Saturday, August 31, 2019

Male Refractory Period

The male refractory period consists of a time period following orgasm that must pass before experiencing another orgasm. An orgasm is a series of muscular contractions of the pelvic floor muscles occurring at the peak of sexual arousal (Crooks and Baur, 2008). Only men have a refractory period, whereas women who can have multiple orgasms. Speculation about why men have a refractory period has to do with some kind of neurological inhibitory mechanism that is kicked in after ejaculation.This essay will discuss the male refractory period and why this happens along with my own opinion on why men’s and women’s sexual response vary from one another. This waiting period is when the body restores its energy before it can once again become aroused. There are different explanations to why males experience this; one speculation is directed towards a neurological inhibitory mechanism activated by ejaculation. Researchers believed that certain chemical pathways between the midbrain and the hypothalamus were the root to this inhibition problem.To test this, they used rats as their subject and destroyed a pathway in the brainstem, known as the ventral medial lemniscus. In another group, they surgically eliminated three additional areas in the rats. Results concluded that the elimination of the ventral medial lemniscus had a dramatic effect on refractory periods (175). The male refractory period is one of the most significant differences in sexual responses between sexes.I think the reason why males have this cycle and why women can experience multiple orgasms comes down to reproduction and our genetic makeup. The biological objective of an erection is injecting sperm into an ovulating woman in order to reproduce. Therefore, once ejaculation they need time to build up there sperm count to achieve a greater fertility rate. I also believe women can have multiple orgasms because it makes the muscles contract throughout the body, especially in the vagina and uterus.T hus, helping the sperm reach the uterus and into the fallopian tubes. However, everything comes down to biological engineering. In conclusion, everyone’s sexual response is different. Some women have orgasms and others don’t. Research has shown that an area in the brain is the reason behind not being able to climax within a short period of time like women can. I believe these differences exist because of reproduction success.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Man vs. Machine Essay

Since the yearly Fifties science fiction movies have depicted robots as very sophisticated machines built by humans to perform complex operations, to work with humans in safe critical missions, in hostile environments, or more often to pilot and control spaceships in galactic travels. At the same time, however, intelligent robots have also been depicted as dangerous machines, capable of working against man through wicked plans. In the Terminator the view of the future is even more catastrophic: robots will become intelligent and self-aware and will take over the human race. The dual implication often accredited to science fiction robots represents the clear look of desire and fear that man has towards his technology. From one hand, in fact, man projects in a robot his wild desire of immortality, holds in a powerful and indestructible artificial being, which intellective, sensory, and motor capabilities are much more amplified than that of a normal man. On the other hand, however, there is a fear that a too advanced technology can get out of control, acting against man. The Terminator saga is not just a collection of Terminator, and T2. Instead the saga is one of a continuing storyline that in many ways has spanned all of man’s existence. Machines and technology have always presented temporary change and adversity for man to overcome. A machine may simplify a process but take away the livelihood of a few. From the days of horse drawn carriage drivers fearing being replaced by a key turned automobile, to today’s computer controlled manufacturing environments; workers have always feared of being replaced by â€Å"machine†. The strength of the Terminator movies is the singular humanoid T-800 Terminators one of which is played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Clothed in armor, with the human body’s shape and form, it presents itself as a new evolutionary form of life. Strength, easy coordination with other units, and an absolute sense of duty, drive the units forth to destroy man. From their humanoid skeletal structure and hands to their glaring red eyes, the machines scare viewers more for their similarity to man than for their  differences. To be replaced, to be bettered, to be conquered these are the things which drive animals to the point of extinction. These elements are the primal fears that the terminator machines strike in the human mind As Humanity progresses, warfare has tended to move more and more away from the human combatants. Instead the battles have moved to the weapons or â€Å"machines† that each side uses. In the Terminator movies America extends this principal even further as humanoid machines and automated patrol crafts are used as the backbone of its defense forces. A vast computer network known as Skynet is created to coordinate battlefield tactics. It is decided to place these â€Å"objective† machines in charge of nuclear weapons deployment as human leaders believe that humans could act with hast or with lack of reason in such important decisions. However as time progresses the computer network Skynet becomes â€Å"self aware† and sees the possibility of a new evolutionary age and the birth of a new order of intelligence; that of the machine. In the movie, Terminator represents the prototype of imaginary robots. He can walk, talk, perceive and behave like a human being. But, what is more important, Terminator can learn! He is controlled by a neural-net processor, a computer that can modify its behavior based on past experience. What makes the movie more interesting, from a philosophical point of view, is that such a neural processor is so complex that it begins to learn at an alarming rate and, after a while, it becomes self-aware! In this sense, the movie raises an important question about artificial consciousness: Can a machine ever become self-aware? To answer my own question: not yet, at least. At the end of T2, after a series of action-packed scenes, which would have deprived any human of life or limb, both terminators are dissolved together in their own industrial melting pot. This ending may say something about the modern combination of old and new technologies in the cinema, as it does about the integration of old and new modes of production in industry. But it also seems to me, that the days of the unthinking means of cinematic portrayal, like the traditional factory and its job-classified worker and their similar forms of representation, may be numbered. Work Cited The Terminator. Dir. James Cameron. Perf. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, Paul Winfield. Artisan, 1984. Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Dir. James Cameron. Perf. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick. Artisan, 1991.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Elizabeth Bishop Essay

There are many fantastic poets out there today and there were many in the past. One of these many great poets is Elizabeth Bishop. She started writing poems in 1946 and stopped in 1979. Her poems were very imaginative yet serious and sophisticated at the same time. Each poet has their own way to write, and this is hers. Elizabeth Bishop was born on February 8, 1911 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Only a few months after Bishop was born, her father passed away and because of this, her mother suffered from a mental breakdown and was admitted into an insane asylum in Nova Scotia until she passed away in 1934. At the age of six Elizabeth Bishop was taken to live with her grandparents back in Worcester. She then began to be frequently ill, so to give her a ‘happier surrounding’, she moved in with her aunt in Boston. At this age, 8, is when she started to read poetry and fairy tales. Walt Whitman and Gerard Manley Hopkins were her favorite and most inspirational poets at the time. As Elizabeth Bishop grew older she started to choose her career path. At the age of 16 she was admitted to a boarding school in Natick, Massachusettes where she read and studied the works of William Shakespeare and English Romantic poets. One year she tried to study music but then realized that she is terrified of recitals so she quickly dropped that dream and she returned to literature. Along with Mary McCarthy and Eleanor Clark, Elizabeth Bishop founded a literary review, this was where Bishop’s very first poem was published. Then later in the Vassar Review, many pieces of her work were being published but during this time her writing skills were affected to a heavy drinking problem. After Bishop’s problem was solved, she went back to creating great poems, with help of the greatest poetic mentor in Bishop’s early years, Marianne Moore. Moore helped Bishop write more poems and write her first volume, North and South(1946), which was chosen for the Houghton Miffl in Poetry Award and contained one of her most anthologized single poems. With lots of money from her many awards and prizes, Bishop went on a vacation to Brazil, here she had allergic attacks that forced her to  unexpectedly stay for several months. Once she was finally cured, she decided to stay and actually lived in Brazil for many years. During her stay there, Elizabeth Bishop fell in love with a wonderful Brazilian woman, her name was Lota de Macedo Soares. The two actually lived together for a while until Soares tragically committed suicide in 1967. In 1955, Bishop published a second book, inside was North and South(1946). This volume was titled Poems: North and South — A Cold Spring. There was many poems inside of this book, one of which was â€Å"At the Fishhouses.† Much of the work in this book and after, up until about 1974, was influenced by her life in Brazil. Bishop then had poems and book being published like wildflowers. Elizabeth had some great influence in her life to motivate her in her in the poetic arts. Bishop was greatly influenced by the poet Marianne Moore, who she met when she was introduced by a librarian at Vassar in 1934. There was an inseparable friendship between the two women, remembered by an extensive amount of similarities between the two. Bishop stayed with and used Moore as an influence until Moore’s death in 1972. Bishop’s â€Å"At the Fishhouses†(1955) contains many references to Moore’s 1924 poem â€Å"A Grave.† Bishop was also introduced to Robert Lowell through Randall Jarrell in 1947 and the two soon became fantastic friends. But the friendship was curtailed when Lowell died in 1977. After his death, Bishop wrote, â€Å"our friendship, often kept alive through years of separation only by letters, remained constant and affectionate, and I shall always be deeply grateful for it†. They both were influences for each other’s poetr y. Lowell mentioned the influence from Bishop in his poem â€Å"Skunk Hour† which he stated had, â€Å"modeled on Miss Bishop’s ‘The Armadillo.'† In another poem, â€Å"The Scream†, Lowell said is â€Å"derived from†¦Bishop’s story In the Village.† â€Å"North Haven,† was one of the very last poems Elizabeth Bishop had published during her lifetime, and it was written as a memorial for Robert Lowell. Unlike her good friend Robert Lowell, who wrote in a Confessional style, while Bishop’s poetry avoids explicit accounts of her personal life and focuses instead with great delicacy on her impressions of the physical world. She uses lots of adjectives, metaphors, and similes to help the reader create a mental image of what is going on at the time. The imagery in  her poems are very specific and realistic sounding. Rhyming wasn’t really used much in Bishop’s poems but was is used sometimes to add emphasis and/or humor. If the poem did have a rhyming scheme it would be different, rather than being every two lines rhyme or every other, Bishop would do every four lines. So the end of the first lines could be â€Å"wharf† and the last word of the fourth line would rhyme, so for instance â€Å"dwarf†. She had her own style that made her poems unique. One of Elizabeth Bishop’s poems is A Summer’s Dream. This poem was published in 1959. This poem has a sort of childish tone to it, yet still sounds sophisticated. During the whole poem, Bishop is describing the town that she lives in as well as describing the other residents of the place. In A Summer’s Dream, Elizabeth Bishop is the speaker and speaks in a first person perspective. Throughout the poem, it seems as if Bishop is playing the role of a daughter. She sounds like this because the whole time she is using such descriptive words to put a sense of imagination into each line. The poem shows the the everyday life in her town and it at first seems like she is just telling what she sees. But, as u get to the end you realize that the whole time she was using her creativity and imagination to dream of a town that she would love to live in. The tone used in the poem however, is more sophisticated and sounds like something an adult would say rather than a little g irl. Bishop seems compassionate towards the subject and she makes you feel welcomed into this little town of hers in just 36 lines. Towards her neighbors, or the other characters, there is two different tones. Toward the elder and weaker characters, there seems to be a gentle and sympathetic feeling, while there is a cruel and condescending feel. But these two tones are used in just the right amount that they balance out the negatives and positives to make the poem neutral. Poems contain many poetic devices to help make the writing stronger. Not all of it has to do with the tone and theme of the poem, but with the diction. The diction of a poem is the poet’s choice of words and how they are put together. An abundantly used poetic device in A Summer’s Dream is imagery. Bishop uses imagery throughout her poem to help the reader create an image in their mind of the scenery. She describes her boarding house, â€Å"blue as a makerel,our boarding house was streaked as though it had been crying†(14-16), by using these descriptive  words and metaphors the reader can piece the information together t o create a picture. Elizabeth Bishop uses words like â€Å"sagging†(1), â€Å"idiot†(4), and â€Å"shrunken†(12) to put a negative and depressing feel to the town of her dreams. In the same poem word such as â€Å"gentle†(5), â€Å"kind†(7), and â€Å"extraodinary†(17) to give a positive and caring tone. The poet uses both sides together in some cases, â€Å"He was morose, but she was cheerful†(29), the poetic devices are used this way to create a sense of neutrality. Over all Bishop wrote many fantastic poems all in her sophisticated yet whimsical way that would spark the interest of many readers and hopefully influence them to do something. They were full of imagery and poetic elements to create a sense of interest to the reader and to also help them to create a mental picture of the actions in the poem at the time. Elizabeth Bishop has received a great amount of recognition and has earned many awards during her career. Each poet has their own way to wr ite, and Elizabeth’s poetic ways were very popular and unique but very sadly came to an end in october of 1979 when she passed away of a cerebral aneurism in Boston. Cite Page Flemming, Bruce E., and Ann D. Garbett. â€Å"Elizabeth Bishop.† Biography Research Center. Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition, Sept. 2006. Web. â€Å"Poet Elizabeth Bishop.† Poets.org. N.p., n.d. Web. Lensing, George S. â€Å"About Elizabeth Bishop.† Modern American Poetry. Oxford University Press, Feb. 2009. Web.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Interpersonal Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Interpersonal - Speech or Presentation Example Fredric Heider in his 2009 journal, Psychology of Interpersonal Relations,† effective interpersonal communication improves not only our communication skills but also influences our tactical approach of understanding our occupation through an insight of our social, cultural and economic background diversities† (p21). To relate with one another we must enhance knowledgeable interactions with the people we meet each day with whom we may have common point of interest or not. But how do we create and maintain long lasting social touch with these individuals? According to Wallace Domenici in his 2007 journal, Face Work: Bridging Theory and Practice,† lasting relations can be achieved through quality communication by understanding our diversities and using the learnt communication skills† (p12). This clearly shows that interpersonal communication serves to achieve qualities like charisma, confidence and optimism in my field of patient care. In reference to Edward Gri ffins 2009 book, A First Look at Communication Theory, â€Å"verbal and nonverbal communication, problem solving, listening skills, negotiation and assertiveness are supplement skills to effective interpersonal communication† (p1), these skills have impacted my field positively as I have handled patients from all corners effectively. We need to incorporate in our mindset that interpersonal communication is inevitable especially in this world where we are all interdependent to a greater or lesser extent. In order to improve the qualities, knowledge and skills in the patient care unit, I have come up with ideas that are a result of extensive observation of interactions between my workmates and the patients. Choosing the right words to the patients is the first creative idea as the patients solely rely on our directions and handling. Secondly, clarification of details will help the patients and fellow workmates to understand their obligations and follow simple rules as directed to them. One the third idea, working as a group will enhance smooth transfer and exchange of our skills to serve the patients in the best manner possible. This is necessitated by variety of needs of patients which may vary from one person’s specialization. Being assertive in expression of what I feel in the care unit will be a ground to improve my relations with colleagues and maintenance of sanity in the patients care unit. In addition to these ideas, reflection of one’s achievements and creation of rapport, will not only integrate the workforce in the patient unit but will also improve our working environment. Personally, extensive application of my interpersonal communication skills has improved by relations with the patient care fraternity in that I can freely express what I feel about various sections of our duties. My overall evaluation on the patients’ satisfaction with our services shows a positive index from the patient’s narrations. On the issue of value, patients are content with the current unit’s environment and psycho-social support the facility is offering According to Angelo Dalmas in his 2005 book, Social Penetration, † in order to incorporate global interests, proper social mechanisms of integration are prerequisite†(p3). Thus we need to solve complexities of interpersonal communication by asking ourselves the following set of questions as we communicate: Who are we? Who is our audience? Who does our audience think they are? Who do they think we are? What does our audience

FOOD TAXES Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

FOOD TAXES - Research Paper Example In addition, those states which charge sales tax on food such as Arkansas and Utah subject food sales to local taxes. This leads to differences in the rates of taxes charged from one city to the other within the same state. Although some states do not charge tax on food, there are certain food items or products that are taxable. Each state has provided a list of these non-exempt products. For example, in Iowa, product such as chewing gum, dietary supplements and pet foods and supplies are subject to tax2. Currently, there is debate on whether or not states should start to charge ‘fat tax’. Many have argued that there is need to charge high tax on unhealthy products in order to reduce the occurrence of diseases like obesity and heart diseases. For example, in an article by Lara Salahi and Samantha Meaney (2012), the authors argue that adding tax on unhealthy foods and drinks will help reduce the cases of obesity and other diseases3. For instance, they argue that a tax rate of about 20 per cent in sugar-sweetened drinks could help reduce obesity cases by 3.5 per cent and also help to prevent close to 3000 heart-related

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Questions for Information Technology in the Business Environment Coursework

Questions for Information Technology in the Business Environment - Coursework Example [1 Mark] (b) For the legislation that you selected for 1(a) briefly describe what this legislation covers? Answer: The legislation covers false or misleading advertising, false or misleading representations about price and false or misleading sales techniques, finance agreements, and unfair prices. In basic terms, consumers cannot be pressured or misled and must be respected. As such, sales techniques must be upfront with no hidden fish hooks. [4 Marks] (c) For the legislation that you selected for 1(a) briefly why and for what reasons this legislation is relevant to IT Professionals? Answer: This legislation is relevant to IT professionals. Being professionals, it means that they have an in-depth knowledge on IT-related matters including products. Therefore, at times they might be tempted to mislead the customers who might not be so aware of these products. This legislation prohibits such a practice. [3 Marks] P L E A S E T U R N O V E R F O R A D D I T I O N A L S P A C E Question 2 Ethical Theory including the New Zealand Computer Society Code of Ethics 13 Marks Fill In the Gaps in the sentences below: [1 Mark per word] The New Zealand Computer Society Code of Ethics is based upon the principles of: interests of the community Respect_____________ for the individual interests of the client and supported by the values of: _________Competence_____________________________ ________Truth______________________________ social justice and _______________Ethical______________________ behaviour Members shall act in the execution of their profession with________integrity_____________, ___dignity_______________and _____honour_______________to merit the trust of the community and the profession, and apply honesty, ______skill_________________, judgement and initiative to contribute positively to the well-being of society; Members shall not__________misrepresent__________________ the qualifications and ______competencies______________ of themselves or those in their employ or under their supervision; P L E A S E T U R N O V E R The capabilities of the computer often lend a special character to problems of computer ethics, however. For instance, the computer often allows people to perform unethical actions_____faster_____________ or to perform actions that were too ____difficult___________ or impossible using manual methods. Now that computers are so common, organisations and individuals are increasingly ____vulnerable_______________ to their unethical use. Question 3 Treaty of Waitangi 13 Marks During ITB6210, the background and the current relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi was discussed (a) Summarise the British Crown’s reasons for entering into the Treaty of Waitangi Answer: The treaty of Watangi was an agreement between the British Crown and 540 Maori chiefs. It was a political statement of principles to found a nation state and build a government. There was an exchange of promises. The Maori conceded the sovereignty of New Zealand to Bri tish. In return, they were guaranteed rights of land, forests, fisheries and other undisturbed possessions.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Effects of Outsourcing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Effects of Outsourcing - Essay Example (Hira, 2005) The process of outsourcing is continuous and does not have to be an all or nothing deal. It can occur in phases depending on current trends in the industry. The following are a list of the three main types of outsourcing: Partial Outsourcing- This is when certain activities are kept in house such as customer service while other more specialized activities are sourced out. Plants and telecom offices would typically engage in this type of outsourcing. No Outsourcing- The operations performed day to day are highly unique to an individual business and vital to marketing believability. An example would be a college or university. (Outsourcingsurvival, 2007) While outsourcing operations has its benefits, there are reasons why a business should carefully examine the disadvantages it may present. One is the loss of managerial authority. It is much easier to manage employees in house than it is to manage an outsourced service provider. Outsourcing does not eliminate management responsibilities; it simply changes the nature and level of responsibility. It is also possible to lose sight of day-to-day operations while focusing on coordinating contracts with an outsourced company. Add to that the legal fees that will be incurred for putting together these contracts. The main reason to outsource is to reduce overall costs and any hidden fees may affect a business' bottom line. Another disadvantage that should be taken into consideration are security and confidentiality concerns as they pertain to payroll, salary information, etcGenerally, the amount of money each employee earns is not widespread knowledge. If employee salaries are leaked that could cause some discord within the workplace. When a company insists on outsourcing the process of payroll, they must be very discriminating in their choice of providers. It must be handled only by people who are trustworthy in handling such privileged information. (Softwareprojects, 2007) When operations are handed over to an external party the likelihood of decreased employee morale becomes a greater possibility. Employee talent that has been generated within a business will tend to get discouraged if they are ignored in favor of someone outside of the company. Someone who has worked for a company for a long time can understand certain business issues and will be better equipped to handle them more so than an outsourced party. If they are not called upon to handle business matters that may arise, their growth is stunted and they may feel as if they are not an important entity. Their quality of work may suffer because of this notion or because they rebel against the organization. Either way, this could result in the loss of quality employees which could in turn end up costing the business more financially. (Brown, 2005) The sum total of all of the disadvantages listed above basically boils down to sheer loyalty to the organization. If operations are outsourced to an external group, their devotion is only to those who sign their paycheck. There simply is no familial environment culminated through years of work with a company. This is a very important factor as trust issues are involved and outsourcers must be

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Internet technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Internet technology - Essay Example In addition, news can be received almost within a minute of their happening; and lastly, it has resulted in unintended threats such as cyber attacks among others. A new collaborative environment has developed on the internet in the past few years. People who would otherwise have not known each other or possibly interacted only a few years ago can now share information over the internet over extremely long distances and in different time zones. This has led to the development of new ideas which without the internet would never have come to into existence. A consequence of this is the reduction of physical interaction between people which has now become more or less non-physical. This lack of physical interaction has led to most people living a very artificial life which they can twist into anything they would like to be, although in most cases, they can be considered lies. The internet has reduced the personal safety of its users because such people of child predators tend to establish initial contact with children online and lure them into very dangerous situations. Furthermore, verbal attacks and malicious messages can be delivered online with little or no censorship because the internet has no single governing entity. An additional result of there not being an entity to control the internet has been its contribution to the violation of copyright law through the illegal distribution of copyrighted material on the internet by individuals. This denies the creators of such material as movies, music, and books the right to earn royalties from their work and it has instead led to its use without their consent. The past recent years has seen the emergence of multibillion dollar social network companies based on friendships and photos. Social networking has become big business online with such major social networks as Facebook, Twitter, and My Space collecting huge revenues from advertising and the sale of their users’ personal information to other commercial

Saturday, August 24, 2019

The growth of Indian casinos Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The growth of Indian casinos - Essay Example â€Å"In California, perhaps more than in any other state, Indians have endured uninterrupted exploitation, brutality, and sorrow†. Despite the general conquest all Native Americans had suffered in the past centuries, Californian Indians also were forced to experience whites’ cruelty and greed in times of Golden Rush. Than because of the gold (on which California Indians had never set much value, for example, in comparison with the nature) they were forced to give up native lands. With the time, tribes and smaller California Indians bands position did not take a turn for the better. â€Å"California basically ignored its Indians, right through the 1970s. [†¦] Tribal problems were never discussed†. – Lieutenant Governor McCarthy, a leading opponent of Indian gambling says. How then California Indians could be fully blamed for trying to survive in the only way they were left?Someone may say that an illegal way is not an answer under any circumstances, h owever hard our life can be. That’s true, but developing their gambling business California Indians were actually trying to run casinos in the legal way. For example, in 1990s, â€Å"the tribes said they wanted to sign a compact, but then – Governor Pete Wilson who had no great love of gambling or Indians – refused to negotiate†. Government itself had pushed them on illegal way. And now tribes are blamed for using their authority and financial resources for purpose of becoming a state governmental power.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Organizational Development Question # 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Organizational Development Question # 2 - Essay Example A well known and respected person makes good sales for the organization. This will intern improve the organization performance. In the case of a negative personality, the organization should in a way invest in changing the individual personality as it affects the performance of an organization. The organization may reward or appraise the individual performance in order change the personality of the employee. To improve an organization’s performance, employee characters ought to be well known by their managers(Robbins & Judge, 2011). One employee may be innovative while another is a good decision maker. As a manager, combining different characteristics of different employees and acting to the development of different ideas from the employees improves organizational performance(Robbins & Judge, 2011). Making the employees own the organization is a improving the performance of a firm as the works as if they are the owners of the organization. A manager recognizes their characteristics, perceptions and biases when they interact with their employees(Robbins & Judge, 2011). An employees ‘behavior may trigger a character in a manager. When an employee code of behaviors differs from that expected in an organization, the manager may develop perceptions towards the employee. As a manager, there is the need for better understanding of the employees and their behaviors in the organizat ion. A manager should react professionally towards a given situation and avoid personal reactions towards the employee(Robbins & Judge, 2011). Organization development as the huge efforts to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization, should go hand in hand with the personality of employees in an organization.(Robbins & Judge, 2011) Different characteristics of employees in an organization may either improve or lead firm to solvency. Celebrities improves the

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Internet and Modern Technology Essay Example for Free

Internet and Modern Technology Essay There are many forms of modern technology that have played important roles throughout my life, and the computer has affected my life the most. There are both positive and negatives aspects on how the computer has helped me. There are also advantages and disadvantages to this form of modern technology, called the computer. The first and foremost advantage of the computer is how it has helped me with my school work. With having Google, Dictionary, and Ask, these are sources on the computer that are very helpful with getting information. It is a lot faster and more convenient. Another thing I love about it, is the communication you can have with friends and family. With Facebook, email, and Skype, it’s a lot faster and easier way to communicate with your loved ones. I feel that one of the most important is that these communication avenues are free. Even though I use a lot of these technologies almost daily they can also cause distractions. On the down side, some of the negatives aspects of technology with computers are that it can be an expensive form of access to information. Also not only do you have to pay for the computer but you also have to pay for the internet access to get to some of these information sites. Another down fall is the networks do shut down. So if you are doing homework or talking with friends it can sometimes aimlessly stop working. Another negative to having a computer is it can affect people’s work ethic, by looking at Facebook, or playing online games. So they aren’t getting their job done. Knowing there are still disadvantages to computers there are still advantages in using it correctly. As a conclusion to technology and the ever ways it has changed and will change in the future. Hopefully some of the changes will be headed for advantages for the future, in a form of no charge for internet access, and not having to worry about towers going down. Also for the younger generations to know how to still look information without taking advantages of everything being at their fingertips. Unfortunately we cannot see into the future to see what advantages and disadvantages are in store for us, but hopefully they are for the better and I am very thankful for the modern technology that is available and the advantages it has for me.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Tragedy in Tom Brennan Essay Example for Free

Tragedy in Tom Brennan Essay Question: It is impossible to avoid conflict in life, but this tragedy was preventable. Do you agree? Do you believe that tragedies only happen to others? In the novel ‘The story of Tom Brennan’, by JC Burke, she highlights in the most severe way that tragedies do occur. My opinion to the matter at hand is that tragedies do happen. There will always be unavoidable conflict andI agree with the first statement in the paragraph. If you think about the events that took place in the novel, you will understand that the story line is not a happy one. As described by JC Burke, the novel outlines grief in many instances, sadness in the way of Nicole and Luke’s families. Although these emotions are outlined there is still bright and happy emotions involved. It is impossible to avoid conflict; it is just a matter of the amount of tragedy you receive. The amount of conflict you receive can also reflect on a person’s personality, how they respond and handle otherwise terrible issues. If you can stay strong through the tough times in life, you can overcome the obstacles that are thrown at you. There are many stages a person goes through during times of tragedy; it varies between people, religions and races. Some of the stages are depression, being so sad you can’t find any way out. Anger is another, showing you miss the person/s so much rage takes over your life. These are just some of the stages one goes through during tragedy. Obviously the accident in the novel is a tragedy, however there was definitely negligence involved in the events that took place on the night of the accident. Daniel was intoxicated and the passengers knew that so I question the judgment of them, never the less the responsibility lies with the driver and in this case it is Daniel. His actions leading to the death of his friends Nicole and Luke were unacceptable, also his actions lead to the impairment of his cousin Fyn. His cousin Fyn was one of his great friends, they did everything together, played for the same rugby team, training alongside each other and just generally having a great time. Now though Fyn is not capable of doing the things he ones was able to do. He will no longer share his passion for rugby he once had, although he would give anything to play there is nothing he can do.

Impact of Curriculum Definitions and Theories

Impact of Curriculum Definitions and Theories This essay will examine several definitions of curriculum, relating one to Education and Childhood studies and the impact it has on learners. In addition, the essay sets out to explore curriculum in relation to delivery and Curriculum is often seen as the main concern in the educational field however, the type of curricula to offer to learners is crucial. The concept of curriculum is sometimes characterized as fragmentary, elusive and confusing. Teachers are concerned about the choices to make about the teaching content and methods of delivery. While, caregivers and parents are interested in knowing what is going to be taught to their children. Learners are equally concerned about the content they are going to receive in class. The concept of curriculum is as dynamic as the changes that occur in society. In its narrow sense, curriculum is viewed merely as a listing of subject to be taught in school. In a broader sense, it refers to the total learning experiences of individuals not only in schools but in society as well. Su, (2012) views Curriculum as what teachers will teach and how well learners will learn, it also involves other issues like:ÂÂ   teaching the curriculum, testing the curriculum, ad ministrative curriculum and the hidden curriculum. However, Kelly (1999, p.83), suggest that curriculum is negatively viewed as a syllabus which may limit the planning of teachers to a consideration of the content or the body of knowledge they wish to transmit or a list of the subjects to be taught or both. However, (Braslavsky, 2003) considers the curriculum as educational foundations and contents, their sequencing in relation to the amount of time available for the learning experiences, the characteristics of the teaching institutions, the characteristics of the learning experiences, from the point of view of methods to be used, the resources for learning and teaching (e.g. textbooks and new technologies), evaluation and teachers profiles. A curriculum is an intended programme of learning and has three elements: a set of curriculum standards which set out the expected student achievements (what they know, what they can do and what dispositions they have acquired) at set points of time, the student having taken part in a programme of learning; a set of pedagogical standards; and a set of summative assessment or evaluation standards (Scott,2016 p.4). Having explored some definitions of curriculum, Scotts definition best fits the curriculum delivered on the Education and Childhood Studies programme. The curriculum covers several courses that ensures learners have an informed knowledge of the course to prepare them for the next step in their career. The curriculum covers a range of courses indicate; The curriculum has an intended programme of learning which learners are expected to complete at the end of the course. For each of the modules, the learning outcome is clearly outline which guides teachers to effectively plan and deliver contents to ensure learners makes progress, paying attention to teaching and learning strategies which will facilitate learners engagement and participation. Progress is usually monitored throughout lessons in form of formative assessment ensuring learners know what they do and what dispositions they have acquired. Furthermore, at the end of each module a set of summative assessment are used to evaluate learners achievement and progress. The curriculum delivered in the Skills Company on the Access for Higher Education, is a tailored towards the learner gaining a qualification towards a place to study in a university of the learners choice provided learners achieve the required grades. Ornstein and Hunkins (2009, p.15) contend that curriculum development encompasses how a curriculum is planned, implemented and evaluated, as well as what people, processes and procedures are involved When the phase in life is reached where education begins in earnest, it is vital that the curriculum is integrated, that there is no separation of theory and practice. By this Plato seems to mean that learning the theory of something is by itself of little value unless the student knows how to make it work.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

IMF, World Bank And Africa Essay -- Economics Banks African Essays

IMF, World Bank And Africa An avid viewer of television has seen the commercials portraying shortages of food and mass starvation in Africa. Yet in these times of relative prosperity, little is heard of Africa’s debt problem. Although the total debt of all African countries combined is small in comparison to that of the United States, millions of people suffer as a result. However, it is not until these countries have difficulty repaying their loans that the international community begins to take notice. Many African countries are currently in such debt that all new loans are used to repay old loans in a attempt to salvage any credit rating a country might have (George, 13). Because many banks, particularly in the United states, have invested as much as 100 percent of their shareholder’s equity in these less developed countries (LDCs), the chances of a country defaulting on a loan sends tremors through the economic world (George, 39). Eventually the countries are recognized as a poor credit risk and can no longer get loans. This is where the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank come into the picture. The structural adjustment programs of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have had greater negative effects than positive on the African countries that have adopted them. This essay will examine the adjustment programs themselves and the political, social and economic effects adjustment programs have had on the countries that have accepted them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The IMF began as an organization whose purpose was to encourage international trade and discourage protectionism while assisting in the â€Å"correction of balance payments disequilibria† for those countries who required short-term assistance (World Bank, 7). The World Bank’s sister organization, the IMF, attempts to promote economic growth in certain countries through loans granted for specific development projects. Membership in the World Bank requires membership in the IMF. Recently the two organizations have been acting in concert and often institute very similar policies. Members of the IMF are designated a yearly quota according to their economic standing, and are required to put down an initial percentage in gold, the remainder of which is payable in domestic currency. The LDC is allowed to draw on this quota and even surpass it providing that it agrees to certain go... ...arnounis, Chris C. The Debt Dilema of Developing Nations. West Port: Ovoum Books. 1984 George, Susan. A Fate Worst than Debt. New York: Grove Press. 1998 Harsch, Ernest. â€Å"After Adjustment†. Africa Report. 34(May) 1989 Hodd, Micheal. Africa, the IMF and the World Bank†. African Affairs. 1987 Korner, Peter and Gero Maass. The IMF and the Crisis: A Guide to the Third World. New Jersey: Zed Books Ltd. 1984 Kronsten, Gregory. â€Å"The IMF in Africa: Factor of stability or Unrest?†. The World Today. 1987 Lawrence, Peter .ed. World Recession & The Food Crises In Africa. London, 1986 Mittleman, James H. and Donald Will. â€Å"The International Monetary Fund, State Autonomy and Human Rights†. Africa Today. 1987 Nowzad, Bahram .ed. The Macroeconomics Effects of Fund-Supported Adjustment Programs†. International Monetary Fund Staff. Washington D.C. 1990 Prendergast, John. â€Å"Blood Money for Sudan: The World Bank and the IMF to the Rescue†. Africa Today. 1989. The World Bank: Questions and Answers. Washington D.C. The World Bank. 1976. The World Bank Annual Report 1986. Washington D.C. The World Bank. 1986. http://flag.blackened.net/revolt/africa/wsfws/3_1imf.html

Monday, August 19, 2019

Jazz Concert Review Essay -- Music Jazz Musical Review Essays

Jazz Concert Review I enjoy and listen to variety of music from classical music to rap music. I have attended many concerts, mostly symphony bands concerts. However, interestingly, through whole my life, I have never experienced jazz music and I have never been to jazz concert. Therefore, it was hard for me to decide which jazz concerts would give me most pleasure and exciting experience. I researched for jazz concerts listing and I have decided to go to the Ron Eschete Trio Concerts because it was held closed to my house and was free. Compared to all the other concerts that I have gone to, the Ron Eschete Trio concert was a definite change in atmosphere. On February 23, 20001 I attended a concert held at Ahmnson Building in Los Angeles County Museum of Art, featuring Ron Eschete on seven string guitar, Todd Johnson on six string bass, and Paul Humphrey on drums. It was three hours long, from 5:30 to 8:30. I arrived there little late because it said to be held on times mirror central court but it was actually playing at lower level of Ahmnson Building. As soon as I walked in, I realized that it has totally different atmosphere from what my expectations were for the music concerts. Unlike all the other concerts I attended, this concert intended for small audience, probably around a hundred people. Also, this jazz concert seemed very relaxed and comfortable. Most of people were dressed very casual, wearing jeans and shirts. But the musicians were dressed in suit, which seemed quite awkward to me. There was a good diverse group of people, from young children to senior citizens. There was also a pretty even mix of different cultures, too. While the musician?s were playing, I was surprised how the audience was. Most of the audience was talking loud, drinking alcohol and eating snacks. Some audience was even clapping hands and humming along with the song. This was quite an opposite environment compared to the concerts I went to. Sometimes the audience was so loud that I could barely hear the songs. It was interesting that even though the crowd was so loud, the musicians seemed very comfortable with it. They played the song as if the audience?s voice was also part of their song. When audience was loud, they would play loud and when audience became quite, they played very soft and tender. It might be to get audience?s attention. But, it seemed the m... ...nt from lower pitch sound to high pitch, showing various pitches they can make. They differed in style when they went solo. Ron Eschete mixed high and low pitch sound very irregularly and each tone seemed very distant like Monk?s style. Todd Johnson rhythm and tone was more smooth and close to each other, giving impression of cool jazz style. The other element is a swing feeling. This can be described as a feeling that makes you want to dance, clap your hands, of tap your feet. During the concert, as I looked around in the audience, I could see people bobbing their heads, and tapping their feet. Due to the fast tempo, the Ron Eschete Trio?s music just made people want to dance even though it sounded smooth and mellow. Going to jazz concert gave me an opportunity to experience new atmosphere of the concert. I enjoyed the informal and casual style of concert?s atmosphere. However, I disliked how people were too loud while the musicians were performing. The Ron Eschete Trio?s music style was not quite what I have expected. Although it was totally different from the jazz I was used to listen in class, I really like it. It was very modern, but also had the elements of early Jazz.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Metamorphosis of Celie in Alice Walkers Color Purple Essay -- Color P

Metamorphosis of Celie in The Color Purple  Ã‚   In the book The Color Purple (1982) by Alice Walker, the main character Celie develops from an abused, shy and browbeaten teenage girl into a strong, mature and self-confident woman. This metamorphisis is due to five major factors: Celie observes other successful women, she receives love and appreciation, changes in Celie’s view of God, Celie’s maturation and a bit of luck. As Celie is brought up, her father sexually molests her over and over again, making her pregnant twice. And as a girl of fourteen, she has to marry an older man named Albert. Albert also bullies Celie as well as beats her. Celie does not know how to fight back. â€Å"All I know how to do is stay alive†, she says (18). But some things start changing around Celie. Being married to Albert, she meets other women that show her different ways of fighting back. Sofia, who is married to Albert’s son Harpo, is a big and strong woman. Whenever Harpo tries to beat Sofia up in order to make her obey him, Sofia always fights back, even harder. Celie looks up to Sofia, and the knowledge that a female can physically strike back is strengthening for Celie. Another woman that shows Celie that women can and are allowed to be successful is the singing queen Shug Avery. Shug is a well-known singer that almost every man admires. She, therefore, has the power to control them. Once again Celie is being taught that a woman can succeed and rule over her own life. The third woman that has an important role in Celie’s life is her own sister, Nettie, who is living away from Celie most part of her life, but who anyway stays in contact with Celie through a number of letters. Nettie was always said to be the most clever, good and b... ...and last main reason for Celie’s development. Firstly, Celie happens to find out that the father that she grew up with was not her real father. Her biological father was a better and much more successful man. Knowing that her family bonds were quite good after all strenghens Celie by making her feel better inside. Secondly, the inheritance of a house and money after the father makes it possible for Celie to become richer and fulfill some of her dreams. All the reasons mentioned above lead to Celie’s development into a strong, mature and self-confident woman who manages to leave her abusing husband, run an industry and a store, and become independent in many other ways. Celie’s own saying illustrates this new independence perfectly: â€Å"If she [Shug] come, I be happy. If she don’t, I be content. And then I figure this the lesson I was suppose to learn† (290).   

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Man vs. Computer Essay

Since the beginning of time, man has thought up and brought to fruition countless inventions. Each has been more ingenious than the last. The human mind has created such brilliant things, but the computer may have been its greatest creation. It is ever changing, evolving and growing â€Å"smarter†. However, as the computer has evolved, mankind’s value may be threatened. The computer has already begun to overtake many of the vital functions that man has prided himself upon. While neither the mind nor the computer are perfectly productive on their own, they complement each other, and together create a more efficient way of living. Our lives are now dependent upon the computer and what it tells you. Even now as I type this journal entry on my computer, I am fully convinced that it will produce a result for me that is far superior to what I can manage using only my own two hands. It has been commonly said that the computer can never replace the human brain, because it was humans that created them. Is this a good reason why the computer must be inferior to humans? A computer has the ability to evaluate problems that humans can hardly even imagine, let alone approach. Even if a man can calculate the same problems as a computer, the computer can solve it much faster than the human mind. Maybe it is the subconscious attempt by us at reaching the next stage of evolution by our minds, creating a machine to do all the dirty work for us while we sit back and allows our brains to focus on creating, or destroying, as the case may be. The human brain has many flaws, yet it also has many an edge over the computer. It has the capacity to create, unlike the computer. It can work without full input, making logical assumptions about problems. A person can work with a wide variety of methods, seeing new and more efficient ways of handling problems. It can come up with infinite ways of getting around problems encountered in everyday life, while a computer has a limited selection of new tricks it can come up with, limited by its programming. Given the time, the human brain can learn to understand anything, and it can grasp the central theme of any concept. The computer tends to take all things in their entirety, which makes some problems near impossible to solve. Emotions are also an asset. Emotions have allowed the human brain to evolve beyond a problem-solving machine. Anger allows the imagination to roam, inventing concepts of new and more powerful weapons of destruction. Discontent induces the mind to conceive of new methods of fulfillment that could be expanded into something more. Puzzlement causes the mind to think of solutions. Curiosity leads to attempts to satisfy it, producing new discoveries and revelations. The human brain is as incredible as it is flawed, and the computer is a fantastic machine, but seriously lacking in many aspects. Perhaps the computer is not truly a competitor with the human brain, but rather it’s ideal. Don’t those who use the computer do so in order to supplement their own creative input? After all, the computer is far superior to the human brain in those aspects where the brain is weakest. Neither the mind nor the computer would be as good as the two of them are when they are working together.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Advantage Of Computer

Advantages:1. They allow people across the globe to communicate with each other, no matter at what time, via the use of email. 2. They allow people to look up information directly, instead of the use of searching through books. 3. Back-up copies of work can be made easily, without having to re-write everything. 4. People can work from home, and spend more time with their families because of this. 5. People with disabilities whom can't write, can get software that allows them to speak and it types it on the screen.Disadvantages:1. People somtimes spend all their time secluded in theirs rooms on the computer. 2. Peadophiles on chat rooms 3. Easier to copy peoples homework as you can sometimes find the sources online. 4. Illegal downloading can ruin businesses 5. Details such as bank records, can be hacked into, and thus your personal information is no longer as safe as it used to be. Advantages of Computers1. It can store large amount of facts, instructions, and information. 2. It can process data with accuracy at a very high speed (reaching up to 50 million operations per second). 3. IT can repeat operations in exactly the same way over long period of time. 4. It can check the accuracy of its work. 5. It is capable of executing instructions on its own after the data and program have been fed into its memory. 6. It can perform logical operations. 7. It can communicate with the operator.Disadvantages of Computers1. A computer can only perform operations programmed or instructed by a person. 2. It cannot correct wrong instructions by itself. 3. Its capability to perform logical operations depends on the choice

Thursday, August 15, 2019

The Key to Happiness

The key to Happiness Is the glass half empty, or is it half full? A true optimist would say that the glass is half full. That is because an optimist will always lean towards the more positive option. Optimism is defined as â€Å" the inclination to look at the bright side of any situation, and expect the best possible outcome from any series of events. Anyone can be optimistic, some people choose optimism as a way of life, it can reduce stress producing a better quality of life, and if used on a regular basis optimism can be the key to happiness.Anyone at all can practice optimism. To be an optimist all one has to do is choose to see the positive side of a situation. Its like the saying, â€Å"Count your blessings. † A person may feel that they have nothing to be positive about, but when they are reminded of the positive things in their lives they tend to forget about the negative. Optimism can be developed when one has realistic goals and expectations. Optimists don’t fall into a trap of feeling hopeless, instead they strive for growth and positive change. Being optimistic is not about pretending that everything is okay.It is about thinking positively when things go wrong, learning from them, and moving forward. Optimism can be incorporated into any activity that takes place on any given day and if used on a regular basis, people will see a positive change in their lives. Optimism can produce a better quality of life. Anxiety and negative emotions can take its toll on the body, it can affect your cardiovascular and your immune system. Having an optimistic attitude can protect against these effects. Research has shown the people who choose to have an optimistic attitude about their future behave differently.Optimists have been known to exercise more, smoke less and eat healthier. When they fall ill, optimists are more likely to participate actively in their treatment. Some would say, â€Å"A healthy mind, means a healthy body. † Optimists are better able to handle difficult situations with the ups and downs of daily living. Optimists tend to be more creative and harder workers. They are not afraid of there pasts or their futures. They understand that not everything can be changed, they accept that and move on. Optimism is the key to happiness. It helps us appreciate everything we have in life.It is within appreciation that we find happiness. Optimism is full of positive possibilities. It leads a person to happiness by reducing stress and pulling people towards a more positive future. Helen Keller wrote an essay on Optimism in 1903. She wrote, â€Å"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway to the human spirt. † This is a true statement because having faith in ones self will encourage that person to set new goals in their lives and better yet help them have the will power to achieve them.It is wi th a pessimistic attitude that people give up too quickly on their goals or possibly never even set them to begin with. With optimism comes hope, perseverance, and self confidence. It is with hope that one strives for a better tomorrow. It is perseverance that wills a person to keep trying. Confidence gives people the ability to believe that everything will turn out all right. All of these things portray optimism. Making yourself happy by seeing the better side of situations in life will lead to success. Optimism in everything they do will bring out the best qualities and skills in a person, and this will lead to true happiness.

The Color Purple: Consolation in Female Bonding

Copyright: Martina Diehl June 2012 The Color Purple: Consolation in Female Bonding Celie’s road to trusting and loving herself Abstract This essay is about the love affair in The Color Purple, a novel by Alice Walker in which, thoughts on racism, incest, rape, love and family affairs are provoked. The reader learns about these subjects through the letters that Celie, an uneducated black woman, writes to God and through the letters that her sister Nettie and Celie write to each other.I would like to discuss how Walker raises the issue of love between females, which involves trust and understanding, two aspects that the men in the novel don’t possess. The reader witnesses how the women are being oppressed and abused in this men’s world, Celie and Shug find comfort and security in each other and then become less afraid to stand up for themselves. I will touch on the comparisons of the awareness hierarchy in Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison and The Color Purple.Furth ermore, Walker guides us through the rise of this sisterhood and female love affair, which helps them find the otherness in God, the colour purple. This novel tells us of sexual racism, incest, oppression and abuse which leads to what walker refers to as womanist, which is to feminism what the colour purple is to lavender (Abbandato 1113). The text implies that Celie and Shug find their love for each other through traumatic events where African-American females are lowest in rank, causing sexual racism, rape and abuse by the dominating male. The Beginning of Celie and Shug Nature said, you two folks, hook up, cause you a good example of how it sposed to go. †(105) Celie has been abused by men all her life and still she does what they tell her to out of fear until she meets Shug, who stands up for Celie and shows her many beautiful things life carries with her. ‘Pa’ has abused Celie and she has become pregnant, twice. Incest and abuse seems to be the life she knows and therefore she is afraid of all men including God because she fears getting beaten and doing something wrong. She is not afraid to write to God because she thinks that He, â€Å"as a white male istener, is ill-equipped to hear what she has to say† (Tucker 82), and because her stepfather has made her afraid to tell anybody else, as is shown in the first line of the novel: â€Å"You better not tell nobody but God. It’d kill your mammy. † (3) She has always feared men, and when she sees Shug Avery for the first time she is amazed to see that a female has power over Mr. ____. At first Shug treats Celie as a servant because Shug is supposed to be with Mr. ____ and not Celie. She finally accepts this is reality and finds out that the man she used to know as Albert is not the same anymore.Celie’s traumatic sexual events and incest may have caused Celie to dive into this female love affair with Shug. Shug hears Celie’s stories about the raping, and how Celie lets Albert take advantage of her because abuse is the life she has always lead, the life she is used to. Shug helps Celie see the beautiful things that God has given them. Walker uses the letters Celie writes as a political statement, reminding the reader that Celie can only write her feelings about herself and objective information in writing. She continues to do this in the novel even though she can tell her feelings to Shug.She still feels the need to write to God or Nettie (Christian 424). When talking to Shug, Celie finds â€Å"lesbian continuum† (Abbandato: 1108): the concept of love, friendship and sisterly solidarity, in a world where heterosexuality is compulsory and women are supposed to be no more than objects to men, they are â€Å"the second sex† (Chaber 213), women with no rights or power. A fight against society Walker shows the reader how black woman are trying to rise above the conditions of their society. Sofia and Shug are the two characters that fight against masculine domination.In Song of Solomon, Morrison focuses on the oppression of women and ridicules the men, showing the reader what men consider to be right while emphasizing the abuse of women. These two novels are set in the same time period and both take place in the South of the United States, both novels show the sexual and racial abuse of women as a second sex between 1910 and 1963. Women in white society were gaining power while black women still had none. During the twentieth century black women began to travel more and saw more of the world and therefore this change in dominance in society.They would no longer tolerate the power that men had over them. The oppression that Celie was part of. Celie does not write of her husband by name, he is part of the system joining God and her father in â€Å"an unholy trinity of power than displaces her identity. † (Abbandato 1111) Fear of standing up to the dominant sex Celie is afraid to stand up to her husban d. She does not want to get a beating and is traumatised by the events she went through before she left home to be with Mr. ____. Her mother passed away and she is left with a stepfather who raped her and whom she thought dumped her babies in the woods.Celie is continually silenced by her stepfather and Mr. ____ and has no choice in the marriage. She is only an object to the men and is required work around the house and care for them. She does not like to write down or talk about the names of the men who she knows, she prefers to call them Mr. ___ or ‘Pa’ and refers to them as ‘Him’, like God, these men have more power over her than she has over herself. (Tucker 84) She does not know the man who she calls ‘Pa’ is not her real father until much later when she hears the story from Nettie.Her children whom she thought were gone are with Nettie and Celie learns that white people hanged her father. Comparing Walker to Morrison Walker addresses the i ntersectionality of black women in a white society. As she guides the reader through the novel, the reader discovers the class differences in South America. Not only are white women less powerful than white men, beneath that are the African Americans, in which the African American female seems to be the lowest class. Toni Morrison presents the reader with a similar view where the ‘coloured’ people are in search of the self, trying to fight for a better future.Both novels show the oppression within society that bellows for the African Americans. Walker seems to concentrate on showing the reader all aspects of oppression by highlighting Celie’s sexual preference, and the sexism and racism which is present not only between a white and black society but also within the African American society. Walker lets the reader find the different levels of discrimination within classes of society. In The Color Purple as well as in Song of Solomon, these different levels of disc rimination arise. Macon Dead and the arrator in Song of Solomon show the reader these different levels of discrimination in the following excerpt: â€Å"â€Å"Why can’t you dress like a woman? † He was standing by the stove. What’s that sailor’s cap doing on your head? Don’t you have stockings? What are you trying to make me look like in this town? † He trembled with the thought of the white men in the bank – the men who helped him buy mortgage houses – discovering that this raggedy bootlegger was his sister. † (20) Macon Dead dreads what the white men might think of his family, as they are impressed with this ‘Negro’ who handles business so well.Besides that, Ruth dresses in a masculine manner, which could be argued is a way of proving that she is not lower in class than the men around her. Here in this excerpt, she might be compared to Shug Avery in some respect; she provokes the men around her to show her meaning in society. Throughout both texts a lot of similarities can be found in regard to womanism. The women in the texts tend to be either dependent on their husbands on independent women with principles and an ideal to grow, and be accepted as equals in society.Walker critiques the black community here by insinuating that women have the right to take responsibility for themselves (Christian 424). Celie’s trust and distrust Celie, as apposed to Shug, begins hardly any particular views of her own, and only does what she thinks is right: caring for her husband. She holds onto the morals she has learnt from her stepfather, although she realises that her life could be less abusive, she does not seem to feel that she has the power to change that. She thinks that her stepfather, who raped her, has killed her children and therefore she does not trust him.The incest that happens allows distrust towards her family, and so she turns to God is not allowed to tell anybody about the rap e and abuse. Celie struggles through life as an uneducated young woman who seems to have a great responsibility of looking after an entire household, she is at the bottom of the chain in her family. When Celie meets Shug Avery she seems fascinated by this black woman who is able to stand up to Mr. ____, she even calls him by his first name. Shug is surprised with the way in which Celie lets herself be treated, and the way Albert has changed.Shug finds herself interested in Celie’s life, and Celie finally finds somebody whom she will trust to tell her stories to. By putting her trust in Shug, does not Celie again depend on somebody, as she has done all along? She depends on her sister to write about what life is like, she depends on the ways she is treated and the consolation she finds in writing to God. She does not seem to be able to survive without a husband for who would care for her? Now Shug is willing to care for her, by letting Celie becoming dependent yet again.Nevert heless, due to the influence of Shug, Celie is able to trust herself again (Christian 424). A love affair: Celie and Shug The love between Celie and Shug is found through the traumatic events that especially Celie suffers from, and her previous inability to stand up for herself and to speak, as she would only write to God. African-American females in The Color Purple suffer from their dependence on a husband and being low in the hierarchical setting of the southern states. Celie finds trust and consolation in being able to speak to Shug, who does not abuse her, but merely touches her.This trust turns into a love affair, a lesbian continuum. They find a connection in being on this low hierarchical scale and both find love, which they had been missing. Celie learns to love herself, to trust her own thoughts gains trust in herself and in Shug, she learns to love herself because Shug loves her. Arguably, because she trusts herself she is able to speak up for herself and know when she do es not want something; Albert no longer abuses her because of Shug’s resentment towards Albert’s change.Celie earns a place in society by leaving her place as the uneducated woman who is part of ‘the second sex’ and becoming less dependent on the dominant male force within the African-American society. Walker shows that through trusting and loving the self, barriers can be broken and any type of love is possible. Primary Literature Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. Great Britain: The Women’s Press, 1983. Print. Morrison, Toni. Song of Solomon. USA: Plume Fiction. 1987. reprint. On racism in the African-American society.Secondary Literature Abbandonato, Linda. â€Å"A view from ‘Elsewhere’: Subversive Sexuality and the rewriting of the heroine’s story in The Color Purple†. PMLA vol. 106. (1991): P. 1106-1115 Christian, Barbara T. â€Å"We are the ones that we have been waiting for†: Political content in Alice’s Walker’s novels. Women’s studies International Forum vol. 9. (1986): P. 421-426 Idem Tucker, Lindsey. â€Å"Alice Walker’s The Color Purple†: Emergent Woman, Emergent Text. Black American literature forum. (1988): Vol. 22. P. 81-95

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

A Comparison of the Power of Will in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse N

The story of Heart of Darkness was adapted to film after many failed attempts. (Hearts of Darkness, Coppala E.). Finally, director Francis Coppala collaborated with his friend John Milius on writing a screen play for Conrad's masterpiece. The two came up with Apocalypse Now, utilizing a more modern setting than the original story which was based in imperialistic Europe. The modern setting was that of the Vietnam war. Apocalypse Now focuses on the insanity of a decorated military colonial. "Kurtz intended to enlighten the natives, but instead he circums to the primal temptations of the jungle and goes insane." (Hearts of Darkness, Coppala E.) Â   The fiction of Joseph Conrad, as seen in Heart of Darkness, represents the teachings of the German philosopher and idealist Arthur Schopenhauer. Schopenhauer thought of the world as having two distinct entities, both of which are parts of the whole [world]. First, there is the world of representation or appearance. This is the phenomenal world which is made of tangible objects. For Schopenhauer the second entity being the thing-in-itself is will, and is the cause of everything. {Frost}. "The phenomenal world [world of representation] is merely an image; it mirrors the will, the real world." (Sahakian). Schopenhauer, being of pessimistic views, argued will to be a force that both "creates all and destroys all in its insatiable demand for " 'More!' [More of what it does not know it only knows that it wants more.]" (Palmer). All human actions are a result of will. As seen through the character of Kurtz, the world of will manifestates suffering, evil, and insanity into the world of perce ption. Â   There are m , Francis Copala, and John Milius. Paramount, 1989. Palmer, Donald. Looking at Philosophy; The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy Made Lighter. 1988. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company, 1994. Sahakian William S. History of Philosophy. New York, Barnes and Noble Books, 1968. Schopenhauer, Arthur. Essays and Aphorisms. Trans. R. J. Hollingdale. New York, Penguin Books, 1970. Â   Works Consulted: Boyle, Ted E. Symbolism and Meaning in the Fiction of Joseph Conrad. 1965. ` Folcroft, PA; The Folcroft Press, 1969. Johnson, Bruce. Conrad?s Models of Mind. Minneapolis: Minnesota UP, 1971. Murfin, Ross C. Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness: A Case Study in Contemporary Criticism. New York: St. Martin?s Press, 1989. Wollaeger, Mark A. Joseph Conrad and the Fictions of Skepticism. Stanford, CA; Stanford UP, 1990.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

International Corporate Finance and Financial Markets Essay

International Corporate Finance and Financial Markets - Essay Example Even the companies considered to be the biggest bet in the international business arena are going down with bankruptcy. Several others have asked their respective governments to provide a bail out for their failing financial situation. In such a scenario so filled with uncertainty and risks, it becomes extremely important for us to understand the complete scope of international business, the mergers and acquisitions, the bail outs and special schemes provided for the corporate finance by the government and the likes of it all. In the sections to follow in this paper, we will discuss all of the key points spanning the arena of international corporate finance and financial markets. International investments have increased manifold ever since the dawn of the new globalized world came into being. Every day pours forth a new array of mergers and acquisitions or overseas investments. Horizontal acquisitions, merger of two companies or any other form of investment – these all make for the most important asset of any economy – the movement of the assets. However, there are several times in the history of these mergers and acquisitions or investments where we see that a particular deal went through a favorable time with huge profits and earnings, however, declining in the end. This section is about why these investments follow a pattern of growth and decline. However, before we proceed, let us understand a few factors in the whole task of the investments and merger and acquisitions process. There are several types of mergers and acquisitions. A merger, however, is within the two companies of equal stature or value. Meanwhile, an acquisition is between two companies where the acquiring company is of a higher value than the company acquired. Let us now take a look at the process that takes place when two companies undergo a process of M/A (merger and acquisition). Once the M/A is organized for, the acquiring company

Monday, August 12, 2019

Management report regarding the financial performance of the National Essay

Management report regarding the financial performance of the National Folk Festival Ltd for year ended 30 June 2007 - Essay Example Net Working Capital is therefore the difference between current assets and current liabilities. (Carey and Towers-Clark 2011) Working capital is relevant since it is a measure of the firm’s liquidity and efficiency because it involves all current assets and current liabilities. (Adams 2006) It is a reflection of the results of a number of other company activities like revenue collection, inventory management, payment to suppliers and debt management. A positive working capital in a firm would be an indicator of its ability to pay off its short-term obligations quickly. On the other hand, a negative working capital indicates that the business is struggling to pay off these short-term liabilities fast enough. (Atrill and McLaney 2011) In the case study of National Folk Festival Ltd, its working capital position for both 2007 and 2006 can be evaluated and compared. The comparison is to ascertain how liquid the firm was in these two years. The working capital of the company can be calculated as shown below: The year 2007 had a higher working capital than 2006. This means that in the year 2007, National Folk Festival Ltd was more liquid than in 2006 since it had more money to pay off its short-term liabilities as and when they fell due. A closer look at the current assets and liabilities for both years reveals that in 2007, the company had more current assets and fewer current liabilities compared to 2006. This was what attributed to the higher working capital in 2007 than in 2006. A comparison of the income statement items for the years 2007 and 2006 shows that the company made significant improvements in 2007. In Appendix 1, a variance analysis shows the increase or decrease of incomes and expenses from 2006 to 2007. An increase in income or decrease in expense is a favourable variance while a decrease in income or an increase in expense is an adverse variance. The tickets sales in the year 2007 were higher than

Sunday, August 11, 2019

The Mind-Body Problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Mind-Body Problem - Essay Example The mind-body problem has been discussed, examined, and has perplexed philosophers for most of our recorded history. Obviously there should be no expectation of â€Å"solving† the problem through this discussion, but won’t stop me from trying. I intend to discuss the mind-body problem and its interpretation from one perspective, arguing against dualism but not for monism. The concept of body-mind dualism has some attractive qualities. The differing characteristics of the brain as a material and the mind as an experience are undeniable, and the disconnection is ideal if one wishes to escape the obvious mortality of the physical body. Monism can also be viewed in a positive light, as it gives the physical world meaning and adequately accounts for many of the mind-brain correlations that have been identified in neurobiology. The main problem with the existence of both dualism and monism lies within their inability to account for scientific findings. Any theory that attempts to explain the physical world should be relatively compatible with the findings of physics, psychology, and biology (physical world, the mind, and the body, respectively). Findings from neurobiological research have not added support for the existence of an engram (a neurological correlate of a cognitive process) (Sheena 221) and thus does not support either the dualistic approach or the monistic perspective as there has yet to be a meeting point or unity observed that can substantiate either theory. Similarly, physics research into fundamental particles has revealed ambiguity, as subatomic particles appear to exist in relational states (Wolfenstein and Silva 480) rather than as definite objects (the same or different) that can be account for by either philosophical theory of body and mind. To conclude, I have presented two examples from science that disagree

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Using Marx's concepts and methodology, analyze a specific news story, Essay

Using Marx's concepts and methodology, analyze a specific news story, feature article, column, editorial, cartoon, advertisement, video, etc. published since January 1, 2014 - Essay Example According to unofficial but reliable information, the Argentines are currently faced with a nearly 30% increase in prices from 2013. It is however, estimated that things will move from worse to worst with a further projection to 45% in this year and further 56% in Venezuela occur. Interestingly it has also been noted that women have been taking their men to court as a way of seeking for alimony payments due to the tough economic times. Moreover, the informal sector has not been left behind from this wind as it is reported that even the extortion racket has doubled its fee of its so called protection over the past year. The president of the central bank in this country also confirms the case of rising inflation as he reported a 25% increase in monetary supply in 2013 alone which aimed at cushioning the government’s budget deficit. From the above sentiments it is possible to connect some of the Marx’s theories. For example, it is evident that human society is progressing through class struggle as a conflict between an ownership classes that controls the production is existing with those poor citizens who provide labor for production. It is no wonder Butros Sandra a 50 years old businesswoman running a market stall says, â€Å"they are toasting Champagne while the people become divided†. According to Marx, the bourgeoisie who are wealthy control the wealth at their own benefit and this would definitely lead to tensions something that is already eminent. This idea is further supported by Tucker-Marx-Engel reader (Karl Marx Friedrich Engels Robert C. Tucker pg 78). This is also the central argument proposed in this article and theorists Marx, Engel and Tucker. From the case study we are made aware of Venezuela which is already suffering from social unrest. According to Marx these are the tensions that accrue when a few wealthy personalities control the economy. To support this

Barbeque machine Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Barbeque machine - Assignment Example The cost of designing the barbeque grill is reduced by using a hybrid strategy that will leverage the flexibility of industrial manufacturing with lowest advantages. Recycled metals can also be used. The running cost is reduced by covering the lid tightly thus shortening the cooking time. The grill uses little amount of charcoal depending on the amount of food to be cooked and the size of the charcoal box. The round grill barbecue is easy to operate. The food to be roasted is placed on an already lit grill, the cover put in place and the food allowed to cook. The tool set is used to flip and toss the food. The round grill barbecue is designed to a small portable size that is easy to carry around and occupies very small space. The round grill barbeque machine is mostly used for roasting, boiling, or sweltering food. It can also be used to store food. However, the round grill barbeque machine cannot store perishable food for a longer period of time. Pair wise comparison chart. OBJECTIV ES COST PORTABILITY USABILITY ENERGY USE AND EFFICIENCY SCORE COST - 0 1 1 2 PORTABILITY 1 - 1 1 3 USABILITY 1 1 - 1 3 ENERGY USE AND EFFICIENCY 1 1 1 - 3 Morphological chart DESIGHN PARTS DESCIPTION Casing The casing is made of metal sheet. Holds the mesh, top cover, and the charcoal box in place Rack Made if steel rods and acts as the stand for the grill. Can be fitted with rollers to allow easy mobility. Mesh Made of stainless steel and used to hold the food strategically while cooking. Top cover Prevents contamination of food while cooking and reduces energy loss by containing the heat thus increasing efficiency of the barbecue grill. Tool set Made of stainless steel and is used to toss and flip the food while cooking Numerical Evaluation Matrix DESIGN COST ENERGY USE PORTABILITY USABILITY SPACE Round grill barbecue 45% 30% 20% 10% 25% Electric grill barbecue 60% 60% 40% 30% 20% Wood pallet electric grill barbecue 55% 80% 50% 40% 40% Gas barbecue grill 75% 65% 40% 55% 60% Kettle barbecue grill 55% 80% 30% 40% 20% Conclusion The imposition or regulatory measures on charcoal use and production, and the increasing depreciation rate of energy resources has made it necessary to develop a barbeque grill that is energy efficient and eco-friendly. The round grill barbeque machine is therefore designed to use a small amount of charcoal with very minimal energy loss. Reference Classic barbequing. Bristol, Wis.: Charmglow Products, 1977.

Friday, August 9, 2019

Explain why the nineteenth century saw the development of multilateral Essay

Explain why the nineteenth century saw the development of multilateral diplomacy in Europe - Essay Example The extension of that system through the growth of European influence overseas, the eventual erosion of Europe’s pre-eminence, the rise of the superpowers, the birth of new states, and the challenge of universalist creeds and ideologies, each in their own way influenced the methods, style and content of diplomacy. The emancipation within barely thirty years of almost all the colonial and dependent territories of Britain, France, the Netherlands and Portugal thus vastly inflated the world’s corps diplomatiques, strained traditional diplomatic values, and transformed institutionalized ‘multilateral diplomacy’ – or diplomacy by committee as it has been most appropriately termed – from a convenience into a necessity. The post-Cold War multilateral diplomacy is exemplified by more versatile policies of meetings and discussions with enormous issues and the rising contribution of authorities, national groups and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Multilateral diplomacy was trying to get used to to these new circumstances. Several issues were escalating ‘multilateral diplomacy’ in Europe – such as scientific, economic, anti political matters are worldwide and enormous in extent (Anderson 1993, pg. 106). They are outstripping the age-old means by which European regime managed them. The signing of the Peace of Westphalia reinforced by the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, founded the theory of nationwide control, thus placing the nations of Europe on equivalent lawful balance (Clive 1999, pg. 689). This concept of self-governing equivalence – awarding each state with protective honour and the right to carry out domestic and overseas dealings without outer involvement – symbolizes the initial real ordering code amongst nations. After Westphalia, ‘decentralized control by self-governing states’ (Falk 1969, p. 69) gave the foundation of straight international order essential to the following expansion of worldwide organization.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Boundaries should employers set for social media Essay

Boundaries should employers set for social media - Essay Example Employees should limit themselves when it comes to the use of social media in the workplace because in continuing to indulge themselves, they will most likely end up using up the time of their employers, which might lead to negative results in their output. Therefore, employees have to limit their time on social networks and should only use them in situations where they have been able to clear all the work on their table for the day and they have nothing else to do but to kill time. According to Young (2010), to use social media at any time in the workplace would be detrimental to their work and would amount to their stealing their employer’s time. The answer to this question largely depends on whether an employee has accomplished the goals that have been set for him because if he has not, indulging in social media might be detrimental to his performance. Furthermore, it is necessary for employees to ensure that the keep social media usage, which is essentially part of their social lives, out of the workplace because to use it in such an environment is disruptive to their work. Therefore, if an employee has not accomplished his goals, to use social media would be equivalent to stealing the time of their employers. While an employee might have worked for a number of hours, this does not mean that he has to take his employer’s time by using social media. The number of hours that an employee has worked does not matter as long as he keeps away from social media and makes sure that he delivers on his goals. Therefore, using social media during work hours would be the same as time-wasting and has to be reduced to a minimum or discouraged. 2. The justification used by heavy social-media users to using company software and confidential date in the workplace might be based on their opinion that it is part of their right. This is especially the case in a situation where they feel that their right to interact with others and express themselves in

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

A Possible case of Sexual Harassment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Possible case of Sexual Harassment - Essay Example "Sexual harassment means unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, or other conduct based on sex affecting the dignity of women and men at work. This can include unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct (para 2.1). Thus a range of behaviour may be considered to constitute sexual harassment (para 2.2). The essential characteristic of sexual harassment is that it is unwanted by the recipient, that it is for each individual to determine what behaviour is acceptable to them and what they regard as offensive. (para 2.3)" (Barry) Once the situation is taken at the level of seriousness it merits, the idea of B refusing to approach you because she does not want to be called "a tattletale" would be dismissed. Here is a situation where action of some sort is warranted. Now, you might be tempted to pull up C immediately. This is to be entirely avoided, since there is no reported evidence-a private conversation is not evidence enough-neither is there a formal complaint. On top of that, one cannot be sure that what A is saying is true: It is unverified even if she has reported that several people were witnesses to the sexual advances she mentions. Finally, it is again improper to call a meeting of those present at the roll call to ascertain the facts. At this point, it should be realized that something needs to be done soon, since the harassment seems to be repeating. If what A is saying is true, and if B is indeed troubled by what is happening, it must be made official as soon as possible, and punitive and/or remedial action must be taken just as soon. The obvious idea now is to speak directly to B. However, there is a danger in this direct course of action-B might get upset with A for having reported the incident. Requesting that A ask B to speak to you directly is a solution that suffers from the same problem: B will know that A has reported the incident. We have not yet analyzed whether B wants the incident reported, but it is incorrect to assume that she does. A possible workaround is to ask A to make up a story. She could say to B that she approached you about a problem, and that you were sympathetic and helpful-and that you assured her you would keep the matter in strict confidence. This might give B the required confidence to approach you directly. We must now speak about the protagonist himself. You might have developed a reputation of being unapproachable, or it might be generally believed that you cannot handle a situation in the appropriate manner-which could be why B is afraid of approaching you. If you trust your capabilities, you, as sergeant, could call a general meeting before attempting to resolve B's issue, reassuring everyone in your team that they can approach you with whatever issues they may have, that information will be kept in confidence if required, and so on. Your image in the team needs to be bolstered, and perhaps the most straightforward way to achieve this is to address all team members publicly. We now turn to officer B. What is

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Sherlock Holmes Essay Example for Free

Sherlock Holmes Essay The dialogue and narrative probably the clearest and most noticed contrast between both stories.  In the story Silver Blaze, the narrator is Dr. Watson who tells the events within the story as he interprets it. Although this story is written in first person, the first person isnt the main character. Watson describes the moment tells the reader about the surroundings, the mood and anticipating thoughts from Watson. Due to Watsons sideline he is always telling us Holmes expressions trying to give understand what he is thinking. It is because Holmes is not the narrator that we do not find out what he is thinking at the moment, the reader finds out when Watson finds out. This is because as Sherlock Holmes discovers information, or forms a theory, Dr. Watson only finds out what Holmes knows when Holmes tells Watson, consequently to this, you as a reader will always have restricted access to the thoughts of Holmes and whats happening in the story. In Finger Man the narrator is Phillip Marlow, the difference being that in this story hes the main character of the story, so the reader experiences what he does and knows where his is going or what he is thinking. In a certain view you are interacting with the character and are told everything during the moment. It gives the reader a feeling of trust between you and the narrator (Phillip Marlow), this adds to the enjoyment of the story. Unlike Silver Blaze where the narrator isnt the main character, where Holmes does most of the thinking, and the only purpose of Watson is to record what Holmes is doing. Finger man is in a completely different to Silver Blaze in terms of narrative style. These two stories differ in plot as well. Silver blaze is much more straightforward; theres an introduction, middle and end. Its set out very simply you are given all the information on a plate, where as in Finger man, the action starts from the beginning. You start right in the middle of all the action when you start reading. Finger Man has many twist and turns, but Silver Blaze is just one straight line, where all the information comes together with an unpredictable ending.  Sherlock Holmes and Phillip Marlow are very different characters. Holmes is intelligent, analytical, methodical and private. Marlow also speaks his mind, but hes more ruthless, independent, a risk taker, and very streetwise. Holmes and Marlow are very intelligent, and always solve the case, but they solve them in very different ways. Holmes uses his mental/intellectual strength. Hes very calm, but tackles his problem with mental skills and will only resort to violence if it necessary. Marlow is an opposite. He takes risks that he has studied and thought about considerably before acting on it, but occasionally he acts on instinct making his behaviour unpredictable. Holmes is polite and sticks to the rules of the law. Holmes also cant resist explaining things, and he only speaks when hes ready, but when he speaks, he makes a long explanation. Marlows conversations are fast, brief, and to the point. He speaks what is on his mind and doesnt care what other people think. Marlow seems more like a tough guy, than a calm, composed detective like Holmes. Bending the rules is one thing Marlow doesnt really mind doing, hell do what he has to do, to solve the case. If it means hitting another person, or shooting someone, hell do it. The setting within the stories suggest stereotypical views of the surroundings and atmosphere giving the reader a whereabouts and extra dimension to the story. In Silver Blaze I imagined a dreary setting in the countryside, where it rains often and there isnt much form of transportation or communication. In Finger Man I in vision open top cars at daytime with the hot sun, but in the evening it is raining giving an eerie sense of things taking place.  our rate at present is fifty three and a half miles an hour. The telegraph posts upon this line are 60 yards apart, and the calculation is a simple one

Monday, August 5, 2019

Dell Followed A Hybrid Focus Strategy Commerce Essay

Dell Followed A Hybrid Focus Strategy Commerce Essay Porters theory of generic strategies, the Ansoff Matrix, the strategy clock and the TOWS Matrix are the important tools that are needed to produce strategic options (Proctor, 2000, p 37) (Williamson, et al, 2003, p 78) Based on Porters generic strategies, it can be said that Dell followed a hybrid focus strategy. A hybrid strategy is a combination of both differentiation and cost leadership strategy (Johnson et al, 2008, p.230). Dell is constantly structuring its business to be seen more than a PC business and is focusing on different areas of business such as security, business logistics and applications as well as minimising on its costs as far as possible. Based on the Ansoff matrix, Dell can be said to have adopted market development mainly to encourage growth. Selling directly to customers enable dell to enter market development phase by selling new products through new distribution channels. The strategy is based on selling existing products in new markets by reaping the majority of market share. The Ansoffs will be used to suggest the strategic direction for Dell. By investing in RD can be beneficial to Dell as it can continuously develop new products with the latest technology on the market before its competitors, thereby benefitting from first mover advantage. Its strong brand name can enable Dell to impose insurmountable barriers to its competitors. Moreover, it can expand its customer base and retain its customers. As discussed above, people also want the latest technology, thus there is high opportunity of growth in this market. However, focussing on RD will mean diverging from the direct sales model as innovative products necessitate various channels of distribution to ensure speedy delivery. As a result, RD can move Dell away from its mass customisation which is one of its core competencies. Dell can move into business consulting which may be a good source of revenue streams. The biggest opportunity which Dell can leverage is its efficient value chain. Its efficient value chain enabled it to achieve lot of success and therefore by moving into consulting can further strengthen its reputation. By entering into consulting, it will enter a new market and reach new customers which will help it expand its customer base. However, Dell only has specific knowledge but it is not equipped with the necessary expertise to enter into consulting and serve the market profitably which can tarnish the image of the business in the future. This strategy encourages Dell to return to its core competencies and calls for the company to get back to basics. It pushes the company to improve upon those competencies. The strategic direction can be market development and method here can be strategic alliance and joint ventures. The company can form alliances with consulting companies. This method is good in the sense that it does not require much investment. Dell can reinvigorate on its core competencies and further integrate in the market. Dell can strengthen its core competencies further by including more suppliers, improving its customer service, engaging in more marketing and promotion initiatives and expanding the turnkey solutions. By adopting this strategy, dell can improve its value chain, concentrate on the existing market and expand its customer base. Moreover, this strategy do not require much investment as Dell does not have to reinvent itself and product new products. Dell is dependent on Intel processor gives it limited choice to satisfy all its customers. Therefore, by adding more suppliers, Dell can offer more configuration choices to its customers. The growth of enterprise solutions and service businesses has led to a change in the revenue stream of the business in 2010. Dell therefore can leverage on that important asset by providing more predictable solutions to customers and hence strengthen its position in the market. By following this strategy, dell can continue to maintain its position in the market as a pioneer and differentiate itself from its competitors. The proposed method here can be Strategic Alliances and Organic Development. Therefore, by engaging into alliances, Dell can make use of the resources of its alliances to provide new goods and services to its customers more easily. Using strategic alliances in the existing market will enable Dell to improve and increase its retailing of products. Financial position Dells financial position shows a stellar performance which can be shown by its ratios. Revenues in May 2012 fell below the forecast due to high fall in sales as new technologies tablets and iPad have taken a larger share of the market. Therefore to overcome this gloomy outlook, Dell is diversifying into other line of business so as to remain competitive in the market. This clearly explains its recent waves of international mergers and acquisitions it has taken over the last two years (The New York Times, 2012). Dells profits slid by 47% in the third quarter of 2012. This is because Dells business is considered to be a static one which is tied to the sale of PCs, while consumers want the latest technology. This has led  to the continuous increase in demand for tablets and smartphones which have spurred growth in the market (Bloomberg businessweek, 2012). Dell has recently adopted storage as part of its business. Coupled with that, it is now aligning its storage portfolio to provide non-stop, fluid data solutions. There was an increase in revenue of 16% from 2010 to 2011 mainly due to an improvement in the economy. During a recession, people usually decrease their demand for luxury goods which clearly shows the decline for 2009. The growth of enterprise solutions and service businesses has led to a change in the revenue stream of the business in 2010. There was an increase in revenue from 14.3% in 2009 to 18.7% in 2011. Compared to the poor net income performance in 2010 due to a big fall in revenue, that of 2011 was pretty good. There has been an increase of 84% in net income in 2011 from 2010. This resulted from an increase of 1.6% and 2.5% in profit margin and ROA respectively. The improvement in growth can also be attributed to the increase involvement of Dell in service operation. As a result, Dell continues to invest a lot in its service aspect of business (Part 2, Item 7, Form 10-K, Dell Inc. 2011). Dell has touted an increase in growth mainly from its acquisitions. There was an increase in current assets by $4,776 billion from 2010. This resulted mainly from due to an increase in cash and cash equivalents which represented 4.4% of total assets. Cash and cash equivalents rose mainly due to an increase in revenue and a decrease in cash in investing activities. There was an improvement in fixed asset turnover from 24.3 times in 2010 to 31.5 times in 2011 which shows clearly that Dell has used its fixed assets more effectively to generate revenue. This represents a shift in their revenue streams (Part 1 2, Item 2 8, Form 10-K, Dell Inc. 2011). Both current ratio and quick ratio improved from 2010 to 2011 which shows that Dell managed its assets efficiently so as to maintain a good liquidity position. Due to a rise in retained profits in 2011, equity rise to $2billion. Equity rose from 28.9% in fiscal 2010 to 39.3% in fiscal 2011 mainly due to the purchase of shares and stock price variations. (Part 2, Item 8, Form 10-K, Dell Inc. 2011) Based on the BCG matrix, Dells PC can be classified as a cash cow. Its market continues to expand. To maintain its position as a cash cow, Dell has to come up with products to meet the needs and provide value to its customers. The star can be its server business and needs to be upgraded continuously so as to maintain its position. The question mark can be its service business and to turn it into a star, Dells has to increase its market share in that sector. GE matrix- dell PC can be said in the high segment as it has earned high growth in both the US and other countries by now. Its server business also has earned consistent growth till now. The service business is growing but not as much as that of server and PC business. This sector needs to be developed more so as to have a greater portion of its portfolio. Dells peripheral business which includes printers has significant growth in sales but is facing competition from its competitors hence placing it in the medium growth segment. Evaluating strategic options Strategic options can be evaluated by using assessment of Johnson Scholes (1999) who had put forward three criteria mainly suitability, feasibility and acceptability. Suitability takes into consideration whether the strategic direction chosen by the organisation fit the issues in which the organisation is operating and its appropriateness to the strategic positioning of the organisation, (Johnson Scholes, 2008). To evaluate the feasibility of the strategy, it is necessary to assess the capability of the business in terms of competencies. Concerning the market penetration, it can be said the strategy is feasible in terms of resource deployment. This is because Dell is not doing anything new. It already has a high market share in the industry and is just expanding its customer base. Thus, it does not need extra manpower. Also, by engaging into alliances it has the possibility to use the resources of its alliance. Product development- Focussing on RD to produce new innovative products require a lot of investment and new competencies. This can prove to be costly in the long run. Market development- Dell will have to hire more resources and even employ more staff to monitor the new business and also recruit expertise in this field. As a result, it can be costly. ACCEPTABILITY It is concerned with the future outcomes and it can be measured in terms of risk and return and impact on shareholders. After analysing the financial position of the company, it can be said that Dell has a good performance and though the market and product development needs sufficient investment, the company is well placed to undertake the option. Market penetration- Dell has a high position in the market and thus by adopting this strategy will not need much investment in terms of financial and human resources. After analysing Dells strengths and opportunities, it is found that Dell can adopt this strategy without much risk and can use the resources of its alliances to serve the new market Product development can be quite risky for Dell as it has to invest a lot on RD and also its competitors have already move ahead with innovative products. Hence, its products can fail thereby tarnish its image. Dells return on investment (5 yr avg) is 18.64 compared to that of the industry which is 14.96 (Reuters, 2012). This shows