Laws governing joint ventures and competition

buy custom Homeland Security Management System essay

buy custom Homeland Security Management System essay It is of paramount significance that the operations of al Qaeda are understood. This is will make it possible for the authorities to make the necessary plans to counteract their operations. The Homeland Security management System has come up with a cycle consisting of four steps which makes it possible to counteract terrorism by putting up measures to prevent a terror activity and, in case it takes place, what steps are to be undertaken to avoid a similar occurrence. According to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive -8 which was issued in 2003 the homeland security should focus on the National Preparedness Guidelines (NPG). In order to ensure that all the stakeholders are being effective in the fight against terrorism, a new Homeland Security Management System has been put in place. The new management involves four phases (check the appendix diagram 1) which are aimed at continually and mutually reinforcing a cycle of activity (Bush, 2007, par. 8). The four phases are explain ed as below and are meant to counter the loopholes which the terrorists can use by training and preparing all the stakeholders involved. Guidance For the nation to effectively fight terrorism there will be a need for guidance to given from those who better understand how terrorism should be fought.Bush (2007) argues that the first phase encompasses the overarching homeland security guidance. Furthermore he writes that this phase is meant to ensure that all the directives are duly followed in a clarified manner to ensure that there is effectiveness in the fight against terrorism. This will involve at times the training of the stakeholders (Bush, 2007, par. 8). Well guided efforts are likely to bear fruits as they will be more effective. Planning Planning is an essential part of any project if the expected results have to be achieved. Apart from just guiding the efforts aimed at fighting terrorism, planning the fight is significant to ensure that the battle is won. According to Bush (2007), planning is positioned in the second phase. Bush (2007) indicates that this is aimed at making the homeland management system a dynamic system that is quite effective in executing its plans. At this the directives are to be translated into a way that will make the execution of the policies a possible process. All the stakeholders are informed on the planning issues (Bush, 2007, par. 9). This therefore will induce cooperation among the members who are involved in the fight against terrorism. The execution The planned efforts are to be executed in an orderrly manner. This stage is as important as the ones already covered above and as such should be given due attention. Bush (2007) lists execution as the third stage of the whole cycle. This phase involves the execution of the plans which were strategized to thwart strike attempts. This can be in form of an actual occurrence or in the form of an exercise prepared in order to prepare the stakeholder on how to respond in case of a similar event (Bush, 2007, par. 9). Executing the efforts which have planned is quite important as it helps to make the war against terrorism quite effective because it reveals the weak areas which ought to be worked on. Assessment and evaluation After the planned efforts have been executed, it becomes possible to make an evaluation which will make it possible for further recommendations to be made. According to Bush (2007), this forms the forth phase. This stage, as Bush (2007) argues, involves a continuous assessment and evaluation of exercises and operations. This stage is meant to measure the effectiveness of the plans with respect to response given to a testing exercise or an actual occurrence (Bush, 2007, par. 10). This therefore means that the homeland security management system is a dynamic project which keeps on changing with respect to changes and dynamism manifested by terrorism. Buy custom Homeland Security Management System essay

What the sub-editor saw - Emphasis

What the sub-editor saw What the sub-editor saw Hello, Im Cathy, and Im a sub-editor (scourge of the newsroom, pedant and dictionary botherer). As such, my job is to spot inaccuracies, correct typos, clean up grammar and write headlines. I spend most of my time working at the broadsheets, where the copy is of very high quality. Even so, there are still plenty of opportunities for words to go crazy and cause mayhem, as they have a way of doing. Ill be keeping an eye out while Im on my rounds, and reporting in to Emphasis from time to time on the mistakes I find. After all, what better way to learn than from the mistakes of others? (Far less painful than ones own!) This week From triplets to tautology, the wrong Teresa to the wrong Labour politician, heres a round-up of a few corkers I spotted this week. Youve probably heard the nursery rhyme As I was going to St Ives, I met a man with seven wives; each wife held seven sacks, each sack had seven cats Well, I was reminded of that when I spotted this sentence, which features a common tautology (tautology: using multiple words to describe the same thing). Farhana Shaukat, a mother of three triplets, gave a clue as to why the pupils were queuing up outside. They get bored with the holidays, she said. Three triplets? So how many were going to St Ives three or nine? Triplets only has one meaning: three children born at the same time. The addition of three is unnecessary, but surprisingly common (along with the other favourite two twins). Its not a big mistake, by any means. But its worth avoiding even if only for the reason that some stickler will always pick you up on it otherwise (erm, yes, thats me). Health risk Moving on swiftly, we go from an extraneous word to a missing word and this time, an important one. This is a good example of how one word can completely change the meaning of a sentence. And its so easy to do, especially when youre in full flow and thinking faster than you can write. The following was very nearly published as the headline to a piece on the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. Spot the missing word. World Trade Centre attacks left rescuers and bystanders with raised risk of physical and mental health, Lancet reveals Its not only missing words that can cause mischief letters can be equally troublesome. The following sentence has a letter missing. Can you spot it? The inquiry, ordered by Teresa May, is being carried out by Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary. Its an h. The home secretary is a Theresa, not a Teresa. Pah! you say. Thats just a typo, nothing to sweat over. And yes, thats fair. But a Teresa May does exist, and she has a profession that our Theresa probably wouldnt appreciate being associated with. Ahem. (Shes a porn star.) Lets play spot the letter again, in a similarly scandalous vein. This time, though, youre looking for an extra one, not a missing one. Ready? This month a 51-year-old officer will answer police bail after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public officer over alleged unauthorised leaks from the Operation Weeting phone-hacking inquiry. Misconduct in a whaaat? Madre mia! That should, needless to say, read misconduct in a public office. Brown, in the farmhouse, with the Okay, thats more than enough smut. Back to serious things. This final example is one of those mistakes that is terrifyingly easy to make when youve been working on something at length and suddenly your brain turns bad and attacks you. This came at the end of a very long and detailed story on Alistair Darlings new book, in which the words Brown and Darling occurred many times over, and always in the right place until That weekend, Brown reveals that he held a secret meeting with Miliband at a farmhouse in Essex. Grammatically, its fine. No typos, no dodgy apostrophes. So whats the problem? Simply that its wrong. It was Darling, not Brown, who revealed and attended the secret meeting and the scary truth is that no spellcheck can pick up that kind of (potentially libellous) mistake. The moral of the story? Proofread, proofread and proofread. Ideally, ask someone else to proofread for you and dont feel bad if they pick up errors. None of the mistakes Ive mentioned above were made through ignorance or stupidity simply through human error. We all make em. The best protection is knowing it. This is a guest blog post by Cathy Relf, a freelance sub-editor.

My Old Publisher Made Mistakes I Wouldnt Tolerate

My Old Publisher Made Mistakes I Wouldnt Tolerate "My old publisher made mistakes I wouldn't tolerate"  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ The story of Greg White's The Pink Marine Digital formats have opened countless new ways to publication for authors,  and if you aren't afraid of taking advantage of those, you can pretty much turn any situation in your favour. Greg White, author of The Pink Marine, came to Reedsy a month ago and told us he had left his publisher shortly after his first book's publication. Immediately, we thought "that's an interesting story for our blog!" So here's Greg sharing his experience with us, and his advice for newer authors.Hi Greg, thanks for being with us today! Let's jump into it: can you tell us a bit about your book and what made you leave your publisher?Thank you for having me, and helping with my book. Although I’ve been a TV writer for a while, The Pink Marine is my first memoir. Yet I always remember that I’m a United States Marine first –  and we strive for excellence. My book is important to me and I’m proud of it. My old publisher made mistakes that I wouldn’t tolerate – so I cancelled the contract. It was difficult; but as I write about in my book, nothing is easy but everything is possible.What were the main challenges from the point when you decided to leave your publisher?Reviews. He failed to get reviews in advance of publication, so it will be a struggle for me to convince media outlets to see the book as fresh meat. But we Marines†¦ love a good challenge. I’m getting good media response already.The book is new and I am tireless. I have every confidence that influential bloggers and other reviewers will find it story-worthy. Kirkus reviewed it (non-paid) and they call The Pink Marine â€Å"a heartwarming coming of age, inspiring memoir.† There’s a lot to discuss in the book. Not only do I write about my lifelong best friend (that I enlisted with) but also seventy other boys that I served with. I bet you find yourself in one of those characters. It has themes with global relevance and I wrote it with humor.You have actua lly set up your own imprint and are working with Ingram for the distribution. How did that happen?Yes, my imprint is AboutFace Books! Norman Lear writes my book’s foreword. He gave me my first job writing television. He taught me, among other things, to be nice to everyone. Ingram asked to meet me last year based on the Food Network show I host – food brings us all together, right? The day I left my publisher, I called Ingram to set up the imprint. They were enthusiastic and continue to be incredibly supportive. Ingram led me to Reedsy.Now, you came to Reedsy looking for a typesetter to create a print-ready file for Ingram. How did you choose your typesetter, and how did the collaboration go?I judged a book by its cover. I studied not only the experience and genre of each designer; but also their graphics. My designer  Jason Storey clearly was the best decision – his art blew me away. That he, and my book, turned out to be fantastic, is no surprise.Jason is fa st, thorough and precise. He’s smart and communicative. Those qualities are very important to me and he represents them all in the outstanding work he did on my book.What are your plans now for The Pink Marine in terms of promotion and marketing? And how is the book selling?Being a publisher helps when I reach out to TV and radio shows, magazines, newspapers, bloggers and reviewers. In my pitches, I’m able to speak about the book more in the third person. My pitch is: â€Å"How about a story on a guy that served six years as a U.S. Marine now serving up pie on Food Network?†I travel a lot and schedule bookstore appearances and local media well in advance.I’m as excited as I am grateful to report that the book is selling well, particularly the e-book. Everyone, and especially every veteran of the armed forces, has a story. This is mine. From my sales reports I notice British readers are snapping it up, proving the themes are universal. Facing challenges, b oth emotional and physical during our teenage years everyone in the world goes through that. In my case they shaved my head and gave me a rifle†¦. And humor always helps.I maintain a strong social media presence and built a fun and informative website www.thepinkmarine.com. I joined the affiliate program for every bookseller, so when buyers purchase the book from clicking the retailers via my site, I earn a fee (and it costs the buyer nothing extra).Next week I go in the studio to record the book for Audible. Having something new to promote helps. I want the book to exist in every format. Look, if it were possible, I’d bake it into a pie and serve it up personally.If you had to do it all over again, for a second book, would you look for an agent/publisher or would you go straight to â€Å"self-publishing†, using your imprint?I still have an agent, but unless I’m presented with a powerful marketing plan and generous profit participation from a traditional pu blisher, I’ll continue to publish under my imprint. Any prejudice or apprehension I had about driving down the self-publishing avenue was swept away in the first week of The Pink Marine’s sales reports.As you’ve experienced both â€Å"worlds†, what would be your main piece of advice for a debut author who is just finishing up their first manuscript?Ask for help; take advantage of the vast resources for authors. Through those, build your marketing platform with equal energy (and at the same time) that you’re writing your book. Adopt a U.S. Marine attitude and conquer both the creative and business sides. Relish in the support and camaraderie of other authors we are a community. And buy my book.You can find The Pink Marine on Amazon here, and Greg White's website here.Would you be ready to leave your publisher to self-publish? Or maybe you've done so already? Tell us about your experience, or ask Greg any question in the comments below!

DESCRIBE AN OBSTACLE YOU'VE OVERCOME AND HOW IT HAS DEFINED YOU Personal Statement

DESCRIBE AN OBSTACLE YOU'VE OVERCOME AND HOW IT HAS DEFINED YOU - Personal Statement Example Meanwhile, a 35-year old woman came to the centre with a 5-year old child. The woman was very upset because her child was crying due to a muscle strain. She needed urgent help from me but I had no idea how to deal with such problems. At first, I decided to ask the woman to wait for the physician for an hour. But looking at the condition of her child, I decided to take the challenge and provide treatment to the child by myself. So I recalled the lectures which my professor gave me in the class regarding treatment of muscle strains. I started the treatment by applying ice 5 to 6 times on the child’s affected muscle to reduce the swelling and pain. After I was done with applying ice, I did gentle stretching of the child’s affected muscle. The treatment really worked as the child stopped crying and started walking easily. My physician appreciated my performance when I told him in detail about the incident. This experience played a great role in developing my interest in becoming a professional physician after earning a high-level degree in the field of medical science. This experience also helped me gain a lot of confidence and I started working with more dedication and enthusiasm at the health care

Response Paper #3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Response Paper #3 - Essay Example The short story ‘Recitatif’ by Toni Morrison brings out the racial relations in America even after the country became free and slavery was system was destroyed. The story essentially focuses on the friendship between two girls of opposite races meeting as children. They meet at St. Bonny’s and are roommates. They are similar in many ways. The most ambiguous part is the identification of their race, which is not clearly mentioned for any of them. Initially it seems that Twyla is white and Roberta is black but later in the middle of the story it seems the opposite and then again the vision somewhat changes towards the end of the story. However after careful examination of the details one would say that Roberta is black. The most important part here is the racial difference. The difference is so severe that it is carried over to the children in schools. Towards the end of the story one finds the mothers (racially opposite groups) fighting for their rights. The story outlines the typical life style of an Afro-American girl who drops in and out of school and could not read. She (Roberta) is taken to drugs and wears large earrings, curls and has an appointment to meet Jimi Hendrix, a black singer. However when she meets Twyla after several years, she behaves coldly towards her. Later she explains it was because of the racial social structure –â€Å"Twyla, you know how it was in those days: black-white. You know how everything was† (Morrison, 255). The inner bonding between the two girls is quite strong and prominent but the social structure prevents them from free expression of the affection they share. They make it up in the end and Roberta, who accused Twyla of kicking a black woman Maggie (who perhaps was not black at all), clarifies her mistake to Twyla and explains that she need not carry the guilt anymore. The friendship

Homework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Homework - Essay Example aw imposed by John Adams, it was required to deliver the commissions who were selected by him, where one of the members of â€Å"Midnight Judges† was William Murbury. But the commissions were not legally accepted till John Adams was the president of US. When Thomas Jefferson had become president, he rejected to admire the commissions. It had been claimed that the commission was invalid as they had not been delivered by expiration of John Adam’s presidency (Landman, 2002). Therefore, William Murbery who was the proposed addressee of â€Å"Justice of The Peace† by means of commission smeared straightforwardly to the supreme court of US for an injunction of mandamus to induce the Secretary of State, James Madison in order to bring the commission. In the year 1803, the Supreme Court had rendered an undisputed decision that court did not possess the authority to deliver commission. This decision proved that court had lacked jurisdiction and it was the win for Democratic Republicans because the claim for injunction of mandamus had been rejected (Cornell University Law School, n.d.). The American system enjoys mutual authority among state, federal and local governments and comprises a requirement for collaboration, synchronization and communication. In the American system, the local government possesses the right to conduct responsibilities for dealing with any emergency or disaster. The federal government is intended to deliver economic support and resources, and state government acts on behalf of applying the federal rules and policies. Notably, the three main elements of American system are: Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, and Judicial Branch (The White House, n.d.). The executive branch is controlled by the governor who is straightforwardly elected by citizens of US. The other members of the executive branch are also designated by the public such as deputy governor, counsellor general, commissioners, and secretary of state among others. The legislative

Medtronic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medtronic - Essay Example Help analyse the underlying causes, strengths and weaknesses, market forces and factors that affect performance to determine the optimum objectives that the organization may target. Having briefly defined the role of the Board we look at how the Board of Directors of Medtronics has performed. Details provided in the case study paint a very positive picture of the proactive role that the Board has played in the success of the Company. It has done all that is required and gone several steps further. The role that the Board has played in strict adherence to the mission statement of the company and, in the drive of the company to excel in technology and quality initiatives is indeed commendable. The Board has been a friend and guide for management, evidenced by the comment of Bill George, "In addition to its traditional role of governance, the Medtronic board is very effective as a sounding board, to advise and consult with management on the challenges we face." (p1) or that of Earl Bakken, "As we have grown and evolved, we have leaned on our board of directors for their direction." (p3). The active interest that the Board has taken in the operations of the company, their focus on the long term, regardless of below par performance on the financial front, represent some of the peculiarities of the Medtronic board that may not be found in most companies. It is usual for boards to look at only financial performance for the quarter and stop at that. It is truly amazing to find a board that has such faith in the future of the company that temporary setbacks on the earnings per share (see performance results) have not led to the typical automatic reaction. As Bill George points out in his book "Authentic Leadership", the board was successful in grappling with the larger ethical issues of what an organization owes to the public and its employees beyond the narrow obligation to increase shareholder value. The relationship between the CEO, Bill George and the board are similarly cordial and mutual understanding and respect at a very high level exists. While the CEO handles operational management, he does not consider the careful watch that the board keeps

Behaviour of Democratic Leaders in organisation Research Paper

Behaviour of Democratic Leaders in organisation - Research Paper Example Organizational behavior addresses the study of how individuals, rather than organizations, behave within the organizational situation. The field of study devotes itself to understand, explain and consequently improve the behaviors and attitudes of people and groups within organizations. A leader who is democratic shares the vision and decision-making processes with others in an organization and promotes higher morale. Studies have shown that democratic leadership has the potential to lead to higher levels of commitment, involvement, satisfaction and productivity among followers (Lee & Rosenbloom 69). This project will research the democratic aspect of organizational behavior of leaders, using a company case study to put more emphasis on the findings. It will further address the problems and challenges facing democratic leaders and propose solutions. A democratic leader is the force behind the motivation and success of an organization. Underlying their behavior is a strong trait of se lf-efficacy, which is also referred to as the social cognitive theory. The democratic leaders apply these concepts to define different areas within the organizational framework. The single aspect that sets leaders with democratic behavior apart from other leaders is the sharing of the processing of making decisions (Choi 249). Democratic leaders focus on arriving at decisions through winning consensus. This is because whenever there is consensus, there is always a greater commitment to tactics, strategies and targets because trust is a key feature of this style of leadership, which correlates well with the conduciveness of the working climate. Even for leaders who are open enough to admit that they are not sure about what needs to be done, a pool of talented employees can contribute excellent input that will move the organization towards it goals (Montana & Bruce 149). The democratic leader understands that employees who have been supported and given time to grow in their careers ca n make efficient team members that understand the organizational culture. On the other hand, being autocratic only suppresses their potential, hindering their growth which is detrimental to themselves, the leader and the organization (Montana & Bruce 112). In the decision-making role of leaders, the democratic ones will acknowledge that as a process, perception is a concept all employees pass through in their everyday activities, in or out of the work setting. They recognize that when employees meet colleagues and other leaders and evaluate performances, pass judgments and ultimately make business decisions, it is their perception of those events that will inform the next action they take. Therefore, whether flawed or accurate, their perception is their reality. The distorting or causal factors to employees’ perception considerably affect the impact of organizational behavior and productivity. Unlike the autocratic or coercive leaders, a democratic leadership will influence i ts followers to shift from tendencies of developing perceptive shortcuts capable of inflecting both negative and positive effects in their making of judgments (George & Jones 31). Therefore, they model and integrate guidelines that direct team members in their processes of making decisions. Such models have an emphasis on shaping corporate perceptions. For instance, although not to mean that they lack authority, a democratic leader does not impose directives on followers. Rather, this style of lea

Cultural Oppression Essay Example for Free

Cultural Oppression Essay Women has come a long way from being the gods of the feminist society, oppression from the paternal Roman Catholic, and the continuous struggle to uplift itself from the discrimination in out society. Therefore it is not correct to say that â€Å"The world has evolved in a huge way, but for the groups that remained oppressed it does not seem like evolution has even touched them. † It seems a very narrow way of putting the struggle of women from centuries of oppression when in fact before World War I there were no women in the military, no women in college, no women in office, and no women in the library. Same goes for the homosexuals. There are already four states that allow same sex marriage in the United States and the world is not so unforgiving 50 years ago when homosexuals where killed. Indeed, homosexuals and women have come a long way and it is rather fitting that we recognize them in their accomplishments in pursuing their common good. I agree with Miss Johnson. This society is so bent on discrimination based on color when in fact African Americans are just as able as Caucasians in getting every job done. As long as there are equal opportunities for both races then there won’t be some dumb Joe lying around. We claim to be the most advanced nation in the world but it seems we still have prehistoric traces of slavery in our society. We still think that just because African Americans came to America as slaves then they are a backward race. What the people of America should remember that the very same slaves built this nation with their bare hands and they wouldn’t be slaves had we not made them that way. It seems that we have a double standard when we talk about freedom and liberty for all Americans. That shouldn’t be so because history has proven that it’s never a war of colors, it’s only a war of interests and power. The author mentioned about the struggling African Americans who are in the upper class. Well, money can’t erase prejudice from people especially the prejudice that is rooted in our history. That’s why the weak should fight for its liberation because nobody will save them from it but themselves. Reference

Marketing and Organisation’s Micro- and Macro-environment

Marketing and Organisation’s Micro- and Macro-environment Marketing Macro Organisation Marketing and the organisation’s micro- and macro-environments 1. The micro-environment The term micro-environment denotes those elements over which the marketing firm has control or which it can use in order to gain information that will better help it in its marketing operations. In other words, these are elements that can be manipulated, or used to glean information, in order to provide fuller satisfaction to the company’s customers. The objective of marketing philosophy is to make profits through satisfying customers. This is accomplished through the manipulation of the variables over which a company has control in such a way as to optimise this objective. The variables are what Neil Borden has termed ‘the marketing mix’ which is a combination of all the ‘ingredients’ in a ‘recipe’ that is designed to prove most attractive to customers. In this case the ingredients are individual elements that marketing can manipulate into the most appropriate mix. E Jerome McCarthy further dubbed the variables that the company can contr ol in order to reach its target market the ‘four Ps’. Each of these is discussed in detail in later chapters, but a brief discussion now follows upon each of these elements of the marketing mix together with an explanation of how they fit into the overall notion of marketing. 1.1 The ‘four Ps’ and the marketing mix The ‘four Ps’ stands for: Product Price Place and Promotion Product and price are obvious, but perhaps place and promotion need more explanation. Place, it is felt, might better be termed ‘placement’ because it comprises two distinct elements. The first element is channels of distribution that is the outlets and methods through which a company’s goods or services are sold. Thus a channel can be certain types of retail outlet or it can be salespeople selling a company’s industrial products through say a channel which comprises buyers in the chemical industry. The other part of place refers to logistics that relates to the physical warehousing and transportation of goods from the manufacturer to the end customer. Thus, placement might be a better descriptor as it refers to the placing of goods or services from the supplier to the customer. In fact, place has its own individual ‘mix’ which is termed the ‘distribution mix’. Promotion also has its individual ‘mix’ that is called the ‘promotional mix’. This comprises advertising, selling and sales promotion. In fact promotion is a misnomer, because in advertising agency circles the mention of promotion usually means ‘sales promotion’. Some writers are now separating selling away from promotion and calling it ‘people’ because it is too important an element of marketing to be lumped in with promotion, although in reality it is still promotion (through word of mouth). This fifth P (people) are those who contact customers on a regular basis with the objective of ultimately gaining orders and these people comprise the salesforce. We can thus see that selling is a component part of overall marketing. There are two more Ps for service marketing, but these are dealt with later. 1.2 Models of marketing Figure 1 attempts to sum up what is meant by marketing at a very simple level. In fact it is one of the earliest models ever attempted to explain the meaning of marketing. Information Firm Customer Operation Figure 1 Simple diagrammatic representation of marketing In Figure 1 we see information coming from customers to the supplying company. This information is noted and goods or services are supplied to customers in line with customer needs. The information flow represents an exchange of ideas whilst the operation flow represents an exchange of meanings. Figure 2 is perhaps a more precise diagram of what is meant by marketing and one which we can begin to understand from what has already been said. Marketing Sales Research Forecasting Buyer Behaviour Supplier Customer Product Price Distribution Promotion Personal Segmentation selling targeting positioning Channels Logistics Advertising Sales promotion Figure 2 Model of the process of marketing This more complex model better explains what we are now beginning to understand about marketing. The bottom line represents the elements of the marketing mix over which a company has control. These elements are manipulated in such a way as to best suit customers’ needs and tastes and this represents an operational flow where things have to be done in order to arrive at the optimum marketing mix. Remember that there are sub-mixes within the individual elements of the marketing mix. This bottom line also equates to the earlier notion of the four Ps, or rather the five Ps, as personal selling has been separated from promotion and becomes ‘people’. The top line represents an information flow from the market to the firm. Data is collected through discussions and interviews with customers on and informal and formal basis. A whole range of techniques is available for this process and this is collectively termed marketing research. A more advanced strategic model that incorporates marketing research is embodied in a marketing information system (MkIS) and this is dealt with in a later lecture. In addition, data is collected from customers in relation to their likely future purchases and this is known as sales forecasting. Another raft of techniques is available for the subject of sales forecasting which lies at the very heart of marketing and business planning. Thus we begin to see how marketing orientation works. Customers are the starting point and sales forecasting and marketing research determine their likely requirements and tastes. This information is processed internally within the organisation and products and promotional messages are devised to suit customers’ needs, to allay their purchasing fears and to reinforce their expectations. Goods and services are supplied as and when required in the quantities needed and when they are requested not later and not earlier. This latter point is reinforced, because modern marketing dictates that customers demand their goods as needed and this lies at the base of the latest notion of ‘just-in-time’ manufacturing which relates to raw materials and components. This is covered later in the text and it has tremendous implications for modern marketing. 1.3 The place of marketing alongside other elements of business Marketing is but one function within business. Arguably it is the most critical function because it interprets customers’ needs and requirements into products and services and repeat business without which a business cannot continue. In fact a modern view of marketing puts customers in the centre and marketing as the interpretative function surrounding the customer with other major functions of business around this as shown in Figure 3. The idea is that all functions of business should be geared towards the satisfactions of customers’ requirements and this has led to the new notion of customer care. Figure 3 The place of marketing in the modern organisation At a more traditional level, marketing is often found alongside other major functions within business and Figure 4 illustrates this relationship. This organisation chart does not, of course, refer to all business organisations and to a large extent it is the ‘ideal’ theoretical structure. Companies tend to evolve and develop in a non-textbook manner, and in practice many different organisation charts can be found as a result of all kinds of illogicalities that defy modern management thinking. Such illogical functions might well exist because of the forceful personality of a head of department, whose department has assumed a position of power within an organisation through his or her own personal disposition, and there is no managerial justification for putting it in such a position of power in line management. An example could be the material control department that might report direct to the managing director rather than being a sub-function within the purchasing depart ment. Another example, quite commonly found, is a situation where a sales director can be found in the line alongside a marketing director. In such a situation, it might be a forceful sales director in a sales driven organisation who will not assume the responsibility for marketing, but who is too powerful to put into a subordinate position under marketing. With this background in mind, a ‘textbook’ organisation chart might be as shown in figure 4 (next page): Board of directors (responsible for policy making) Company Secretary General Manager Corporate Strategy Production Marketing Research Development Purchasing Finance Human Resource Management Management Services (Computing) Figure 4 A Traditional Organisation Chart In this organisation chart we can see the place of marketing alongside other major functions of line management. At the top there is the board of directors who are responsible for giving the organisation its strategic direction. Members of the board are not necessarily full-time employees of the company. Indeed, in many larger companies, they tend to be from outside the organisation and the expertise they lend to the board can be on a variety of criteria. Such people might, for instance, be strategy experts, financial experts, people who lend distinction to an organisation (e.g. somebody with a title) and people who are there because they are on the board of directors of other companies and can bring a cross fertilisation of ideas, financial linkages and potential inter-firm dealings. The general manager is the person who translates policy into tactics and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company. In most companies the general manager is a member of the board of directors and in such cases his or her title would then be managing director. The company secretary is responsible for legal and administrative matters in addition to serving as the secretary to the board of directors. This person also ensures that board meetings take place at intervals stipulated in the company’s articles of association, and that policies that are decided are implemented. For this reason, the role of company secretary is a lateral relationship and is not in the line of command. This also applies to the relatively new function of corporate strategy whose function may be carried out by general management, but is often a separate, relatively small, function whose role it is to ensure that all subdivisions in the organisation have a plan (e.g. a marketing plan) and that each of these plans fits into the overall corporate plan without there being any mismatches (e.g. marketing might plan to market more than the firm can produce). The major line functions are responsible for translating strategy into tactics in terms of the organisation’s everyday operations and this includes such matters as manufacturing, training and recruitment, design and selling. As was discussed in the first chapter, marketing is a relatively modern function and it encompasses the function of selling (although as discussed earlier, in many organisations the two functions are sometimes separated). In many organisations, heads of these line functions are sometimes members of the board of directors in which case they would then have ‘director’ behind their title (e.g. marketing director, financial director). In such cases their responsibilities would cover both strategic matters (being a member of the board of directors) and tactical matters (being a functional head of department). 2 The proximate macro-environment The term macro-environment denotes all forces and agencies external to the marketing firm itself. Some of these forces and agencies will be closer to the operation of the firm than others, e.g. a firm’s suppliers, agents, distributors and other distributive intermediaries and competing firms. These ‘closer’ external constituents are often collectively referred to as the firm’s proximate macro-environment to distinguish them from the wider external forces found, for example, in the legal, cultural, economic and technological sub-environments. This consists of people, organizations and forces within the firm’s immediate external environment. Of particular importance to marketing firms are the sub-environments of suppliers, competitors and distributors (intermediaries). These sub-environments can each have a significant effect upon the marketing firm. 2.1 The supplier environment This consists of other business firms or individuals who provide the marketing firm with raw materials, product constituents, services or, in the case of retailing firms, possibly the finished goods themselves. Firms, whether they be retailers or manufacturers, will often depend on numerous suppliers. The buyer/supplier relationship is one of mutual economic interdependence, both parties relying on the other for their commercial well-being. Although both parties are seeking stability and security from their relationship, factors in the supplier environment are subject to change, such as industrial disputes which will affect delivery of materials to the buying company, or a sudden increase in raw material prices which forces suppliers to raise their prices. Whatever the product or service being purchased by the marketing firm, unexpected developments in the supplier environment can have an immediate and potentially serious effect on the firm’s commercial operations. Because of this, marketing management, by means of the marketing intelligence component of its marketing information system, should continually monitor changes and potential changes in the supplier environment and have contingency plans ready to deal with potentially adverse developments. 2.2 The distributive environment Much reliance is placed on marketing intermediaries such as wholesalers, factors, agents and distributors to ensure that their products reach the final consumer. To a casual observer, it may seem that the conventional method of distribution in any particular industry is relatively static. This is because changes in the distributive environment occur relatively slowly, and there is therefore a danger of marketing firms failing to appreciate the commercial significance of cumulative change. Existing channels may be declining in popularity over time, while new channels may be developing unnoticed by the marketing firm. Nowhere has this ‘creeping’ change been more apparent over recent years in the UK and other parts of the world than in the retailing of fast moving consumer goods (fmcg). In the 1960s well over half of all fmcg retail trade was accounted for in the independent sector plus a further large proportion to the Co-operative Societies. Nowadays, the sector represent ed by the larger food multiples has well in excess of this proportion. 2.3 The competitive environment Management must be alert to the potential threat of other companies marketing similar and substitute product whether they are of domestic or foreign origin. In some industries there may be numerous world-wide manufacturers posing a potential competitive threat and in others there may only be a few. Whatever the type, size and composition of the industry, it is essential that marketing management has a full understanding of competitive forces. Companies need to establish exactly who their competitors are and the benefits they are offering to the market. Armed with this knowledge, the company will have a greater opportunity to compete effectively. 3 The wider macro-environment Changes in the wider macro-environment may not be as close to the marketing firm’s day-to-day operations, but they are just as important. The main factors making up these wider macro-environmental forces fall into four groups. Political and legal factors Economic factors Social and cultural factors Technological factors (Often referred to as the ‘PEST’ factors in the marketing analytical context, a useful aide-memoire, although in some texts it is sometimes referred to as ‘STEP’). To this is sometimes added ‘Competitive factors’ and although ‘PEST’ analysis relates to a specific organisation ‘Competitive factors’ tend to be subsumed under ‘Economic factors’. Such a PEST analysis means listing all possible points that may affect the organisation under review under each of the P.E.S.T. headings. Recently, some texts have added ‘L’ (standing for legal) and ‘E’ (standing for environmental) to this classification, making the acronym ‘PESTLE’. Even more recently, some writers have incorporated yet another ‘E’ (standing for ecological) with the new acronym ‘STEEPLE’. 3.1 The political and legal environment To many companies, domestic political considerations are likely to be of prime concern. However, firms involved in international operations are faced with the additional dimension of international political developments. Many firms export and may have joint ventures or subsidiary companies abroad. In many countries, particularly those in the so-called ‘Third World’ or more latterly termed ‘Developing Nations’, the domestic political and economic situation is usually less stable than in the UK. Marketing firms operating in such volatile conditions clearly have to monitor the local political situation very carefully. Many of the legal, economic and social developments, in our own society and in others, are the direct result of political decisions put into practice, for example the privatization of state industries or the control of inflation. In summary, whatever industry the marketing firm is involved in, changes in the political and legal environments at both the domestic and international levels can affect the company and therefore needs to be fully understood. 3.2 The economic environment Economic factors are of concern to marketing firms because they are likely to influence, among other things, demand, costs, prices and profits. These economic factors are largely outside the control of the individual firm, but their effects on individual enterprises can be profound. Political and economic forces are often strongly related. A much quoted example in this context is the ‘oil crisis’ caused by the Middle East War in 1973 which produced economic shock waves throughout the Western world, resulting in dramatically increased crude oil prices. This, in turn increased energy costs as well as the cost of many oil-based raw materials such as plastics and synthetic fibres. This contributed significantly to a world economic recession, and it all serves to demonstrate how dramatic economic change can upset the traditional structures and balances in the world business environment. As can be seen, changes in world economic forces are potentially highly significant to marketing firms, particularly those engaged in international marketing. However, an understanding of economic changes and forces in the domestic economy is also of vital importance as such forces have the most immediate impact. One such factor is a high level of unemployment, which decreases the effective demand for many luxury consumer goods, adversely affecting the demand for the industrial machinery required to produce such goods. Other domestic economic variables are the rate of inflation and the level of domestic interest rates, which affect the potential return from new investments and can inhibit the adoption and diffusion of new technologies. In addition to these more indirect factors, competitive firms can also pose a threat to the marketing company so their activities should be closely monitored. It is therefore vital that marketing firms continually monitor the economic environment at both domestic and world levels. Economic changes pose a set of opportunities and threats, and by understanding and carefully monitoring the economic environment, firms should be in a position to guard against potential threats and to capitalize on opportunities. 3.3 The socio-cultural environment This is perhaps the most difficult element of the macro-environment to evaluate, manifesting itself in changing tastes, purchasing behaviour and changing priorities. The type of goods and services demanded by consumers is a function of their social conditioning and their consequent attitudes and beliefs. Core cultural values are those firmly established within a society and are therefore difficult to change. They are perpetuated through family, the church, education and the institutions of society and act as relatively fixed parameters within which marketing firms are forced to operate. Secondary cultural values, however, tend to be less strong and therefore more likely to undergo change. Generally, social change is preceded by changes over time in a society’s secondary cultural values, for example the change in social attitude towards credit. As recently as the 1960s, personal credit, or hire purchase as is sometimes known, was generally frowned upon and people having such arrangements tended not to discuss it in public. Today, offering instant credit has become an integral part of marketing, with many of us regularly using credit cards and store accounts. Indeed, for many people it is often the availability and terms of credit offered that are major factors in deciding to pu rchase a particular product. Marketing firms have also had to respond to changes in attitude towards health, for example, in the food industry people are now questioning the desirability of including artificial preservatives, colourings and other chemicals in the food they eat. The decline in the popularity of smoking is a classic example of how changes in social attitudes have posed a significant threat to an industry, forcing tobacco manufacturers to diversify out of tobacco products and into new areas of growth. Changes in attitudes towards working women have led to an increase in demand for convenience foods, ‘one-stop’ shopping and the widespread adoption of such time-saving devices as microwave cookers. Marketing firms have had to react to these changes. In addition, changes in moral attitudes from the individualism of the ‘permissive society’ of the 1960s and early 1970s to the present emphasis on health, economic security and more stable relationships, are all contributory factors to a dynamically changing socio-cultural environment that must be considered by companies when planning for the future. 3.4 The technological environment Technology is a major macro-environmental variable which has influenced the development of many of the products we take for granted today, for example, television, calculators, video recorders and desk-top computers. Marketing firms themselves play a part in technological progress, many having their own research department or sponsoring research through universities and other institutions, thus playing a part in innovating new developments and new applications. One example of how technological change has affected marketing activities is in the development of electronic point of sale (EPOS) data capture at the retail level. The ‘laser checkout’ reads a bar code on the product being purchased and stores information that is used to analyse sales and re-order stock, as well as giving customers a printed readout of what they have purchased and the price charged. Manufacturers of fast-moving consumer goods, particularly packaged grocery products, have been forced to respond to these technological innovations by incorporating bar codes on their product labels or packaging. In this way, a change in the technological environment has affected the products and services that firms produce and the way in which firms carry out their business operations. 4 Other macro-environmental factors The macro-environmental factors discussed are not intended to be an exhaustive list, but merely to demonstrate the main areas of environmental change. Other sub-environments may be important to marketing management, for example, in some countries the religious environment may pose an important source of opportunities and threats for firms. In the UK, demographic changes are considered important by a number of firms. In general, the UK population has been stable at approximately 56 million for a number of years, but the birth rate is falling, while people are living longer. Firms that produce goods and services suitable for babies and small children (e.g. Mothercare) have seen their traditional markets remain static or decline slightly. Such companies have tended to diversify, offering products targeted at older age groups. A larger older sector of the population offers opportunities for firms to produce goods and services to satisfy their particular needs. The over-55 age group is the modern marketer’s current major opportunity. In all advanced economies such as the Australia, UK and USA it is this age group that has the largest disposable income, and special products and services such as holidays and pension-related financial services are being marketed to this sector. 5 Summary The company’s micro-environment has been discussed in terms of variables over which it has control relevant to the marketing mix. This led to a description of marketing and its various sub-divisions including information from the market-place in terms of forecasting and marketing research. Marketing was then looked at alongside other business functions and its place in line management was noted. The company’s proximate macro-environment was then examined under supplier, distributive and competitive environment environments and finally the wider macro-environment was examined under the headings: political and legal, economic, socio-cultural and technological environments. This can best be summed up by looking what has been covered in terms of a number of layers in the environment from customers, to marketing and resources of the company, to the organisation’s proximate macro-environment and finally to its wider macro-environment. This is illustrated in Figure 5. Figure 5 An Organisation’s various environments The outer layer consists of the wider macro-environmental PEST factors. The next layer concerns the proximate macro-environment factors cited under section 2. This also includes the organisation’s ‘publics’ that is a public relations term dealt with later, but which essentially means any group of individuals who are affected by or are in touch with the company in any context (e.g. those who supply finance or those who live near the company’s manufacturing plant). The next layer is the organisation’s strategic marketing planning and control system. The tactics that deliver the strategy are the four Ps and these are in the next layer. The final inner circle is the most important and it is customers from which all planning must start. The phrase of being a ‘customer led’ organisation is at the very heart of marketing orientation and indeed tactics of customer care help to cement long term customer relationships.

Psychosocially Therapeutic Aspects of The Old Man and the Sea by Heming

Psychosocially Therapeutic Aspects of The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway This exceptional story should be used as a therapeutic aid for hopeless and depressed people who needed a powerful force for continuing struggles of life against fate. They should say as the boy Manolin, "I'll bring the luck by myself." In the story the old man tells us "It is silly not to hope...besides I believe it is a sin." Hemingway draws a distinction between two different types of success: outer-material and inner-spiritual. While the old man lacks the former, the importance of this lack is eclipsed by his possession of the later. He teaches all people the triumph of indefatigable spirit over exhaustible resources. Hemingway's hero as a perfectionist man tells us: To be a man is to behave with honor and dignity, not to succumb to suffering, to accept one's duties without complaint, and most importantly to have maximum self-control. At the end of the story he mentions, "A man is not made for defeat...a man can be destroyed but not defeated." The book finishes with this symbolic sentence: "The old man was dreaming about lions." It is a psychological analysis of Hemingway famous story that we have used it as a psychotherapeutic aid for hopeless and depressed people and also psychological victims of war in a more comprehensive therapeutic plan. The first sentence of the book announces itself as Hemingway's: "He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish" . The words are plain, and the structure, two tightly-worded independent clauses conjoined by a simple conjunction, is ordinary, traits which characterize Hemingway's literary style. Santiago is the protagonist of the novella. He is an old fisherman in Cuba who, when we meet him at the beginning of the book, has not caught anything for eighty-four days. The novella follows Santiago's quest for the great catch that will save his career. Santiago endures a great struggle with a uncommonly large and noble marlin only to lose the fish to rapacious sharks on his way back to land. Despite this loss, Santiago ends the novel with his spirit undefeated. Some have said that Santiago represents Hemingway himself, searching for his next great book, an Everyman, heroic in the face of human tragedy, or the Oedipal male unconscious trying to slay his fat... ...session of the later. One way to describe Santiago's story is as a triumph of indefatigable spirit over exhaustible material resources. As noted above, the characteristics of such a spirit are those of heroism and manhood. That Santiago can end the novella undefeated after steadily losing his hard-earned, most valuable possession is a testament to the privileging of inner success over outer success. Triumph over crushing adversity is the heart of heroism, and in order for Santiago the fisherman to be a heroic emblem for humankind, his tribulations must be monumental. Triumph, though, is never final. Hemingway vision of heroism is Sisyphean, requiring continuous labor for quintessentially ephemeral ends. What the hero does is to face adversity with dignity and grace, hence Hemingway's Neo-Stoic emphasis on self-control and the other facets of his idea of manhood. What we achieve or fail at externally is not as significant to heroism as the comporting ourselves with inner nobility. As Santiago says, "Man is not made for defeat....A man can be destroyed but not defeated" . Works Cited: Hemingway, Ernest (1952). The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.

The Ground Work Trust :: Papers

The Ground Work Trust The first Groundwork Trust was established 21 years ago on Merseyside. Seventeen years later, there are 44 independent Groundwork companies all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland, each with charitable objectives to bring social and economic regeneration into areas of need. The Groundwork approach has also been adopted in Japan and the USA where the National Park Service is supporting a growing number of Trusts. Groundwork's purpose is "to build sustainable communities through joint environmental action". They do this by getting residents, businesses and other local organisations involved in practical projects that improve the quality of life, bring about regeneration and lay the foundations for sustainable development . The Projects of the Ground Work Trust aim to improve things in three ways: - creating opportunities for people to learn new skills and take local action - creating better, safer and healthier neighbourhoods - helping businesses and individuals fulfill their potential The Groundwork Trust recognises that people, places Photo - Communitiesand (www.Groundwork.org.uk ) prosperity are inextricably linked and so aims to design projects that bring benefits for all three at once. They believe this integrated approach is vital if we are to bring about sustainable development - 'meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs' In 2000-2001 Groundwork spent  £76 million on practical regeneration projects. We received money from the following sources: * UKGovernment and national assemblies* -  £14.2 million (18%) * Private sector -  £16.5 million (22%) * Local authorities -  £13.3 million (17%) * European Union -  £10.7 million (14%) * National Lottery -  £6.2 million (8%) * Other regeneration funding (RDAs, SRB etc) -  £16.3 million (21%) Last year Groundwork received a central grant of  £7.7 million from the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR). The money was spent as follows: * Physical environmental improvements -  £44 million (58%)

Memorial Day

Day is a day of remembrance for those who perished while serving In the military, a day to honor the soldiers who died while defending America. Our three day weekend in May is a wonderful time to get together with friends and family. To most of us, Memorial weekend it means no school/work and an extra day off. Memorial Day is so much more than a day off to have fun. Most students do not really even understand why they get school off; a lot of adult use this time for cookouts or parties.Memorial Day is a day where we, as Americans, should honor our fallen soldiers. Hardly anyone actually honors the soldiers by going to the parades/ceremonies In their communities. We owe It to the dead to honor their memory. The people who died for our Ideals and for their values were ordinary men and women who left the safety of their homes to fight to ensure Justice and protect our country. Brave Individuals gave their time, strength, and effort to protect our country and all that It stands for.In do ing so, countless men and women who were treasured by many, eve lost their lives Their hard work and sacrifice for our nation is sometimes taken for granted: the heroic men and women who have died fighting for our freedoms must be remembered. We take for granted their sacrifices; we should take effort in reminding ourselves of the individuals who lost their lives for us. Memorial Day is a day to honor and thank all the American soldiers who have sacrificed their lives.As Americans, we should show respect for the fallen and honor them for their courageous acts of bravery. Although we may not realize it, freedom is tot free. Freedom comes with a huge price, sometimes that price being life. It is not easy to be willing to take your own life for not Just your own rights, but for the rights of a whole nation. Memorial Day is not a day to have fun and party, but a special time to remember those who showed such devotion to our country to give up their lives for it, a time to remember these heroes. Our dedicated soldiers deserved to be remembered.Our dedicated military force is the reason why we are able to stand here today with the redeems we have, and why we are able to live with so many liberties. Our rights should never be taken for granted; we should be thankful for those who have paid the price for them. We should give thanks to all the heroes for their sacrifices, spreading gratitude. Memorial Day should be a day to reflect and be grateful. We can express our gratitude by attending local parades or Memorial Day events and pray for the families of the fallen soldiers to really understand the sacrifices they have made for us and our country.Memorial Day By preferable 21 Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who perished while serving in Hardly anyone actually honors the soldiers by going to the parades/ceremonies in their communities. We owe it to the dead to honor their memory. The people who died for our ideals and for their values were ordinary men an d women who left the individuals gave their time, strength, and effort to protect our country and all that it for granted; the heroic men and women who have died fighting for our freedoms

Ancient Religion vs Modern Religion Essay

There are many differences between an ancient religious viewpoint of the Greeks and Romans and a modern world religion viewpoint. I feel that the most distinguishing difference and the difference that I feel makes the biggest impact is that in a modern world religion society believers say there is one God or that the religions today are monotheistic, whereas in the ancient religions we have studied in class citizens say and believe there are multiple gods or were polytheistic. For example the Greeks believed in twelve gods such as Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo, and Artemis. They all had names other than just God. This difference is obviously very apparent. In the ancient Greek religion there are gods for everything including grain, the moon, and the underworld; of these gods one is more powerful than the others but they have all power. For each element of the world they lived in, there was a god assigned to each. These gods were both male and female, had relationships with each other, and many had equal power. I like the idea that a specific god was worshipped for each separate element and piece of their world, and not just one god was worshipped for everything. I feel it made the society stronger and more balanced. Today in Christianity and other modern religions, it is believed there is one God who rules all. He created everything, hears all things, sees all things, and basically is everywhere. In ancient religion, the gods were both male and female. This showed that both males and females had power and it was believed that both genders were capable of creating, and worth worshipping. Versus Christianity, where the God is simply a male, and there is no woman god. The worship of many gods meant that the citizens of ancient worlds understood that one person or being should not hold all of the power and that power should be equal. It provided a balance to the society. Today in religion all of the power rests on one being. This just seems silly. In ancient religion it was spread among many beings. This difference leads to other differences between ancient religions and modern world religions. One other difference is that today God has to be everywhere and has to be all knowing. In ancient religions the gods lived on Olympus, woods, and other scared places. They were scattered throughout the world to ensure that the world functioned properly. Another difference I feel comes from the difference in being monotheistic and polytheistic is that today God is pure and has a wholesome character that is essentially perfect with good morals. God does not have imperfections like humans do. But in ancient religion the gods had the personalities of humans and were not so perfect. This difference I think attributes that humans don’t know why God behaves the way he does or does the things he does, but when the ancient gods would act like humans, they knew why, they shared the same emotions and personalities. For example Demeter felt the pain of loss when Persephone went to the underworld, this is indeed similar to the sadness a woman gets when she can’t have children or when all of her children have left the nest. One more difference that arises between modern world religions and ancient religions is that today God is abstract and must be all things to all people and is seen as a parent to protect humans. In ancient religions the many gods were seen more as divine beings who just made the earth better but frequently punished the humans and well didn’t really like the mortals. One final difference between modern world religions and ancient religions is that in a modern religion God created nature and can control nature but is never nature. God is never the sun, he is never the rivers. In ancient world religions the gods were nature, and they controlled nature as well. Ancient gods are sometimes seen as a personification of different elements of nature itself. The most important difference among the ancient religions and modern world religions is that ancient religions were mostly polytheistic and modern world religions are monotheistic. This main difference creates many more differences among the religions of different periods and creates a boundary that is clearly drawn between the religions of the ancient world and modern world religions. The gods of ancient worlds reflect the humans’ personalities, thoughts, and the balance of power they strive for in the world, and God represents perfection, good morals, and everything humans wish they could be. This main difference is fundamentally the difference that builds and creates other differences between ancient religions and modern world religions.

Scientifc Method Lab 1

3/22/2013 Lab 1- The scientific method In this lab I am learning about the steps of the scientific method and how it can be applied to daily life. In my first exercise I analyzed data presented to me in a table (table 2) on fish population in relation to the amount of dissolved oxygen ( ppm ) in the water. The patterns indicate that when more dissolved oxygen (ppm) is present in the water, the number of fish observed increases. In developing a hypothesis for this theory, I have decided that if the amount of dissolved oxygen (ppm) is added to the water, then more fish we be observed, than water without adding dissolved oxygen to the water.My approach would be to devise an experiment in which the amount of dissolved oxygen (ppm) can be changed in a controlled manner, then measure and record the changes. My independent variable would be the amount of dissolved oxygen (ppm) in the water, while the dependent variable would be the amount of fish present. The control I would use in this spe cific experiment would be the temperature of the water. I would graph this data using a bar graph because the results I am comparing are not representative in a continuous series, and doesn’t include dates, or days that samples are taken.The results are independent from each other. When presenting the data from table 2: Water Quality vs. fish Population, I would use a bar graph using the number of fish observed on the horizontal, and the amount of dissolved water (ppm) vertical. Such as in the graph presented in figure 4: Top speed for cars. The data presented in my graph would show that when higher amounts of dissolved oxygen (ppm) are present, the higher the quantities of fish are observed. In exercise 2 , I have determined that number 1,5 and 10 are testable, while 2,3,4,6,7, and 9 are not testable. . When a plant is placed on a window sill, it grows faster than when it is placed on a coffee table in the middle of the living room. Hypothesis: If the plant is placed on the window sill and getting more sunlight, then I will grow faster than the plant placed on the coffee table in the middle of the living room where it receives less sunlight. Null Hypothesis: If I place the plant on the window sill, it will grow at the same rate as the plant on the coffee table. My approach would be to create an experiment where the amount of sunlight can be changed in a ontrolled manner, then measure and record the results. The independent variable would be the amount of sunlight the plants are exposed to, while the dependent variable would be the amount of growth of the plants. My controls could be the amount of water given to each plant, the humidity, or the time of day, to name a few. I would collect my data by recording the amount of time each plant is exposed to sunlight, and measuring the amount of growth each day. The data would then be presented using a line graph, representing growth in height, by day, Day 1, day 2, day 3 and day 4. separate lines will represe nt each plant. One line with sun light and another line without sunlight. My data will then be taken and analyzed from the tests, documentation and recordings done daily. Then I would use the data to support or nullify the hypothesis. 5. When Sally eats healthy foods and exercises regularly, her blood pressure is lower than when she does not exercise and eats fatty foods. Hypothesis: If Sally eats healthy foods and exercises, then her blood pressure will be lower than if she does not exercise and eats fatty foods.Null hypothesis: If Sally eats healthy foods and exercises her blood pressure will be the same as if she does not exercise and eats fatty foods. My approach would be to record blood pressures for one week while not exercising and eating fatty foods. Then I would record blood pressures the following week while exercising and eating healthy food. The dependent variable will be blood pressure while the independent variable will be exercise, what kind of food eaten such as heal thy versus fatty.The control variable would be the intensity of exercise and the time of day eating the foods. I would collect my data by keeping a log of daily blood pressures. Also I would log the amount of exercise and what food is being eaten. In presenting the data I would use a graph showing the blood pressure trends. Analyzing the data with given results of the tests, and other support or nullify the hypothesis. 10. Ice cream melts faster on a warm summer day than on a cold winter day. Hypothesis: If it is a warm summer day then ice cream will melt faster than it would on a cold winter day.Null hypothesis: If ice cream melts on a warm summer day, then it will melt just as fast on a cold winter day. My approach would be to record the amount of time it takes for ice cream to melt on both warm summer days and on cold winter days. The dependent variable would be the amount of time it takes for ice cream to melt, while the independent variable would be the type of day, warm summer day, or cold winter day. The control would be the amount of ice cream and the type of ice cream.I would collect my data by recording the type of day and the amount of time it takes for the ice cream to melt. I would then present it by using a bar graph to compare. Analyzing the data is achieved by using all the data collected and either support or nullify the hypothesis. An example of using the scientific method to an everyday problem would be saving money on a utility bill. Unplugging all unused appliances and turning off lights when not in use to cut back on the bill. I could test this by using the scientific method and performing experiments to support or nullify my hypothesis.

Military Health Care essays

Military Health Care essays Military health care has been a hotly debated issue within the popular press and among politicians for the last ten years. This is as a result of the development of programs that government military health care, in a privatized manner, and the attempt to cut costs in doing so. ("Relations with Non-Federal Entities Outline," 2001) The Department of Defense operates one of the largest and most complex health-care organizations in the nation. Including their overseas facilities, the Army, Navy, and Air Force operated about 465 military treatment facilities (MTFs) in 1999, including 91 hospitals and 374 clinics (U.S. General Accounting Office, 1999b).The beneficiary population consists of approximately eight million active duty personnel, retirees, survivors, and their dependents. Their care is provided through a program called TRICARE, which offers both managed-care and fee-for-service options. TRICARE managed-care providers include the MTFs and a network of civilian providers administered through regional contracts with civilian managed-care organizations. The fee-for-service option also covers care provided by civilian providers who have not joined the network. (Hosek The adequacy of availability for standard care as well as combat or on duty injuries and illness care is questioned all over the nation, as many individuals claim difficulty in access and high cost as barriers to receiving even the most basic care, including follow up care for injuries sustained in the line of duty. The challenges to veterans benefits seem to be even greater, but budget manipulations are occurring that may in the long run and short run seriously damage the system, that has been so highly prized as an essential benefit to soldiers since the civil war. Once again the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and other members of the Military Coalition are having to gear up to fight the Pentagon's attempts to tripl...

How to Identify the Common Black Walnut Tree

How to Identify the Common Black Walnut Tree Black walnut trees (Juglan  nigra) are found throughout much of the central-eastern part of the U.S., except in the far northern and far southern part of this range, but familiar elsewhere from the East Coast into the central plains. They are part of the general plant family Juglandaceae, which includes all the walnuts as well as hickory trees. The Latin name, Juglans, derives from Jovis glans, Jupiters acornfiguratively, a nut fit for a god. There are 21 species in the genus that range across the north temperate Old World from southeast Europe east to Japan, and more widely in the New World from southeast Canada west to California and south to Argentina. There are five native walnut species in North America: black walnut, butternut, Arizona walnut and two species in California. The two most commonly found walnuts found in native locations are the black walnut and butternut.   In its natural setting, the black walnut favors riparian zonesthe transition areas between rivers, creeks and denser woods. It does best in sunny areas, as it is classified as shade intolerant.   The black  walnut  is known as an  allelopathic tree: it releases chemicals in the ground that may poison other plants. A black walnut can sometimes be identified by the dead or yellowing plants in its vicinity.   It often appears as a kind of weed tree along roadsides and in open areas, due to the fact that squirrels and other animals harvest and spread the nuts. It is often found in the same environment as silver maples, basswoods, white ash, yellow-poplar, elm and hackberry trees.   Description Walnuts are specifically deciduous trees, 30 to 130 feet tall with pinnate leaves containing five to 25 leaflets. The actual leaf is attached to twigs in a  mostly alternate arrangement and the leaf structure is  odd-pinnately  compound- meaning that the leaves consist of an odd number of individual leaflets that attach to a central stem. These leaflets are serrate or  toothed.  The shoots and twigs have a chambered pith, a characteristic that can quickly confirm the trees identification when a twig is cut open. The fruit of a walnut is a rounded, hard-shelled nut. Butternuts are similar, but  this type of native walnut has oblong  ridged  fruits that form in clusters. The leaf scars on butternut have a hairy top fringe, while walnuts do not. Identification When Dormant During dormancy, the black walnut can be identified by examining the bark; the leaf scars are seen when leaves are pulled away from branches, and by looking at the nuts that have fallen around the tree. In a black walnut, the bark is furrowed and dark in color (it is lighter in butternut). The leaf scars along twigs look  like an  upside-down shamrock with five or seven bundle scars. Beneath the tree, you usually find whole walnuts or their husks. The black walnut has a  globose nut (meaning it is roughly globular or round), while the nuts on the butternut tree are more egg-shaped and smaller.

An Ethnic Experience Essays

An Ethnic Experience Essays An Ethnic Experience Essay An Ethnic Experience Essay For some people, Yelp is a way to see how well a new restaurant down the street is rated. For me, Yelp is a way of life. My curiosity, appreciation for technology and innate love for food have made me into somewhat of a foodie. Its one of my better qualities. But, it also left me slightly stumped when I eceived this assignment to eat at a restaurant whose culture I hadnt already experienced. After some serious brainstorming and a bit of in-class homework, I finally came upon an ethnic restaurant that had slipped through my fingers until then. Im glad it took me this long, because this assignment left me with a newfound love- Ethiopian Food. Of the details that really hang in my mind, one was definitely the mood of the restaurant. I went to Abyssinia Ethiopian Cuisine, a small unassuming place next to an ethnic market on a small street in Anaheim. I would ave missed it, had I not been looking for the address. We parked in the first stall next to the door and went in about half an hour before close. A wave of deliciously spiced air greeted me and my boyfriend as an older lady with an enormous smile walked us into the next room and offered any seat in the house. Every table had a simple tablecloth, a vase and a single flower. The walls were covered with paintings, prints and the occasional mirror. At the back of the room, there was a table about two feet tall curiously topped with eight small cups and accompanied by a stool. I could not make out if it was for children to sit at or an offering table similar to those in some Asian cultures. Music played softly and I could not help but notice the similarities to the little Indian music IVe heard, though this was certainly more soothing and relaxing. The lights were low and the ambiance was gentle, welcoming and ethnic at every turn. The menu was our next challenge once we found seats. I looked over the entirety of the options about 3 times before I admitted that I didnt even know how to pronounce the first entr? ©e. Every dish had an ethnic name and ibs sounded Just as crazy as inJera. My boyfriend recognized an appetizer being delivered to another table and the waitress helped us pinpoint it on the menu as sambusas. We ordered one filled with beef and another with lentils. A navigating explanation later, we learned that Ethiopian dishes are served large and communal- style and that we knew nothing about what we were diving into. So we took the waitresss advice, settled on Abyssinia Yebeg Tibs as our entr? ©e and hoped for the best. Our waitress, who may have also been the owner, soon brought our appetizers. They came as flaky triangles on a plate with a small bowl of some green condiment that was mildly spicy and reminiscent of guacamole. Two teeny spoons accompanied it, but they were rather inefficient in transferring enough to the sambusa and I quickly turned to dipping mine. Both sambusas were extremely savory, and you could still extremely flavorful, and it was my personal favorite. Our main entr? ©e came soon after and the presentation was very different from any food Id ever tried. We were brought a pizza pan about 15 inches across covered with inJera, a sour, spongy bread hat was extremely airy and bubbly on one side but flat, continuous and crepe-like on the other. The waitress spooned the lamb dish in the center and brought us a basket with more of the spongy bread. The lamb was cubed and stewed with Jalapenos, onion, garlic and tomato. It was very fatty in taste but well balanced because of the spice. The handful of sliced greens heaped on the bread helped cut the grease and added to the variety of textures on the table. The stew soaked through the inJera very quickly and I had to double or triple it to keep my hands clean. The Dessert onsisted of baklava, which is a very sweet pastry typical in Middle Eastern and North African culture. The pastry was flaky and filled with a layer of sweet nuts and syrup. It was the sharpest tasting baklava Ive ever had. I dont know if Ill ever come across a meal as curious as Ethiopian again, but I hope I do. It was a welcome deviation from the typical cuisine in the area. The culture is lovely and welcoming and the food is delicious. I definitely recommend the food for the adventurous, for the curious and for lovers of spice. Ethiopian is an experience in and of itself.

Personality Traits That Help Teachers and Students Succeed

Personality Traits That Help Teachers and Students Succeed Personality traits are a combination of characteristics that are innate to people as individuals as well as characteristics that develop from specific life experiences. The personality traits that make up a person go a long way in determining how successful he is. There are certain personality traits that help teachers and students succeed. Success may mean different things for different people. Teachers and students who hold the majority of the following characteristics are almost always successful regardless of how success is defined. Adaptability This is the ability to handle a sudden change without making it a distraction. Students who have this trait can handle sudden adversity without letting academics suffer.Teachers who have this trait are quickly able to make adjustments that minimize distractions when things do not go according to plan. Conscientiousness Conscientiousness involves the capacity to complete a task meticulously with efficiency and of the highest quality. Conscientious students can produce high-quality work consistently.Conscientious teachers are extremely organized and efficient, and they provide their students with quality lessons or activities daily. Creativeness This is the ability to use original thinking to solve a problem. Students who have this trait can think critically and are adept problem solvers.Teachers who have this trait are able to use their creativeness to build a classroom that is inviting to students, create lessons that are engaging, and incorporate strategies to individualize lessons for every student. Determination A person with determination can fight through adversity without giving up to accomplish a goal. Students who have this trait are goal orientated, and they do not allow anything to get in the way of accomplishing those goals.Teachers with determination figure out a way to get their job done. They do not make excuses. They find ways to reach even the most difficult students through trial and error without giving up. Empathy Empathy allows a person to relate to another individual even though she may not share similar life experiences or problems. Students who have this trait can relate to their classmates. They are nonjudgmental. Instead, they are supportive and understanding.Teachers who have this trait can look beyond the walls of their classroom to assess and meet their students’ needs. They recognize that some students live a difficult life outside of school and try to figure out solutions for helping them. Forgiveness Forgiveness is the capacity to move beyond a situation in which you were wronged without feeling resentment or holding a grudge. Students who are forgiving can let things go that could potentially serve as a distraction when they have been wronged by someone else.Teachers with this trait can work closely with administrators, parents, students, or other teachers who may have created an issue or controversy that was potentially detrimental to the teacher. Genuineness People who are genuine demonstrate sincerity through actions and words without hypocrisy. Students who show genuineness are well-liked and trusted. They have many friends and are often looked upon as leaders in their classroom.Teachers with this trait are viewed as highly professional. Students and parents buy into what they are selling, and they are often highly regarded by their peers. Graciousness Graciousness is the ability to be kind, courteous, and thankful when dealing with any situation. Students who are gracious are popular among their peers and well-liked by their teachers. People are drawn to their personality. They often go out of their way to help others any time an opportunity arises.Teachers who have this trait are well respected. They are invested in their school beyond the four walls of their classroom. They volunteer for assignments, help other teachers when needed, and even find ways to assist needy families in the community. Gregariousness The ability to socialize with and relate to other people is known as gregariousness. Students who have this trait work well with other people. They are capable of making a connection with just about anyone. They love people and are often the center of the social universe.Teachers who have this trait can build strong, trusting relationships with their students and families. They take the time to make real connections that often extend beyond the walls of the school. They can figure out a way to relate to and carry on a conversation with just about any personality type. Grit Grit is the ability to be strong in spirit, courageous, and brave. Students who have this trait battle through adversity and stand up for others, and they are strong-minded individuals.Teachers with grit will do anything to be the best teacher they can be. They will not let anything get in the way of educating their students. They will make difficult decisions and serve as an advocate for students when necessary. Independence This is the ability to work through problems or situations on your own without requiring assistance from others. Students who have this trait do not rely on other people to motivate them to accomplish a task. They are self-aware and self-driven. They can accomplish more academically because they do not have to wait on other people.Teachers who have this trait can take good ideas from other people and make them great. They can come up with solutions to potential problems on their own and make general classroom decisions without consultation. Intuitiveness The ability to understand something without reason simply through instinct is intuitiveness. Intuitive students can sense when a friend or a teacher is having a bad day and can try and improve the situation.Teachers who have this trait can tell when students are struggling to grasp a concept. They can quickly assess and adapt the lesson so that more students understand it. They are also able to sense when a student is going through personal adversity. Kindness Kindness is the capacity to help others without the expectation of getting anything in return. Students who have this trait have many friends. They are generous and thoughtful often going out of their way to do something nice.Teachers who have this trait are very popular. Many students will come into class looking forward to having a teacher with a reputation for being kind. Obedience Obedience is the willingness to comply with a request without questioning why it needs to be done. Students who are obedient are well thought of by their teachers. They are typically compliant, well-behaved, and seldom a classroom discipline problem.Teachers who have this trait can build a trusting and cooperative relationship with their principal. Passionate People who are passionate get others to buy into something due to their intense feelings or fervent beliefs. Students with this trait are easy to motivate. People will do anything for something about which they are passionate. Taking advantage of that passion is what good teachers do.Passionate teachers are easy for students to listen to. Passion sells any topic, and a lack of passion can lead to failure. Teachers who are passionate about their content are more likely to produce students who become passionate as they learn. Patience The ability to sit idly and wait on something until the timing is perfect is patience. Students who have this trait understand that sometimes you have to wait your turn. They are not deterred by failure, but instead, view failure as an opportunity to learn more. They reevaluate, find another approach, and try again.Teachers who have this trait understand that the school year is a marathon and not a race. They understand that each day presents its challenges and that their job is to figure out how to get every student from point A to point B as the year progresses. Reflectiveness Those who are reflective can look back at a point in the past and draw lessons from it based on the experience. Such students take new concepts and mesh them with previously learned concepts to strengthen their core learning. They can figure out ways in which newly acquired knowledge is applicable to real life situations.Teachers who have this trait are continuously growing, learning and improving. They reflect on their practice every day making continuous changes and improvements. They are always looking for something better than what they have. Resourcefulness Resourcefulness is the ability to make the most of what you have available to solve a problem or make it through a situation. Students who have this trait can take the tools they have been given and make the most out of their ability.Teachers who have this trait can maximize the resources they have at their school. They are able to make the most out of the technology and curricula that they have at their disposal. They make do with what they have. Respectfulness The ability to allow others to do and be their best through positive and supportive interactions is respectfulness. Students who are respectful can work cooperatively with their peers. They respect the opinions, thoughts, and feelings of everyone around them. They are sensitive to everyone and try to treat everyone as they want to be treated.Teachers who have this trait understand that they must have positive and supportive interactions with every student. They maintain the dignity of their students at all times and create an atmosphere of trust and respect in their classroom. Responsibleness This is the ability to be accountable for your actions and to carry out tasks that have been assigned in a timely manner. Students who are responsible can complete and turn in every assignment on time. They follow a prescribed schedule, refuse to give in to distractions, and stay on task.Teachers who have this trait are trustworthy and valuable assets to the administration. They are regarded as professional and often asked to help out in areas where there is a need. They are highly reliable and dependable.

Mrs. Fields Cookies Growth Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mrs. Fields Cookies Growth - Case Study Example The information system configured for Mrs. Fields’ Cookies was actually based on the ‘fit’ between the organizational structure, culture and the organizational goals. It was built distinctively for the operations of Mrs. Field’s Cookies within a given business market (fresh baked cookies) and it addressed the needs and requirements of the firm in forecasting demand, anticipating sales, allocating resources, tracking sales records and measuring the performance of each of the different outlets. Apart from these, the information management system was also equipped with ‘strategic intelligence’ in assisting managers (regional or store managers) making decisions fast without wasting time dealing with paperwork or any bureaucratic procedures. In general, the information system management approach undertaken by Mrs. Field’s Cookies was very enhancing and facilitated the growth and expansion of the firm as it enabled Debbi and Randy to maintain control on the one hand through centralization of operations and management. At the same time, however, employees were left to do work that was essential for business growth and which involved primarily the promotion of sales. The Acquisition of La Petite Boulangerie Within the expansion strategy of Mrs. Cookies Fields’, diversification was attempted through the acquisition of La Petite Boulangerie (LPB). Randy and Debbi show that acquisition as an excellent way of leveraging marketing opportunities by capitalizing on their brand name (according to the case study â€Å"the Mrs. Fields' name was demographically well established, and Randy believed whatever they put it on would sell†) and by extending the concept of a simple cookie store to diversifying into a ‘combination’ store (sit-down cafe). In undertaking LPB, Randy and Debbi sought to further stimulate the growth of the firm by diversifying its initial business and offerings. Their aspirations were ba sically driven by two factors: the first factor relates to the fact that Mrs. Field’s Cookies was a growth-oriented company and therefore opportunities offered were quickly grasped (despite the fact that in the early years Debbi was rather reluctant in growth because of her perceived control loss). In addition to that, Mrs. Fields’ Cookies had already acquired other firms in the past (within the expansion strategy program) and had managed to successfully incorporate them into the business structure, philosophy, and culture of the company (as in the case of the Famous Chocolate Chip Company).  

Food Translation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Food Translation - Essay Example This essay discusses the translation of recipe and menus, that usually begins with discussing why translation is both a science and art, and the principal issues of subjectivity in translation and interpretation, foreignisation-domestication and visibility-invisibility. The researcher of this essay focuses on the main objective of translating menus and recipes, that is to provide information about the content or ingredients of the food to be cooked and the manner of preparation, as in recipe instructions, in such a manner as to be appetising, moving the reader to try it. One important and crucial application of translation that was discussed in the essay, is in the understanding of recipes and menus because of the nature that food acquires in the mind of the person, be it an American sitting at a restaurant in Cairo or an Egyptian at a restaurant in Glasgow. For both, the menu informs whether the food would agree with the body and, in the case of the Egyptian, also with the soul. The unique nature of every language system poses a paradoxical situation between the use of the common translation principles and translator strategies that were used, especially in the matter of menu and recipe translation. Part of the complex nature of translation work is due to the complexity of the social and cultural meanings of food that are unique to peoples and their geographies. It is also concluded by the researcher that a good translator must know well the translation principles and strategies to do a good and effective job. ... When different cultures interact, each culture develops and changes. Language development gives translation its important role: by allowing one culture to communicate with another, translation improves the way cultures understand and influence each other. That, at least, is the theory. The practice is complex and challenging because in translating from one language to another, it is not easy to capture precisely different cultural identities and make these easier for the other to understand. This is why translation is both a science and an art. Translation is a science because it follows objective rules and methods. It is also an art because it entails the re-production and re-creation of an original work (source text or ST) in a source language (SL) into a target language (TL) in a new work (target text or TT). The translation from ST to TT requires a complex set of knowledge and skills to re-produce the content, spirit, and context of the ST as faithfully as possible to enhance understanding and produce the intended effect. This is not easy because a faithful understanding of a culture is difficult for one not native to it. Translations must reflect the thought, feeling, and style of the SL as faithfully, flexibly, and satisfactorily in the TL, which means the TT must be close to the ST in form and substance, i.e., from the literary and linguistic points of view. Following the simplest rule of communication, the translator confronted with a ST must determine the original author's message, the meaning the author puts into that message, the author's intention, and how the author communicates that message (Venuti, 1995, 1-2). Throughout the whole translation process, the translator has to remember