Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance -...

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - The Reconciliation of Western and Eastern Philosophy The differences in Western and Eastern philosophy are marked. Eastern thinking has slowly become â€Å"discovered† by the West; meanwhile, the development of Western thought and philosophy has come under close scrutiny by modern and postmodern philosophers and thinkers as being flawed at its core. The German philosopher Martin Heidegger came to the conclusion that â€Å"Western philosophy is a great error† (Barrett xi). The manner in which Western thought was founded, the course of its development, and its incursion into every facet of life in the Western world has been and is now being questioned on all fronts by leading critics and thinkers.†¦show more content†¦Although Pirsig never states it explicitly, this concept is the point of reconciliation between Eastern and Western philosophy, and indeed, its effects would be seen in every facet of life. The idea that nature itself can be divided rationally into ordered systems is inherently Western in origin. That implies that a system of concepts exists to explain the world, the universe. The â€Å"structure of concepts† is called a hierarchy, and broken down even further, is a system of divisions, or distinctions (Pirsig 97). Pirsig asserts that this has been a â€Å"basic structure for all Western knowledge† ( 97). How this Western way of thinking came about could be an entire Philosophy course in itself. A short explanation must be described, however, in order to make sense of the rest of this paper. According to William Barrett, what we call Western traditions in thinking really stem from two cultural backgrounds, Hebrew and Greek, both of which are â€Å"profoundly dualistic in spirit† (ix). That is, they â€Å"divide reality into two parts, setting one division off against the other (Barrett ix). The Hebrews did it on the basis of morality and religion, separating God from Creation, flesh from spirit, right from wrong. The Greeks divide along the basis of philosophical and intellectual lines. It was Plato who almost â€Å"single-handedly† established Western philosophy (Barrett ix). Plato â€Å"absolutely cleaves reality into the world of the intellect and the world of the senses†Show MoreRelatedDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesLeale Sen ior Production Project Manager: Kelly Warsak Senior Operations Supervisor: Arnold Vila Operations Specialist: Ilene Kahn Senior Art Director: Janet Slowik Interior Design: Suzanne Duda and Michael Fruhbeis Permissions Project Manager: Shannon Barbe Manager, Cover Visual Research Permissions: Karen Sanatar Manager Central Design: Jayne Conte Cover Art: Getty Images, Inc. Cover Design: Suzanne Duda Lead Media Project Manager: Denise Vaughn Full-Service Project Management: Sharon Anderson/BookMastersRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 Pageshow a small player survives in a globalising market. ST Electronics – total quality management for business excellence. Sony (A) – a diverse hi-tech multinational responds to change with repeated reorganisations. Arts Council – changes in structure and responsibilities in funding the arts in the UK. Tetra Pak – success through a project-based organisation structure. Fed-Ex – packaging new business models to deliver competitive advantage. Forestry Commission – from forestry management to service provider:Read MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |   846 PagesBromwich has made. He played an important role in the diffusion of modern practices of capital investment appraisal in the United Kingdom. He has been constantly open to the insights which advances in economic theory can provide into the accounting art, in many areas pushing at the frontiers of international knowledge in his own quiet way. In the area of costing, Michael has undoubtedly deepened our understandings of both conceptual and practical issues, in recent years providing a voice of reason

Nature, Morality, Mortality, And Memory Of William...

William Wordsworth is known for his works of poetry. It is easy to gather that Wordsworth’s poetry was not simple to understand from first glance, but his poems have gathered attention because of the themes that are in the works themselves. In these works, themes such as nature, morality, mortality, and memory are revealed. In several of Wordsworth’s poems, the theme of nature is used abundantly. The topic of nature in Wordsworth’s poetry has been noticed by several critics throughout the years. John Beer makes an excellent mention of nature by saying, â€Å"Wordsworth, especially in the late 1790s, are rather loosely thought of as having been primarily a nature poet† (Beer 1). It can be easily inferred that Wordsworth liked and enjoyed nature. In fact, in I Wondered Lonely as a Cloud, he mentions daffodils and trees. When referring to this poem, Neil Heims makes an important statement, â€Å"The simplicity of its language, the charm of its meter, the intimacy of first person narrator, and the visualized immediacy of its subject make it easy to enjoy and remember† (Heims 54). From the majority of Wordsworth’s works, nature is used so much talked about so much that it is no wonder Wordsworth enjoyed nature. Along the lines of nature, it is easy to see that Wordsworth digs in deep when talking about nature. He goes and describes every aspect of nature as if the reader could actually see what he was talking about. For example, in his poem Poems of the Naming of Places, the first line

Computer Ethics Essay Example For Students

Computer Ethics Essay As of September 2003, there were approximately 70 million Americans or about 62 percent of the American population had at least one home computer. Another statistic is that about 55% of people also have internet on there home computers. In everyday life it is important for a person to have good ethics; this is also true about computer usage. Due to the fact that more then half of the American population owns computers, computer ethics are a growing concern in a rapidly changing society. Computer ethics can be broken down in to many topics including piracy, hacking, viruses, spam, phishing, and responsibility of use of software, cyber porn, and invasion of privacy and the use of the computer in the work place. Also there are many issues both moral and professional that a person who uses a computer might face. Piracy which by definition is reproduction, distribution and use of software without permission of the owner of copyright, poses some serious ethical problems. The free exchange of copyrighted materials is piracy as it undermines the ability of copyright holders (and their representatives) to control the sale and distribution of goods to which theyÂâ€"and only theyÂâ€"own the rights. Probably the best known and most widely practiced form of piracy is the distribution of copyright protected music files via popular file sharing programs such as Kazaa and Limewire. As bandwidth increases, the sharing of movies and television shows on the Internet is likely to increase as well. Although file sharing is quite common, that does not mean it is okay. Another ethical problem with computers is hacking. Hacking is the computer equivalent of breaking and entering. A computer hacker uses his or her skills to gain unauthorized access to another computer or computer network and, once inside, can wreak havoc by altering important information, deleting essential files, or just crashing the whole system. Many hackers who break into commercial Web sites are looking for customers private financial data including bank account and credit card numbers. A hacker who causes a network to crash can cost a company hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost productivity. Also because we are a society that relies on computers so heavily there is also the potential for loss of life is say the police or air traffic control computers were to get hacked. A topic that goes hand in hand with hacking is viruses. A computer virus is a small program that impairs-or simply destroys-a computers ability to function properly. Most viruses are designed to spread them selves over the Internet often via email programs before they inflict harm on their host computers. Frequently, hackers use viruses to create problems with in a persons computer to get in deeper and cause more problems. Two more computer ethic topics that go hand in hand are spam and phishing. Spam which is an inappropriate attempt to use email, or another networked communications facility by sending the same message to numerous people who didnt ask for it, can lead to many problems in both a work and non-work environment. Another consequence of spam is phishing which is the act of tricking someone into giving them confidential information or tricking them into doing something that they normally wouldnt do or shouldnt do. An example of this is sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. Being responsible and being held liable for your actions also are major ethical concerns in the computer world. One area were this is especially true is with the use of software. Software ethics is the science of morals in computer and software usage. Unauthorized, copying of software is illegal and a violation of software ethics. The copyright law protects software authors and publishers, just as investors are protected by the patent law. Another thing about making unethical software decisions is it could affect an entire academic community. For example if it happened on campus the school might have to assume legal liability and provide the software for cheaper prices. A person also must be ethical in other things such as cyber porn and invasion of privacy. If a person is a work and doing things they should not be doing like looking at adult websites or snooping through other peoples computers, serious consequences could surface which could ultimately lead to a loss of ones job. There are certain times and places were looking at different websites is ok and other times were it is just not acceptable. .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 , .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 .postImageUrl , .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 , .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5:hover , .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5:visited , .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5:active { border:0!important; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5:active , .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5 .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud9cc67be0554d2d2ebb7aa316b7380f5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Manifest Destiny EssayAs previously mentioned, computer ethics in some peoples eyes greatly changed based on were the computer you are on is located. There is a completely different set of ethics for work computers. Not only do ethics come into play in workplace with computer use but so do morals. It is very important for a person to be able to know the fine line between what is ok for work and what is not acceptable. This can vary from harassment through things like email to just visiting the wrong kinds of site. In my research I have found that many companies are actually coming up with ethical commandments for the work place to further define the line between right and wrong.

The Endocrine Regulation of Calcium Balance an Example of the Topic Education and science by

The Endocrine Regulation of Calcium Balance Definition of terms in this essay Need essay sample on "The Endocrine Regulation of Calcium Balance" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Calcium balance deals with the regulation of a bodys calcium levels in order to maintain homeostasis. A disruption of this process results in either hypo- or hypercalcemia. Teleost fishes are fishes belonging to teleostei. These bony fishes have movable jaws. This makes them able to extend their mouth while preying. They also have symmetrical or homocercal tails. Amphibians are vertebrate animals that are ectothermic, non amniotic and that respire through their skin. They are usually aquatic during their larval stage but become terrestrial during adulthood. The endocrine system is a system theat deals with the use of hormones produced by glands in the regulation of bodily functions and processes. Endocrine regulation of calcium balance There are several hormones that take part in the endocrine regulation of calcium balance. However, due to morphological differences, the endocrine process of regulating calcium is different between amphibians and teleost fishes. Hypercalcaemic hormones Hypercalcaemic hormones are hormones that increase the calcium levels in the plasma by liberating those in the bone. Parathyroid glands can be found in most amphibians; especially with the anurans. The parathyroid hormone found in amphibians is usually hypercalcaemic, Studies have shown that parathyroid hormone liberates Calcium ions from the bone, increasing the calcium levels in the blood. (YOSHIDA & R. V.TALMAGE, 1962) The removal of the parathyroid gland (Parathyroidectomy) results in a significant decrease of blood calcium levels. Parathyroid hormone works by increasing the production of osteoclases, which are the cause of mobilization bone calcium. (STIFFLER, 1993) Teleost fish lack parathyroid glands. It has been found out however that the pituitary glands of fishes make up for the loss of the parathyroid hormone by excreting other hypercalcaemic hormones like Prolactin (PRL) and Somalactin (SL). (KANEKO & HIRANO, 1993)The removal of the pituitary gland induces hypocacaemia in fishes. (PANG, K.SCHREIBMAN, M. P., & YOGURO, 1975) The use of mammalin Prolactin increased the calcium level of calcium deficient killifish whose pituitary has been removed. (WENDELAAR BONGA & PANG, 1989)Studies in eels have determined that prolactin secretion does not depend on ambient calium levels but on the osmolality or sodium levels of the environment(SUZUKI, KANEKO, & HIRANO, 1991).Prolactin also has the same effect in aquatic amphibians. In fact, aquatic amphibians may rely more on porlactin than o the parathyroid hormone as evidenced by the lack of the parathyroid gland in urodeles. Somalactin is another pituitary hormone that closely resembles the structure of the growth hormobne as well as prolactin. The glycosylation status of SLs reflects the presence or absence of periodic acidSchiff (PAS)-positive cells of the pars intermedia (PIPAS cells) in the pituitary. This means that PIPAS cells canm be used as indicators in measuring the effect of somalactin. However, studies that have measured the hyperglycaemic properties of PIPAS cells are inconclusive as the relation with somalactin is indirect. (KANEKO & HIRANO, 1993) Hypocalcaemic hormones Hypocalcamic hormones are the inverse of hypercalcaemic ones, they lower calcium levels by inducing storage into the bones. The main hypoglycaemic hormone in amphibians is Calcitonin. It is produced in the ultimobranchial glands of the amphibian. It is the main hypoglycaemic hormone in mammals and other vertebrates. In amphibians, studies involving the removal of the ultimobranchial branch show that it leads to an increase in calcium levels while the subsequent application of calcitonin extracts significantly lowers the blood calcium content. (STIFFLER, 1993) Calcitonin is also secreted by fishes from their own ultimobranchial body. However, incestigations unto the hypocalcaemic properties of calcitonin in fishes have failed to produce tangible and unequivocal results. The known hypocalcaemic hormone in fishes is those produced by the corpuscles of Stannius. They are unique to teleostean and holostean fishes. Studies have shown that their removal induces hypercalcaemia. (FONTAINE, 1964)The main substance produced by the corpuscles, stanniocalcin, is regarded as the primary hypocalcaemic hormone in fishes. (WENDELAAR BONGA & PANG, 1991) References FONTAINE, M. (1964). Corpuscles de Stannius et rgulation ionique (Ca, K, Na) du milieu intrieur de languille (Anguilla anguilla L.). C. R. hebd. Sanc. Acad. Sci.(259), 875-878. PANG, P. K. T., K.SCHREIBMAN, R., M. P., S., & YOGURO, C. (1975). Effects of parathyroidectomy on calcium and sodium concentrations of serum and coelomic fluid in bullfrog tadpoles. J. exp. Zool., 192, 293-298. STIFFLER, D. F. (1993). AMPHIBIAN CALCIUM METABOLISM. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA. SUZUKI, R., KANEKO, T., 153. WENDELAAR BONGA, S. E., & PANG, P. K. T. (1989). Pituitary hormones. In Vertebrate Endocrinology: Fundamentals and Biochemical Implications (Vol. 3): San Diego: Academic Press. WENDELAAR BONGA, S. E., 213. YOSHIDA, R., 557.

How to Make Effective PowerPoint Presentations in Your Class

How to Make Effective PowerPoint Presentations in Your Class PowerPoint is a tool that allows you to enhance an oral presentation to a group of people. However, there are many pitfalls that you may fall into if you do not understand how to use this software correctly. In order to discuss how you can improve your PowerPoint presentations, the main stages of this process will now be identified. They are as follows: Creating the Basic Design Creating the PowerPoint File The Presentation Itself With these main components established, it would be prudent to examine each one in greater detail so that you may be better equipped to produce higher quality presentations. 1. Creating the Basic Design This is a necessary part of the overall structure of the process; however, it is often neglected or completely left out by many. It should be realized that if a basic setup is not conceived before the PowerPoint file itself is created, then your presentation may not convey your information in the best possible manner. This means that a script or blueprint of some sort needs to be written before you try to create the actual slides that will appear in your presentation. Of course, this stage can be done mentally, but it must still be done, and writing down a formal plan can be a tremendous aid that allows for a greater organization of your ideas. 2. Creating the PowerPoint File One of the biggest mistakes made by most students is putting too much text on a slide. Only one piece of information should be placed on each screen. While bullet points and graphs are effective tools you can use to convey your concepts, they should not be overly complex, or they may confuse some members of your audience. You should always remember that you want your PowerPoint to enhance your presentation and not distract from it. This is why the use of any image that is not vital to the subject matter of the presentation should be carefully considered before it is used. Clip art is not to be used at all, and the use of images that are not essential for the presentation should probably be excluded. Images that are needed to make a point or reinforce a statement may be used as well as pictures that provide critical information about your subject. Also remember that the images that are used should be explained verbally in your speech and not merely with words on the screen. 3. The Presentation Itself When giving your presentation, you should always remember to speak to the audience. You should not sound like you are reading material from index cards or reading text directly from the screen. Your voice should be natural, and you should sound like you are talking to a room full of friends. You should also encourage the members of your audience to comment or ask questions if there is enough time for such activities. When a power point presentation is executed properly, it can be a very effective tool to get your point across. Whether you are intending to sell a product or influence the opinions of others, PowerPoint can be seen as an essential component of a successful presentation. If you need some further help with setting up a presentation you certainly can find some pros like CustomWritings.com. But make sure that your organizational skills are of highest importance when you create it with someone’s help and present your ideas. Remember that as long as you stay centered on the primary theme of your subject and do not distract your audience, then you will probably have a greater chance of winning them over to your side. Need help with your presentation now? Visit our website and order a custom PowerPoint presentation prepared by professional writers!

Words Drawn from Trahere

Words Drawn from Trahere Words Drawn from â€Å"Trahere† Words Drawn from â€Å"Trahere† By Mark Nichol The Latin verb trahere is the source of an assortment of words pertaining to drawing or to drawing or pulling out. This post lists and defines the English descendant tract and terms formed from that root word; a follow-up post will discuss trahere’s disguised offspring. Most words in the trahere family are based on tract, which itself refers to an area of land (hence â€Å"tract home† to refer to a dwelling that is part of a housing development) or to a bundle of related nerve fibers or an anatomical system, as well as, less commonly, a period of time. (Tract also refers to a political or religious pamphlet.) A tractor is a vehicle that pulls. (A tractor that pulls cargo containers is sometimes called a semitractor, or a semi.) Traction is the act of, or the force exerted in, pulling, or a force that causes a moving object to resist movement, or, figuratively, support necessary to achieve progress. Words that combine a prefix with tract include abstract (literally, â€Å"draw from), which as an adjective means â€Å"disassociated,† â€Å"formal,† â€Å"impersonal† or â€Å"theoretical† and as a noun means â€Å"summary of a document.† Abstraction is the quality of exhibiting one of these states, or the act or state of summarization. Meanwhile, to attract is to literally or figurative draw toward; attraction is the associated force or quality, and something that attracts is an attractor. Contract (literally, â€Å"draw with†) means â€Å"enter into an agreement†; â€Å"be affected by† or â€Å"incur†; or â€Å"physically shorten,† â€Å"restrict,† or â€Å"wrinkle.† (Contraction is the act or condition of being restricted or shortened.) As an adjective, the word pertains to being hired for a task rather than as an employee; one who works under these conditions is a contractor (not a contractee), and a contractor may hire assistants or specialists as subcontractors. The adjective contractual refers to an agreement, but something that can be contracted is contractible, and the capacity to be contracted is contractability. In the euphemistic slang of organized crime, to put out a contract on someone is to hire someone to kill someone else. One who detracts takes away, and the act is detraction. That word generally refers to an instance of belittling or disparagement, and the actor is a detractor. Distrahere, meaning â€Å"draw in different directions,† is the parent word of the verb distract and the noun distraction, as well as distraught, an adjective originally meaning â€Å"deranged† or â€Å"mad† but now most often pertaining to emotional distress. Extract means to take out, and an extract is something taken out; such an action is an extraction. To protract (â€Å"draw forward†) is to continue or extend; the word is not employed as a noun, but a protractor is one who protracts or a muscle that does so, as well as a mathematical tool for drawing and measuring angles. (Protracted serves as an adjective.) To retract, by contrast, is to draw back in, or to disavow or withdraw a claim or other statement, including an offer or a promise. An act of retracting is a retraction. Meanwhile, to subtract is to take away, especially in the mathematical sense, and subtraction is the act of taking away. A subtrahend is a number subtracted by another. (The other is called a minuend; that word, related to minor and minute, is from the Latin verb minuere, meaning â€Å"lessen.†) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comparative Forms of Adjectives"Replacement for" and "replacement of"10 Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills

Sociology. Active Listening Steps Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sociology. Active Listening Steps - Essay Example I was so happy because she got that same award when she was in grade 4. I told her we should pray about it and hope she gets the award. A week after, my daughter came to my room crying. I was watching TV at that time so I turned it off so that I could find out why she was crying. I wanted to give her my 100% attention. I asked her the reason why she was crying. I listened intently to her and looked at her straight in the eye. At the same time I was hugging her too. She told me that she did not get the award. At that instant, I felt the pain that she was feeling. I held her hand and asked her if she asked her class adviser why she did not get the award. She said she inquired and was informed that she was however, the second in contention. Her class adviser told her that she could have gotten the award if only she participated more in class recitations. Her teacher said that she should be more assertive next time. My daughter felt really bad. I felt sorry for her but at the same time I knew that I had to talk to her about it. I hugged her tightly and wiped her tears away. I just embraced her for a few minutes without saying a word. I wanted her to feel my love and concern for her. At the back of my mind, I was trying to gather my thoughts and trying to think of the right words to say so I could pacify her and make her still feel good about herself.

WEEK 1 DISCUSSION PART 1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

WEEK 1 DISCUSSION PART 1 - Assignment Example Its forward supply chain involves transfer of products to consumers while reverse supply chain involves transfer of products from consumers to the organization for recycling or as return inwards. The forward supply chain involves ordering of products via mail or electronic methods. A first in first out inventory management follows in processing and delivery of the orders, though the organization observers some flexibility. In cases of lack of inventory, a supplier is sought through an online system. The supply chain involves â€Å"postponement,† and â€Å"modularity† (Kumar and Graig, 2007, p. 200, 201). The organization’s suppliers and consumers who determine the volumes of required inventory manage inventory, and products are transported through shipments. The supply chain also involves a series of partnerships with â€Å"suppliers, service providers, shipping companies, and customers† (Kumar and Graig, 2007, p. 203). I could redesign the company’s supply chain through application of the six-sigma approach. The new design would involve a monitoring and evaluation department that would identify ideal supply chain processes and actual deviations from the ideals. The department would also explore periodic changes in supply chain processes and identify significance of those changes with respect to consumers’ expectations in order to eliminate inefficiencies and facilitate cohesion among involved processes and stakeholders. The design will also evaluate suppliers’ efficiency levels to identify the most reliable suppliers for long-term partnerships, contrary to the current short-term partnership approach. This is because long-term partnerships increase commitments towards efficiencies. Inputs and outputs will however remain the same since they are determined by demand (Bandyopadhyay and Jenicke, 2007). The design will involve both domestic and global operations. The need for global operations will extend the analytical approach to the corporation’s

Sources of Criminal Law Essay Example for Free

Sources of Criminal Law Essay A statute is a codified rule or written form of law. A statute identifies a particular rule of law or condition of a particular state or government. Each State has its own constitution; the states constitution and its laws are considered statutes. Generally, statutes are named through numbers or codes. Example: In Illinois, the definition of a forcible felony is found under : 720 ILCS 5/2-8. 720 is the criminal code, ILCS stands for Illinois Compiled Statutes, 5/2-8 specifies the location of the rule. The term, â€Å"Throw the book at you† refers to the book of statutes or book of laws of the state. Throwing the book at you means they are charging you with as many things in the statute book as they can. Statutes define everything we do in government, they are the laws passed by our representatives in congress or the state senate. These laws deal with everything from crimes, to taxes, to how to get a speed bump put in on a county road. Statutes are rules of law enacted by government and can be challenged as violating one or more of your constitutionally protected rights. VS. Common law comes from the old English system of law we copied here in the US. Common law is the practice of enforcing rules we have followed in the past. Common law is defined by cases through the idea of precedent. Precedent is simply applying the same rule that did before. Citing precedent is like saying; â€Å"you did this before, so do it again.† Example: Common law is the same idea as most parents employ with their kids. If you punished one child for biting a classmate by sending them to their room, you will also give your next child the same punishment if they bite a classmate. This is because historically, the punishment for biting was being sent to ones room. Thus, that punishment becomes the common law or common rule. The concept of Stare Decisis adds another element to common law. Just like at your home with your kids, the courts can change the rules on us. However, the only court that can change the rule is the highest court to have addressed the issue. Basically, add chain of command to precedent. Example: If the Supreme Court of the US (highest Court in the entire US) makes a rule: such as the rule requiring all arrested person to be given Miranda rights, NO other court can change that rule except the US Supreme Court. Therefore every state has to follow that rule! Stare Decisis goes further though: If the US Supreme court decides NOT to address that issue and the highest court to hear the case was the Illinois Supreme Court, ONLY the Illinois courts have to follow the rule. This system goes all the way down to the courts in your area. If no courts have ever issued an opinion regarding the issue in the case at the district (trial court) level then they can apply any rule they see fit. How does this work? Statutes say what the rules of law are, Common law or case law defines how they are applied. Example: The constitution is a statute and this 2nd amendment says â€Å"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.† The statute can be read many different ways: Scholars debate whether the right to bear arms is a right you have all the time as a citizen or only in connection with militia service Common law or Case Law defines what the statutes mean. As recently as 2008, the Supreme Court was defining what the words of this statute (2nd Amend.) mean, the Supreme Court held, â€Å"The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes† District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008). Our laws come from both Common Law and are made up by statute: Many of our laws come from common law and are then â€Å"codified† (formally written) into statutes. For example, most rules of evidence in a court room are defined by common law but have been â€Å"codified† into formal statutes like the Federal Rules of Evidence. The concept of hearsay came from the common law of England. Requirements for a criminal Act Statutes define everything about a law. They lay out the Elements of a Crime. Elements of a crime are the specific conditions that need to be satisfied to be found guilty of a particular crime. Elements may include a person’s state of mind or mens rea. For example: to commit the crime of 1 degree murder (every state defines things and terms things slightly differently) most states require that the State prove the accused intended to commit the crime. To do this, some amount of evidence must show that the persons action were not accidental but intentional. Therefore the persons intent is said to be an element of the crime. Other elements of the crime of murder include: a dead body. Motivation or motive is NOT an element of a crime because motive is not a condition that must be met to commit the act. You don’t have to have a reason to kill someone Due Process The idea of Due Process comes from the 5th and 14th amendments of the US Constitution. The 14th Amendment applies the right to Due Process to every state and any law enacted by the states. Due Process is simple. It means that the government cannot take anything from you; not your house; not your liberty; not your life; not a single cent without affording you the right to process of law. Process of law can be very broad; it can mean a criminal trial, an administrative hearing or anything in between. This is why you can contest every ticket you ever get including speeding, jaywalking, or even code violations. This right says no citizen can have anything taken from them by the government without the right to their day in court. References District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008).

Cadbury’s :: Business and Management Studies

Cadbury’s Departments Inside a business there are many different functional departments all created to help the company in its organizational methods. There are many different departments involved with Cadbury’s, as there are in any business all used for different functions. These are:  · Marketing and Sales  · Finance  · Administration and IT support  · Operations  · Research and Development  · Production  · Customer Services  · Human Resources Many of these all blend in together on the area of their focus but still all play an important part in the running of the business. The three departments that I will be focusing on are Marketing and Sales, Operations and Administration and IT support. Marketing and Sales The main things that are dealt with in the marketing and sales departments are:  · Market Research, both primary and secondary research  · Promotion  · Advertising  · Sales There are the four P’s of Marketing and Sales, Promotion, Price, Product, Place. Market Research Primary Research Market Research is identified as one of two, either primary research which is studies that have not taken place before or secondary research which is using research that has been carried out before. Primary Research involves things such as asking people questionnaires on their views and opinions of a particular product or sector. Many of these have taken place before for Cadburys and I have been asked in stores and around the Bournville site to fill out a quick questionnaire. I browsed the Cadburys website and found an online questionnaire referring to the site. See appendix . Secondary Research Secondary Research, otherwise known as desk research, is looking through information that all ready exists. This takes place often for Cadbury’s also as they always look through old information to discover what the customers want and how preferences have changed throughout the years. If information is collected from a book you must create a bibliography and write down the name of the book and the author so that you do not take credit for their work. See appendix . Promotion Promotion is making customers aware of their businesses products. There are many ways of doing this including; showing customers how it will meet there needs, persuading customers to buy the product, making sure customers know where they can purchase the product and the cost of it and of course giving information about the product. Promotion can also occur as testing a product out before you think of purchasing it or even lowering the prices as low as they can go to raise interest in them. In some cases promotion can even be the one on one explanation of the product and the support needed if problems arouse. See appendix . Promotion is seen everywhere like billboards, bus

Distinguish between the processes of erosion and weathering in an area undergoing glaciation

Erosion is defined as the removal and transport of earth materials by natural agents and can be split into two main categories. Abrasion (or corrasion) is the glacier's use of angular debris, held by the ice, to scrape away at the underlying rock. Evidence of this in an area undergoing glaciation are scratches on rock known as striations. Plucking involves the glacier freezing on to blocks of rock and pulling them away. Meltwater will assist in this plucking process: pressure builds up behind a protrusion of rock and so causes melting. The meltwater penetrates any cracks and freezes around the rock (regelation) which is then pulled out by the glacier. Weathering is similar to erosion in that it includes the breakup of rocks, just not the transportation of the materials formed as does erosion. The specific definition of weathering is the breakup of rock due to exposure to the atmosphere. The weathering of a rock by freeze-thaw action (or frost shattering) may break up rock in periglacial conditions before glaciers advance. At the early stage of corrie formation freeze-thaw action and possibly chemical weathering will weather rock beneath the accumulating patch of snow (the process of nivation). During glaciation, meltwater will give rise to freeze-thaw action at the base of the glacier. Examine the impact of glacially eroded landforms on human activity â€Å"The impact of glaciation on human activity has been considerable both in lowland and highland areas. † (David Jones and Lawrence Kimpton 2000). This question focuses on how human activity has been affected by glacial erosion. The most recent glacial period began approximately 30,000 years ago and ended 10,000 years ago. At its peak 29% of the Earth's surface was covered by ice in comparison to 10% covered today. Sea level fell by at least 100 m and the beach was as much as 150 km further east along the Atlantic coast, thus forming land bridges between North America and Asia, which allowed for the migration of animals and humans to previously glaciated areas. Glacial eroded landforms include the features horns (pyramid shaped peaks), arites (knife shaped ridges), cirques (a bowl shaped depression found in mountains), erratics (boulders), valleys, tunnels and lakes. These landforms have affected human activity in various ways, including tourism, communications, farming and settlement and industry. Many upland areas that experienced the effects of prolonged glacial erosion during the Pleistocene have become important centres of tourism. Highland areas both those glaciated in the past and those with glaciers remaining today, are major areas of tourism because of the spectacular scenery and their suitability for winter sports. The Cirque-arete-trough landscape attracts hill walkers, scramblers, climbers, mountaineers, photographers, botanists, skiiers, snowboarders, hang gliders, painting, canoeing, sailing etc. In Britain, the Highlands of Scotland have become an important centre for summer holidays and winter skiing, whilst the National Parks of Snowdonia, the Lake District and Peak District are visited by millions of tourists each year. Areas such as the Lake District are increasingly popular for short weekend breaks. The attractions of these areas for tourism owe much to the effects of glaciation. The sharply defined peaks, deep U-shaped troughs and numerous lakes are all impressive landform features and provide these uplands with their attractive scenery. The rugged landscape appeals to many weekend hill walkers and mountaineers. The lakes which provide a range of activities -sailing, canoeing, swimming- and possess their own pleasant climates have become important centres of tourism. Large scale winter tourism is promoted in the Alps and similar locations by the existence of permanent snowfields and the heavy winter snowfall. Aviemore is one of the largest winter tourism centres in Britain with several ski runs on the upper slopes of the Cairngorms. Communications are also affected by glacially eroded landforms. Glaciated valleys offer natural routeways through high mountain landscapes and lower areas e. g. the Mohawk Gap that leads to New York. Settlement and Industry can hug the glacial trough floor, which often provide transport routeways. Many aspects of transport and communications -by land, sea and waterways -have been affected to a considerable degree by glacial action. In many upland areas, glacial breaches and troughs often form the only routeways suitable for communication by land. This situation is exemplified in the Highlands of Scotland where communications links by land north, and west of the Glen More are extremely difficult. Much of the land surface lies over 1000 metres above sea level, and consists of rugged mountains with steep, precipitous slope and badly drained moorlands. The presence of numerous lochs and fjords, hemmed in between high mountains, has effectively prevented any significant north-south routes being developed, even along the coast. Glacial breaches across the major watersheds form the only realistic routeways. Only two railway lines traverse the region -from Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh via Glen Carron and from Fort William to Mallaig via Lochs Eil and Ailort. All of the road links between Glen More and the west coast rely on glacial breaches which connect westwards and eastwards facing troughs. Glaciated highlands with high snowfalls present hazards such as avalanches. As the pressure of development increases, as in skiing areas, the impact of avalanches on people and settlements becomes greater. They are caused when the snow pack is destabilised suddenly by a loss of cohesion between naturally forming layers in the snow. Glacially eroded areas can lead to a channelled avalanche by which the avalanche progresses down a gully. Avalanches can block roads and railways, cut off power supplies and telecommunications and under extreme conditions, destroy buildings and cause loss of life. Therefore, glacially eroded landforms have impacted human activity, leading to management programs. For example Juneau, in Alaska, has a high avalanche risk. Many houses and businesses lie in the direct path of known avalanche routes and thus the various management schemes as seen above were discussed, and some put in place to protect the now habituated area. However, avalanches only present problems to certain areas. Slopes, for avalanches to occur, are usually greater than 22 degrees but less than 60 degrees, beyond which point it is unlikely that any significant snow pack will build up. Avalanches also tend to occur more often in spring when the temperatures rise and the snow pack has been accumulating all winter. Prosperity can be gained from the industrial development available due to glacially eroded landforms. Glacially eroded landforms offer scope for HEP production, with their steep, deep valleys for storage and rock lips providing sites for dam construction. Hydroelectric power (HEP) is the most widely used renewable form of energy. Although globally it accounts for only 6 percent of all electricity generated, in some countries it provides much more. Norway, for example, produces 96 percent of its electricity from HEP. The scale of HEP schemes varies enormously. In some Alpine villages, small HEP generators supply the power for a single house or hotel. At the other extreme, large HEP stations feed directly into the UK national grid. The advantage of HEP is that running costs are very low and power is instantly available. The main disadvantages are that initial building costs are high, the visual impact might damage the scenic value of a landscape, and the demand for energy is often some distance away. The positive impact of this on human activity can however have some negative impacts. Some ecological damage is also caused if the migratory routes of fish, such as salmon, are blocked. Fish ladders are sometimes built to avoid this problem. Also, when water passes through HEP schemes, the effect of the vertical drop can be to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen and nitrogen in the water. This can be harmful to fish, causing gas bubble disease. HEP in Britain is mostly generated in the glaciated uplands of North Wales, Cumbria and the Scottish Highlands. This is, because, firstly, mountain areas receive the highest rainfall in Britain. For a successful scheme to operate there must be a, reliable supply of running water otherwise the turbines will not turn. Secondly the physical relief is favourable. Glacial troughs, steep stream gradients, hanging valleys and lakes provide the ideal conditions. If natural lakes do not occur, glaciated valleys are relatively cheap to dam because they tend to be narrow and steep sided. Water which is used for HEP is not wasted, it then carries on down the valley. If the valleys are dammed, and the shape of the glacial troughs makes this very straightforward, then the water can be collected and sent to cities in areas of the country where there is perhaps not as much rain as in the highland areas. Glaciers impact human activity here by provide drinking water direct in some areas: rivers like the Rhine and Rhone are fed from glaciers. There is a fear that they may dry up if global warming melts the Alpine glaciers. People in La Paz, Bolivia have water from nearby glacier as public supply. People in the Rhone valley channel glacial meltwater to irrigate their crops. Llyn Peris is a moraine dammed overdeepened ribbon lake, and provides water for Llanberis in N. Wales. Lake Vyrnwy in mid Wales occupies a glacial trough which was flooded in 1889 by building a dam across the valley. Glacially eroded landforms affect human activity both positively and negatively. Avalanches expose inhabitants of the area to great risk, however, they still choose to live there. The positives include tourism, an industry which at present day is thriving and the attractions of these areas owe much to the effects of glaciation. HEP power provides areas with renewable energy and areas with drinking water and natural routeways are provided by glacial erosion.

People and Organization- Human Resources, Semco

Section one: Introduction to SEMCO I don't want to know where Semco is headed. It doesn't unnerve me to see nothing on the company's horizon. I want Semco and its employees to ramble through their days, to use instinct, opportunity, and ingenuity to choose projects and ventures. † – Ricardo Semler, CEO, Semco Semco was established in 1953 by Austrian engineer Antonio Curt Semler. Company started with manufacturing of centrifuges for vegetable oil industry but soon owing to development in naval area it sown its seeds in manufacturing of variety of equipments like hydraulic & load pumps, axles,etc. In 1980’s when Ricardo Frank Semler, founder’s son took over, company explored various other segments & started manufacturing industrial refrigeration equipments, air-conditioners, food processors & mixers for chemical & mining industry. In 1990’s company moved into innovative service area. ERM Brazil (Environmental consultancy), Cushman & Wakefield (real estate consultancy), Semco Johnson controls (facilities in industrial sector), are the classic examples of companies efforts to establish network across the globe. Year 2000 onwards Semco extended its arms into electrical and civil maintenance services by forming Semco Manutencao. It formed partnership with Pitney Bowes & marked its existence in postal and document management solutions. Semco venture also entered bio-energy market and formed BRENCO (Brazilian Renewable Energy Company) in 2006. (web1) Purpose of Study To study standard organizational design & structure, theoretical models of human resource planning in terms of recruitment, retention, success planning & to compare these aspects with similar models operational in Semco organization, to define the deviations & to critically evaluate the approach used by Semco. Organizational Structure Conventional v/s â€Å"Semco Way† Every organization has its own structure & culture. Organizational structure is basically framework which can be defined and altered over a period of time while culture cannot be altered. It is very difficult to design or change culture within the organization. Structure and culture within organization goes hand in hand. It is essential for the organization designer to classify tasks based on mainly four concepts of Function, Territory, Product & Time-Period in order to get work done in organized manner. (Torrington, 1998) â€Å"Organizations are as different and varied as the nations and the societies of the world. They have different cultures-sets of values & norms ad beliefs-reflected in different structures & systems and the cultures are affected by the events of the past and by the climate of the present, by the technology of the type of work, by their aims and the kind of people that work in them† (Handy 1993, p. 180) best defines the organizational structure & culture co-relation. Three forms of conventional organizational structures are compared with the democratic form of Semco’s organizational structure. THE ENTREPRENEURIAL FORM OF STRUCTURE CONVENTIONAL THEME 1. This form emphasis central power. . Power is concentrated in hands of one person or a group called as ‘key entity’. 3. As the business expands this type of structure becomes unviable since too many peripheral decisions cannot be made without taking approval of the ‘key entity’, 4. This form is suitable for small and growing organizations as they owe their existence to expertise or initiat ive or just one or two members. 5. It is difficult if by any means ‘key entity’ leaves the organization. It would be difficult to maintain business in the event of new non potential ‘key entity’. SEMCO WAY 1. It is a unique kind of ‘open management model’ wherein power and rights are equally distributed amongst the group members from the respective departments, but care is taken to see that it’s not misused. 2. The hierarchical signs are removed, everyone is treated equal. 3. Peripheral decisions can be made by implementing democratic way. 4. This form is suitable for developed and expanding organizations which are financially strong. 5. Even if the ‘key entity’ leaves the organization the system is in place and the process of production or delivering services is not affected. FUNCTIONAL DESIGN CONVENTIONAL THEME . Positions, terms & departments are designed based on specific activities. 2. It is most widely used & accepted form of departmentalization, since grouping tasks and employees by function can be efficient & economical. 3. It is possible for members in group to undertake similar tasks & troubleshoot similar problems. 4. Employees are not in direct contact with the clients; hence they fail to meet the customer’s expectations, except marketing product line. 5. It is effective for organizations having narrow product line, competing in uniform environment, pursuing low cost or focused business strategy. hellriegel, 2005) SEMCO WAY 1. Positions, terms & departments are designed by the owner based on functions. Labors are allowed to select wages & their own managers. 2. The employee has only four titles Counselors who are like vice presidents, Partners who runs the business units, Coordinators who are part of first level management, & Associates who are workers. 3. The factory workers set their own production quotas, come in on their own time, help to redesign the products they make & formulate the marketing plans. 4. The ompany is divided in individual business units which are self governed, managers run business units with freedom, determining business strategies without interference from the top. 5. Semco undertakes part nership with established foreign companies & give them access to customers, risk monitoring & extensive network of contacts. They seek partner who has domain in their product & services. (web 2) PRODUCT DESIGN CONVENTIONAL THEME 1. Self contained units are established. Each unit is capable of developing, manufacturing, marketing & distributing its own goods or service. . Organizations that produce multiple goods & services generally adapt this type of structure. 3. Problems arise when new product line is established or there are diverse customers or there is complexity in technological advances in functional design. Product design takes care of these limitations. 4. Company generally start with functional design & add some features in order to meet limitations of the functional design in terms of management aspects. Generally company doesn’t completely discard the features of function organization. hellriegel, 2007) SEMCO WAY ORGANISATION STRUCTURE OF SEMCO THREE CO –C ENTRIC CIRCLES FIRST CIRCLE CONSIST COUNSELLORS SECOND CIRCLE CONSISTS PARTNERS THIRD CIRCLE CONSISTS ASSOCIATES 1. Semco devised a new structure which had three concentric rings. 2. The small innermost circle consisted of 6 counselors who determined general policy & strategy, and attempted to catalyze the action of those in the second circle. Each of the counselors took a six month turn as a CEO. 3. The second circle, known as partners included 7-10 leaders of each Semco division. . All remaining employees comprised the third circle, scattered within this circles are the triangles representing permanent & temporary team leaders. Marketing, sales & production managers, engineers and foreman all fell within this classification. 5. The managers work as facilitators providing workers with the tools they need make informed decisions. Managers provides training, information (financial & operations), & all other necessary support for workers to perform their jobs more effectively. (Maveri ck, 1993) Critical Evaluation Semco’s organization is based on three core values employee participation, profit sharing & free flow of information. These core values are in line with the variables of socio-structural model of empowerment which are power, information, knowledge & rewards. Hence the hypotheses which were derived from the author’s understanding of the theories were easily verified. Other companies may have achieved workplace democracy in other ways by having their own pattern of working. Liberty given to the employees would benefit only if there is supervisory control otherwise it may happen that there is misuse of the available resources. Human Resource Planning Recruitment & Retention Recruitment plays a vital role in any industry. Whenever there is vacancy, individual is recruited after he is being thoroughly evaluated. It is essential to find out how the vacancy is generated, either because someone has left the job or there is the expansion within the company. Recruiting a person just because there is vacancy owing to person leaving the job is the appropriate way but not mandatory. Employer can reorganize the work within present employees, or ask them to work overtime, subcontract the work or make it part time in order to reduce the expenses. It would be ideal to find out the nature of job, aspects of the job that specify type of candidature, highlight the job profile to the applicant before recruiting a candidate. There are several ways through which people are recruited. Once employers realized a need to fill the vacancy within the department or in organization, he can recruit by several means. Survey (Torrington, 1998) Investigated the method used by more than 1000 professionals when they were questioned (Torrington 1998) Table: Usage of various methods of recruitment by more than 1000 professional questioned. Advertisement in regional press87% Advertisement in specialist press80% Advertisement in national press78% Job centers71% Employment agencies62% Recruitment consultants61% Executive search consultants36% Career Conventions35% Open days32% Recruitment fairs 32% University ‘milk rounds’21% Radio advertising17% Other forms of recruitment6% (Source: Torrington Hall, 1998) There are various selection methods available and employer needs to implement combination of those available since one method won’t suit the requirements. Choice is generally dependent upon selection criteria for the post to be filled, administrative ease, accuracy, cost, time factor, abilities of the staff involved in the selection process etc. Interviewing is the most popular method of selection. Bio-data of the candidate is initially asked for. It is checked whether candidate meets the necessary specification and has relevant work experience in the same field, if found so he is been called for the interview or rounds of interview, where his domain is thoroughly checked either through verbal interaction or through written test. Written test generally includes Aptitude tests, General Intelligence test, Trainability test, Personality test & Attainment test. Critical features of test use being validity, reliability, use of interpretation & context of texts. Group selection methods are also used if there are more candidates applying for one job. Three main types of group tasks were invented by Plumbley (1985) Leaderless group, command or executive exercises & group problem solving. Also at times for critical job profiles there is factual as well as character check wherein candidate is asked to get references. Other methods include hiring a consultant or recruitment agency that would already interview the candidate and filter out the one from the masses. It reduces efforts of the employer since candidate is interviews before by the agency for the desired profile. Also sometimes candidate is asked to fill the application form and submit it, wherein entire details of the candidate are asked for. Application form is customized per the need of profile unlike bio-data which has information which may or may not be useful for that particular job profile. (Torrington Hall 1998) Retention is generally maintained by introducing attractive policies for welfare of the employees, giving employee shares of the company at very low rate, market supplements, revising salary structure, providing with additional perks and cost to company components, depending upon the nature of appraisal received from colleagues and subordinates. Providing employees with free medical facilities, pension schemes, and loans at affordable rates encourages employee to stay with organization. Semco has altogether different way of recruiting people and retaining them. Ricardo Semler, CEO of the company believes that workers or the Associates have the liberty to recruit their managers. In short the subordinates have the right to choose with whom they wish to work. Since everyone is treated equal in Semco, owner doesn’t interfere with the decisions taken by the subordinates. People that are to be hired to leadership positions are interviewed and approved by all with whom he/she will be working with. Twice a year subordinate receives questionnaire that enables them to anonymously say what they think about their boss and evaluate their performance. Anyone that gets constantly bad grades at the evaluation usually leaves Semco (average is 80 out of 100) Preference is also given to friend or acquaintances of employees, but no family member is considered for job at Semco if all these ways fails then they move for head hunters & newspapers. Semco business unit has a committee comprising everyone from different operations. Members in the committee have time off, with pay to do their work they also have job security as in they cannot be fired while they serve on committee. Semco has another salary programme called as ‘risk salary’in which about third of employees have the pay cut of upto 25% and then receiving supplement raise of 125% of normal salary if company is making profit. (Maverick, 1993) References: 1. Torrington & Hall (1998) Human Resource Management. Edition 4. Prentice hall, Europe 2. Slocum/Hellriegel (2007) Fundamentals of Organizational Behavior International student edition, USA. 3. Semler, Ricardo (1993). Maverick! Century random house UK. 4. Semler, Ricardo (2003). The Seven Day Weekend. UK Century. 5. Hackman, J. R, & Oldham, G. R (1980). Work Redesign. Reading, MA: Addison-wesley publishing company Inc. 6. web1: http://semco. locaweb. com. br/en/content. asp? content=1&contentID=610

Home Furniture Ltd.

Home Furniture Ltd. The success of Home Furniture Ltd. (HF) is due to their commitment to provide affordable yet high-quality products. As a result the corporate leaders at HF went the extra mile in developing solutions to rising manufacturing costs as well as shipping costs. For them the best way to lower manufacturing cost is through innovation.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Home Furniture Ltd. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company developed a system of manufacturing that enabled them to disassemble furniture, ship it to customers, and then re-assembled in the comfort of their own home. It was an overwhelming success. The company was established in Finland but today HF already has a global presence. However, with the global expansion comes the inevitable problems associated with it. The corporate leaders at HF came face-to-face with challenges related to culture and logistics. Their difficulties were exacerbated by the f act that HF is no longer governed by a Finnish CEO but one who comes from the UK and together with his promotion to the top post, he brought with him a set of cultural beliefs and core values that came in conflict with teams working overseas. The new British CEO must learn how to do business in a global scale and it requires a clear understanding of cultural differences and its impact in developing teams. Some of the most significant changes made by the new CEO was to adopt the English language as the official language of communication throughout the organisation. Thus, multicultural teams located as far as India and other Asian countries must comply with this new directive. However, it did not take long for the CEO to realise that the communication strategy used to implement change revealed conflicts due to cultural differences. More importantly the CEO was made aware of the fact that there are serious lapses in human resource management especially when it comes to global operation s. There is a need to formulate a strategy to solve these problems and the best way to start is to realise that culture is at the heart of the matter. A. Provide the new Home Furniture CEO with advice on the policy he should adopt when operating in various countries and employing people from various countries. Refer to the various concepts and outcomes of research on management across cultures. Understanding Culture The CEO must lead the way when it comes to understanding differences in culture and the need to effectively managed multicultural teams (Hogan, 2007, p.81). There must be a program that teaches top managers on how to deal with diversity within the organisation. The struggle in coping with the challenges of diversity is especially true for the expatriates that HF sent to handle their Asian and American business operations.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The said training program should be instilled into the hearts and minds of the top-level managers who will be sent as expatriates to foreign countries. They must learn to respect, appreciate and manage diversity. They must come to realise that culture is: a) the collective programming of the mind that distinguishes one human group from another; b) important sets of assumptions that are shared by members of a community; and c) a groups characteristic way of perceiving the environment† (Earley Singh, 2000, p.18). These are the things that they cannot afford to ignore. HFs CEO must emphasise the fact that technical expertise is just part of the learning process, they must also learn the significance of understanding cultural differences. Members of the multicultural teams scattered all over the globe must come to terms with the fact that â€Å"Culture give people a sense of who they are, of belonging, of how they should behave, and of what they should be doing, culture im pacts behaviour, morale, and productivity at work, and includes values and patterns that influence company attitudes and actions† (Moran Harris, 2007, p.6). If the CEO and the top-level managers are in agreement about these issues then they will develop a keen awareness of the strengths and limitations of multicultural teams and how to deal with employees in foreign lands. A deeper understanding of culture and its impact on the organisation can be understood by referring to a framework developed by a psychologist named Geert Holfstede (Mindtools, 2011 p.1). These are labelled as follows: 1) Power/Distance; 2) Individualism; 3) Masculinity; 4) Uncertainty/Avoidance; and 5) Long Term Orientation. (Mindtools, 2011, p.1). These five dimensions cover important aspects of business operations such as corporate leadership, teamwork, how to deal with employees and how employees will interact with their supervisors. It is even helpful when it comes to gender issues. It also give leader s the ability to develop systems and company policies based on the local culture and not on what they believe is true according to their own culture. The framework developed by Holfstede is a helpful tool when it comes to devising strategies for developing human resources.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Home Furniture Ltd. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The first dimension labelled as Power/Distance is an important contribution in the study of international business. This cultural dimension is the measure of the effect of the perception of power when it comes to the interaction between two people. In the UK it is non-issue if a subordinate will deal with a boss in a manner that will reveal that they are equals, without considering age differences and social status. If the same thing is done in a country like Japan where there is a high score in the Power/Distance dimension, then the boss will be offended by the lack of respect from the subordinate. The second dimension which is Individualism is the measure of the â€Å"strength of the ties people have to others within the community† (MindTools, 2011, p.1). This means that in Asian countries the workers will chose harmony over confrontation. They will do everything not to rock the boat so to speak. This can be frustrating for a Westerner when it comes to dealing with problems in the company and find no one will speak out and talk about the issues that are hounding the group. The third most important insight that Hofstede contributed to the study of international business is how to measure long term orientation or LTO. This particular cultural dimension is very critical when it comes to introducing something new to the company. It is imperative that HFs CEO is aware of this facet of culture. If the CEO ignores the implications of LTO then he will be bewildered when he encounters resistance when it comes to a policy change. This re sistance is due to the natural tendency to use what worked in Western societies but does not necessarily mean that it is also effective in an Asian context. Hiring and Training Before going into the intricacies of multicultural teams the first thing that has to be done is to hire the best and brightest, train them and then hope to retain their services for a long period of time. It is the finding, training, and retaining of skilled workers that can thrive in Western-style multinational corporate cultures that will ensure the success of HF in foreign lands (Krizan et al., 2008, p.381). HFs CEO must be aware of the strength and weaknesses of the talent pool available to him. The best way to illustrate this is to look at HFs needs in the context of their operations in China.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to experts there are four types of managers that HF can hire and these are 1) Western expatriates; 2) Asian Expatriates; 3) Mainland Chinese returning home; and 4) Local talent (Lau, 2007, p.1). The same thing can be said of other operations outside Finland thus this is a good way to demonstrate how the CEO will deal with hiring and training expatriates and local talent. The strength of Western expatriates is seen in the way they understand international business and their familiarity with Western management techniques. However, they do not posses a deep understanding of the Chinese culture and they are very limited in terms of using the Chinese language. Asian expatriates on the other hand can be as good as Western expatriates in terms of their knowledge with regards to Western management techniques. Furthermore, they have another advantage; they have a far better grasp of Chinese culture and language. One option open to HF is to hire managers that are from Mainland China who went abroad to study or live there as expatriates and decided to come back to their homeland and work there. Their advantage is they understand the Western mindset and trained to implement strategies from a Western point of view. This group is valuable to the company in terms of their ability to understand Chinese culture. The only challenge is that HF must offer them an attractive compensation package so that they will be enticed to come home and work in China. The fourth group are the locals. The problem is that they lack international exposure and deficient when it comes to English language skills. Moreover, they need to be trained to appreciate and embrace the standard of quality expected by HF. Nevertheless, it is more practical to hire local talent than to hire someone from abroad. This is the reason why HF build teams by hiring a small number of local managers at the level of middle-management and then bring in an expatriat to guide the team initially for four years. Thi s is a good practice because the locals will know that they have job security and that the company has a long term commitment in their country. Aside from localising the management team one way of retaining top talent is through investing in training and development as seen in the following, â€Å"many foreign businesses have extensively rotated local talent through various countries. This rotation and related possibility of promotion is also an effective way of retaining human capital developed by the company† (Luo, 2007, p. 181). It is important to remember though that training programs should be a product of careful planning with an eye towards the future and not simply a hastily assembled training program that does not meet the needs of multicultural teams. According to Schuler and Jackson, â€Å"Enterprises often carry out training without strategic planning, costing or taking into account what the training needs of the enterprise† (2007, p. 282). This will not wo rk for HF. B. The sophisticated nature of logistics and the innovation and development of products at Home Furniture means that its employees are required to work in teams. Advise the new CEO on what he should take into account when forming multi-cultural teams from various countries where Home Furniture has offices, stores, and production units, and how to manage those teams. Develop a Training Program HFs CEO must design and develop a training program that will transform the way the organisation deals with multicultural teams. According to experts multicultural teams can easily become the most productive teams in the organization but at the same time this type of team can easily underachieve (Adler Gundersen, 2008, p.140). The reason for this is the inability of the CEO to manage diversity (Adler Gundersen, 2008, p.140). This is a crucial aspect of multicultural teams that HF must consider. If the CEO has no idea what to do with cultural diversity within a multicultural team the n conflict will arise and he will be powerless to deal with it. Experts are saying that the usual method of conflict resolution is by avoidance using the divide and conquer tactic evident in compartmentalisation or departmentalisation of an organisation (Earley Singh, 2000, p.21). Another method is through suppression by using the power of corporate hierarchy to stifle dissenting voices (Earley Singh, 2000, p.21) But recent studies indicated that conflict is something that organisations must learn not to avoid; they must learn to embrace it. This is especially true when it comes to â€Å"functional conflicts† because a closer inspection will reveal that this type of conflict is â€Å"viewed as a way of surfacing more ideas, criticisms, and opinions of group members regarding task performance and can make a positive contribution to group performance† (Earley Singh, 2000, p.21). This is why the CEO must create an environment where conflict is addressed properly and no t discourage team members to voice out their opinions and suggestions. With regards to the creation of a training program for multicultural teams, HFs CEO must design it in such a way that team members will be able to â€Å"reflect on their own self (My Biography); they should be objective and accurate observers (Ethnography); they should communicate effectively (Inter-cultural Communication); interact successfully with people from other cultures (Inter-cultural Interaction); they should come to terms with their emotions (Emotional Management); and deal with different issues of diversity (Diversity Management)† (Guilherme Glaser, 2010, p.187). The training program must teach top-level managers, middle-management and key leaders in the company to understand culture by being able to reflect on their own cultural bias and then use that to observe the cultural differences that exist around them. By doing so they have achieved a level of awareness that will enable them to communi cate effectively to team members in a multicultural team. As a result they are able to resolve conflict and enhance teamwork. The said training program that will be initiated by HFs CEO must also contain a module wherein team leaders and team members are taught the value of communication. In the context of a multicultural team verbal skills is not enough. According to experts in the field of international business, communication is a complex subject matter that it can even be broken down into smaller components such as: words, material things and behaviour (Hall Hall, 1990, p.3). In other words a team member must try to decode what was said not only by listening to the words that was said but also by determining the silent language being conveyed. This new skill is not mastered easily and requires team members to spend more time together. Conclusion HFs CEO must develop a system of hiring and training local talent. There is nothing wrong with bringing in an expatriate to guide the team in the initial stages of development. Therefore, HF must learn to manage multicultural teams. The next step is to create a training program that will instil in the hearts and minds of every single employee that they live in a globalised workplace. It is no longer enough to focus on ones culture; it is time to understand cultural differences that exist within the team. In this way multicultural teams can be more effective and HF will be able to expand in other countries because it is now possible to hire and retain the best talent. References Adler, N. J. Gundersen, A., 2008. International Dimensions of Organisational  Behaviour. UK: Thomson Higher Education. Earley, P. C. Singh, H., 2000. Innovations in International and Cross-cultural  Management. London: Sage. Guilherme, M. Glaser, E. 2010. The Inter-cultural Dynamics of Multicultural  Working. Bristol: Multilingual Matters. Hall, Edward T. Hall, M., 1990. Understanding Cultural Differences: Germans, French and Amer icans. Yarmouth, ME: Inter-cultural Press. Hogan, C., 2007. Facilitating Multicultural Groups: A Practical Guide. London: Kogan Page. Lau, D., 2011. China: Skills Shortage Makes Long-Term Talent Management Key  to Success. Web. Luo, Y., 2007. Guanxi and Business. New Jersey: World Scientific Publishing. MindTools, 2011. Holfstedes Cultural Dimensions. Web. Moran, R.T. Harris, P.R., 2007. Managing Cultural Differences. 7th ed. London: Butterworth-Heinemann. Schuler, R. Jackson, S. E., 2007. Strategic Human Resource Management. 2nd ed. MA: Blackwell Publishing.

An Overview of the Declaration of Pillnitz

An Overview of the Declaration of Pillnitz The Declaration of Pillnitz was a statement issued by the rulers of Austria and Prussia in 1792 to try and both support the French monarchy and forestall a European war as a result of the French Revolution. It actually had the opposite effect and goes down in history as a terrible misjudgment. The Meeting of Former Rivals In 1789, the French Revolution had seen King Louis XVI of France lose control of an Estates General and a new citizen government form in France. This didnt only anger the French king, but most of Europe, who were monarchies less than pleased about citizens organizing. As the revolution became more extreme in France, the king and queen became practical prisoners of the government, and calls to execute them grew. Concerned about both the welfare of his sister Marie Antoinette and the status of brother in law King Louis XVI of France, Emperor Leopold of Austria met with King Frederick William of Prussia at Pillnitz in Saxony. The plan was to discuss what to do about the way the French Revolution was undermining royalty and threatening family. There was a strong camp of opinion in western Europe, led by members of the French aristocracy who had fled the revolutionary government, for armed intervention aimed at restoring the full powers of the French king and the whole of the ‘old r egime’. Leopold, for his part, was a pragmatic and enlightened monarch who was attempting to balance his own problem-riven empire. He had followed events in France but was afraid intervention would threaten his sister and brother in law, not help them (he was completely right). However, when he thought they had escaped he rashly offered all his resources to aid them. By the time of Pillnitz, he knew the French royals were effectively prisoners in France. The Aims of the Declaration of Pillnitz Austria and Prussia were not natural allies given recent European history, but at Pillnitz they reached an agreement and put out a declaration. This was couched in the diplomatic language of the day, and had a double meaning: taken at face value it issued a rebuke to the revolutionary government, but in practice was meant to produce a limitation on calls for war, restrict à ©migrà © princes and support the royal party in France. While it stated that the fate of the French Royals was of â€Å"common interest† to Europe’s other leaders, and while it urged France to restore them and made threats if harm came to them, the subtext was in the section saying Europe would only take military action with the agreement of all the major powers. As everybody knew Britain would have nothing to do with such a war at that point, Austria and Prussia were, in practice, not tied to any action. It sounded tough but promised nothing of substance. It was a piece of clever wordplay. It was a total failure. The Reality of the Declaration of Pillnitz The Declaration of Pillnitz was thus designed to assist the pro-royal faction in the revolutionary government against the republicans rather than threaten a war. Unfortunately for the state of peace in Europe, the revolutionary government in France had developed a culture that did not recognize subtext: they spoke in moral absolutes, believed that oratory was a pure form of communication and that cleverly written text was disingenuous. Thus the revolutionary government, especially the republicans agitating against the king, were able to take the Declaration at face value and portray it as, not just a threat, but a call to arms. To many scared Frenchmen, and to many agitating politicians, Pillnitz was a sign of invasion and contributed to France engaging in a pre-emptive declaration of war and the mirage of a crusade to spread liberty. The French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars would follow, and both Louis and Marie would be executed by a regime made even more extreme by Pillni tz.

Psychotherapy for Immigrants and Refugees Term Paper

Psychotherapy for Immigrants and Refugees - Term Paper Example Social workers and psychotherapists have a duty to respond to the needs of each of these immigrants and refugees in order to lessen their burden. Social training skills and psychotherapy support go a long way in ensuring that this group of people have an easy transition from the lives that they are used to their adopted lives (Pumariega, Rothe and Pumariega, 2005). One of the major challenges that face psychotherapy for the immigrants and psychotherapists is communication problems. In the US, many of the refugees who come to the country hardly ever know English, making communication a daunting task (Balgopal, 2000). This lack of clear communication between the psychotherapists and the immigrants makes it hard for the professional counselors to help the immigrants cope with their new life. Without proper communication channels, it becomes hard to understand the needs, fears and expectations of the immigrants. However in some instances, there are some immigrants who and understand mult iple languages, including the language spoken in the host country. This makes it possible for the psychotherapists to have them as translators. Although this is better than not communicating at all, it has its limitations. The translator may not put the message across as it is supposed to be, hence meaning might be lost between the psychotherapist and the immigrant that he is supposed to be helping (Fong, 2004). Another challenge that immigrants, refugees and psychotherapists normally face is the problem of cultural differences. Concepts of psychotherapy for immigrants and refugees emphasizes on the importance of understanding the various cultures involved (Ryan, 1992). However, doing so is not very easy as most people are inclined to think in terms of their own cultures and in total disregard of the other person’s culture. In many cases psychotherapists do not have any idea of how to deal with all the different cultures that they face in their line of work. The immigrants th emselves are also mostly adamant to let go of their worldview in support of another new one. The ensuing conflict that results form cultural misunderstandings may impact negatively on the work of social psychotherapists (Corey, 2009). The psychotherapy process for the immigrant might seem like a very long and time consuming activity, and this impacts negatively on what the psychotherapists are trying to achieve. Many immigrants and refugees normally flee from their own countries of origin to new ones in search of a better life (Chang-Muy and Congress, 2009). If anything comes between them and the attainment of their new status, they are bound to consider it a waste of time. Acculturation and integration are hardly some the things that come top on the immigrants’ priority lists. Getting them to understand the importance of psychotherapy to help them fit in may be difficult and some of them might even resist any attempt to help them adopt smoothly into their new lives (Pumarieg a, Rothe and Pumariega, 2005). Psychotherapists need to be given enough training before dealing with immigrants and refugees. They should be trained on cross-cultural communication and acceptance as it plays a big role in how successful any psychotherapy process is. There is need for the development of psychotherapy and counseling techniques that should focus on skills that are influential to the integration, assimilation and acculturation of immigrants and refugees (Pumariega, Rothe and Pumariega, 2005). Training programs for counselors should include skill development for the incorporation of the family and/or the

Life on Mars (Earth Science Course) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Life on Mars (Earth Science Course) - Essay Example Space explorations opened new avenues and enhanced expectations of discovery of extraterrestrial life. Scientists describe six basic environmental conditions suitable for expected life. If an environment contain all these six environmental conditions within prescribed limits then it can be expected that life may exist there. The data collected by space probes negates the presence of advanced life on other planets of our solar system. But the presence of primitive life in past on some of the planets including Mars can not be ruled out. As stated above it is almost certain that no advanced life exists in the planets of solar system. But the efforts for effort for detecting primitive life in our solar system are going on. It is also believed that life can come into view because of changes of organic matter from nonorganic. It is also assumed that same process resulted in emergence of life on earth. Many scientists like American chemists Stanley L. Miller and Harold C. Urey gave experimental support for this assumption presented by Oparin. The similar organic activity was detected on Mars by the Viking landers in 1976. ( "Exobiology." The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. 2004. ) It is generally accepted that that Mars once had water, on the basis of this acceptance it is supposed that once life would have existed on the red planet in its primitive stage. Some evidences are presented in the support of this supposition in the form of reported presence of fossil bacterial life on Martian meteorite. But his evidence is not widely accepted and many scientists are of the view that it is not enough to arrive at a correct conclusion. 1.4 Fossil bacterial life found on a Martian meteorite Scientists are of the view that enough evidence of microscopic bacteria fossils was found on some the meteorites fell on various countries. In France Orgeuil meteorite fell in 1864 and on some other meteorites traces of organic material were found that indicate presence of microscopic creatures like bacteria. But another group of scientists think that the organic material was the result of some other factors and the evidences were not correctly interpreted. It is also not certain that these mateorits came from Mars Keeping in view all the above discussed information and interpretions, it is the primary aim this to analyze and discuss the possibilities of life on Mars. 2. Chronological Order Famous American Scientist Sagan Edward is known for his popular investigation of Radio emissions from Planets of Solar system. He was one of the first scientists made some correct predictions about Mars that were later found correct. He was instrumental in changing perception about Mars in those days. 2.1 The early orbiter evidences The information acquired from the data provided by early orbiters suggests that early Mars had a warm and wet atmosphere. Life can exist in such type of claim. But this type of atmosphere must have existed in the remote past. A meteorite that was

Development of Labor Unions in the United States Research Paper

Development of Labor Unions in the United States - Research Paper Example With the beginning of wage-labor regime, the modern labor movement came into the picture. This project highlights the key issues of the development of labor unions in the United States. The customary chronology report the first American labor strike in 1741. Though they didn’t protest against employers but it was against a municipal regulation regarding the price of bread. The first and second consecutive strike occurred in the year 1786 and 1791 respectively in Philadelphia. The reason of the first was that there should be a minimum wage of six dollars in a week and the second was that there should not be more than ten hours per day. The first organized strike happened by the Philadelphia shoemakers in 1799 by when it got restructured and renamed as Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers. These strikes over wages were the principal weapon of these primordial labor unions and they were held in peaceful manner. But gradually aggressive, violent trade unionism set in. The ind ustrial depression in America curbed trade unionism for some period to maintain their organizations. Before 1820, several trade unions were involved in the effort to cut short the average working hours from 12 to 10.When depression reached its ebb in the year 1820, belligerent trade unions again came into existence. They spread among weavers, tailors, cabinet makers and most importantly among factory workers. And that was the first time when female workers came into action. Many strikes happened during 1824-1825 in the industrial houses but the most striking was the Boston House carpenter’s strike for a ten hour day in 1825. Labor Movement of America began in 1827 with mechanics’ Union of Trade Associations in Philadelphia which is called as the first city centered trade organization in the world. Equal division of all property became prime point in the first workingmen’s meeting in New York in 1829. The first general trades’ union was organized in 1833 i n New York which became New York Trades’ Union later. After which during the twenty five year long depression between 1837-1862 the aggressive Trade Unionism vanished (Perlman, 2004, pp. 3-39). The Nation Labor Union (NLU) which formed in the year 1866 persuaded a weak protest to Congress for an 8 hour a day for Federal workers. The Knights of Labor formed in the year 1869 by Uriah Stephens but it flourished rapidly under Terrance Powdery. Since the membership was open to all types of workers they found easy to achieve a membership of about 750,000 in the next couple of years, but later on the skilled and unskilled workers got fragmented. Suddenly, the Knights found difficult and were unable to handle so much pressure at once, and after taking a hard blow in the Haymarket Square Riots  in May 1886 in Chicago, they collapsed completely. Skilled workers became tired of the unskilled workers’ labor activity and thus they were replaced easily by the high skilled one. The Knights were injured highly by false accusation of anarchistic violence. Even after this they had to face negative publicity and ultimately they were disbanded. The American Federation of Labor was

The Story Of Artemis Fowl English Literature Essay

The Story Of Artemis Fowl English Literature Essay The story of Artemis Fowl takes place in Ho Chi Minh City during the modern day or 20th century. The story begins in the summer and is about Artemis fowl, a 12 year old mastermind and the protagonist of the story ; hence the title Artemis Fowl. Artemis lives with his sick and weak mother in a machine. Artemis also has a bodyguard, named Butler, that travels with him everywhere he goes. Butler is not only his bodyguard but also his friend and companion. Butler is tremendously loyal and listens to every command Artemis throws at him. Artemis Fowl is mainly about Artemis meeting the LEP, a group of fairies with magical powers. The sprite that Artemis and Butler meets is extremely messy and is obviously an alcoholic. When they first confront her, they notice that she is very dirty, covered with mud, wearing old rags, and begging for wine. The sprite has a book, which is what Artemis wanted in the first place. Artemis wanted the book to learn about the history of the fairies and their cul ture. Artemis then tricks the fairy into giving him the book for 30 minutes, where Butler takes photos of every page and then later uploads them onto his computer where he has a copy of the book. The main conflict in the book is about Artemis family. Artemis dad, a genius like Artemis, is not mentioned much in the beginning of the story. There is a reason for that, Artemis dad is captured by the Russian Mafia when he tried to become an honest business man. He had a ship full of cola drinks for trade that sank and thats when they lost all their wealth and fortune. Artemis attempts to regain the fortune and wealth that the Fowl family lost. Artemis goes on his quest to regain the family fortune by using the book of the fairies and attempt to steal the fairy gold for his family. Regaining the family fortune is not the only reason why Artemis wants to take the gold, he also wants to help his weakened mother. Everyday Artemis sees his dying mother and that urges him to find some kind of money. Artemis mother sleeps in her bedroom all day. Juliet, a maid, takes care of Artemis mother. Characterization The storys protagonist is Artemis Fowl. Artemis Fowl is a 12-year-old mastermind and genius. He is one of the few that know about the existence of fairies, the other few being his bodyguard, Buter, and Juliet. Artemiss intelligence is highly developed compared to doctors, professors, and even psychiatrists. He reads more pschycology books than psychiatrists. Artemis can pass every test you throw at him. He has made the medical minds confused, and even sent many of them to their own hospitals. Artemis is obviously a child prodigy. Artemis uses his intelligence for criminal activities. For example, he uses his intelligence to trick the fairy into giving him the book. The fairy book was in fairy language, but that was no problem for Artemis. Artemis attempts to translate the WHOLE book from fairy language to english. He does so by trying to translate the language into Latin roots and even Greek roots. From the Latin or Greek roots he translates to english. Artemis can fluently speak man y languages including Gnommish. (The fairy language) Artemis is not athletic, but his intelligence makes up for this. Artemis is the type of boy that spends 10 hours in front of the computer screen. He doesnt do what the average kid would do and play games, instead he does heaps of research of fairy history. Title I think the title of the book Artemis Fowl is appropriate for the story, but I mainly think it is not appropriate. First off, I think the title is appropriate because the main character of the story is named Artemis Fowl. The story is about this character and thats about all that tells. On the other hand, I think the title is not appropriate because I think it is a little bland and dull. All the title says is a kids name and nothing else. With a title like that, it doesnt catch a readers eye. I think a better title would be something like Artemis Fowl and The Great Fairy Adventures because that gives a little glimpse into the story of what its going to be about. With that type of title, readers, especially kids are much more likely to read this book. Recommendation First off, this book is very good. The book just lures you into Artemiss point of view of his great adventures and quests. In this adventure filled book, readers will experience how intelligent Artemis is and how much he misses his father. Reading this book brings you along with Artemis and Butler as they meet many mythical creatures such as trolls, dwarves, and of course fairies. When finishing this book, you will already be in the library looking for the next one in the series. In my opinion, I think teenage readers would enjoy this book the most. I think this because this book is full of magic, prodigies, mythical creatures, and adventures. These elements are what teenage kids read the most these days, so this book is a wonderful book for teenagers.

The History of Jewish Persecution Essay -- Essays Papers

The History of Jewish Persecution Every religious group has suffered a time when their religion was not considered to be popular or right. Out of all of these religious groups that have suffered, no one group has suffered so much as that of the Jewish religion. They have been exiled from almost every country that they have ever inhabited, beginning with Israel, and leading all the was up to Germany, France, Spain, England, and Russia. Not only have they been exiled but also they have suffered through torture, punishment, and murder. Thus, because of the history of the religion, the Jewish people have become a very resilient people. They have survived thousands of years carrying their religion with them from one country to the next and never loosing their faith. They have traveled form Eastern Europe, to the United States and have finally managed today to settle comfortable all over North America. The Jewish religion has suffered tremendously throughout the centuries, and unfortunately it did not become a ny easier for them during the twentieth century. The Jewish people's problems began long before the Common Era; they were persecuted long ago by King Nebuchadnezzer. Because of the treaty that was signed with King Nebuchadnezzer the Jews were uprooted from their home in Jerusalem and were forced into exile in the city of Babylon. The Jews were not treated poorly, though they were bitter because of being taken away form their beloved Jerusalem. Due to this bitterness they became more intensely Jewish than ever before. (1) After seventy years of exile the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem. Most of them gave up this option and elected to stay in Babylon. Those who stay in Babylon became ... ...s problems in the past. Many religions would have fallen and ceased to exist under this kind of persecution. To the Jewish believer this is perhaps because they are the ‘chosen people.’ This religion continues to prove its strength and resilience even today and will continue to do so. Works Cited 1) Fast, Howard. The Jews. The Dial Press, Inc., New York:1968. 2) Goldberg, David J. The Jewish People, A History and Their Religion. Viking, New York: 87. 3) Kantor, Mattis. The Jewish Time Line Encyclopedia. Jason Aronson Inc., New Jersey: 1992. 4) Perry, Marvin. Western Civilization A Brief History (third edition). Houghton Mifflin Company, New York: 1997. 5) Perry, Marvin. Peden, Joseph R. Von Laue, Theodore H. Sources of the Western Tradition third edition). Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston: 1995.