human beings’ problems (Day 2008, p. 72). Cultural sensitive interviews will help the counselor obtain the information necessary for narrowing the issues down to a specific culture. Therefore a cultural sensitive interview will begin by first determining the client’s first language. Language questions will seek to determine whether or not the client’s family or home speaks anothe r language or languages and what language or languages are used at home. The client’s feelings about whether his or her language is â€Å"standard English or nonstandard English† will also be queried at a cultural sensitive interview (Day 2008, p. 73). Secondly, the client will be questioned about family roles. Essentially, the counselor will attempt to determine what is expected of children within the family and how those expectations are modified throughout childhood to adulthood. Other questions about family roles will include information about whether or not adult children have to take care of their parents; the degree of authority that parents have over their adult children and adolescent children’s decisions; whether or not parents are strict and if the client follows their parents own â€Å"parenting style† (Day 2008, p. 73). The client will be questioned about sex/gender distinctions and roles. Specifically, the counselor attempts to determine cul tural beliefs relative to sexes and the degree to which those beliefs and distinctions are reflected within the client’s family. The counselor will also need to ascertain the client’s own feelings about those prescribed differences and roles. The counselor will also endeavor to obtain information about sexual orientation. More specifically, the counselor will attempt to determine the degree to which the client’s sexual orientation or the sexual orientation of others affects the client. Information about what the client learned about sexual orientation from the family and whether or not the client’s own concept of sexual orientation has been refuted (Day 2008, p. 73). Another area of query includea information about the client’s independence. Specifically, the counselor will be required to determine if the client firmly believes in â€Å"freedom from others’ influence†, or if co-dependence within the family or the community ranks highe r (Day 2008, p. 73). Questions about the spirituality and its influence on the client are also important. How the client’s culture defines success and how conflict is dealt with by the client’s culture are also important questions. Cultural and family history and its influence on the client are also important questions in a cultural sensitive interview. Questions about money, more specifically class status, economic objectives and the importance of wealth to the client’

Physician-Patient Communication Changed by Electronic Mail Exchange Annotated Bibliography

Physician-Patient Communication Changed by Electronic Mail Exchange - Annotated Bibliography Example It was estimated in 2004 than 64% of physician’s use email in their communications with staff, patients, colleagues and third-party payers. This study found that patients are often frustrated and upset with the difficulty they encounter when trying to reach a physician by telephone hence the increase in patients requesting physicians to use email as a communication method. Benefits for physicians allow them to respond at any time and at their convenience while also allowing templates to be provided that respond to certain questions regarding care. Patient Gateway was used as a pilot program in certain ambulatory clinics. Results indicated that physicians felt the program was a positive though limitations of the study were that physicians were not yet using direct general messaging and the sample size was relatively small. The majority of the European populations use the internet for health reasons; only 10% communicate with their physician this way. Two distinct suppliers of internet secure patient communication systems supplied a list of those offices that were currently using their system and of those offices 9 participated in this study.

Small Firms in UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Small Firms in UK - Essay Example For these reasons, small business industry is critical to UK economic development and social cohesion. They provide a medium for retirees and other potential unemployed persons to have gainful employment and contribute fully and independently to wider society. Small businesses have been contributing to employment and manufacturing since the 1960s. The increasing rates of self-employment have been attributed to; a parallel rise in rates of unemployment (e.g., retirees, unspecialised graduates); reductions in levels of unemployment benefits and government incentives; and the increasing importance of technology in the information service industry. In the early 1970s there were changes to the industrial structure across the globe of industrialised nations. Initially, the value of the small business decreased, but by the 1970s the structure of manufacturing saw dramatic changes and small firms began to provide better quality of products and services than larger corporations, particularly in areas of rapid technological changes (e.g., electronics). Over time, small firms began again to add value to the UK economy, and among many small businesses their rates of employment increased. So that there has been a significant shift in industrial structure back to the small firm amongst industrialised nations (Landstrom, 2005).The shift brought within environmental opportunities to be exploited by entrepreneurs with their innovations and business developments. Political discourse began to focus upon entrepreneurship, receiving support from Margaret Thatcher in the mid 1980s and strong policy was introduced to support small businesses and entrepreneurship. The research interest in small business increased during this period, and social scientists began to contribute to research directions and understandings. This has led to a strong multi-disciplinary approach to small business research in the UK today. (Landstom, 2005). During the 1990s the interest become more about growth orientated established businesses. Tony Blair took a much more narrow and focused approach to reforms as compared to Thatcher, targeting technology-based firms and socially inclusive entrepreneurship as ways to bring 'life' back to weak regions of industry (Landstrom, 2005). The present government provides most of the funding for research into small business dynamics and the contributions of such entities to the growth and strength of the UK nation. However, this also biases the areas that research goes into, what interests the government and this could counter advances in knowledge and processes. However, funding from the government does require the use of empirical investigative techniques, ethical considerations and a policy focus to research endeavours. With the consolidation of small business research there was a great support for entrepreneurship.As industrialised nations shift manufacturing sectors to less developed natio ns to lower the costs of production, the likelihood of unemployment has increased. This global shift in industry structure has fostered employment opportunities for some through small businesses (AusIndustry, 2006). Current trends of redundancy for older workers, such as those in middle management positions have seen some retirees adapting self

The Hiring Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Hiring Process - Essay Example Over time, employers will recognize that people are more likely to reveal their true self on social media while they mask themselves during interviews. A critical analysis of social media profiles of potential employees can help the employers create a link between the information presented during the interview and the facts surrounding the individual. Despite these advantages, employers will need to be cautious when using the social media in the hiring process so that they do not violate the established Communications Act (Segal 70). The only disadvantage of using social media during the recruiting process is that employers and human resource managers can easily find themselves violating laws that protect individuals. 2. Select one of the suggestions from the article and write a paragraph to convince top management where you work that the benefits of the remodel will outweigh the costs in terms of attracting potential employees. In my view, it will be beneficial if the top management ditches the cubicles that are small offices designated for each employee. Research reveals that employees prefer open spaces that allow them to interact freely. Many new employees will not feel comfortable if they are compelled to be confined in a small office without any form of direct interaction with their workmates. Introducing open spaces will benefit the organization, as employees will have an opportunity to share ideas. Moreover, open spaces will facilitate two-way communication channels a factor that will benefit the organization (Redbeacon.com 1). Contrary to the small cubicles, employees are more likely to feel free if they are working in non-congested areas with the free flow of air and the possibility to move around. Such environments are more conducive to creativity and

Emergent Technologies in Commercial Construction Essay

Emergent Technologies in Commercial Construction - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the need has arisen for solving urgent environmental problems that have been caused partially by an anthropogenic factor. The consequences of the greenhouse effects (such as gas emissions), the forthcoming and unavoidable insufficient fuel supply, and other related topics are causing intensifying energy concerns among the global community. The increasing use of renewable fuels has become an inevitable practice when facing the global energy crisis. Oil depletion makes oil extraction more difficult and expensive, which has forced many countries to search for alternative fuel sources and energy conservation strategies. Due to these threats, sustainability planning has become the primary agenda for the states who are facing an energy crisis and environmental problems caused by destructive human activity. Since sustainability increases the chances to survive in the context of a complex and changing environment, timely planning of activities to enhance alternative energy usage seems the most reasonable. This paper will present a framework to help organizations design sustainability plans, aided by discussion and analysis of innovative technologies and construction in real-life settings. The revelation of commercial construction and building technology innovations of the near future will also be discussed. There is a pronounced need to expand knowledge on commercial construction and energy, and on their influences on sourcing, building material use, construction processes, and interior/exterior design. In addition, the positive changes in the global construction patterns that can create a reliable and sustainable living environment will be predicted. The need for energy conservation and analysis of biomimicry advantages will be considered herein. The discussion of future energy delivery models will provide a solid basis for the analysis of innovative construction technologies. The essence of smart interface technologies will be revealed as this phenomenon promises future benefits for the sustainable construction and engineering fields. Information about future construction techniques and material implications will also be covered. Energy Conservation and the Benefits of Biomimicry Throughout the centuries, people have been producing energy from natural resources like fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, and oil, which are nonrenewable. Unfortunately, these natural resources take millions of years to form and humanity has not yet discovered any methods to accelerate this process. Moreover, energy production is a costly process that causes enormous time and financial losses for individuals and organizations (Ollhoff, 2010). In this context, the necessity for energy conservation is growing at an alarming rate. The current energy crisis is accompanied by increasing prices for energy supplies, shortages of fossil fuels and other natural resources, and a reduction of the number of power stations in some countries. It is obvious that in facing the current energy crisis, people are searching for effective sustainable practices to solve these new problems; however, finding them implies initial clarity about the intricacies of the energy crisis, its causes, manifestations, and possible consequences. To respond to the energy crisis, research and development programs, along with the corresponding agencies, are focusing on biomimicry as the method to solve specific problems by following the examples of certain processes in nature. Biomimicry is welcomed in numerous energy conservation programs (Brebbia & Carpi, 2010). However, one needs to deepen into the essence of all essential aspects of energy conservation in order to understand why biomimicry occupies a significant place in contemporary innovative construction technologies. Ollhoff (2010) noted that the problem of energy conserv