Saturday, December 28, 2019

Comparison Between Ode to a Nightingale and Disabled

In the poem Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats, the poem’s preoccupations and qualities evoke a Romantic sentimental recollection for the past and refer to it several times. Framed through dynamic poetic techniques and powerful visual imagery, Keats conveys universal concerns and values of immortality of art and the mortality of humans through the compilation of the themes of mortality, nature and transience. â€Å"Disabled† by the modernist poet, Wilfred Owen projects numerous sensual metaphors to evoke emotional responses of traumatic war experiences. â€Å"Disabled† has transcended barriers of time to pursue concerns and values through the compilation of themes and emotions of unseen scars, human mortality, and religion. The preoccupations and†¦show more content†¦The persona has to live in a care home and spends his day watching children enjoying their life in the playground. Through deep examination of this poem, the didactic message that is portray ed in this poem is that you must cherish everything you have and to not take anything for granted. This is due to the fact that you never know when you can suddenly lose everything you have got when you do not expect it. This poem also protests against war and shows the meaningless of it, and the wastage of life caused by it. The frequent switches between present and past in the structure of the poem, and the juxtaposition of remembrance and realisation casts a harsh light on everything the soldier has lost. Each stanza starts with describing the soldier’s present conditions and then compares it to his past life, or vice versa. The final stanza however depicts what he thinks his future holds for him, which he depicts as a life lived by rules set by other people, a life of utter dependency and helplessness. In contrast to the Romantic world view, the Modernist cares rather little for Nature, Being, or the overarching structures of history. Instead of progress and growth, the Modernist poets see decay and a growing alienation of the individual, which are characteristics portrayed in â€Å"Disabled.† â€Å"He sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark† evokes the isolation of the

Friday, December 20, 2019

David Humes Argument Against Belief in the Existence of...

David Hume was a British empiricist, meaning he believed all knowledge comes through the senses. He argued against the existence of innate ideas, stating that humans have knowledge only of things which they directly experience. These claims have a major impact on his argument against the existence of miracles, and in this essay I will explain and critically evaluate this argument. In his discussion Of Miracles in Section X of An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, Hume defines a miracle as â€Å"a violation of the laws of nature and as a firm and unalterable experience has established these laws†1. Basically a miracle is something that happens which is contrary to what would happen given the structure of the universe. He also states†¦show more content†¦In other words he is saying that no matter how good or reliable a testimony may be, it can never as it were on the basis of experience be justified to accept that testimony over and against what stands as testimony against the miracle happening. The testimony happens to be the laws of nature themselves. In this sense it is clear that Hume is giving us a priori argument in Part 1 in that he is saying that miracles are contrary to reason. However I think it would be easier to accept this view if Hume had not previously discussed his Induction theory. In regard that he thought that for example that just because the sun has risen every day so far, it does not necessarily follow that the sun will rise tomorrow, we have no rational basis in believing it will. However in regard to miracles he tells us to base our decisions on past experiences, if it is unlikely it is less likely to be true. So in that sense we should also be able to say that based on our past experiences the sun will definitely rise tomorrow? Also if the sun was not to rise, surely that would be a miracle in the sense that it would be a violation of the laws of nature? And what is exactly a violation of natural laws? Dorothy Coleman points out â€Å"past experience shows that what are at one time considered violations of natural laws are frequently foundShow MoreRelatedIn An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume, the idea of miracles is introduced.1300 Words   |  6 PagesUnderstanding by David Hume, the idea of miracles is introduced. Hume’s argument is that there is no rational rea son for human beings to believe in miracles, and that it is wrong to have miracles as the building blocks for religion. It is because the general notion of miracles come from the statement of others who claim to have seen them, Hume believes that there is no way to prove that those accounts are accurate, because they were not experienced first-hand. In order to believe a miracle, the evidenceRead MoreBy Definition Miracles Do Not Occur Essay1398 Words   |  6 PagesBy Definition Miracles Do Not Occur Even in this modern age, belief in the miraculous is widespread and is a feature of many world religions, including the Christian faith where miracles have played a significant role. It is important attempt to define what a miracle is, as this in itself is a source for debate. Today the term ‘miracle’ in many different ways and the idea is open to many interpretations. A miracle can be defined in a number of ways, firstly asRead MoreDo You Believe in Miracles? Essay2437 Words   |  10 Pages do you believe in miracles? Or, more appropriately, do you consider, that in today’s scientific era, it is illogical to relate a fact out of common sense, to one that would establish a witness for the intervention of a supernatural being? Here’s a moment to think a about it. Let me guess, you’re sitting there trying to make up your mind. Don’t worry; you’re not the first person that does not believe in miracles. In the past, some two centuries ago, Scottish philosopher David Hume did not believeRead MoreEvil And The Existence Of Evil Essay1478 Words   |  6 PagesEvil and miracles, can they both exist in our modern everyday life? Evil s existence has no doubt to be present due to all the horrors we have heard about or witnessed. While as for miracles, the existence is constantly questioned if they exist and what classi fies as a true miracle. These concepts battle with theism and cause a great uproar to the existence of a powerful, omnipotent, and omniscient being. The definition of evil is the absence of good while the definition of a miracle is an unexpectedRead MoreEssay Miracles849 Words   |  4 PagesMiracles From the Latin word miraculum meaning â€Å"object of wonder† enters the word miracle. Many definitions have been formed for the notion of a miracle but most would agree that it is most commonly an unexplainable extraordinary event, inspiring awe and wonder unto its witnesses. Similar definitions state that it is a â€Å"supernatural event, contrary to the established constitutionRead MoreDavid Humes Anti Miracle Belief Essay1577 Words   |  7 PagesThe problem of miracles is an ancient one that has persisted for most of human history, but that has been addressed with some depth only in the last few centuries. The great empiricist philosopher David Hume was one of the first to present an analysis of miracles that tried to explain why they are created (by human beings themselves, in Hume’s opinion) and why people are so ready to believe in them. This is an important field of study, as with greater knowledge of the character of physical lawRead MoreEssay on Analysis of Hume’s Critique of Causation1825 Words   |  8 PagesAnalysis of Hume’s Critique of Causation Sometimes it is hard to be sure what conclusion to draw from a Humean analysis, and he is easy to misrepresent. This is partly because one argument he is engaged in may raise a number of related issues that he has dealt with elsewhere, and some of his points seem contradictory. My wish is to consider some of the possible readings of David Hume’s critique of causation, as it appears in Section VII of the Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, â€Å"On NecessaryRead MoreSimilarities Between Descartes And Hume1627 Words   |  7 PagesHe also discovered how the earth orbits the sun. He is a rationalist about knowledge. (Pismenny, 2016) This means that he believes we can gain knowledge through our minds. He argues that you do not need to have experience of something to know it. David Hume, another philosopher, is an empiricist, so he disagrees with Descartes and believes that experience is the only way to gain knowledge. (Hume, 1910) Hume is a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist and essayist. He is also a skeptic and naturalistRead MoreGod? Essay1883 Words   |  8 Pageshas proven to be more than a little difficult to solve. According to O’Brien in his book An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge, â€Å"The philosophy of religion is (in part) concerned with whether such a belief is justified.† (177). The belief that O’Brien mentions as being problematic is the belief that the God worshiped by the monotheistic religions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam is the â€Å"supernatural† being who is responsible for creating the universe and can control reality in some wayRead MoreAnalysis of Diaglogues Concerning Natural Religion by David Hume1445 Words   |  6 PagesWord Count: Professor Nelson Philosophical Perspectives 12 October 2012 Writing Assignment #1 Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion by David Hume is a philosophical piece concerning the existence of God. Arguments for and against the existence of God are portrayed in dialogue through three characters; Demea, Cleanthes, and Philo. All three agree that God exists, but they drastically differ in their opinions of God’s attributes or characteristics, and if man can understand God. The characters

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Hcl Technologies Write Up Essay Example For Students

Hcl Technologies Write Up Essay - HCL Technologies History While HCL Enterprise has a 30-year history, HCL Technologies is a relatively young company formed, 12 years ago, in 1998. During this period, HCL has built unique strengths in IT applications (custom applications for industry solutions and package implementation), IT infrastructure management and business process outsourcing, while maintaining and extending its leadership in product engineering. HCL has also built domain depth through a micro-verticalization strategy in industries such as Financial Services, Hi-tech and Manufacturing, Retail, Media and Entertainment, Life Sciences, and Telecom. HCL has created the ability to distribute value across the customers IT landscape through its well-distributed services portfolio, significant domain strengths, and locally relevant geographic distribution. HCL has the widest service portfolio among Indian IT service providers, with each of its services having attained critical mass. Our five mature lines of business are R;D and Engineering, Custom Applications, Enterprise Applications, IT Infrastructure Management, and BPO Services. In addition, HCL has recently launched its Enterprise Transformation Service offerings comprising of Business, Technology, Application and Data Transformation – the four broad needs of any enterprise. Our ability to synergistically integrate these service lines across the entire IT landscape creates new zones for value creation. Additionally, HCL has created unique service leadership in each of these areas through best-of-breed unique propositions. HCL’s leadership in these service areas has been recognized by several leading independent analysts. In 2005, HCL started questioning the linearity of scale-driven business models adopted by service providers (largely in the IT application business). The questioning led us to the belief that the market was rapidly approaching a point of inflection, that is a point where the volume and value proportionality would change, opening up new opportunities for service providers who aspire to focus on value. With this realization, HCL embarked on a transformational journey that focuses on value centricity in customer relationships and on leveraging new market opportunities, while creating a unique employee experience. Hence HCL entered a new phase of evolution – transforming it from a volume-driven service provider to value-centric enterprise that turns technology into competitive advantage for all its customers across the globe. Today HCL’s new way of doing business is being recognized by Harvard, IDC, Fortune, Forbes, Economist, Business Week and the likes. Overview HCL Technologies is a leading global IT services company, working with clients in the areas that impact and redefine the core of their businesses. Since its inception into the global landscape after its IPO in 1999, HCL focuses on transformational outsourcing, underlined by innovation and value creation, and offers integrated portfolio of services including software-led IT solutions, remote infrastructure man agement, engineering and RD services and BPO. HCL leverages its extensive global offshore infrastructure and network of offices in 26 countries to provide holistic, multi-service delivery in key industry verticals including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Consumer Services, Public Services and Healthcare. HCL takes pride in its philosophy of Employee First which empowers our 58,129 transformers to create a real value for the customers. HCL Technologies, along with its subsidiaries, had consolidated revenues of US$ 2. 6 billion (Rs. 12,048 crores), as on 31st March 2010 (on LTM basis). HCL is a $5 billion leading global Technology and IT Enterprise that comprises two companies listed in India HCL Technologies ; HCL Infosystems. Founded in 1976, HCL is one of Indias original IT garage start-ups, a pioneer of modern computing, and a global transformational enterprise today. Its range of offerings spans Product Engineering, Custom Package Applications, BPO, IT Infrastructure Services, IT Hardware, Systems Integration, and distribution of ICT products across a wide range of focused industry verticals. .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 , .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 .postImageUrl , .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 , .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121:hover , .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121:visited , .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121:active { border:0!important; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121:active , .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121 .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uad3733efb4e08bade6f9069471f07121:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Early 1900s EssayThe HCL team comprises over 62,000 professionals of diverse nationalities, who operate from 26 countries including over 500 points of presence in India. HCL has global partnerships with several leading Fortune 1000 firms, including leading IT and Technology firms. For more information, please visit  www. hcl. in. Client Base and Revenues HCL Technologies is a leading global IT services company, working with clients in the areas that impact and redefine the core of their businesses. Since its inception into the global landscape after its IPO in 1999, HCL focuses on transformational outsourcing, underlined by innovation and value creation, and offers integrated portfolio of services including software-led IT solutions, remote infrastructure management, engineering and RD services and BPO. HCL leverages its extensive global offshore infrastructure and network of offices in 26 countries to provide holistic, multi-service delivery in key industry verticals including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Consumer Services, Public Services and Healthcare. HCL takes pride in its philosophy of Employee First which empowers our 58,129 transformers to create a real value for the customers. HCL Technologies, along with its subsidiaries, had consolidated revenues of US$ 2. 6 billion (Rs. 12,048 crores), as on 31st March 2010 (on LTM basis). Mergers Acquisition Summary| HCL Technologies Ltd has made 22 acquisitions while taking stakes in 7 companies. HCL Technologies Ltd has 9 divestitures during this period. Year| Acquisitions| Stakes| Divestitures| 010| 0| 0| 0| 2009| 1| 0| 0| 2008| 4| 0| 0| 2007| 0| 0| 0| 2006| 0| 0| 0| 2005| 3| 0| 1| 2004| 4| 1| 3| 2003| 0| 1| 1| 2002| 1| 1| 0| 2001| 3| 3| 2| 2000| 0| 0| 0| 1999| 0| 0| 0| 1998| 1| 1| 0| 1997| 4| 0| 1| 1996| 1| 0| 0| 1995| 0| 0| 0| 1994| 0| 0| 0| 1993| 0| 0| 1| Total| 22| 7| 9| Contact Information Global HQ Corporate Office A-10/11, Sector 3 Noida 201 301, Uttar Pradesh, India Tel. : +91-120-253-5071 Fax: +91-120-253-0591 HCL Technologies Ltd 50-53, Greams Road Chennai 600 006 India Tel. : +91-44-2829-3298 Fax: +91-44-2829-4969 HCL Technologies Ltd 3, Udyog Vihar Phase I Gurgaon 122 016 Haryana, India Tel. : +91-124-243-9900-05 Fax: +91-124-243-9910 HCL Technologies Kolkata Center Module 212-214, SDF Building Block GP, Sector V, Salt Lake Kolkata 700 091, West Bengal, India Tel. : +91-33-2357-3024-25 / 2357-3620-21 Fax: +91-33-2357-3027 HCL Technologies Ltd Vertex Tech Park No. 564, Pattandur, Agrahara Road Off WhiteField Road, Behind ITPL Bengaluru 560 066 India HCL Technologies Ltd B-304, Delphi, 3rd Floor Hiranandani Business Park Powai, Mumbai 400 096 Tel. : +91-22-4007-1400 Fax: +91-22-4005-0690 HCL Technologies Ltd A-1/CD, Sector 16 Noida 201 301 Uttar Pradesh, India Tel. : +91-120-251-6321 Fax: +91-120-251-6315 HCL Technologies Ltd Plot No. 12, Sector 125 Noida 201 301, Uttar Pradesh India Tel. : +91-120-661-4300 Fax: +91-120-661-4331 ***************************************************************************

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Economics for Global Oil Demand - myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theEconomics for Global Oil Demand. Answer: Introduction: Article Summary: The article Global oil demand to exceed expectations in 2017, says IEA; OPEC cuts supply by Karen Gilchrist, published on 13th September, 2017, sheds light on the recent fluctuations in the global oil market due to the occurrence of several external phenomena of significant implications on the supply of oil. According to the article, as per the predictions of the International Energy Agency, the global demand for oil is expected to increase at a faster rate in the current period, then it was previously expected (Gilchrist 2017). This, clubbed with the fall in supply of oil, is leading to a rebalancing of the oil market, as it is driving out the scope of excess stock of oil. However, the supply of oil is has reduced significantly due to phenomena like the disrupting supply from Libya and the occurrence of Hurricane Harvey, the latter one leading to a daily shutting down of production of nearly 200,000 barrels. This drastic decrease in the supply of oil has led to a condition in the ma rket where the current prices are much higher than the future expected price. The article signals towards a price hike in the near future, though it does not give any specific estimate of the hiked price (Forbes.com 2017). Essay Overview: The essay takes into account the current issue of great concern that has been discussed in the concerned article. The phenomenon of the fall in supply of oil and its implications on the global oil demand and the reasons behind such implications are being studied in the essay. To study the market fluctuations and the stabilizing process, the essay takes reference of different microeconomic concepts like that of demand and supply, changes in demand and supply and their effects on price, elasticity and market efficiency (Rader 2014). Article Analysis: Equilibrium in Oil Market: Oil, being one of the primary necessary commodities for every household and industry in every corner of the world, much of the welfare of the world as a whole depends on the demand and supply situations of the international oil market. Any fluctuation in any of the two forces can lead to huge repercussions on the overall lifestyle of people as a whole. In general, any market (oil market being no exception), remains in an equilibrium situation, when the demand and the supply forces mutually interact with each other and reach a mutually agreeable point, which can be shown as follows: Figure 1: Equilibrium in the market (Source: As created by the author) As can be seen from the above figure, the equilibrium in the market occurs at the point E, where the demand and the supply curve intersects each other, with P0 being the equilibrium price and Q0 being the equilibrium quantity. A stable equilibrium is that condition, which, after any kind of deviation, again comes back to its initial steady state as can be seen from the above diagram (Pearson et al. 2014). Current Demand Supply Imbalances: In the current scenario, as suggested by the concerned article, the global supply of oil, which otherwise maintained a consistency in the levels of supply, fell drastically in the first half of the current year. Much of this fall in the global oil supply can be attributed to the Hurricane Harvey, which occurred in the USA in the month of August. This led to shutting down of many refineries and each day there was a loss of production of nearly 200,000 barrels in August and an expected loss of 300,000 barrels per day in September (Gilchrist 2017). On the other hand, the demand for oil has been consistently increasing, with the demand increasing by 2.4% in the second quarter of the current year. The demand, as has been predicted by the IEA, is expected to increase in the next year at the rate of 1.4%. These two phenomena of a supply shortage and a simultaneous increase in the demand for oil, in the global market, is expected to lead to a scenario, which is explained with the help of the following diagram and the underlying economic reasoning behind the same: Figure 2: Changes in supply and demand (Source: As created by the author) As can be seen from the above figure, the decrease in the supply, collated with the constant increase in the demand for oil, in the global framework, is theoretically expected to shift the equilibrium point from E to F. This leads to a reduction the total quantity of oil in the market and increasing the price of oil significantly (Rios, McConnell and Brue 2013). However, though in general an increase in the price of a normal commodity usually leads to a fall in the demand of that commodity, according to the law of demand, however the extent of fall in demand depends upon the nature of the commodity and how extensively the commodity is being used. This can be portrayed with the help of the concept of elasticity (Canto, Joines and Laffer 2014). Elasticity of Demand: The term elasticity of demand, in economics, refers to the degree of responsiveness of the change in demand for a commodity or service due to a change in the price of the same. The elasticity depends on different factors like the nature of the commodity, the availability of its substitutes and the magnitude of usage of the commodities. If the commodity concerned is not a necessary one or if it has close substitutes which are easily available, then, with a small increase in the price of the commodity, there will be a considerable decrease in its demand as shown in the right hand side figure below (Lin and Prince 2013). However, if the commodity is of necessary in nature and cannot be substituted easily, then an increase in price does not change the demand for the commodity very significantly, indicating that the demand for the commodity is inelastic, as shown in the left hand side figure below: Figure 3: Non-elastic demand (a) and Elastic demand (b) (Source: As created by the author) As is evident from the above figure and the preceding discussion, oil being a commodity, which is of utmost necessity for every individual (household or industry) in any part of the world, the increase in the price of oil, will not reduce the demand for it significantly. This trend is actually observed in reality in the international global market, as can be seen from the concerned article (Forbes.com 2017). Consumer surplus: Due to the fact that the demand for oil is highly inelastic and the supply of oil, in the recent times, has undergone severe downfall due to the external shocks like that of Hurricane Harvey, the situation is expected to be adverse for the consumers all over the world. This can be explained using the economic notion of consumer surplus (Bulow and Klemperer 2012). The consumer surplus is the difference between the actual willingness of the consumer to pay for a commodity or service and the actual amount the consumer pays for the same: Figure 4: Change in consumer surplus (Source: As created by the author) As can be seen from the above figure, which shows the current condition in the international oil market, the initial consumer surplus, before the fall in supply was AP0E. However, due to the fall in the supply of oil and the demand for oil being less elastic, the consumer surplus in the current period has drastically reduced to AP1F. This indicates towards market inefficiency from the consumers perspective, which may have short term or long term implications, depending upon how efficiently and speedily the market recovers (Varian 2014). Market efficiency in long run: As per the article and the discussion in the preceding sections of the essay, the current situation in the global oil market, along with its increasing demand and the supply shock, indicates towards a hike in the price of oil in the current and near future period. The inelastic nature of demand for the commodity also augments this increase in price. The current spot price of oil is higher than the future price or the expected forward price (Wetzstein 2013). However, whether the price of oil will decrease in future or will remain the same will depend upon how fast the oil industry absorbs the shock which stalled its production and how abruptly they can reverse the negative effects by increasing their productivity. If the supply does not increase, then the situation will go on becoming more and more adverse for the consumers. On the other hand, if these negative implications are short term and the supply of oil again increases within a short span of time, then the sufferings of the con sumers will not last for long and the market will again come back to its initial equilibrium, thereby implying the presence of stability in the market (Jarrow and Larsson 2012). Conclusion: As can be concluded from the above discussion, the current oil market, as suggested by the study article, is expected to experience a higher than normal demand in near future. Coupled with the recent drastic supply shock, much of which is due to natural calamities like Hurricane Harvey, the global oil market is expected to experience an overall increase in the level of price, which may be hurting to the consumers as they are expected to enjoy lesser amount of consumer surplus. However, the sufferings can be short term or long term, depending on the efficiency of the market in gaining back its stability by reversing the supply shock in the oil industry and increasing its production. References Bulow, Jeremy, and Paul Klemperer. "Regulated prices, rent seeking, and consumer surplus."Journal of Political Economy120, no. 1 (2012): 160-186. Canto, Victor A., Douglas H. Joines, and Arthur B. Laffer.Foundations of supply-side economics: Theory and evidence. Academic Press, 2014. Forbes.com. 2017. "Forbes Welcome".Forbes.Com. https://www.forbes.com/sites/judeclemente/2017/05/29/the-steady-drumbeat-of-more-global-oil-demand/#792f19ae5e2d. Forbes.com. 2017. "Forbes Welcome".Forbes.Com. https://www.forbes.com/sites/judeclemente/2016/08/28/global-oil-demand-can-only-increase/#68e2b25331a0. Gilchrist, Karen. 2017. "Global Oil Demand To Exceed Expectations In 2017, Says IEA; OPEC Cuts Supply".CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/13/global-oil-demand-to-exceed-expectations-in-2017-says-iea-opec-cuts-supply.html. Jarrow, Robert A., and Martin Larsson. "The meaning of market efficiency."Mathematical Finance22, no. 1 (2012): 1-30. Lin, C-Y. Cynthia, and Lea Prince. "Gasoline price volatility and the elasticity of demand for gasoline."Energy Economics38 (2013): 111-117. Pearson, K. R., Brian R. Parmenter, Alan A. Powell, Peter J. Wilcoxen, and P. B. Dixon.Notes and problems in applied general equilibrium economics. Vol. 32. Elsevier, 2014. Rader, Trout.Theory of microeconomics. Academic Press, 2014. Rios, Manuel C., Campbell R. McConnell, and Stanley L. Brue.Economics: Principles, problems, and policies. McGraw-Hill, 2013. Varian, Hal R.Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach: Ninth International Student Edition. WW Norton Company, 2014. Wetzstein, Michael Eugene.Microeconomic theory: concepts and connections. Routledge, 2013.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Performance Management Analysis

Introduction In the recent past, there has been a shifting paradigm from Taylor’s model of organizational management to more productive methods of production. The new methods aim at increasing production through efficient management of human and capital resources. A number of scholars have conducted extensive research to establish the effects of various managerial techniques on the performance of employees.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Performance Management Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Some researchers note that task formulation is the most notable aspect of management, whereas others observe that the availability of human resources is the crucial factor that influences the performance of the management team. However, scholars concur that three factors are essential as far as the best managerial practices are concerned. One of the factors is production management while the other is the or ganization of work. In addition, the relationship between various groups in the organization influences the performance of employees. Scholars agree that a new model of management should be applied in case the organization is to achieve high results. The new model must incorporate the tenets of neo-liberalism into its productivity structures. Currently, scholars focus on exploring the new management dynamics that relate to post-Ford model of production. Scholars in the UK and the US perceive that the model should be adopted in order to enhance productivity in organizations. However, changing the work structure has micro and macro implications. Scholars of political economy and ethnographic sociology have posted their findings on the topic given its importance in the performance of organizations. This paper reviews a number of articles in order to shed some light on the topic. Views of Various Scholars on Post-Ford Production Model As earlier noted, scholars have posted various views regarding the management models in the current managerial systems. Their views can be categorized into a number of models. Under high performance work systems model, scholars such as Danford and Thompson have contributed enormously in enriching the topic. Handel and Gittleman are some of the scholars who have contributed to the development of high-performance work practices model. Ashton and Sung have conducted extensive research to establish the influence of high-performance work on organizations.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A number of scholars have also discussed the issue of high involvement in detail. Some have talked about high involvement work systems while others stick to high involvement work practices. Harmon is one such scholar who talks about high involvement work systems while Fuertes and Sanchez capitalize their study on high involvement practices. The is sue of high involvement management is also of importance to scholars. Forth and Millward are some of the scholars who analyze the relationship between high involvement practices and the management strategies. Scholars such as Brown and Reich have postulated their findings regarding the relationship between high performance and employment systems. High commitment management is another model employed in analyzing the performance of employees. Baird, Whitefield, and Poole are some of the scholars who have posted their findings on commitment management model. Danford (2004) notes that the idea of high performance work systems is a mechanistic model that does not take into account the demands of human beings. He conducted a study on JetCo manufacturing company and came up with a number of suggestions. The company had a number of efficient practices at the start, but ended up with practices that were unpleasant to the workforce. The company had prolific initiatives aimed at improving the quality of production. The introduction of team leaders created tension among employees, which lowered the firm’s productivity. Employees perceived that their views were not given serious attention. On his part, Thompson (2003) notes that a significant factor regarding high performance work systems is reciprocity. In this regard, employers have a responsibility of ensuring that they develop trust and commitment towards employees. Therefore, the employer is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the employee is provided with adequate training and efficient reward system. However, Thomson admits that employers in the neo-liberal economy are unable to fulfill the wishes of employees due to the challenges posed by the economy. On high performance work practices, Handel and Gittleman (2004) criticize the model by observing that it does not create a working relationship between workers and employers. The model is only known to increase wages. Therefore, the new model of h igh performance management is simply aimed at benefitting an individual, but does not increase productivity in the organization.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Performance Management Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ashton and Sung (2002) assert that it is proven scientifically that a strong relationship between human resource practices and improved performance exist. In particular, the relationship is strong in matters related to profitability and productivity. Therefore, the two scholars suggest that performance practices are closely related to the skills acquired by the employee. The relationship serves to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization. However, the scholars caution that the model is only applicable to certain industries. This means that the model does not solve managerial problems in all scenarios. Harmon (2003) conducted a research to explore the efficiency of th e American health care sector. In the study, a conclusion was drawn suggesting that a relationship between high performance management and employee efficiency existed. The study can be interpreted to mean that high involvement work systems are related to financial aspects. Fuertes and Sanchez (2003) extend the works of Harmon by observing that some factors motivate employers to adopt certain models. Employers calculate the benefits of the model before adopting it. Employers might prefer using less costly strategies, as opposed to using strategies that would drain their resources. Employers do not prefer some of the practices, such as rewarding employees with financial benefits because they eat up their profits. Employers prefer using non-financial rewards to appreciate their employees, such as awarding a promotion. Forth and Millward (2004) assert that high performance management is a concept that cannot be neglected given its effectiveness and influence on the performance of the or ganization. They further observe that all management practices are related to the high performance management model in one way or the other. Forth and Millward note that the high performance management model might be interrupted by deregulation of financial markets. Organizations in the modern financial markets go through a number of challenges that make it hard for employers to implement high performance management models.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Competition in the market is stiff implying that employers are concerned with sustaining market competition, not enhancing structural organization of firms. Brown and Reich (1999) conducted a study on one of the Australian manufacturing companies. The company formulated a number of strategies aimed at improving the performance of the organization. The firm emphasized on team building, development of staff, and training. The firm adjusted its policies that focused on Taylor’s model to reflect modern managerial practices. Efficient planning and role allocation were some of the new strategies employed by the firm. The new tactics improved the performance of the organization in a number of ways. Whitefield and Poole (1997) observe that high commitment management is a highly sensitive issue. Therefore, it must be handled carefully. The main concern of employers is to increase production and organize work. The scholars note that before talking about performance management, the caus es of perennial problems in the organization must be handled. The above scholars suggest that organizations utilize their competitive advantages in the market to formulate innovative practices. The researchers conclude that implementation of high performance managerial practices generate new techniques that improve the performance of the organization. High performance management strategies are extremely costly, but their outcomes are productive. In this regard, they observe that high performance management models must produce high results for them to be maintained. In a study conducted in Europe, it was established that organizations with comprehensive new work practices tended to have high training needs. Regarding high commitment management, Baird (2002) notes that all stakeholders in the organization must be consulted before formulating any policy. Through consultative forum, the organization utilizes its resources in the most cost effective way. Moreover, embracing dialogue help s the firm in achieving its competitive advantage in the market. The role of professionals in the organization is to ensure social bonding and commitment to the new techniques of production. Conclusions Model managerial theories suggest that the work place is the main learning institution that enhances the capacity of employees. Older models suggest that employees are expected to join organizations when they are already equipped with adequate knowledge from colleges and universities. Things have since changed in the modern society. For instance, the works of modern scholars suggest that teamwork is one of the most crucial aspects of management. Employees are expected to be given chances to explore their potentials in the organization. This implies that employers are expected to allow some flexibility that permits sovereignty. References Ashton, D., Sung, J. (2002). Supporting Workplace Learning for High Performance Working. Geneva: International Labor Office. Baird, M. (2002). Chan ges, Dangers, Choice and Voice: Understanding What High Commitment Management Means for Employees and Unions. The Journal of Industrial Relations, 44(3), 359-375. Brown, C., Reich, M. (1997). Micro-Macro Linkages in High Performance Employment Systems. Organizational Studies, 18(5), 765-781. Danford, A. (2004). High Performance Work Systems and Workplace Partnership: A Case Study of Aerospace Workers. New Technology, Work and Employment, 19(1), 14-29. Forth, J., Millward, N. (2004). High-Involvement Management and Pay in Britain’, Industrial Relations, 43(1), 98-119. Fuertes, M., Sanchez, F. (2003). High-Involvement Practices in Human Resource Management: Concept and Factors that Motivate their Adoption. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 14(4), 511-529. Handel, J., Gittleman, M. (2004). Is There a Wage Pay-off to Innovative Work Practices? Industrial Relations, 43(1), 67-97. Harmon, J., (2003). Effects of High-Involvement Work Systems on Employee Satisfa ction and Service Costs in Veteran Healthcare. Journal of Health Management, 48(16), 393-418. Thompson, P. (2003). Disconnected Capitalism: Or Why Employers Cannot Keep Their Side of the Bargain. Work Employment and Society, 17(2), 359-378. Whitefield, K., Poole, M. (1997). Organizing Employment for High Performance: Theories, Evidence, and Policy. Organization Studies, 18(5), 745-764. This report on Performance Management Analysis was written and submitted by user Kimber A. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Successful Self-Pub Authors and Their First Books

Successful Self-Pub Authors and Their First Books 4 Successful Self-Published Authors Their Surprising Beginnings So what do a Martian, a BDSM obsessed CEO, a Harvard professor suffering from Alzheimer’s, and a subterranean city have in common?If you guessed that they’re all characters from originally self-published books, you’d be... correct.Today, these titles and characters are famous worldwide, and their authors are some of the most successful in the world. Their backstories are worth re-visiting, as these authors all come from a range of backgrounds. In fact, the only thing they share is a desire to write- and the decision to self-publish. After achieving so much success through the self-publishing model, is it any wonder that Howey is now a champion of all indie authors? "Self-publishing is the future," Howey wrote in an op-ed for Salon, "And it's great for writers.†Were any of these stories new to you? Share your favorite self-published author’s backstory in the comments below! Surprise us.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Matrix Trilogy by Wachowski Brothers Movie Review

The Matrix Trilogy by Wachowski Brothers - Movie Review Example Alexandra Lazar states that the idea of â€Å"formlessness of chaos† can be found in: â€Å"Chinese and the Babylonian creation stories† (Lazar, 2004). She illustrates that â€Å"the dragon represents the principle of order, which emerges from chaos. In Babylonian myth, the Goddess Tiamat together with other early gods embodied the various faces of chaos† (Lazar, 2004). In general, every universal religion has such binary oppositions: good-evil, chaos-order, hell-paradise, etc. Probably, the fact that Matrix is based on binary opposition helps to explain why it is so successful in our society. Everything around us is based on this concept: love-hate; truth-lie, etc. On the other hand, the Matrix retrieved great knowledge which most of people fail to see. We live in a structured world, which becomes a Matrix for us, and we unable to change it (or at least see â€Å"the reality†). The structure of state, government, bureaucratic system creates a Matrix like its movie prototype. â€Å"The Matrix trilogy† is so popular because our generation feels like robots or machines who â€Å"conquered† by bureaucratic system of the world order and â€Å"in order to break free from this ominous and quantifying 'real' we would need to ask further questions about defining links that 'divide and conquer† (Lazar, 2004). In the article, Lazar underlines that: â€Å"power in itself is deceptive as it is based on a paradox: it allows the taste of truth/knowledge but causes its own end (and arguably the end of truth/knowledge)† (Lazar, 2004). This philosophical idea can be found in stoicism, and corresponds with the notion of â€Å"aporia† and dialectical exercise. For instance, â€Å"in â€Å"Parmenides† the aporia means the form that the sensible and intelligible worlds are incorrigibly separated and also are not separated, in that each side has the other in it† (Doull, n.d.). This idea runs through the Matrix trying to uncover the truth of reality, but the heroes rewrite this knowledge showing that 'there is no spoon†, so what? Again, the views are faced with the binary opposition which creates â€Å"quasi-myth† of reality.  

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Topical Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Topical - Research Paper Example Food security involves a situation whereby all human beings have physical and economic access to enough, safe and nutritious food that can meet their dietary needs and food preference for an active and healthy life. Decision makers, policy makers as well as concerned members of the public have widely discussed issues on how much food the world is growing or is able to grow and whether the production of food involves sustainable management of natural resources. In addition, they have also been discussing how food is distributed at the global, regional, national, and household levels. All these concerns have been crucial in achieving concerted efforts and the international commitment of organizations concerned with world food production such as food and agricultural organization (FAO) (Nicholson, 2009, p14). Emerging acknowledgement of other food problems has placed the concerns of the food system in a much broader context. The concerns include human health closely tied to food safety and the growing cases of nutrition related illnesses such as heart diseases; the commercialization and industrialization of food and agriculture; the emergence of advanced technologies with eminent positive and negative economic and environmental impacts; the emergence of transnational organizations in international food markets; rising concentration in food production, processing, and retail and armed conflicts (McMicheal, 1994, p20). There are environmental challenges facing the global food system. These challenges include climate change, the extortion of natural resources, salinity, increased amount of pesticides, GMO concerns, and biodiversity challenged closely linked to monocropping. Each of these challenges does not cross modern borders, hence making the study of the food system itself a valuable and important experience (McMicheal, 1994, p20). The food challenges being experienced in the world now are both diverse and complex.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Chinese media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Chinese media - Essay Example The same could be said of China, a country in which activism is viewed as illegal and an act against the values shared by the government. However, the presence and availability of media activism has increased the country’s ability to take part in activism. With a massive population, media activism in China has provided a platform for communication for many people gagged from taking part in conventional activism processes (Wallis 410). Specifically, people in China have been cited as one of the greatest consumers of media activism in a country where freedom is not viewed as a democratic right. Media activism in China may be defined from two contrasting perspectives. There is the government and society definition of media activism. For the Chinese government, media activism is only legal where the users use the available technologies in communication to cite the positive features of the government. For instance, media houses in China are licensed to provide information as specified by the government. This form of media activism does not allow for criticism of highlighting of the errors by the governing body. The definition also covers providing information on the acts of the government depicting change, control, superiority and just (Yang 54). The social definition of media activism in China is the completely opposite of the stated definition. The definition mainly focuses on highlighting the need of change. Considering that the conventional media in China has no power to provide voice to the citizens, other media sources are relied upon to voice the frustrations on the government. Media activism from the people is defined as act by which the society is provided with an opportunity to challenge the existing non-democratic rule of law. China is highly defined by a rule of law inconsiderate of the rights of people. Problems in the nation can only be headlined

Friday, November 15, 2019

Is Crime and Punishment a Realist Novel?

Is Crime and Punishment a Realist Novel? This essay will explore how the novel Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky does not adhere to the realism conventions we have come to know; it will explore the way in which the text is not realist because of Dostoevskys use of phycological realism, commonly referred to as fantastic realism whilst still employing some realist tropes. Firstly, to argue that the text is not a realist text, realism must be defined. There is a distinction between a realist novel and other literary works, realist writing is a representation of reality thus, it can never give the reader a type of true reality that is associated with life. The OED definition of realism defines it as the presentation of things in a way that is accurate and true to life.[1] However, Catherine Belsey states that a realist text positions itself between the facts and a type of illusion through a representation of a simulated reality which could be possible but not real[2], Realism imposes limitations on the text therefore Dostoevsky wanted to move away from such limitations imposed by classical realism. In a letter written to Strakhov, Dostoevsky explains that he has his own ideas that are shown throughout his works, he declares I have my own idea about art, and it is this: What most people regard as fantastic and lacking in universality, / hold to be the in most essence of truth.[3] One of his ideas that he employs is Fantastic realism which moves away from traditional conventions with emphasis on the characters rather than the narrator. Fantastic (or transcendental) realism varies from classic realism because Dostoevsky explores the significance of reality and dreams, it focuses on penetrations into the deepest realities of the human soul.[4]   Dostoevsky first experienced the fantastic when he had the vision of the Neva [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] a silent and frozen world glittering magically in the last rays of the sun[5]. Prior to this, he pictured himself as living in an imaginary and exotic world of Schiller and Hoffman[6] but the dream of Neva changed his view on the real world, it suddenly became fantastic and memorable to him referring to the world as a literary daydream. In the text, it is referred to as Little Neva. Dostoevskys realism explores reality to its utmost extreme that would not be utilized in a classic realist novel. Dreams are scattered thro ughout Crime and Punishment. Raskolnikov has about the horse being whipped and abused. Secondly, Dostoevsky was influenced by Freuds theory of dreams when writing such passages in his works, In Freuds study he realised that the unconscious often expresses itself in the form of dreams[7], he has a dream that drives him into action and [illuminates], in striking fashion, the unconscious forces at work within him[8]. The dream portrays his plan to murder the pawnbroker, he associates himself with the tavern owner Mikolka, and it is with this that Raskolnikovs anger is shown in the dream; The experience confirms that he does wish to carry out the heinous act however he tries to desperately convince himself that he will not act upon the motivations to no avail God! He exclaimed is it possible, is it possible, that I really shall take an axe and strike her on the head[9]. After the dream, he goes on to commit the crime which shows the unconscious influencing his decisions; the protagonists conscious and unconscious tears Raskolnikov thoughts into contrasting positions. Raskolnikov is not the only character to experience such dreams and reality in the text, Marmaladov experiences a different reality when he passes out from his alcoholism, this is where the fantastic is found. Svidrigailov also experiences a dream, he finds a young girl aged five crying, he proceeds to carry her to his bedroom and lays her on his bed, an impudent invitation gleamed from that unchildlike face; it was corruption, it was the face of a courtesan[10] Svidrigailov wakes up and heads to the Little Neva, he tells a Guard he is going to America and [pulls] the trigger[11] The dream is the moment that the characters mind is explored, The little girls innocence is taken away by the image of the courtesan representing the characters sins. In the dream, he also meets a fourteen-year-old girl that committed suicide; this young girl could be Svidrigailov himself because he commits suicide not long after the experience. Dreams are not the only device to show the fantastic in the text, Crime and Punishment goes beyond character dialogues and appears to enter the characters minds, the events as they happen are shown through the main protagonist Raskolnikov, the characters that are introduced to the reader appear to be different aspects of his personality. There are many evident doubles in the text that reflect the main characters alter ego, even when the character themselves are not there in the scene they show varied aspects of his personality, however, the characters that double Raskolnikov are themselves complex., having full developed personalities. Bakhtins theory of the dialogues between the characters exhibit this. Dostoevsky realises Bakhtins theory because the greatest of all contrapuntists genuinely surrenders to his characters and allows them to speak in ways other than his own.[12] The characters that he creates in his novels are polemicized with, learned from; attempts are made to develop their views into finished systems.[13]   The characters are their own authors of their ideas, allowing them to break away from the usual use of the narrator, Characters that are presented in this way have multiple viewpoints that are equal in importance to that of a narrator on their own. The main protagonist appears to be in conflict that concerns his conscience and his unconscious throughout the text. To show this, Dostoevsky created the characters Sonya and Svidrigailov. Sonya represents the kindness that Raskolnikov occasionally shows, this is depicted through his charitable acts and kind gestures towards others. Sonya becomes a prostitute to support her family through hardships whilst her father Marmaladov cannot control his alcoholism, she goes to great lengths to be kind to others whilst managing to maintain her innocence.   On the other hand, Svidrigailov opposes this kindness, he represents the will and power of Raskolnikov; he is the extraordinary aspect, the characters dislike one another showing their opposing aspects of his personality. The charitable acts that he carries out, he later comes to regret. This duality is confirmed by Dmitri Prokofichs description of Raskolnikov he is moody, melancholy, proud and haughty, [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] He is kind a nd generous. He goes on to say Really, it is as if he had two separate personalities, each dominating him alternately.[14] Overall, although Crime and Punishment make use of some realist tropes it is not a realist text because of the use of fantastic realism. The minds of the characters and their relationship with the protagonist take emphasis in the novel, through the dreams that the characters experience the reader can see aspects of characters that one would not see in a traditional realist novel. The characters develop and display aspects of the main protagonist, in doing this in his novels such as the text discussed, Dostoevsky created a fundamentally new novelistic genre.[15] [1] Maurice Waite (ed.), Realism, Oxford English Dictionary (London: Oxford University Press, 2012). [2] Catherine Belsey, Critical Practice, Second Edition, (London: Routledge, 2002). [3] Marlene Chambers, Some Notes on The Aesthetics of Dostoevsky, Comparative Literature, 13.2 (1961), 114-122 . [4] Ilya Vinitsky, Where Bobok Is Buried: The Theosophical Roots of Dostoevskis Fantastic Realism, Slavic Review, 65.03 (2006), 523-543 . [5] Joseph Frank, Dostoevskys Discovery Of Fantastic Realism, Russian Review, 27.3 (1968), 286 . [6] Joseph Frank, Dostoevskys Discovery Of Fantastic Realism [7] Julie Rivkin and Michael Ryan Strangers to Ourselves: Psychoanalysis Julie Rivkin, Michael Ryan: Literary Theory: An Anthology, Second Edition (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2004) pp. 389- 396 (p.390) [8] Louis Breger, Dostoevsky: The Author as Psychoanalyst (Somerset, N.J.: Transaction; London: Eurospan [distributor], 2008). pp. 28-29 [9] Fyodor Dostoevsky, George Gibian (ed.), Crime and Punishment, p. 51 [10] Fyodor Dostoevsky, George Gibian (ed.), Crime and Punishment, p. 431 [11] Fyodor Dostoevsky, George Gibian (ed.), Crime and Punishment, p. 433 [12] Mikhail Bakhtin, Problems of Dostoevskys Poetics, ed. and trans. Caryl Emerson; intro. Wayne C. Booth (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1984). P xxii [13] Mikhail Bakhtin, Problems of Dostoevskys Poetics, p. 5 [14] Fyodor Dostoevsky, George Gibian (ed.), Crime and Punishment, p. 182 [15] Mikhail Bakhtin, Problems of Dostoevskys Poetics, p. 7 Trends of the Coffee Sector in Ethiopia | Research Proposal Trends of the Coffee Sector in Ethiopia | Research Proposal Coffee is the most important commercial crop-plant and favorite drink in the world. Next to oil, coffee is the second important and valued global commodity. It is estimated that around 20 million coffee producing households worldwide and nearly 100 million persons used coffee as a means of income for their living. The export value of the crop is enormous (US $15.4 billion in 2009/10). The genus Coffea seeds are used to make coffee from a roasted form and changed into cup for drink through a complex process (Davis et. al., 2011). Nowadays, studies indicated that over hundred coffee species exist. Out of these, the three coffee types, i.e., Coffee Robusta, Coffee Arabica and Coffee Liberica have economic significance. The first two types are traded in the world market. Coffee Arabica has an important part in some tropical countries economy. This type of coffee is cultivated in several places of the tropics, contributing for 80 percent of coffee market worldwide. It plays a substantial part in employment and income generation for developing countries like Latin America, Africa and Asia (Girma et al., 2008). Ethiopia is the home and basis of inherent resources and coffee Arabica diversities. The South and Southwestern parts of the country’s humid high rain forests were believed to be the original place of Coffee Arabica. Like many developing nations, the country relies greatly on export of key agricultural products in which coffee is the major and significant crop (Behailu et. al., 2007). Ethiopia was the 6th biggest coffee producer in the world and first in Africa, producing 273400 metric tons in 2008. During the same year, the country exported 179283 tons of coffee to the world market with a value of about US$562 million. This accounts 66% of the total produced coffee that is exported and 50% of the total worth of agricultural goods traded. 34% of the total produced coffee was locally consumed (FAOSTAT, 2009). Currently, Ethiopia contributes 3.6 percent of the total value and 3 percent of the total quantity of coffee traded to the global market, which leads the country to be the 10th largest exporter of coffee in the world and the first exporter in Africa. 40% of the total coffee production of Ethiopia is exported, which earns 33% of the overall value of agricultural goods exported and 24% of the whole export value of the country (Ministry of Trade, 2013). Over one-third of the population living in the rural areas and over 15 million populations sustain their livelihoods and participated in coffee production. There are around one million coffee growers in the country (Aklilu and Ludi, 2010). Coffee has been an important commodity which has got greater attention by the government of Ethiopia. It is the first cash crop that the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX) started trading operations in April 2008 in order to advance coffee markets in the country. High costs and high risks of transaction were the features of agricultural markets in Ethiopia before 2008, with only one third of the production reaching the market. Besides, smallholder farmers have little information about the market which limits them to sell their final products at the nearby market, deal with good prices as well as minimizing their market risk (ECX, 2008). Sale of agricultural products and earning income is the primary objective of farmers. As a result, production resource allocation decision is affected by various factors such as price and level of output. Measures to increase production are incomplete without steps to increase market supply. The cash needed to purchase production inputs depends on the income earned from the sale of farm products (Bekabil, 2004). Smallholder farmers are the main producers of coffee by contributing 95 percent of the total coffee output in the country (ODI, 2009). The coffee growers in Ethiopia integrate coffee production into their strategic family livelihoods by cultivating food related crops for home consumption. Small scale coffee farmers do not have the chance to sell their products at competitive prices in the remote areas of the country (ODI, 2009). According to Aklilu and Ludi (2010), farmers faced different challenges even if the coffee marketing arranged by the government. They pointed out insufficient regulation of coffee price by the government where suppliers and collectors fixed their own price which is generally lower than the market price as stated by the government. Thus, such coffee market incompetence chiefly affect the income of coffee farmers and discourage them in the process of coffee production and marketing which lead to a significantly decreases in the country’s foreign exchange. This suggests that it is very critical to study and monitor systematically the production and marketing systems in all coffee growing areas of the country for the sake of planning and designing suitable research and development interventions that are applicable to the specific systems. Objectives of the Study The general objective of the study is to analyze the trends of coffee sector in Ethiopia in general and generate baseline information on production and marketing systems of the selected study are in particular by concentrating on parameters like production, marketing, institutional and organizational support and challenges and opportunities. Specific Objectives The specific objectives of the study are: To assess the production system and performance of coffee in the study area, To assess the market information and related socio-economic situation of the study area, To identify the major challenges and opportunities related to coffee production and marketing in the study area and Based on the findings of the research, forward viable recommendations. Significance of the Study The result of the study is helpful for the coffee growers and traders in the study area in planning and for development planners and policy makers in drafting policies for coffee production and marketing. Moreover, potential investors in coffee bean marketing in the study area can utilize the information in order to understand the market structure, price and profitability of the business. It will be an added value to the knowledge base on the production and marketing of coffee and a stepping stone and foundation for future research studies and researchers in this particular subject in the region. Finally, practitioners and academicians are expected to benefit from the findings of this research. Scope and Limitations of the Study The study is based on one-year data on coffee production and marketing in the study area. It also focuses on dry processed coffee bean as it accounts for the lion’s share in type of coffee exported by Ethiopia. In addition, the spatial coverage of the research work is one district (woreda) within a major coffee growing region in Ethiopia. Moreover, the study was constrained by the lack of vital data from most coffee traders in the study area. Organization of the Paper This thesis paper is comprised of five main chapters. The first chapter presents the introduction part. The second chapter contains review of related literatures. Chapter three presents material and methods used in the study including description of the study area. Chapter four presents the main findings of the research work. The last chapter summarizes the results, draws conclusion and offers recommendations. References and appendices will be next to the closing chapter.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Decision Making Model Essay -- essays research papers

Decision Making Model Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Decision making models can be very effective in problem solving. Scheduling is a big problem at Direct HomeHealth Care and a solution needed to be found. Scheduling software which can be very expensive was the only conclusion that could be reached. With much thought and analysis a resolution was reached with critical thought and a decision making model from the Small Business Development Center. Decision making models can be very helpful in analyzing a problem and setting up a step by step process to evaluate and come to a favorable conclusion. Recently there has been a problem at my agency with scheduling and the difficulty the on call schedulers have with toting around several very large scheduling books. The Small Business Development Center has a decision making model to assist with problem solving and I have chosen their web sight to aid with this problem.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first step in this decision making model is to recognize a problem exist and set a solution objective. Direct HomeHealth Care’s everyday business is making sure patients are scheduled properly and taken care of by nursing assistants. There are approximately 250 patients and 250 nursing assistants. Scheduling books are used to keep track of every patient and every nursing assistant that is scheduled to see that patient. The patient books are divided up by payer source, for example, Medicaid, Social Services or private pay patients. The nursing books are categori...

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Topshop Singapore

It has about 300 tortes in the United Kingdom and over 100 international stores worldwide including Singapore. It launched in 1964 and is considered the first fast fashion brand in the history of fashion. The goal is to produce catwalk trends as fast and cheap as possible. In this report, our group conducted a survey about Tops to find out its target market and the perspective of these target market towards the brand. We basically asked people around school and friends around Singapore to answer this survey. We were able to asked 74 people in total to share their perception towards the brand plus basic information about them.We will be explaining the results in different segments and some findings about the brand. Consumer Demographics Tops appeals to students and professionals which can range from 16-30 years old. The line mainly focuses on women who are not yet married with the income range of SAG 12,000 to 62,000 per year. Target audience is young fashion-conscious ladies on a bud get (Perez, 2013). It can also target older group ranging from 31 to early ass since Tops targets women who cannot be defined by her age but instead her attitude (Perez, 2013). Consumer Chirography's Tops targets women who are addicted to fashion.According to Perez (2013), Tops targets two segments from the 8 segments of Val's II, which are achievers and experiences. Experiences spends a big amount of their income on fashion, entertainment and social life. They like looking good and having nice possessions. While achievers on the other hand are active on purchasing. They like showing their shows why they like shopping with their friends rather than their families. Regular consumers of Tops often aims to have a unique style which are influenced by trends and the current weather. They often go to Tops to seek for the latest rends so they can be ahead of the game.Some of them may not only have the love for fashion but also for music, film and food too. They love to shop for the latest fashion trends almost every month and opt for the unique not a specific style. Consumer Perception of Brand According to the survey that we did recently about Tops, Singapore residences are aware of the brand and most of them have bought something from Tops, although not a lot of them remains as a regular consumer of the brand due to some circumstances. Though, they still find Tops affordable and stylish, most of them onto consider it as their go-to brand when shopping for clothing.They're somehow in between depending on the products available up for grabs. It is considered as an affordable luxury brand and a major trendsetter for the fashion world. Page 10 Competitors Since Tops is a fast fashion brand, it has many competitors like Forever 21, H, Berserk, Starvations, Ezra and many other more. These competitors offer almost the same thing from price, place, and promotion. These brands gives consumers more range of products which they often compare and can steal customers from Tops. Singapore residences often shops more in Forever 21 and H since They offer almost the same thing so consumer tend to go for the cheaper. Although, some consumer still sticks with Tops when they opt for the latest forward- thinking trends while some who wants more ranges shops in both. Other brands such as Marc by Marc Jacobs and Juicy Couture can still be a competitor of Tops even though they are breech brands since it gives consumers more options. Customers' Opinion of the Marketing Mix Base on their ratings, Tiptop's store locations here in Singapore are placed on the eight area where shoppers usually demand for it.The variety of products that they offer are still satisfying for consumers and the quality of the products still remains remarkable. Although, customer are often not that satisfied with the services Tops offers in their stores and its merchandising. Also, the price of the products they sell are still a bit high considering that their mainline is affordable fashion for y oung women. They are not doing a very good Job on their promotions as well here in Singapore since not everyone knows about the promotions they do, like their latest collaboration with Car Delivering.The promotion of the brand here in Singapore is not as wide as their promotions in the USA or other countries. Tops consumers enjoy both in-store and online privileges. Page 1 1 Conclusion Many fast fashion brands are in competition with Tops, and this is a big threat for the brand. Although, Tops is still unique and is still growing as time passes by, status. However, the only draw back within the brand is its failure to provide prices that accommodate their large student market (Miraculous, 2009). As for recommendations, Tops should lower their prices to earn more customer so that hey would go back.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Hosting a Book Launch Party on Facebook

Hosting a Book Launch Party on Facebook Whether or not you’re a Facebook fan, hosting an online launch party for your just-published book can gather readers and sell books.   Real-world book launches are useful for getting the word out about your print book via press releases to newspapers, but sometimes the response in terms of actual attendees leaves something to be desired. For a Facebook launch party, attendance is only limited Before you sign on to Facebook to create the event, you’ll need to design a header for the event page, the same size as your Facebook header (or get a design friend to put it together).   As in all design, colorful and eye-catching will draw the most interest.   Make sure the header gives all necessary info about the event in one glance (i.e., include the words â€Å"Book Launch†). Next, log on to your Facebook page and click on â€Å"Create an Event† on the right side of the page.   Upload your cover photo, choose the date, and fill in the rest of the fields.   One to two hours is a good amount of time- it takes a while for people to read and comment, and you don’t want to tire your fingers too much (once it DOES get going, you may be typing constantly).   When you’re done, click â€Å"Publish.† Post an opening comment to explain the event, and click on â€Å"Share† to invite your friends.   You can also add the event to your news feed.   You’re ready to go!   If there will be some time passing between the setup and the event, check the page regularly for questions (â€Å"How does this work?† comes fairly frequently). Now for an important tip:   Before the party starts, gather some snippets of information- short excerpts, a bit about why you wrote the book, the cover graphic, table of contents, a short

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Jomon Culture Hunter Gatherers of Japan

Jomon Culture Hunter Gatherers of Japan Jomon is the name of the early Holocene period hunter-gatherers of Japan, beginning about 14,000 B.C.E. and ending about 1000 B.C.E. in southwestern Japan and 500 C.E. in northeastern Japan. The Jomon made stone and bone tools, and pottery beginning at a few sites as early as 15,500 years ago. The word Jomon means cord pattern, and it refers to the cord-marked impressions seen on Jomon pottery. Jomon Chronology Incipient Jomon (14,000–8000 B.C.E.) (Fukui Cave, Odai Yamamoto I)Initial Jomon (8000–4800 B.C.E.) (Natsushima)Early Jomon (ca 4800–3000 B.C.E.) (Hamanasuno, Tochibara Rockshelter, Sannai Maruyama, Torihama Shell Mound)Middle Jomon (ca 3000–2000 B.C.E.) (Sannai Maruyama, Usujiri)Late Jomon (ca. 2000–1000 B.C.E.) (Hamanaka 2)Final (1000–100 B.C.E.) (Kamegaoka)Epi-Jomon (100 B.C.E.–500 C.E.) (Sapporo Eki Kita-Guchi) The Early and Middle Jomon lived in hamlets or villages of semi-subterranean pit houses, excavated up to about one meter into the earth. By the late Jomon period and perhaps as a response to climate change and a lowering of sea levels, the Jomon moved into fewer villages sited mainly on the coastlines and there relied increasingly on river and ocean fishing, and shellfish. The Jomon diet was based on a mixed economy of hunting, gathering, and fishing, with some evidence for gardens with millet, and possibly gourd, buckwheat, and azuki bean. Jomon Pottery The earliest pottery forms of the Jomon were low-fired, round and pointed-based forms, created during the Initial period. Flat-based pottery characterized the Early Jomon period. Cylindrical pots are characteristic of northeastern Japan, and similar styles are known from mainland China, which may or may not suggest direct contact. By the Middle Jomon period, a variety of jars, bowls, and other vessels were in use. The Jomon have been the focus of much debate concerning the invention of pottery. Scholars today debate whether pottery was a local invention or diffused from the mainland; by 12,000 B.C.E. low-fired pottery was in use throughout East Asia. Fukui Cave has radiocarbon dates ca. 15,800–14,200 calibrated years BP on associated charcoal, but Xianrendong Cave in mainland China so far holds the oldest pottery vessels discovered on the planet, by perhaps a thousand years or so. Other sites such as Odai Yamomoto in Aomori prefecture have been found to date the same period as Fukui Cave, or somewhat older. Jomon Burials and Earthworks Jomon earthworks are noted by end of the Late Jomon period, consisting of stone circles around cemetery plots, such as at Ohyo. Circular spaces with earthen walls up to several meters high and up to 10 meters (30.5 feet) thick at the base were built at several sites such as Chitose. These burials were often layered with red ochre and were accompanied by polished stone staffs which may represent rank. By the Late Jomon period, evidence for ritual activities is noted at sites by elaborate grave goods such as masks with goggle eyes and anthropomorphic figurines accompanying burials placed in ceramic pots. By the Final period, farming of barley, wheat, millet, and hemp developed, and the Jomon lifestyle diminished all over the region by 500 C.E. Scholars debate whether the Jomon were related to the modern Ainu hunter-gatherers of Japan. Genetic studies suggest that they are likely biologically related to the Jomon, but the Jomon culture is not expressed within modern Ainu practices. The known archaeological correlate of the Ainu is called the Satsumon culture, who are believed to have displaced the epi-Jomon about 500 C.E.; Satsumon may be a descendant of the Jomon rather than a replacement. Important Sites Sannai Maruyama, Fukui Cave, Usujiri, Chitose, Ohyu, Kamegaoka, Natsushima, Hamanasuno, Ocharasenai. Sources Craig OE, Saul H, Lucquin A, Nishida Y, Tache K, Clarke L, Thompson AH, Altoft DT, Uchiyama J, Ajimoto M et al. 2013. Earliest evidence for the use of pottery. Nature 496(7445):351-354.Crawford GW. 2011. Advances in Understanding Early Agriculture in Japan. Current Anthropology 52(S4):S331-S345.Crema ER, and Nishino M. 2012. Spatio-temporal distributions of Middle to Late Jomon pithouses in Oyumino, Chiba (Japan). Journal of Open Archaeology Data 1(2).Ikeya N. 2017. Group migration and cultural change following the Akahoya volcanic ashfall: Identifying the pottery production centers at the beginning of the Early Jomon period of Japan. Quaternary International 442(Part B):23-32.Moriya T. 2015. A Study of the Utilization of Wood to Build Pit Dwellings from the Epi-Jomon Culture to the Satsumon Culture in Hokkaido Region, Japan. Journal of the Graduate School of Letters 10:71-85.Nakazawa Y. 2016. The significance of obsidian hydration dating in assessing the integrity of Holocene midden , Hokkaido, northern Japan. Quaternary International 397:474-483.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Current Topics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Current Topics - Research Paper Example There is good and there is bad in the proposals and of course hte mining industry is fighting the whole thing. With that in mind, this paper will look at three of the proposals and compare them to the design principles that are to include fairness. The principles that will be used here are simplicity, equity of fairness, and efficiency. The simplicity of this program is excellent. It is clear and easy to understand both for those that are young and just beginning to plan their retirement and those that have been saving for awhile. The catch up issue for older Australians may be a little more difficult than the rest as even though it does give a good opportunity for catch up, understanding how they might do that is difficult. They may need some advice on the best way to manage that in such a way that it is to their advantage then and now. At the same time, it seems very equitable. It would have been very easy to change the rule now and not go back and help those approaching retirement. That would have caused a very unequitable situation for the elderly Australian's now. For example the new guarantee has been extended to workers aged 70 to 75 so they can be on an equal footing with the younger workers (futuretax.gov). It also allows for changes to key amounts when there have been breaks in working throughout a career. Efficiency by the definition given appears to be well distributed. The funds that are put away from this process will go to build infrastructure and increase jobs for the young who will continue to work toward funding the process. This seems to be a very effective and quite efficient way of doing this. However, it works very much like the social security system in the United States (sociealsecurity.gov) which over the years has become a disaster and that may warn that this needs to be watched closely. In the U.S. social security monies were paid in for retirement and used for other things and now with a large retirement about to happen, there is no money. There is also going to be a smaller group of people to fund it over the next few years so there is every possibility that the system will collapse and many will be left without any retirement. Cutting the Company Tax This proposal is intended to use funds from the mining industry to reduce the overall tax that companies in Australia are presently paying. By doing this, it is meant to make Australia more competitive and increase jobs in this country. The plan is easy to understand and is written in such a way that we can all understand it. Attracting industry to Australia is important in keeping the economy healthy. This move will also make the Australian dollar stronger which in the world economy today is very important. This is definitively a proposal that is fair to everyone. In fact it affects everyone in the country in one way of another. The mining industry which is doing very well now will contribute funding to the treasury which allows them to reduce taxes on industry in general which then encourages more industry to come here. That industry, of course, increases jobs which then increases the tax base again. It will move Australia from 22nd to 17th among other countries of the same

Friday, November 1, 2019

The Significance of Credible Evidence to the Administration of Justice Essay

The Significance of Credible Evidence to the Administration of Justice - Essay Example There are several arguments that support evidence law; such as the amelioration of insidious suspicion of juries; to promote legal or social issues associated with litigation; to enhance substantive policies disparate to the trial; to establish conditions to obtain the most credible facts in court; and to organize the extent and period of trials. This paper explores the different types and the significance of credible evidence for the administration of justice. Admissibility of evidence Evidence manifests in four main forms: demonstrated evidence; documented evidence; real evidence and testimonial evidence. Whereas some policies regulating evidence are applicable to all four categories, others pertain to less than three or less. It is notable that all of these categories of proof must be permissible, though, prior to being considered as investigative of a matter in a court case. Essentially, if proof is to be considered admissible in court, it has to be pertinent, material, and knowl edgeable. To be seen relevant, evidence must have a number of reasonable inclinations to assist prove, or refute some reality. It should not build certainty to the fact, but to some extent, it must be inclined toward the increment or lower the possibility of a number of facts. Once evidence meets the standard measures, the judge or jury, charged with the duty of establishing facts will decide the suitable weight to offer a given piece of proof. An appropriate piece of proof is considered credible if it is tabled to verify a reality that is being argued in a legal proceeding. Credible proof is that fact that accords with particular conventional notions of consistency. Courts are slowly reducing the competency policies guiding evidence by enabling to be looked upon depending on the burden of proof (Gazzaniga [2011] 304 SA 54). Significance of real evidence Real evidence is imperative. Its subsistence or features are believed to be pertinent and subject to a matter before the court. It is normally an issue that was expressly involved in an occurrence in the trial, such as an exhibit of murder, the individual property of an aggrieved party, or an item like a hat or bangle belonging to a criminal suspect. The relevance of the material must be observed in trial before it can be admissible, by a judge. The procedure, in which a lawyer establishes these fundamentals and any extra structures that may be useful, is referred to as laying a foundation for a case (Wang [2008] 5 US-China Law Review 50). Generally, the weight and content of real evidence must be guaranteed. An attorney sets up the evidence's credibility by demonstrating that it actually is what it should look like, failure to which it may be deemed by the court. Corroborating evidence is referred to as authentication. Demonstrative Evidence Although, evidence is believed to be demonstrative if it carries the testimony of a live witness, it is deemed permissible when it comparatively and precisely mirrors the witness's account and is otherwise admissible. Demonstrative evidence includes items such as maps, images of a scene where crime is committed, diagrams and graphs that show incriminating or exonerating particulars (Kennedy, & Wlnn, [2011] 16 DLR 209; Timothy [2008] 72 FB 87; Pardo [2006] 33 AJCL 301). Documentary Evidence Evidence captured in or recorded on retrievable mediums can be an aspect of real proof. For instance, an

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Electrolytes disorders, hyperkalemia, hypercalcemia, and Research Paper

Electrolytes disorders, hyperkalemia, hypercalcemia, and hpyernatremia, and how they effect our body system - Research Paper Example But any changes in the ECF can have an indirect impact on the composition of intracellular fluid. Electrolyte can be defined as substances that acquire an electrical charge when dissolved in water (Mehtheny 2000). Majority of the body electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium chloride and bicarbonate. Each of these electrolytes exhibit different chemical properties. Some of these electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and calcium attain positive charge whereas the latter two electrolytes have a negative charge on them. This is crucial in identifying their properties and calculating anion gaps discussed later. Each of these electrolytes has their unique functions and any changes in their normal concentration in the body fluids can have a significant effect on the functions of different organs of the body. There is some difference in the concentration of different electrolytes in ECF and ICF. The major electrolytes present in the ECF include sodium and chloride. ICF on the other side has potassium as its major electrolyte. Hyperkalemia: Hyperkalemia is a state where plasma concentration of potassium ions exceeds the normal upper limit of 5.0 mmol/L. As mentioned earlier potassium is a major cation of the intra cellular fluid. The normal range of extracellular concentration of potassium is about 3.5-5.0 mmol/L whereas the intracellular concentration may rise upto150mmol/L (Braunwald et al 2008). Potassium is mostly contained within the cells so that it does not have any effect on the outside fluids. But any pathological conditions whereby cell destruction causes the leakage of potassium ions into the ECF may cause hyperkalemia (Schrier 2003). This phenomenon is known as cellular redistribution. Disease conditions such as rhabdomyolysis, trauma and hypothermia are few examples that compromise the ability of the cell to withhold potassium within its membranes. Other causes of hyperkalemia include drug induced hyperkalemia and renal failure. Succinylcholine and Thalidomide are more common drugs that are known to cause hyperkalemia. Decrease renal excretion of potassium as a result of renal failure is also known to raise the potassium levels in the blood. Excess dietary intake of potassium is rarely a cause for hyperkalemia due to body’s adaptive mechanism known as potassium adaptation whereby excess is efficiently excreted by the kidneys and other mechanisms. This increase in the potassium levels clinically manifest in the excitable tissues. Therefore, paresthesias and muscular fasciculation of both limbs are the earlier manifestation of hyperkalemia. It is due to increase duration of polarization as a result of excessive potassium ions partially depolarizing the cell membranes. Heart is arguably the most important organ affected by the disturbance in potassium concentration. Cardiac toxicity of potassium can be evident on the ECG in the form of elevated or peaked T wave (Schrier 2003). Other important impact of hyperkalemia is on the kidneys where it inhibits the reabsorption of NH4+ contributing to metabolic acidosis which further exacerbates hyperkalemia by redistributing the potassium ions out of the cells (Braunwald 2008). Hypercalcemia: Calcium is an important electrolyte that is required in many signaling pathways of neurons. It is also an important constituent of bones and is essential for their strength. There are many other crucial roles that are played by calcium so it is

Monday, October 28, 2019

Walking to improve your health Essay Example for Free

Walking to improve your health Essay Hi, my name is Peter Dong. Today, I would like to share guys about using mobile phones while driving. I think we all have a cell phone. Before I get started, I would like to ask you guys this question, how many of you use mobile phone while driving? Not long ago, my friend, who lives in CA, had a fatal accident caused by phone while driving. So, I decided to share about you, what are the use of mobile while driving, the causes or problems using it, and how to prevent using mobile while driving. According to National Safety Council Study, about every 26 seconds a crash caused by drivers using phones while driving. What is distracted driving and how cell phones distracted drivers? Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distraction occurs any time you take your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, and your mind off driving. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1060 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. 2012 Cell Phone and Driving Statistics In 2012, 3,328 people were killed in distraction-related crashes. About 421,000 people were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. In 2012, 11% of drivers under age 20 involved in fatal accidents were reported to be distracted at the time of the crash. One-fourth of teenagers respond to at least one text message every time they drive and 20% of teens and 10% of parents report having multi-message text conversations while driving. How to prevent driving while using cell phones? Cell phone distracted driving has captured the attention of nation’s political leaders and employers and they are taking action: †¢ In December 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that all 50 states and the District of Columbia enact complete bans of all portable electronic devices for all drivers – including banning use of hands-free devices. †¢ While no state yet prohibits all drivers from any cell phone use, as of March 2012, 31 states prohibit teen drivers from any cell phone use,  including handheld and hands-free. †¢ The Federal Government has taken action. President Barack Obama issued an Executive order banning federal employees from texting while driving.16 Rules about employee use of cell phones while driving have been issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Federal Railroad Administration. †¢ A National Safety Council membership survey showed employers of all sizes, sectors and industries are implementing employee policies banning talking and texting while driving. †¢ Public opinion polls show a majority of the public support these efforts.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Big Dig :: Tunnel Construction Essays

The Big Dig The Central Artery Tunnel Project, more commonly known as the Big Dig, is said to be the largest, most complex and technologically challenging highway project in American history. It is the culmination of decades of planning and forethought and is hoped to alleviate the traffic congestion that has plagued the Boston area since the invention of the automobile. The project incorporates a major underground highway system, a revolutionary cable-stayed bridge, and a series of impressive tunnel crossings, each a considerable feat on their own, all constructed in the midst of a bustling city. The idea for a Central Artery through Boston has been talked about since a 1909 special commission determined that a 100-foot wide road should be built through the center of downtown Boston. Little was done with the project until the 1940Ï€s when Boston city planners saw on the horizon a tremendous proliferation of automobiles and decided something must be done. The Massachusetts Department of Public Works eventually came up with a plan that called for an elevated highway 1.5 miles long through the heart of downtown Boston, accompanied by an Inner Belt that wrapped around downtown Boston to the west. In 1948 City and State officials approved a master plan, construction commenced in 1950. As soon as construction had started it became quite clear that the supposedly revolutionary highway had major flaws. The roadway devoured and divided neighborhoods, cut off the city from waterfront, and created confusing traffic situations below. In 1954, it was decided to sink the rest of the roadway underground. Once completed the artery was able to handle about 75,000 vehicles a day. However, a lack of breakdown lanes, an abundance of on and off ramps, and numerous sharp curves makes the artery a treacherous drive. Residents were so unhappy with the Central Artery that officials decided not to build the Inner Belt. That meant that the Central Artery had to handle all of the traffic that was meant to be split between the two. This only exacerbated the existing problems. By the 1980Ï€s conditions on the road had worsened so much that officials were forced to once again step in. Toda the Central Artery carries 190,000 vehicles a day. It has an accident rate four times the national average for urban highways, and is backed up bumper-to-bumper six to eight hours a day.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Biological Views of Man Essay

1. Humans, or human beings, are bipedalprimates belonging to the mammalian speciesHomo sapiens (Latin: â€Å"wise man† or â€Å"knowing man†). Humans have a highly developed brain capable of abstract reasoning, language, and introspection. 2. The cerebral cortex is nearly symmetrical, with left and right hemispheres that are approximate mirror images of each other. Anatomists conventionally divide each hemisphere into four â€Å"lobes†, the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and temporal lobe. 3. Frontal lobe: It is associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movements, emotions and problem solving. Parietal Lobe: Associated with movement orientation, recognition, perception of stimuli. Occipital Lobe: Associated with visual processing. Temporal Lobe: Associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli, memory and speech. 4. The human brain perceives the external world through the senses, and each individual human is influenced greatly by his or her experiences, leading to subjective views of existence and the passage of time. Humans are variously said to possess consciousness, self-awareness, and a mind, which correspond roughly to the mental processes of thought. 5. These are said to possess qualities such as self- awareness, and the ability to perceive the relationship between oneself and ones environment. The extent to which the mind constructs or experiences the outer world is a matter of debate, as are the definitions and validity of many of the terms used above. 6. The philosopher of cognitive science Daniel Dennett, for example, argues that there is no such thing as a narrative center called the â€Å"mind†, but that instead there is simply a collection of sensory inputs and outputs: different kinds of â€Å"software† running in parallel. 7. Psychologist B.F. Skinner argued that the mind is an explanatory fiction that diverts attention from environmental causes of behavior, and that what are commonly seen as mental processes may be better conceived of as forms of covert verbal behavior. 8. Like most primates, humans are social by nature; however, humans are particularly adept at utilizing systems of communication for self-expression, the exchange of ideas, and organization. Humans create complex social structures composed of cooperating and competing groups, ranging in scale from small families and partnerships to species-wide political, scientific and economic unions. 9. Social interactions between humans have also established an extremely wide variety of traditions, rituals, ethics, values, social norms, and laws which form the basis of human society. Humans also have a marked appreciation for beauty and aesthetics which, combined with the human desire for self-expression, has led to cultural innovations such as art, literature and music. 10. Mans needs, feelings and desires cause him to act for his own benefit and without regard for the needs and wishes of others. Man uses every means to fulfill his own needs: he uses every kind of transport to reach his destination; he uses the leaves, stems and fruit of plants and trees; he lives upon the meat of animals and their products, and takes advantage of a multitude of other things to complement his own deficiencies in certain respects. 11. Man co-operates with the social nexus and gives a certain measure of his own efforts to fulfill the needs of others; in return he benefits from the efforts of others in order to full fill his own needs. Thus mans first nature incites him to pursue the fulfillment of his own needs using others in the process and taking advantage of their work for his own ends. It is only in cases of necessity and helplessness that he lends a hand to co- operate with society. 12. In the development of human beings, all three factors are very important†¦ like in the topic â€Å"man as psychological, biological and social unit†, these three factors go parallel to each other. Man is incomplete even if one of the above mentioned factor is missing. Biological factors include the inherited characters, that helps in the development of human beings. 13. Some characters are inherited in humans like aggression, feelings, attitudes, behavior, emotions, height, color and so on. Brain is the central part of human body. Hypothalamus controls different mechanisms like secretions of hormones, (endocrine and exocrine secretions), motivation and moods and other activities within the body. Due to biological presence of brain, the psychology of human develops that further leads towards the development of man as a psychological unit. 14. Social factors are also important with biological and psychological factors. It includes the systems of communication and exchange of ideas. Social interactions between humans have also established an extremely wide variety of traditions, rituals, ethics, values, social norms, and laws which form the basis of human society. 15. Conclusion: Human’s personality is basically the combination of all three factors, all go parallel to each other, any phenomena cannot occurs separately..