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Monday, September 30, 2019

Human Activity Causes Climate Change Essay

An American vice president, Al Gore, said that while the reason behind dinosaurs’ extinction over 65 million years ago was because of a giant asteroid, the species that are dying out every minute of our lives are not just because of some havocs, but it is US-human (Al Gore, 2006, internet). We are destroying our world indirectly which means we do not just go and kill those entire animals, but what has caused their extinction is due to â€Å"Climate Change† that is the result of the Natural Causes and Human Activities. We used to look at how natural causes have contributed to climate change, but human is now even playing a bigger role in causing climate change. Climate can be defined as the average weather effected by slow features such as oceans, precipitations, and clouds (Slaght, 2009, p34-41). Out of the two main causes of climatic alterations, natural cause is one of them. It refers to phenomenon such as forest fires, volcanic eruptions that cause tons of pollutants to our atmosphere, but also keeps the world in balance. For example, disasters such as volcano eruptions release at least 130 million tons of pollutants annually. Moreover, studies from the recent volcanic eruptions such as El Chichon, Mexico (1982), and Mount Pinatubo, Philippines (1991) showed that the sulfuric acid liquid drops from these volcanoes also subsidize the depletion of our ozone layer (Volcanic gases and their effects, internet). On the other hand, even if human have not existed on earth, carbon dioxide emission would still happen. Over 95% of the world emission came from what we call the natural cycle of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) such as the decaying of organic materials, but whatever happens during the natural cycle of the earth’s CO2, it is already in the balance of nature or the environmental capacity that allowes how much CO2 can be stored (Common questions about climate change, 2006, internet). Therefore, as we can see nature has made a lot of contributions to the climate change; however, what they have been doing fo r these millions of years has already been adjusted by the world’s balance. Human, on the other hand, is the main cause of the consequences of climate change, especially in the 20th century, counting from the industrial revolution. Just the same as nature, we also release gases such as CO2 to our atmosphere. Some examples of these activities are the burning of fossil fuels and contaminated emission from factories and cars. Looking at the figure above, we can see that the emission of CO2 from ocean and vegetation range as high as from 332 to 439, but at the same time they absorb CO2 at a similar amount they release. Then again, the burning of fossil fuel and land use, only liberate as much as 29 amount of CO2 to the atmosphere, a very tiny amount compared to the ocean or vegetation. But, the question is why we are the main character that causes climate change? Unlike natural causes, man-made contributions to climate change are not a cycle, but a one way on-going process. We are releasing those harmful gases into the air, but at the same time never do anything to dissolve them back to maintain the atmospheric equilibrium. Our actions are causing extreme weather condition; meanwhile, the main concern that has been attracting a lot of awareness lately is â€Å"Global Warming†- the increase in global average weather due to natural or unnatural conditions or in short, the world is gradually getting hotter. Releasing abundantly to the atmosphere, which is the result from human activities such as the fossil fuels burning, small particles move into the air and make a change to the amount of energy that the atmosphere can reflect and absorb. Although the studies of these tiny particles have just started, it is less likely that its main goal is to cool down the Earth’s atmosphere, but to increase the temperature instead (Slaght, 2009, p34-41). Another example of the Earth’s climate adjustment would be â€Å"The Green House effect†. Green house effect can be known as the trapping of sunlight made by greenhouse gases such as CO2, CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbon) and CH4 (Methane) that bring about global warming and climate change. Sunlight gives the earth’s warmth. In the natural process, while some sunlight is penetrated to earth, some is bounced back to space known as infrared radiation. Conversely, what the greenhouse gases are doing is taking up the infrared radiation and shut in all the sun’s heat into the atmosphere (What are greenhouse, 2004). Even though these are the processes that happen on Earth without human intervention, we made a change to it  dramatically by speeding them up and at the same time adding numerous problems into it. Due to climate change, our ice caps are melting and our weather is changing, but what are happening in this human industrialization era, it is very unlikely that natural state has caused this. It is us and it has always been us that are causing all of these environment degradation and climate change. In conclusion, there are two causes of climate change; nevertheless, when the natural causes make very little changes to the Earth’s temperature and act as the process of balancing the world’s climate capacity, human activities are the main causes lead to climate change, due to its one way on-going procedures t hat speed up the imbalance of our Earth’s climate and result in many complications such as global warming and greenhouse effect. This is not what we can overcome easily in just a couple of years with a couple of solutions and people, but this is a global problem that every one of us has to work hand in hand to solve. The well-being of the world is in our hands and if we keep taking it for granted like what we are doing everyday, what is here for us might not be there for our children in the future.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Starbucks Marketing mix

Below is a table for you to apply the elements of marketing mix (7Ps) to your selected business organisation. Starbucks Product and service -Starbucks stores offer a choice of regular or decaffeinated coffee beverages, a special â€Å"coffee of the day,† and a broad selection of Italian-style espresso drinks. In addition, customers could choose from a wide selection of fresh-roasted whole-bean coffees.When you walk into the Starbucks, you notice they are promoting specialty rinks or products within the store. For example they promote their new coffee by giving free samples to their customers and that maximise the publicity of the product and generate revenue for the business. Packaging Creative and innovative packaging is what Starbucks does so that they can be seen and get noticed in the crowded market of coffee. For Example they redesign the packaging of their coffee to recreate the shopping experience and quickly identify the coffee by roast.The new packaging of their coffe e gets the attention of new ustomers because customers can choose what kind of coffee you want Just by looking at the package (different colour, message). Price -Price and pricing is one of the most important elements of the marketing mix, as it is the only mix, which generates a turnover for the organisation/business. In July 2013 Starbucks decided to raise the price of their beverage by 1%, they claim that the price increase is due to rising labour and non-coffee commodity costs.Starbucks raise prices to maximize profits from these price insensitive customers who now depend n their strong gourmet coffee. Rather than trying to compete with cheaper chains like Dunkin, Starbucks uses price hikes to separate itself from the pack and reinforce the premium image of their brand and products. Place -Starbucks takes a thoughtful and strategic approach when choosing their store locations, carefully considering many factors including community demand. We are always looking for great location s to both better meet the needs of our current customers and to reach new ones.They did research on different areas before utting a store there, based on things like demand, traffic and parking, they may conclude multiple stores will serve customers better. People The baristas (employees) are the foundation of Starbucks. â€Å"When it comes to providing Starbucks customers an exceptional experience, our baristas are as important as the quality of the coffee that we serve†. http://www. starbucks. com/ Baristas really are the face of Starbucks. They are an important part of their customers' day, and experts in handcrafting delicious, perfect beverages.Connecting nd creating the moments that make a difference in each person's day. Processes Starbucks uses coffee from different origin. I will choose one of them and describe the process from the supplier to the customer. Decided to take a look at the Ethiopian coffee, as his name says it came from Ethiopia, it is a medium-bodied c offee who offers soft, velvety notes of dark chocolate, subtle hints of peppery spice, and sweet, mandarin-like citrus for a balanced and approachable taste in the cup.From Ethiopia to the Starbucks manufacturer where the coffee is roasted packages and directly end to their stores where the coffee is available for customers. Physical evidence Starbucks provides information on its products, business partnerships, and career opportunities on its website. The famous Starbucks Logo (which is green and features a partially nude siren) has stayed largely unchanged since its origin, However it has been altered to adjust to international sensibilities. Starbucks uses white cups with their green logo on it, it comes with different sizes.It was specially design to resist heat, mainly because they serve hot beverage. It also comes with a lids. Branding The Starbucks brand has amazingly been able to create a reputation for itself as a very hip and mainstream coffee hub. People of all ages, incl uding adults and young teens, are flocking to this coffee franchise to enjoy all the different caffeinated and specialized drinks it has to offer. Over the years, the Starbucks brand has cleverly re- branded its products and coffee cups in order to cater for a more modern generation and the company has benefit from it as a result.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Cengage Learning Essay Example for Free

Cengage Learning Essay After taking the survey regarding the climate of my organization, I gained interesting insight into my company’s position in the work/life area. The survey provided by the Work and Family Connection asked twenty questions, in which I enjoyed answering. 1. My manager/supervisor treats my work/life needs with sensitivity. Agree 2. It is usually easy for me to manage the demands of both work and home life. Agree 3. My career path at this company is limited because of the pressure of home life demands. Disagree 4. My job at this company keeps me from maintaining the quality of life I want. Disagree 5. My manager/supervisor is supportive when home life issues interfere with work. Disagree 6. My manager/supervisor focuses on results, rather than the time I am at my desk. Disagree 7. My manager/supervisor has a good understanding of flexible work hour practices. Agree 8. If I requested a flexible work arrangement, my manager/supervisor would support me. Agree 9. My manager/supervisor is often inflexible or insensitive about my personal needs. Disagree 10. I believe my manager treats me with respect. Agree 11. My manager allows me informal flexibility as long as I get the job done. My manager tends to treat us like children. Disagree 13. My manager seldom gives me praise or recognition for the work I do. Disagree 14. My manager seems to care about me as a person. Agree 15. I would recommend this company to others. Agree 16. The work I do is not all that important to this company’s success. Disagree 17. If I could find another job with better pay, I would leave this organization. Disagree 18. If I could find another job where I would be treated with respect, I would take it. Disagree 19. If I could find another job where I could have more flexibility, I would take it. Agree 20. I am totally committed to this company. Agree Since I scored seventeen, I am in the category that states that my organization is supportive and more flexible than most; however, there is room for me to grow (Snell & Bohlander, 2013). This scoring seems highly accurate to me. I do feel as though I have a very supportive and flexible place of employment; however, I feel that there is room for improvement. References Snell, S. , & Bohlander, G. (2013). Managing human resources. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning. Cengage Learning. (2016, Sep 26).

Friday, September 27, 2019

Functional Social Support and Major Depression In Cancer Patients Article

Functional Social Support and Major Depression In Cancer Patients - Article Example Functional social support (FSS) is needed, and it entails more of emotional assistance The article highlights the findings that were observed after an undertaking that sought to show the impact of each of these support methods. It was noted that there was no discrepancy in the way both genders perceived the impact of FSS. In the same study, the researchers sought to analyze the impact of social support in relation to major depression by age. In the study, younger patients from the age of 18 to 54 were included in the study. It was observed that the FSS full scale was negative and had significant relation to MD among the younger and the older population (Chan et al p.48). The studies proved that some approaches prove vital for patients suffering from various conditions including cancer. However, for people who suffer from physical illnesses, some support systems proved to have little impact (Chan et al p.49). Notwithstanding this discovery, the study also showed that perception is imperative in aiding the patients. For instance, the Social Support could be beneficial to the patients if their perception is backed up by others in the society. Also, the impact often depends on the gender with evidence from the study showing male patients do not necessarily need the FSS and the AFF. In short, the study showed that the relation between the clinical depression and the SS is mainly moderated by a source or support, gender and the type of FSS employed. Nonetheless, the study comprehensively observed that, â€Å"the provision of social support can lead to a reduction in depressed mood in the following day† (Chan et al p.49). That is to say that whilst not every sickness can be remedied through the said interventions, offer support to these patients has significant impact on their psychological condition. Normally, when patients are left alone, there is

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Information Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Information Management - Essay Example This report will examine how senior managers can improve information management within an organization. Information management is an umbrella term, which encompasses people, process, technology and content. Improving information management is driven by the need to improve upon the business processes. Because it encompasses all the systems and processes within an organization, it is essential that managers at all levels communicate effectively. With the growth of the electronic media, the problem of managing information has compounded. There are a large number of information systems today, which lack co-ordination or integration. Information that flows into a company is quite often out-dated, lacks in quality and consistency. The senior management normally does not offer support in managing this information. Added to these are internal politics, changing corporate policies and strategies, and diverse business needs. Investment in information management has also been lacking, as no tangible benefits are visible as in other business processes. People: A strong leadership can help create an effective information management strategy (Robertson, 2005). A clear vision about the outcomes expected from the system is necessary to formulate the right strategy. They must be able to identify and prioritize the business requirements. Senior managers are responsible to ensure that managers at all levels have a clear understanding of the project, its implementation, and the benefits. Technology alone would not suffice unless it is backed by the right managers to implement it. Staff may need to be trained in the application of the information system. The managers also need to recognize the need to invest in developing and maintaining an effective information management system. Technology: Selecting the right technology itself is the first and most important task. No single application of project can resolve all the problems connected

The Last Lecture (Youtube video) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Last Lecture (Youtube video) - Essay Example True to his assertion he lost the battle to his disease in July 25, 2008. The lecture of this invincible man created history. In the lecture he mentioned about his childhood dreams, the process through which he achieved them and how he guided others to achieve the same. He detailed the outstanding moments of his life, the eminent t people with whom he interacted and explained how he had learnt much from others. He dedicated the last lecture to his 3 children Dylan, Logan, and Chloe aged 5, 3 and 1.At the very beginning, Dr. Pausch made reference in gratitude to his dad. He mentioned about the 10 tumors in his liver and informed the audience that he had about 3-6 month’s lifespan to his credit, though he was lucky enough to avail treatment from the best doctors in the world. He had realization that the game was going to be up soon, but he put the poser to the audience why worry about that today? During the course of the lecture, he was in excellent spirits; his responses were sterling, though he knew what was going on within his body. He mentioned about his love for the family and the reason why he bought a lovely house in Virginia, a better place he thought for the family, down the road. He recounted his childhood dreams his Football fantasies, his achievement as an author in the World Book Encyclopedia, working for Disney etc. He expected that the children should be part of the Football Team and play it, not from the physical fitness point of view, not only because it was a game, but it was the learning center of qualities that mold a youth into a good human being. The lessons in teamwork, perseverance, sportsmanship and other positive qualities were important. He gave lots of importance to the process of indirect learning. He paid handsome tributes to his parents who built him and enabled him to achieve his dreams. His mother was always a source of encouragement for him and whenever he was in dire straits, she came to his

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Braving the Economic Slowdown Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Braving the Economic Slowdown - Essay Example Threats to the company must be identified and the major challenges must be addressed in order to secure the future and continual operation of the company. The cash flows of the company must be properly monitored and strategies must be formulated in order to avoid long maturing investments as these are the ones which carry very large risks for failure. The top management and leadership of the company must be quick and decisive in order to allow the implementation of changes to be successful. This paper presents what strategies needs to be implemented for the year in order for the company to achieve better competency and survival while also maintaining and ensuring the future of the company Braving the Economic Slowdown: Analysis and Strategy Development Introduction In light with the global business crisis and the reduced economic activities, the company needs to tread carefully on the ventures and strategies for its operational aspects. Times like these call for more precise decision making and planning so as not to waste even more precious resources and advantages, lest the company fail like many others in this recession. But in order to have a better grasp of the situation, we must first delve into understanding the nature of such crisis in order to determine and identify the threats and major challenges that the company is and will be facing. Therefore, the background of the crisis and the global entities and sectors that are most vulnerable should also be recognized. Limiting factors and hindrances should also be put into

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Matthew Broadrick Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Matthew Broadrick - Essay Example His father provided him with a stage at the age of seventeen in a workshop construction. His occupation grew majorly in two Neil Simon schemes that include the play, Brighton Beach Memoirs (1982 and 1983), and the famous film Max Dugan Returns, launched in the year 1983. He reprised the position of Eugene in the Biloxi Blues in the year 1988; he also participated in the second installment of the Simon trilogy, for both Broadway production and in the film adaption. In the third and the final installation of the trilogy, Jonathan Silverman replaced Matthew. He had his first big-screen success in the light comedy War Games in the year 1983 (Mecchi 1). He produced some of the best films that happened to be among the great hits in the film industry that include Project X (1987), which starred Helen Hunt whom he dated, Inspector Gadget in the year 1999, addicted to love in the year 1997. He has also appeared in other films that include Out on a Limb in the year 1992, the Night We Never Met in the year 1993, The Road to Wellsville in the year 1994, and The Cable Guy in the year 1996, which he produced with Jim Carrey that gave him The Best Fight award nomination. He had a car crash in year 1985, as he drove in Ireland with his beloved fiancà ©e Jennifer Grey. In that accident, a woman and her daughter were killed. In that case, he was free but he paid a fine to the relatives of the victims. In the car accident, he broke his leg. He returned to the New York stage in the revivals of old show plays such as ‘show the public how to succeed in business without much trying (Mecchi 2). In the year 1996, Broadrick co-produced the Infinity. He worked with his mother, and she wrote the screenplay. He did not manage to succeed as a director. He married Sarah Jessica Parker, who is also an actress. In his life, he dated Lili Taylor and was engaged to Helen Hunt. Broadrick came back to Broadway in musical

Monday, September 23, 2019

International Terrorism Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Terrorism - Coursework Example Iran, Syria and Libya are together considered to be the main backbone of Middle East terror (Charles, 1986a). And the Islamic fundamentalists, pro-Syrian nationalists and Palestinian extremists carry out the lead roles (Charles, 1986a). The objective of these groups is not peace with Israel but peace with no Israel (Charles, 1986a). Terrorism would outlive peace not only due to the Arab-Israeli dispute but for two other reasons of instability, war and murder (Charles, 1986b). The idea of anti-Western, anti-modern and anti-secularist movement in the Islamic world, specially Iran exhibits a serious threat (Charles, 1986b). The only way left for achieving some lasting peace in the Middle East is a steady, unwavering application of all forms of pressure against terrorists and their more easily found sponsors (Charles, 1986c). It calls for the use of every available means to hunt down today’s machine gunners and deter tomorrow’s (Charles, 1986c). Hezbollah, also known as Hizbullah or Hizballah is a religious organization whose only mission is to terrorize and assassinate non-Muslims, chiefly Americans and Jews (Hizballah, 2007). OPEC provides the financial backing to this millions of militants association founded and supervised by Shiite Islamic clerics in Iran (Hizballah, 2007). Islamic Jihad is a Hizballah alias whereas Hamas is a Hizballah ally (Hizballah, 2007). While Hezbollah’s objective like the Palestinian Islamic Jihad is the complete liberation of Mandate Palestine while Hamas are ready to accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza with Jerusalem as its capital (Hizballah, 2007). From a theological aspect, the literature and the statements of Hamas and Islamic Jihad do not talk about jihad as a religious concept to the same extent as that created by Hezbollah (Hizballah, 2007). While the marjiiyya (frame of reference) of Hamas follows the global Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic Jihad is deeply influ enced by the marjiiyya of Iran, the

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Discuss the Role that Alfieri Plays Essay Example for Free

Discuss the Role that Alfieri Plays Essay Arthur Millers A View from the Bridge is a modern tragedy set in 1950s Brooklyn about a mans obsession with his niece, and what that obsession ultimately brings about. Eddie Carbone, a hard- working dockworker is the tragic hero of the piece who struggles with how he feels about his niece, Catherine. Miller manages identify and raise many themes concerning the people who lived in the area in which the play was set, themes such as family, justice, respect and death, themes that played a big part in society during that era. Alfieri is the narrator of the play; he is like a sort of Greek chorus in the sense that he divides the scenes with monologues, he also explains to the audience the themes and adds depth to the play. From the very beginning of the play Alfieri hints towards tragedy, he does this a few times in his prologue, for example, he says: I am inclined to see the ruin in things, This tells the audience or readers straight away, at the beginning of the play that Alfieri can see that Eddies story is going to end in disaster. Towards the end of the prologue, it is clear that Alfieri can do nothing to avert the play from tragedy. another lawyer, quite differently dressed, heard the same complaint and sat there as powerless as I, watched it run its bloody course. The quote explains that nobody could do anything to change what is going to happen. It also hints that blood is going to be spilt and someone is going to die. When Marco and Rodolfo first arrive they act very differently, Marco enters the house greets everyone and shows Eddie a lot of respect and thanks him, whereas Rodolfo does not show any gratitude toward Eddie at all. The stage instructions show that Eddie, whenever he asks a question about them, he goes to Marco and totally bypasses Rodolfo. Eddie shows hostility towards him from the very beginning, for example, when Rodolfo starts singing Paper Doll, Eddie interrupts and warns him that by singing it could raise suspicion about them because singing is different and as Eddie says: Because we never had no singers here and all of a sudden theres a singer in the house, yknow what I mean? Eddie begins to act differently, jealous that he is no longer getting all the attention in the house, instead, Rodolfo is getting all of the attention from the women, he doesnt like this so he stops him from singing and uses the excuse above to regain control of the household. The first time Eddie meets Alfieri to see if there is any legal action he can take against Rodolfo to get him away from Catherine. He is now incredibly jealous of Rodolfo and Catherines relationship, this is because of his incest feeling for Katy, Alfieri tells him about how he feels is wrong during their meeting: We all love somebody, the wife, the kids- every mans got somebody that he loves, heh? But sometimes theres too much. You know? Theres too much and it goes where it mustnt. Eddie cannot admit these feelings, and gets annoyed that he cant do anything without immigration officers finding out about Marco and Rodolfo because it would involve betrayal, and that creates conflict within him. On one hand, he could betray Marco and Rodolfo and go against every thing he stands for by telling immigration, but on the other he could leave things as the stand and sit back to watch Catherine get married to Rodolfo and push his feelings aside. It is because Eddie cannot push his feelings for Katy aside that he dies, whatever he did he could not let her grow up. As Alfieri said, he did love her too much in the wrong way. This play could have ended many ways without violence, for instance, if Eddie forgot about his incest feeling or if Marco could have forgiven Eddie and apologised when Eddie demanded for his name, maybe the characters would have acted differently, but because they did not this play demonstrates many examples of betrayal, justice, honour, death and many other themes. Alfieri provides link between scenes and helps the audience understand Eddie and in a way the way he thinks.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Henry Ford And Fordism Influences Cultural Studies Essay

Henry Ford And Fordism Influences Cultural Studies Essay Management techniques have gone through many different stages and continue to evolve even today. In the early part of the 20th century as well as the high growth periods of the US economy after World War II, Fordism, was in the forefront, as it focused on mass production and mass consumption as a means of expanding the economy. However as the US economy went through slow growth years, this particular system did not work and other management systems took precedence. Yet there are many organisations that continue to use Henry Fords philosophy even in the 21st century. And it is the objective of this research document to study the relevance of the concepts introduced by Henry Ford and the impact and influence it has on 21st century organisations. Literature Reviews: When the transformation from the agricultural age to industrial mass production took place, Henry Ford and his philosophy that consisted of using specialized tools, assembly lines and using non-skilled labour in direct production were able to drive economic growth and expansion at unprecedented levels (Shiomi Wada, 1995). Likewise it was Fords philosophy that was the driving factor behind the automobile industry and this system is still used to a great extent by the automobile industry to date. The automobile industry is still the worlds largest manufacturing industry and even though many of the leading car makers have automated their systems to a great extent and reduced their dependence on labour, they still use the assembly line method with the concepts that were introduced by Henry Ford (Shiomi Wada, 1995). This is not to say that the assembly line method was the brainchild of Henry Ford but rather that the assembly line of today has been greatly influenced by him and has not gone through many major changes in the last seven or eight decades (Gowing, Morris, Adler Gold, 2008). The moving assembly line that we have known through the years and is seen to date even in this age of advanced robotics being used in the automobile industry was introduced by Henry Ford (Laurie, 2000). There are currently a few schools of thought that have been finding it difficult to decide if Fordism has had a direct impact on the current economic system that is not wholly based on mass production and consumption as it was after World War II but rather a more streamlined method that is associated with socio-economic phenomena, that is prevalent in all industrial countries throughout the latter part of the 20th century. While it may not be the same as the Fordism that was seen in the automotive industry during the era of Henry Ford, it is still largely based on the system that was formulated by him. In his system employees worked on a production line and the tasks that they performed were specialized in nature and most importantly it was repetitive. The modern day concept of Fordism centers round the following concepts as opposed to the concepts that were discussed above. These concepts are as follows Production is in small batches rather than mass production Economies of Scope are valued The jobs and the products that are manufactured are all specialized Information Technology is widely used The emphasis is on the consumer rather than the different social classes in a society. Instead of the blue-collar worker of the past we see a number in the rise of the white-collar workers due to this concept. The workforce includes females as opposed to be male dominated like in the past. (Kim, 2002) The above concepts have come into play due to the saturation of the key markets, which worked against the concept of mass consumption. Due to this new concepts the emphasis is on uplifting the living standards, which in turn has changed the manner in which the market is viewed from the manufacturers end (production/manufacturing stand point). Rather than the consumers being seen as a mass market that can be served by one generic type of item, manufacturers began to see the consumers as individuals that made up many different segments of market. Therefore it occurred to the manufacturers that the consumers were better served if they were grouped in to batches and products and services were provided that fit the goals and needs of those specific segments rather than the mass market (Ray Reed, 1994). Therefore the mass market concept that was introduced by Ford has now been narrowed to markets that are specific to luxury items, custom made products and positional goods. Production, which was homogenous in nature at the start of Fordism, is today more focused and therefore is diverse and can be differentiated. Further as stated previously the economies of scale of the Ford era have now evolved into Economies of Scale due to the diversification and differentiation that is taking place in the market place (Raynor, 2004). The changes that have brought about the 21st century organisation, is largely due to factors such as the changing global economic and political landscape and the changes in prominent ideologies. Due to the declines that were seen in national production (that was prevalent in the post war America) for a more globalised production system of the late 80s and 90s, along with the increase of global markets and multi national companies, flexible specialization has replaced the mass markets of the post war era. Commanding the workers to behave in a certain way has now been replaced and management pays more attention to communication rather than ordering as was seen in Fords time. Further the centralized production process of yester year is now replaced by outsourcing, franchising, sub-contracting, part time workers, temporary workers, self employed individuals and work-from home individuals. Besides the economic changes that took place as stated above there have been many political changes that have taken place that has forced the evolution of Fordism (Thomas, 2004). The political changes are mainly the change from the class based political parties (as seen in the United Kingdom and the United States) to the political parties that are based on social movements, gender, race, religion and region. Labour Union influence is today almost non-existent North America and is now replaced by more localized entities that engage in plant based negotiations. Further the rise of an entrepreneurialistic culture has also lead to the evolution of Fordism. Even education today is less standardized as it used to be and become more specialized with the work force seeing a decline in the numbers of individuals opting for blue-collar jobs and rather joining the ranks of the white-collar workers (Lebowitz, 2004). Italy is a very good example of how the concepts of Fordism have evolved over the years. In areas such as Milan, Turin and Genoa, production used to be focused on the concept of mass production for mass consumption, however during the 1970s and later, the clusters of small companies and manufacturing plants started developing in areas such as Tuscany, Umbria and Veneto to name a few. Each of these regions specialized and produced a different set of products that were all very loosely related to one another. Each of the factories often employed workers that numbered between five and fifty (a majority of which were below ten). This is what is called the economies of scope and a far cry from the economies of scale that we saw in the initial stages of Fordism (Williams, 1998). The feature of these manufacturing units was that the product that were manufactured were of high quality and the workers who were employed were highly skilled and highly paid due to the high level of skills. There was deep integration and much involvement between the entrepreneurs, the designers as well as the engineers in each of these plants and the plants themselves were design oriented and multi-disciplinary in nature. Japan is another good example of the evolution of Fordism that took place. After world war II and the destruction of the country, the company structure within the country changed drastically, this caused the trade unions to be replaced with management friendly unions, increased number of individuals who were less specialized and more multi-skilled. Further the company had a pool of part time/temp and unskilled workers for periphery workers (Perkins, 2005). Further due to the trade embargoes that the country was faced with after World War II, the production processes within the country could experiment on the domestic market and when the embargoes were finally lifted and imported technology and processes came into the Japanese market, the production industry was ready to absorb the techniques and better it through philosophies such as TQM (Total Quality Management) etc. Due to the price fixing that was prevalent in the market, competition in the domestic market could only be won by differentiation. Further due to the demand for a wide range of products the country was able to have a wide range of facilities that were flexible and able to changeover and produce a large product line. Therefore instead of standardizing the country had a huge number of factories and plants that were specialized in a wide variety of products. Sub-contracting and supply networks were first born in Japan, which changed the Fordist view that American companies of the time were diligently following. Instead of having costly production machinery, the evolved Fordist concepts were more focused on multi-purpose technologies that were affordable for small and medium scale producers who were flooding the market (Pettibone, 2006). Findings: Even though assembly lines are thought to be a thing of the past and Henry Fords concepts of management are thought to be obsolete, the largest manufacturing industry in the world, which is the automobile industry, still uses the method and the concepts even though it has gone through a few transformations. However the concepts that were introduced by Ford has evolved to a great extent today and is used in companies in many different forms. Analysis: With the two stage transformations that the concepts went through in the last century, Henry Fords concepts are still relevant in the 21st century as they were in the 20th century. While many may argue that his concepts have gone through many different stages of evolution this is not the case. The automobile industry that is still in existence in North America and around the world use many of Fords concepts, and many of the concepts that are in different stages of evolution. Therefore it can be stated that the Automobile industry being the largest manufacturing industry in the world is one of the most important examples of the impact that Fordism has had on the 21st century company. The Automobile industry uses a combination of the mass production and flexible specialization. The flexibility that was introduced into mass production would not have been possible if Ford had not first introduced mass production, therefore even though Fordist concepts maybe hidden and changed beyond recognition over the years, it is apparent that without Fords concepts the foundation for modern day production would not have been built and therefore modern day theorist would not have had much to build on to get to where they are today (Bencivenga, 2002). Therefore it can be concluded, that even though Fordism and Ford himself is often forgotten in our flexible, technology driven, multi-skilled, multi-purpose, positional and customized production era, the influence of Ford and Fordism is very strong and none of this would have been possible without him and his concepts and methods. Conclusion: Based on the huge number of organisations that still eliminate skilled labour in direct production, use special tools and equipment through the assembly line, all go to show that the concepts that were introduced by Henry Ford are still relevant even in the 21st century even though mass production/mass consumption cannot be considered as a economic driver for expansion. Further even in companies that the above is not true, the concepts in place are all concepts that have evolved from Fordism.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Love...Never having to say your sorry :: essays research papers

â€Å"Love Means Never Having to Say You’re Sorry.† Essay #3 Draft - Nicole   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My childhood years were very lonely at times, for I did not have any siblings to play with. I spent most of my time with my maternal grandparents. We always lived close enough to my grandparents that I could walk to their house on a daily basis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When I was four years old my grandparents moved away to Florida. I spent my summers and most major holidays with them in Florida. I went every summer like clockwork. Days after school let out I would be on an airplane flying into the Tampa airport. My summers turned into great adventures traveling and site seeing many places. I always felt so loved and secure when I was with my grandfather. He was more like the father that I never had. When my grandfather and I were together we were inseparable day or night. My only mental memories as a child are with my grandfather. My childhood was truly lived when I was with him. I was my grandfather’s â€Å"Little Angelâ€Å".   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Things changed when I became a teenager. My last summer visit with him was when I was 15 years old. When I was sixteen, the engine in my car blew up. I did not have the money to buy another car, so I asked my grandfather if I could borrow some money. My grandfather said that he would â€Å"loan† me the money, but I would have to pay him back. I agreed to the terms and took the money with no hesitation; needless to say, I never paid him back. When I did not pay back my grandfather for the car loan he was very disappointed. My reneging on the deal closed a door on the relationship between my grandfather and I. One that I would never open again.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My grandfather became very sick with emphysema and struggled with the sickness for 6 years, so much that at times he would be holding onto life by a machine and had tubs breathing for him. He was always such a strong man emotionally and physically that seeing him in this condition saddened me. I knew that his life here on earth would soon be ending, so I managed to visit a few more times, not near as many as I should have. Life had dealt me a few wild cards and I felt as though I had let my grandfather down.

Immanuel, Kant (1724-1804) Essay examples -- essays research papers

Immanuel Kant was born in 1724 in the East Prussian town of KÃ ¶nigsberg and lived there practically all his life. He came from a deeply pious Lutheran family, and his own religious convictions formed a significant background to his philosophy. Like Berkeley, he felt it was essential to preserve the foundations of Christian belief. Kant became Professor of Logic and Metaphysics at the University of KÃ ¶nigsberg in 1770 and taught there for most of his life. He was also greatly interested in science and published works on astronomy and geophysics. His three most significant works were published later in life. The Critique of Pure Reason came out in 1781, followed in 1788 by the Critique of Practical Reason and in 1790 by the Critique of Judgment. The Critique of Pure Reason is one of the most important works in the whole of philosophy. Unfortunately it is also one of the most unreadable - Kant himself described it as dry and obscure. Kant had generally been an outgoing and friendly man but towards the end of his life his mental faculties and his sight deteriorated badly. He died a shadow of his former self, aged 80. One of his most quoted sayings is carved on his gravestone in KÃ ¶nigsberg: "Two things fill my mind with ever-increasing wonder and awe, the more often and the more intensely the reflection dwells on them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me". IDEAS Kant believed that there are clear limits to what we can know. You could perhaps say that the mind's "glasses" set these limits. The philosophers before Kant had discussed the really "big" questions - for instance, whether man has an immortal soul, whether there is a God, whether nature consists of tiny indivisible particles, and whether the universe is finite or infinite. Kant believed there was no certain knowledge to be obtained on these questions. In such great philosophical questions, he thought that reason operates beyond the limits of what we humans can comprehend. At the same time there is in our nature a basic desire to pose these questions. When, for example, we ask whether the universe has always existed, we are asking about a totality of which we ourselves are a tiny part. We can therefore never completely know this totality. According to Kant there are two elements that contribute to our knowledge of the world - sensory perception and re... ...etimes you might only be kind and helpful to others because you know it pays off. It could be a way of becoming popular. But if this is your only motive you are not acting out of respect for moral law. You might be acting in accordance with moral law - and that could be fair enough - but if it is to be a moral action, you must have conquered yourself. Only when you do something purely out of duty can it be called a moral action. Kant's ethics is therefore sometimes called duty ethics. Kant also advocated the establishment of a "league of nations". In his treatise Perpetual Peace, he wrote that all countries should unite in order to assure peaceful coexistence between nations. He believed that man's "practical reason" would force the nations to emerge from the wild state of nature which creates wars, and make a contract to keep the peace. Kant recognised that this would take time to achieve but he saw it as our duty to work for the universal and lasting securing of peace. About 125 years after the appearance of Kant's treatise in 1795, the League of Nations was founded, after the First World War. After the Second World War it was replaced by the United Nations.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Wedding Toasts †Perhaps Others Have Said it Best Essay -- Wedding Toa

Wedding Toasts – Perhaps Others Have Said it Best To the Bride From her Groom Never above you. Never below you. Always beside you. To the bride and groom (before the wedding) Here's to the bride that is to be, Here's to the groom she'll wed, May all their troubles be light as bubbles Or the feathers that make up their bed! Anonymous To the bride from her groom "Drink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine; Or leave a kiss within the cup, And I'll not look for wine." Ben Jonson "Grow old with me! The best is yet to be, The last of life, For which, the first is made." Robert Browning I have known many, Liked not a few, Loved only one I toast to you Irish toast "Wherever I roam, whatever realms I see, My heart untravelled fondly turns to thee." Oliver Goldsmith Because I love you truly, Because you love me, too, My very greatest happiness Is sharing life with you. Every day you look lovelier and lovelier, and today you look like tomorrow. To quote John Keats's immortal line, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." Here's to you, my beautiful bride." "Were't the last drop in the well, An I gasp'd upon the brink, Ere my fainting spirit fell, 'Tis to thee that I would drink." Lord Byron The world is happy and colorful, And life itself is new. And I am very grateful for The friend I found in you. Anonym... ... Here are some words to live by: Love to one, friendship to many, and goodwill to all. May you live to learn well, and learn to live well. Remember that if you ever put your marital problems on the back burner they are sure to boil over. Unkown "Marriage is our last, best chance to grow up." Joseph Barth "A happy marriage is still the greatest treasure within the gift of fortune." Eden Phillpotts "Happy marriages begin when we marry the one we love, and they blossom when we love the one we married." Sam Levenson "Seek a happy marriage with wholeness of heart, but do not expect to reach the promised land without going through some wilderness together." Charlie W. Shedd

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Microsoft Csr

â€Å"Technology creates opportunities for people and organizations to realize their full potential† is the thought driving Microsoft’s corporate citizenship program. With the enduring commitment to serve needs of communities worldwide Microsoft is playing the role of a responsible global citizen. Going far beyond its products and services it has collaborated with business partners, governments and non profit organizations around the globe to fulfil its commitment. It delivers new technology to people and organizations to unleash their creativity, productivity and opportunity across borders.In today’s world there is no scarcity of opportunities yet there is a growing divide between young people who have the chance to succeed owing to their enhanced skills and those who don’t. In response to this divide Microsoft has targeted its corporate citizenship program particularly towards youth empowerment. Microsoft YouthSpark is a youth empowerment initiative that connects millions of youth the world over and provides them with opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.It brought together more than 350,000 students from more than 260 regions and countries to participate in the 2012 Imagine Cup—the world’s largest student technology competition. In the auspicious event students from different parts of the world and cultures use their skills to solve world’s most challenging problems. Such competitions are great motivators for youth as it provides them with a platform to showcase their talent across borders and to explore and enhance global opportunities.Microsoft has provided students free access to state-of-art technology facilities at more than 90 Microsoft innovation centres in 44 countries to accelerate their career opportunities. It has also provided innovative designer and web developer tools to students and teachers around the globe under the Microsoft Dreamspark initiative. Most of the companyâ €™s donations are targeted towards Non-profit organizations addressing the need of youth skill development. Also, through Microsoft BizSpark the company is helping young entrepreneurs launch new businesses by providing access to software development tools, industry connections, and investors.Empowering non profits: It goes without saying that the biggest problem a non-profit organization faces is raising funds for the upgrade and betterment of its core processes. â€Å"Nonprofits need powerful tools to transform passion into progress. Modern productivity, communication, and collaboration solutions help people drive social change where it’s needed most. † says Kurt DelBene, President, Microsoft Office Division. Through its technology for good program Microsoft is helping 62,000 non profit organizations around the globe to get affordable access to technology for serving communities with a greater zeal.Some activities under the initiative were donating hardware and so ftware to non profit organizations and providing them with refurbished laptops at relatively cheaper rates. Microsoft also collaborates with nonprofits for hosting more than 100 NGO Connection Days and in educating NGO staff on how to get the most value from donated software via webinars. Other than the above mentioned points Microsoft also provides technological process solutions to the non profits so that they can reach out to the people in need efficiently and effectively.Microsoft’s Employee giving program: Employees are the heart of any organization and the initiatives taken by them are prone to be embedded in the core of the organizational culture . The Microsoft’s employee giving program is a campaign by which employees devote their time and money as a service to the communities. Since its inception in 1983 the company has raised nearly $ 1 billion as donations. On 18th Oct, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Chairman and Founder Bill Gates commemorated Microsoftâ €™s 30th Employee Giving Campaign during a special town hall event where the congratulated the employees for their efforts.In FY12 the employees gave nearly $100 million with a volunteering percentage of 65%. The company Encourages employee giving and volunteering by offering company matching contributions for US employees up to $12,000 for total time and cash donations. It gives employees at least three days off from their office work if they want to volunteer outside the United States. The volunteering percentage has increased 12. 5% year over year and more than 12000 employees and 2,000 non-profits have been registered on Volunteer Manager, Microsoft’s opportunity matching system for bringing needs and skills together.The organization motivates volunteering through the Give SharePoint site, where employees can share experiences and opportunities with the rest of the Microsoft community. Beyond direct service to the community, Microsoft has made significant strides in t he areas of human rights and environmental sustainability. It consulted with businesses, government and other key stakeholders to develop a human rights statement that brings together long-standing policies on issues such as privacy, security, free expression and labour rights.It exceeded its goal to cut carbon emissions by 30 percent compared with 2007, due in part to the 1. 1 billion kilowatt hours of green power it purchased, the third most of any US company. Its endorsement of the United Nations Global Compact drives Microsoft to continually improve its business practices and increase its accountability. â€Å"Stick to your core competenciesâ€Å"– the famous business jargon is what Microsoft is incorporating in its pursuit of becoming a world leader in Corporate citizenship.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Influence of Women on American History Through the Civil War

The Influence of Women on the Founding of America and Through 1877 Kelley Swatsenbarg Wayland Baptist University – San Antonio Center Mr. Thomas Gaj May 4, 2010 The Influence of Women on the Founding of America and Through 1877 Throughout the many years of history, women have always had some kind of influence over man. Whether it be coercing him, tricking him, or demanding of him, they changed the actions of men. Sometimes it has been completely unintentional; sometimes intentional. Sometimes it has been covertly; sometimes overtly. Sometimes it has been the mothers of great men making decisions about their upbringing; sometimes it has been the choices made by female leaders or leaders wives. The United States in no different; women have been influencing, directly or indirectly, the decision and actions of the men in America starting from the choice to fund Christopher Columbus’s misguided exploration. Famous foreign rulers have influence America, from the beginning of the history of the United States. The first, of course, is the famous Isabella, Queen of Spain, who convinced King Ferdinand to finance Christopher Columbus’s exploration to find a route to Asia by traveling west. Then Elizabeth, Queen of England, decided to try to colonize the Americas to get tax revenue thus causing great numbers of Englishmen to colonize the United States. Some women did what they could within the confines of their traditionally established role of nurturer and were involved in the medical field. Two examples are Susie King Taylor and Mary Edwards Walker. Susie King Taylor traveled with her husband who was in E Company 33rd United States Colored Troops during the Civil War. She was a former slave who became their nurse, laundress, cook, teacher, and even comforted the sick soldiers even on their deathbed. Mary Edwards Walker was also a Union nurse during Civil War who finally won a commission in the army as a surgeon, and was the only woman to receive a Congressional Medal of Honor. Dorthea Dix helped organize the Union Army Corp of Nurses and was appointed superintendent of the Union nurses. There was the teacher, Clara Barton, now a famous humanitarian, who, after the outbreak of the Civil War, remained in contact with many former students in the New England Volunteer Regiment that went south. Their mothers gave her gifts for their sons as they thought that she, as a nurse, would be able to get packages to them. She realized that these were not gifts, but rather necessities like soap; from this she created the American Red Cross. She was also a Union nurse who bravely stayed to help surgeons under fire when all the male assistants fled. Some women personally aided soldiers and the underprivileged. One such woman was Margaret Corbin who traveled with her husband to take care of him during the war, doing woman’s work, but was in a battle with her husband. When he died in battle, she took over the cannon; she was wounded and later received the first retired disability pension for a woman. Some women created inspiration in various forms of literature to give hope to the men of this nation. One was Ethel Lynn Beers who wrote poetry and published a poem she'd titled â€Å"The Picket Guard. † The poem was adapted to music and sung by soldiers on both sides in the Civil War. Another woman of inspiration is Lydia Maria Child who wrote An Appeal in Favor of That Class of Americans Called Africans_ _that was a key to persuading many Americans of the need for abolition of slavery. Some women were acclaimed worldwide, like Catherine Maria Sedgwick, who wrote numerous historical sketches and biographies. Her writing is considered to be completely American in both thought and feeling; it captured the all of the characterx and manners of New England. Another American author was Mercy Otis Warren, the wife of politician, James Warren; the couple had a close friendship with Abigail and John Adams. John encouraged her to write the history of the American Revolution. Ironically, he ostracized her and her husband because of candid accounts of atrocities against women and children during the war. By far the most famous writer to influence politics was Harriet Beecher Stowe who became a celebrity when she published Tom's Cabin in 1851 depicting the atrocious lives of black slaves in the South. In 1852 she was introduced to President Abraham Lincoln who greeted her â€Å"So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this Great War! † Other women created patriotic symbols which would inspire generations of Americans. Betsy Ross, operated an upholstery shop, became legendary for making the first stars-and-stripes at the request of George Washington which was adopted as the national flag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. Another example of a woman who inspired is Julia Ward Howe, a famous writer who wrote the celebrated Battle Hymn of the Republic. Many women inspired men through their patriotic activities. One great patriot that inspired Georgia was their most famous female patriot of the Revolutionary War, Nancy Hart, whose steadfast endeavors get rid of British and their sympathizers. However the most famous heroic female patriot, in spite of her flaws, is Dolly Madison, the wife of James Madison and acting first lady for Thomas Jefferson. She could have influence them in their politics, but she inspired the masses with her patriot deeds. During her husband’s tenure as president, the British attacked Washington, D. C. She had the foresight to save not only the silver but also secret documents and a portrait of George Washington which would have likely been destroyed. Another patriot was Molly Pitcher, originally named Mary Ludwig Hays. During the Battle of Monmouth in 1778, she was with her husband on the front lines. Seeing that the soldiers were thirsty, she made her way through ferocious fighting to carry pitchers of water to the artillery gunners, and she even took over her husband’s job as rammer when her husband was wounded and could no longer man the gun mission. Sometimes women invented machines or assisting others in their endeavors to invent. For example, Martha Coston developed an elaborate system of flares called Night Signals that allowed ships to transmit nocturnal messages which was later purchased by the U. S. Navy. Also, Mary Walton patented a method of deflecting smoke stack emissions through water tanks later adapted the system for use on locomotives and invented a noise reduction system for elevated railroads. On the other hand Catharine (Kitty) Littlefield Greene helped Eli Whitney set up his workshop and was among the few people to see his first prototype of the cotton gin. At the time it was able to remove the seed, but the cotton fibers kept getting stuck in the mechanisms. Kitty simply suggested sweeping the fibers off and the rest, shall we say, is history. Some women have taken steps out of the boundaries of the traditional role by being the first woman to surpass a man in a particular field. Among these was Lady Deborah Moody who, because of lack of religious freedom, led a group of followers to the Dutch colony of New Netherland where she founded the settlement of Gravesend in Brooklyn. Also because of views about standard religions, Mary Baker Eddy founded Christian Science as well as the six time Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor. Still other women inspired men to think of women as more equal by making the same achievements as men. First there was Mary Katherine Goddard, the first woman publisher who was asked by the signers of the Declaration of Independence to print the first official copies of the document. There was also Margaret Fuller, the first female foreign correspondent. In medicine, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to graduate from medical school, and Sarah Hackett Stevenson was the first female member of the American Medical Association. Sometimes women influence men by political activism like Harriett Delille who campaigned for children’s labor rights or Ester Deberdt Reed who formed a women’s organization that collected $300,000 for Washington’s army. Still others campaigned for workers’ rights like Sarah Bagley who fought for a ten-hour workday. Of course now the laws state that a workday must be no longer than eight hours a day or forty hours per week, but we would not have progressed to where we are without her protesting. Others spoke out for women’s rights like Susan B. Anthony, Isabella Stowe Beecher, Lucretia Coffin Mott, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, just to name a few. Yet others spoke out against slavery like Abby Folsom, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Maria Stewart, and Truth Sojourner. Victoria Woodhull took activism a step further when she became a politician and was the first women to campaign for president of the United States in 1872. Sometimes their influence has simply been by virtue of the fact that they were married to famous men and they have influenced their husbands’ actions. Martha Washington, as we all know, was the wife of President George Washington. She was the first first-lady forming the model for all first ladies to come with her abilities to balance managing a plantation, arranging state dinners and function, visiting troops, and maintaining her relationship with George by supporting and advising him. Abigail Smith Adams was the wife of Samuel Adam and mother of John Quincy Adams who would later become president. She was his confidant, counselor, and advisor sharing her political views with him and even warning him about future problems including women’s rights. Their son, John Quincy Adams married Louisa Adams. Louisa, the only first lady not born in America, is reputed to have made many social calls to help him get elected. Deborah Read Franklin was the common law wife of Benjamin Franklin. She also took over his responsibilities as owner of a printing business and as postmaster while he was away on diplomatic affairs. On the other hand, Elizabeth Schuler Hamilton spent her entire life dedicated to memorializing her husband’s heritage. She even ensured a brass plaque was placed on their son’s grave in Sacramento, California dedicated to Alexander’s patriotism. Sarah Livingston Jay would pass valuable information, and gossip, to her husband, John Jay which helped him while he was secretary of foreign affairs – this position was also the head of Congress and thereby the de-facto head of state. Mary White Morris and her husband Robert Morris were close friends of John and Sally Jay, often having many a long political discussion. While Rebecca Ann Felton, the husband of William Felton, helped him write his speeches while he served as a congressman between 1875 thru 1881. Still other women were simply involved with activities which have influenced domestic politics like, Irene Sanford Emerson who was sued by a former slave, Dred Scott. Mr. Scott traveled with Mr. Emerson while he was in the army stationed in the North; he claimed he had been emancipated as a result of having lived with his master in the free state of Illinois. The court ruled in favor of Mrs. Emerson; Mr. Scott appealed to the Supreme Court where the decision was upheld, but it set the precedence that blacks had a legal right to file suit in a civil court, as previously blacks were considered property and therefore, like a chair, could not litigate. There were also many Native American women who assisted and acted as diplomats for the settlers and colonists. One was Mary Musgrove, an American Indian interpreter, diplomat, and businesswoman. She was raised by Colonists and, because she knew both languages well, she interpreted for James Oglethorpe when he founded the colony of Georgia. She also inherited land from her Native American mother, as their tradition was to pass property down the matriarchal line. The English refused to accept the legality of her property ownership and she took them to court. They negotiated and came to a compromise; some of the land was sold by the British with her receiving the proceeds. Then there was Pocahontas, Native American princess who helped the Jamestown settlers by bringing them food and warning them of her father’s attacks. She was held prisoner by the settlers in an effort to force her father into a peace agreement, but he refused; she eventually converted her to Christianity and married John Rolfe. Because of her position as wife of John Rolfe and daughter of an Indian chief, she was able to maintain peace between the two communities. Sacajawea was another Native American who influenced American politics. She was married to a French man, Toussaint Charbonneau, the guide hired by Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition. Sacajawea went with her husband and interpreted with the Native American Indians. She would translate to Charbonneau in French and he would translate to Lewis and Clark into English. During her trip she gave birth to a son, and, all the while taking care of him, guided the explorers trough Indian lands, protected them from Indian attacks, kept valuable items from being lost–her husband was a klutz, and even found them food to supplement their all-meat diet. Other women covertly did the jobs of men such as Deborah Champion, a teenage girl who bought parcels, messages and pay to General George Washington when soldiers could not. Some other messengers were Behethland Moore and Sybil Ogden Ludington, dubbed the â€Å"female Paul Revere† (she rode about twice as far as he did on his famous ride). Still other women, like Harriet Tubman–a conductor on the Underground Railroad, acted secrectly. The history of the world abounds with famous female spies like Pauline Cushman, a Union spy, became a camp follower of the Confederate army. She was discover, tried in a military court, and sentenced to hang; they delayed her sentence due to her health and she was rescued by Union forces. Upon her return North, President Lincoln made her an honorary major. Elizabeth Van Lew was a famous and effective Union spy. She entered the Confederate Libby Prison on the pretense of humanitarian reasons, and, since the guards thought she was harmless and crazy, she gained information about the strength and disposition of the troops. As her work continued, she devised a way to send coded messages inside eggs. Belle Boyd used her feminine wiles to gain secrets and trap Union soldiers. Others posed as soldiers and fought in war. During the Civil War, Ann Clarke dressed as a man in the Confederate army. She was wounded, taken prisoner, and later released. Prudence Wright gathered a women’s troop and dressed in husbands’ uniforms to defend their city from the British. They captured a British spy and turned him over to the Colonial Army. Deborah Sampson Gannet dressed as man in order to fight in Revolution; her husband received land and was granted the pension of a soldier. During her career she was wounded several times and caught a fever which nearly took her life. If it were not for the fever she would have remained a soldier longer, but a doctor finally discovered her secret, but he did not publicly release the fact, instead he sent her to General George Washington who immediately discharged her. Then there was the famous story of Sarah Emma Edmonds who enlisted in the Union army as Frank Thompson, a male nurse. She effectively guarded her secret for many years even taking on disguises of men and women, blacks and whites to spy. She left the army for medical treatment in an area where she was unknown, when she did this, Frank Thompson was viewed as a deserter. Afterwards, she fought to be recognized for her achievements, and, with a special act of Congress, she was honorably discharged and given a pension. The Confederacy had plenty of female spies too. Included in this number is Antonia Ford who passed along to Confederate J. E. B. Stuart information on Union troop activity. Rose O’Neal Greenhow was such a successful spy that she was imprisoned twice, and then exiled to the Confederate states. She was to tour Britain and France as a propagandist for the Confederate cause; her memoirs were published with a wide sale throughout the British Isles. She obtained more and more sympathy for the South. There was also the case of Loreta Janeta Velazquez who enlisted in disguise and served at Manassas/Bull Run, Ball's Bluff, Fort Donelson, and Shiloh under the name Lieutenant Harry T. Buford. She also claims to have served as a spy and worked working as a double agent for the Confederacy in the service of the U. S. Secret Service. To this day no one can determine if in fact any of these accounts are true,, although a newspaper report mentions a Lieutenant Bensford arrested when it was disclosed â€Å"he† was actually a woman giving her name as Alice Williams. Even in Colonial times America was full of willing female spies and messengers such as Dicey Langston was a teenage colonial spy who forded a river, up to her shoulders, to get details of British troop movement to the colonial army. And then there was Emily Geiger a messenger for General Greene in the Colonial army. Coming from the direction of Greene's army, she was suspected and confined to a room. The officer sent for a woman to search her for papers. She sought to destroy the letter; once the door was shut, she ate up the letter, piece by piece. Lydia Darragh was a mortician and would watch British troops from the window of her house. She sent messages about their activities through one of her sons and then to another soldier to get information to Washington’s Army. British officer Major Andre commandeered her house, but allowed the family to stay in the house. She could then listen in on their plotting and send word of their plans. Others’ influences were merely accidental like Peggy O’Neale Eaton, married Senator John Eaton in 1828 during Andrew Jackson’s presidency. Many gossiped about her colorful past and seeming infidelity with her first husband, when she married Eaton, she shunned by cabinet members’ wives due to her assumed sordid past. The behavior of the ladies towards her and the influence upon their husbands created such a disaster that the cabinet fell apart–Jackson fired them all. An unintentional influence on men’s actions was Betsy Loring who was General Howe’s mistress; although she was the wife a loyalist, she distracted General Howe by â€Å"entertaining† and distracting him from battles with General Washington. The United States of America owes an enormous debt to Mary Ball Washington. She set the example of solid morals and religious opinions, and even read to her children aloud. We need to thank her for one incidentally decision that she made regarding the future of her son. When George was fourteen years old, his half-brother Lawrence obtained a midshipman’s warrant for him in the English naval service. George was already packed and ready to go, but his mother refused to give her consent at the last minute. So, because of an inadvertent decision, George Washington became the Father of Our Country and our first President instead of an English naval officer. In conclusion, in all nations, including the United States, women have been influencing, either directly or indirectly, the decision and actions of the men. Regardless of whether we believe that changes women have made are good or bad, they have helped define this great nation of ours, and, as the French say, â€Å"Viva la difference. Collins, G. (2003). America’s Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Roberts, C. (2004_) Founding Mothers: the Women Who Raised Our Nation. _ New York: HarperCollins Publishers Roberts, C. (2008). Ladies of Liberty: the Women Who Shaped Our Nation. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Taylor, S. K. (2004). The Diary of Susie King Taylor, Civil War nurse. Tarrytown, NY: Benchmark books Zall, P. M. (1991). Founding Mothers: Profiles of Ten Wives of America’s Founding Fathers. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Educational Attainment Essay

Educational attainment is primarily due to individual’s goal in life. Attitude likewise has life-transforming power (Harrel, 2003) which must be in equilibrium with aptitude. Though, motivations often are the challenges to excel and achieve one’s goal. The individual’s goal in life has been set with the consistent support and management of its parents. This subsequently bore fruition with the development of the attitude necessary towards self-motivation for greater achievements. The figure shows that over all, the Asian race marked an edge on the other races in terms of scholastic achievements. It is notable that the Whites’ fell within 85. anges on High School Graduate or more, while Asian has 87. 6. This means that the Asian has more focus on high school education than the Whites’. Its implication would be that the Asian’s prioritized education. It is also remarkable that in every educational attainment level the Asians’ led overwhelmingly in academic achievements. This is because they got an overall range of 68. 3 and followed by the Whites’ falling behind within 55. 2 ranges. Commonly, it is not the educational system that has to be modified, but, there must be a program to enhance parental awareness on the relative responsibilities towards children’s academic standing. Gleaning from the social patterns (Williams, 1976) of Asians, it is usual trait as a collective society (Lustig, 1996) for family parental concern towards children’s academic achievements. Widespread, parents would tell their children that the best thing that they could have as an inheritance is education. In addition to this, prevale nce of high ranking officials, rich and successful families in third world countries have had gained aggregate education from highly industrialized countries.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Early Syncretism in India and China

There are two common traits reasons syncretism had not occurred in very early on in the Eastern Cultures of Indian and China. These have to do with the adaptability of religion and focus on discipline and work culture. Not all world religions are equally open to economic changes. The adaptability of a religious tradition may be measured by whether its sacred texts are open to translation and interpretation. This was not the case with Buddhism, Confucianism or Hinduism. There are various books and interpretations of Hinduism and Budhism. In India, Hinduism does not have any element of a structured religion; in fact it is loosely structured and that is why it has been resilient and tenacious enough to survive and expand. (Das, n.d) In China, it was established that Confucian tradition would continue to be the sources of value system, and modernization would continue for material gains. As there were various interpretations for one religious belief, no counter opposing philosophy existed. Buddhism and Hinduism focus on work culture as part of the religious paradigm. The concept Karma which literally means a person's actions, includes the notion, good work deserves good reward. In a free society it is the toughest to cultivate discipline in its people. Discipline is required one personal level to complete education as a student, or a jobs as a professional. With karma's discipline embedded at a grass-root level, far eastern cultures' workers possessed the skills and focus needed by workers to progress the economy. (Norbu, 1996). Thus implying that had syncretism integrated itself in the early encounters in the history of India and China, these two societies would have smaller communities that were deeply religious,resistant to work, averse to modernization and trade. Aversion to modernization and trade would've resulted in the colonization and dissolution of these societies. As a result India and China would not have existed as the emerging power houses of the world economy as we know it today.

Friday, September 13, 2019

A Horror Show at the Cinemaplex Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Horror Show at the Cinemaplex - Essay Example In terms of competition in the future, it may be noted that people living in larger cities are likely to gain access more quickly to film DVDs and sophisticated movie watching equipment which would pull them away from the theatres, while the smaller regional areas are likely to continue with their theatre activity for a much longer period. This leads to the inference that Regal and AMC may decide to shift their focus and compete for the smaller regional markets, to capture the higher numbers of the theatre going public. The other two exhibitors may opt to offer digital film viewing to enhance viewer experience. It must be noted however, that there is likely to be a decline in the business activity of all the four industry rivals and more and more movie goers tend to turn away from watching movies on big screens in favour of watching them at home on sophisticated TV and DVD systems with superior audio equipment. The other side of the coin is that competition among industry rivals coul d heat up more, as they compete fiercely for customers. Cinemark and Carmike could decide to consolidate their position and thereby offer stiffer competition to the two larger rivals; hence in a lean market, these industry players are likely to consider various business-savvy moves such as mergers and acquisitions in order to aggregate and consolidate the existing markets as they rapidly diminish and to improve their negotiation ability with studios. 2. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each of the top four competitors' situations and strategic approaches. 2. The advantages of Regal’s strategy is focus on mid size markets using multi and mega plexes – this would ensure full occupancy and profit maximization. It is also the largest exhibitor in the United States, with 6335 screens and about 12 screens average per theatre, hence it has maximum access to film material to draw viewers in. The disadvantage is the high price, because at $7.43, it’s the highest among the leaders and consumers would be able to view the films for a lower price using other exhibitors. This factor would be especially relevant in recessionary times such as we have presently, because it could pull away many potential viewers to theatres operated by other exhibitors. Another disadvantage is that it has the highest costs per screen. AMC: This exhibitor operates 4585 screens but shows an average of 14 screens per theatre. This is the most significant advantage offered by this exhibitor because it provides consumers with maximum levels of variety in their film viewing. Another advantage this exhibitor has is the ability to pull in the crowds, because the theatres are located in densely populated, urban areas. They are not as expensive as Regal and for the major chunk of the viewing audience, i.e, the younger teen audiences, the greater variety and lower prices offer better options for a date or night out. AMC can also easily offer digital viewing, which would be yet another huge draw. The disadvantage is that because its audiences are mostly in urban areas, they are more likely to use alternative movie watching modes such as new audio equipment and DVDs which would reduce theatre going altogether. Another disadvantage is the high cost per screen Cinemark: One of its advantages is that it serves specifically targeted smaller markets Sole theatre chain for those markets Lowest average ticket price compared to other

Thursday, September 12, 2019

The Politics of Education Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Politics of Education - Assignment Example of education with successful establishment of libraries in some societies, Mann claims that education contributes immensely towards individual’s mental improvement (Massachusetts. Board of Education 95). He relates most countries’ prosperity with education; he believes that education contributes to growth and development of a successful generation. Additionally, Mann believes that education has a significant impact on how governments bestow their leaderships; he believes that education enhances the discharge of regal duties by the government. Mann’s views on education conquer with the current perception of education. This is evidenced by how majority f the people value education in the current societies; most people believe that education gives individuals the platform of expressing themselves. It also boosts the courage of people who value their rights; it enables them question their leaders about the mistakes they make in their daily activities. It is also evident that lots of advancement has taken place in the current societies because of increase in the rate of literacy among people. Additionally, most people are successive and independent today because of exposure and awareness enhanced by education. In what ways were you prepared by your experiences in elementary, middle, and high school for achieving success in college? In what ways did the readings help you understand better how you were educated? The passage of my lifetime through elementary, middle, and high school played a very significant role in my life. It made me value books and develop the urge of advancing my education elsewhere after high school. It is through the association with my colleagues in these academic levels that I garnered courage that enabled me to associate with other students from different backgrounds. Apart from learning that hardworking plays a pivotal role in one’s academic success, my passage through high school also made me have easy time in college; the experience

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Keeping a Customer Centric Approach in a Highly Competitive Sales Term Paper

Keeping a Customer Centric Approach in a Highly Competitive Sales Environment - Term Paper Example It is through the customers, that a business is facilitated to meet its objectives. Thus, the most important asset that a business can build for itself is a loyal customer base, who carries the goodwill of the business with them, and thus facilitates repeat purchase (Anand, 2010). It is against this background that any business should seek to develop the most effective and efficient customer service, while seeking to continuously improve in the methodologies and strategies of addressing customer needs. Nevertheless, there are always competing business interests that might make a business focus more on other aspects of business operation, at the expense of redeveloping its customer service, and the consequent customer experience (Bosworth & Holland, 2004). Such a move is detrimental to a business because; without enhancing the customer service and customer experience for the business organization, the chances of business failure are high. Therefore, this discussion seeks to illustrate that companies which have a highly competitive sales goals and Expectations; in this case Wells Fargo Bank, can still maintain the integrity and customer service/customer centric approach, which would facilitate the achievement of its objectives. Customer centric approach A Customer Centric Approach refers to the ability of an organization to offer a positive customer experience, immediately at the point of sale, and post- sale (Gavan, 2012). This requires that the sale strategy that is adopted by the organization be satisfactory to the customer, and even more enticing and attractive, such that it adds value to the experience of the customer when they are purchasing the product or service, and after the purchase, when the customer is actually utilizing the product or service. The essence of applying a customer centric approach is that; it offers a company the avenue through which it can differentiate itself from the other competitors who are offering similar products or services, s ince the product or service differentiation is no longer a key differentiating factor (Anand, 2010). The relevance of customer centric approach to the banking sector Wells Fargo Bank is a large financial institution, in fact ranking as the fourth largest bank in the USA (Chandler, 2006). Despite having built a formidable brand that is well known and easily identified by the customers, the competition in the financial market keeps growing by the day, owing to the emergence of new banks and other micro-finance institutions, which seeks to serve the same customer base that banks are serving. This being the case, most banks, microfinance institutions and even insurance companies are offering the same products and services. It is therefore no longer easy for banks to differentiate themselves based on the diversity of financial products or services offering, thus necessitating the need for banks to adopt the customer centric approach business strategy, which help them improve the customer services, and consequent customer experience they offer to their customers (Bosworth & Holland, 2004). This will go a long way in cementing the customer base that the bank already have, thus securing its market share, while also attracting new customers who will be enticed to enjoy the same customer service

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Labour Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Labour Law - Essay Example This paves the way against further abuse by employers who wish to minimize the number of employees employed by demanding rendition of work beyond what a human being may ordinarily give. Three, it also provides no less than twenty-eight (28) paid holidays which gives an opportunity to implement work-life balance. The latter is the strategy recently being propagated in the international community that allows every employee or worker to perform his responsibilities as a family man and as a social person without sacrificing his work. Since work-life balance theory was only introduced and implemented lately, it can be considered that British Labour Law appropriately and timely provided for this right or opportunity to all workers under its jurisdiction. Four, the right to flexible working patterns provided under the Employment Rights Act of 1996, the Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations of 1999, and the Additional Paternity Leave Regulations of 2010 provide for more broader opportunit ies for both men and women to perform their tasks as parents. The laws also recognize the need of the parents to take leaves from work in order to care for their children without fear of affecting their career advancement. These laws, obviously give equal rights for both mothers and fathers, unlike in other countries and/or in previous laws wherein only the rights of the mother is recognized due to physical giving of birth. Now, British Labour Laws recognize the fact that even the father of a child needs to be with his child, and has the obligation or responsibility to care for the child in lieu of or together with the mother. The Pensions Act of 2008 which requires the employers to automatically enroll every jobholder or worker in an occupational pension scheme, unless the latter refuse later on, is also commendable, considering that with the recent trend amongst young professionals, the biggest tendency is for them to spend their hard-earned monies to travels and buying unnecessar y gadgets, leaving nothing for the future. This law adequately addresses the long-term problem that might be encountered by the workers by mandating the periodic contribution to a pension plan that will ultimately benefit the workers themselves. Also, the Equality Act of 2010 which provides for a detailed process of investigation of discrimination and/or harassment cases, is considered adequate to address contemporary manner of abuses in the workplace. Unlike before wherein the prosecution and investigation of abuses are left with the individual concerned, now, the employer has the obligation to undertake its own investigation of any possible act of discrimination or harassment. Thus, the employers are now more involved in the protection of its employees against abuses, not only against the employers themselves but also against fellow employees. On the other hand, while the Employment Rights Act of 1996 provides for a consolidated set of rights for working persons, still, British La bour Laws fail to give an exact or concrete definition of an employee for purposes of determining who are the real beneficiaries of these rights. Some parts of the law mention of worker, other parts mention of employee, while others refer to job contractor, and others. It would have been better if this can be addressed to as soon as possible so that the persons to whom these

Monday, September 9, 2019

Development of Reproductive system in Fetus; Genetic, endocrine and Research Proposal

Development of Reproductive system in Fetus; Genetic, endocrine and environmental factors - Research Proposal Example The primordial germ cells migrate to these ridges from the primitive yolk sac at this stage (Bullough and Bullough, 185). During the sixth week of gestation period the gonads begin to develop into testes in case of male fetus or transform into ovaries after waiting for some more weeks in case of female fetus (Bullough and Bullough, 185). This development of fetus reproductive system either to form testes or to form ovaries is controlled by the genetic factors established during fertilization. If the cells of the embryonic body contain the TDF gene usually carried by Y chromosome then the gonadal ridges form the seminiferous tubules and related ducts which later develop to secrete testosterone for the development of male reproductive system. In the absence of TDF genes the gonads wait until the twelfth week to begin to develop into female reproductive organs. This inherent tendency of growing into female reproductive system is known as Eve plan (Bullough and Bullough, 185). The primitive eggs present in the female fetus begin meiosis until they reach the â€Å"prophase arrest stage† and remain inactive until puberty. With the development of permanent kidneys the ovaries or testes come out of the thoracic abdominal cavity and take their final position in the pelvic cavity (Bullough and Bullough, 185). The fetal growth is a process controlled by several factors including genetic makeup of the fetus, the success of the implantation process, the availability of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, hypoxia, cigarette smoking, infection, maternal nutrition, and a variety of growth factors, cytokines, and proteins of maternal and fetal or placental origin (Giudice, 307). Among the genetic factors IGF gene is also found to have considerable importance in fetal growth. Studies on human fetus showed that the natural deletion of exon 4 and 5 from IGF-I gene can cause huge restrictions in the physical and mental development

Project Management Scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Project Management Scenario - Essay Example and Down’s staff for the new project, there might be conflict with respect to job responsibilities, particularly, the tasks which will be left unattended by staff movement from Pokorski and Down’s side of the operations to Janet’s new project. The responsibility matrix, together with a resources plan, can help address any potential communication conflicts among Steve Pokorski, Joe Downs and Janet. Meanwhile, an issue management plan will also be handy so that Janet’s team can be prepared to contend with environmental, cultural, technical and project-specific concerns which have already been identified or are being expected to occur in the course of time. This communication tool is very different from a risk management plan in the sense that risks may or may not occur (Pritchard, 2004). Finally, Janet should require each team or group in charge with one or more deliverables to submit status reports at the end of each week so that delays, time gained and other problems which surface in addition to those already identified and expected can be properly addressed, particularly those requiring mobilisation of resources, task redundancies or personnel conflicts. On the other hand, the major risks being considered which may affect the success of the project include: (1) unexpected increase in the price of construction materials during the construction of the manufacturing plant; (2) is fluctuation in the price of raw materials for plastic containers and (3) breakdown of equipment. All three aforementioned risks will definitely affect the scope, cost and schedule of the project. In the case of increase in the price of raw materials for construction, or fluctuation in price of raw materials for manufacturing, including a statistically calculated amount for contingency in the estimation of construction and manufacturing costs can cushion the effect of any price increase. With respect to breakdown of equipment especially in the first four months of operation, weekly

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Recycling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Recycling - Research Paper Example An understanding of the term recycling is essential, as it is the base of our argument (Goldsmith, 2010). Recycling refers to the conversion of waste products into new materials. It is the separation, collection and subsequent transformation or manufacturing of waste products into usable products. The transformed usable products are of market value. The materials are converted into, either a secondary product or the same product. The recycled material replaces the virgin material during the usage or manufacturing process. Recycling is essential to industries and society in meeting their goals of efficient management of the limited resources, the cost reduction, and reduced landfill utilization (Donald, 2001). Therefore, recycling is the process of converting wastes or useless products into useful products for humans. The process will help reduce consumption of raw materials, reduce energy consumption, and reduce greenhouse gas emission of global warming pollution (Isayev & Khait, 2005). The process is a cycle made up of three main stages. Collecting and sorting is the first stage. Here, there is the collection, then processing and sorting of waste materials to the type for the use. The second stage is the manufacturing stage. At this stage, the collected and the sorted materials pass through manufacturing. Lastly, we have the selling or providing the recycled products to the consumers. The purchase of the materials ends the cycle (Bertolini, Delalande & Hubesch, 2009). Recycling is important in environmental protection. It helps in waste reduction and reusing of materials. The process reduces the need for extraction, refining, and the need for processing the raw materials that causes a substantial water and air pollution. An importance of such processes helps to reduce the level of pollution from the waste. For instance, it prevents the greenhouse gasses and the harmful chemicals

Saturday, September 7, 2019

The Securities and Exchange Commission Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Securities and Exchange Commission - Essay Example The International Monetary Fund approximated â€Å"more than $1 trillion on toxic assets and from bad loans† were lost by big western banks â€Å"from January 2007 to September 2009† (Reuters 1). The individual losses and exposures were undisclosed by these institutions in order â€Å"to prevent ‘runs’ on their banks or trading against their positions by their competitors in the markets† which can further escalate their losses (Dobbs & Minyard 1). Hence, what the banks and other companies/institutions did was to refrain from lending money â€Å"among themselves or to other businesses† since they were uncertain as to their trading partners’ financial health and considered that â€Å"the risk of loss was too high,† opting to preserve their cash to compensate for any probable future losses (Dobbs & Minyard 1). The â€Å"sources of liquidity† was said to have desiccated for a number of companies with capital markets failing to perform properly (Dobbs & Minyard 1). This resulted to breakdown and bankruptcies of influential companies or â€Å"land-rich/cash-poor situation† for energy companies (Dobbs & Minyard 1). The global economy then was said to be in recession as â€Å"the financial markets seized† (Dobbs & Minyard 1). ... SEC 1). The federal statutes and rules require companies to have â€Å"full disclosure and transparency† whenever it â€Å"sells stocks or bonds to the public† (Johnson 993), or to supply â€Å"a detailed public disclosure document† to both â€Å"investors and regulators† (Securities Act of 1933  §Ã‚ § 5, 10, 15 U.S.C.  §Ã‚ § 77e, 77j (2006); 17 C.F.R. pt. 230 (2011), whenever private businesses make public offerings (Johnson 993). The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reviews â€Å"these disclosure documents,† which in the case of Groupon, the SEC they required the latter to revise its disclosures in order to improve their accuracy (U.S. SEC, Letter from Larry Spirgel 1-14). This requirement however is not applicable to private placements wherein â€Å"a company sells an investment outside of the normal public securities markets† (Securities Act of 1933  § 4(2), 15 U.S.C.  § 77d(2); 17 C.F.R.  § 230.506 (2011)), which often times evade examination by federal and state regulatory bodies (Johnson 151). Because these placements are private, they are concealed (Johnson 993) and the issuers tend to divulge â€Å"far less information to investors† than that required for public offerings (SEC v. Ralston Purina Co., 346 U.S. 119, 125-26 (1953) and SEC rule 506 under 17 C.F.R.  § 230.506). Issuers also divulge this information â€Å"only to qualified investors† (17 C.F.R.  § 230.506 and 17 C.F.R.  § 230.501(a) (2011)). â€Å"Regulators and even academics have little or no access to the private placement disclosures† (Johnson 993). Private placements are also said not to be liquid, â€Å"difficult to price,† and bear significant risks (Johnson