Monday, September 30, 2019

General Appliance Corporation Essay

Executive Summary The General Appliance Corporation (GAC), specializing on manufacturing various kinds of home appliances. The GAC was decentralized and it divided into 4 main product divisions, 4 manufacturing divisions as well as 6 staff offices. GAC manufactured few component parts and usually bought them from outside vendors. Transfer prices of the parts were negotiated between departments based on outside suppliers’ price. While the purchasing staff had the power to settle disputes when there was a disagreement. This management style and method created various problems within the company because the lack of communication, coordination, and motivation. Besides, departments have less power and authority on resources allocation and there was extensive measurement in the company. As a result, GAC has to refine its transfer rules, setting guidelines to avoid disputes between divisions and outside vendors. Issues and Analysis Issue #1 â€Å"Stove top Problem†: When the chrome products division sold a chrome plated unit that fitted on the top of the stove. Due to various complaints from customers, chrome products division to refine products leading an increase the cost of the stove top ($10) by a dollar. 90 cents less than outside supplier (manufacturing costs are deemed to have increased by 80 cents). (Quality; communication; transfer prices Resolution: Engineer department said the costs were reasonable and quality control said the quality improved and better than previously supplied. Issue #2 â€Å"thermostatic control problem† Refrigeration Division initially used 25% of their Thermostatic Control Unit produced from Electric Motor Division internally. All remaining unites are purchased from Monsoon Controls Corp in 1985. It increased to 100% produced internally by 1988. After Monsoon Controls proposed a price of $2.15/unit, electric motor division refuses to drop its price lower than $2.40 to all products divisions. Resolution: Refrigeration Division could purchase all at $2.15 but the price is lower because of excess capacity. If purchase all, the price would go up to around $2.40 too. Issue #3 â€Å"transmission problem† The Laundry Division produces automatic washers and bought its parts from two sources : internally in the Gear and Transmission Division and externally form the Thorndike Machining Corp. GAC would like to expand and wanted to produce all the manufacturing parts, therefore, not renewing contract with Thorndike. Thorndike proposed a new price with reductions because they had specially built machines for the transmission and expected to increase productivity. Gear division also develop a lower cost and better performance transmission. Laundry Division refused to accept the price of $12 and proposed $11.21 instead. Resolution: The Finance department thought the costs of the Thorndike unit was 11.25 and found out the price of the Gear and transmission price was in error and could be reduce by 50 cents. The purchasing staff stated that laundry division can obtain from outsource at the quoted price for a better future. Recommendation GAC should refine its transfer pricing policies and methods to reduce disputes between divisions within company. First, they can focus more on short term profit maximization because signing long term contracts with either divisions will causes higher cost prices. As a good company, its product quality should be in their main consideration, customer will buy better quality rather than its price. Third, the management should give power to the product division to select which manufacturers they wanted. However, they have to bear the consequences if the results gone bad (e.g. bad quality for cheaper price). Forth, A committee should set up to investigate the pros and cons to the divisions for a better decisions and judgments for product division to made before ordering parts.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Practical Demonkeeping Chapter 31-32

31 GOOD GUYS Augustus Brine, Travis, and Gian Hen Gian were squeezed into the seat of Brine's pickup. As they approached Effrom and Amanda's house, they spotted a beige Dodge parked in the driveway. â€Å"Do you know what kind of car they drive?† Travis asked. Brine was slowing down. â€Å"An old Ford, I think.† â€Å"Don't slow down. Keep going,† Travis said. â€Å"But why?† â€Å"I'd bet anything that Dodge is a police car. There's a whip antenna pinned down on the back.† â€Å"So what? You haven't done anything illegal.† Brine wanted to get it over with and get some sleep. â€Å"Keep going. I don't want to answer a lot of questions. We don't know what Catch has been doing. We can come back later, after the police leave.† The Djinn said, â€Å"He has a point, Augustus Brine.† â€Å"All right.† Brine gunned the pickup and sped by. In a few minutes they were sitting in Jenny's kitchen listening to the answering machine. They had gone in the back way to avoid the burnt, doughy mess in the front yard. â€Å"Well,† Travis said, resetting the machine, â€Å"that buys us a little time before we have to explain it to Jenny.† â€Å"Do you think Catch will come back here?† Brine asked. â€Å"I hope so,† Travis said. â€Å"Can't you concentrate your will on bringing him back until we can find out if Amanda still has the candlesticks?† â€Å"I've been trying. I don't understand this much more than you do.† â€Å"Well, I need a drink,† Brine said. â€Å"Is there anything in the house?† â€Å"I doubt it. Jenny said she couldn't keep anything in the house or her husband would drink it. She drank all the wine last night.† â€Å"Even some cooking sherry would be fine,† Brine said, feeling a little sleazy as he spoke. Travis began going through the cupboards. â€Å"Should you find a small quantity of salt, I would be most grateful,† the Djinn said. Travis found a box of salt among the spices and was handing it to the Djinn when the phone rang. They all froze and listened as the machine played Jenny's outgoing message. After the beep there was a pause, then a woman's voice. â€Å"Travis, pick up.† It was not Jenny. Travis looked to Brine. â€Å"No one knows I'm here.† â€Å"They do now. Pick it up.† Travis picked up the phone, and the answering machine clicked off. â€Å"This is Travis.† Brine watched the color drain out of the demonkeeper's face as he listened. â€Å"Is she all right?† Travis said into the phone. â€Å"Let me talk to her. Who are you? Do you know what you're getting yourself into?† Brine couldn't imagine what was going on in the conversation. Suddenly Travis screamed into the phone, â€Å"He's not an Earth spirit – he's a demon. How can you be so stupid?† Travis listened for a moment more, then looked at Augustus Brine and covered the receiver with his hand. â€Å"Do you know where there are some caves to the north of town?† â€Å"Yes,† Brine said, â€Å"the old mushroom farm.† Travis spoke into the phone, â€Å"Yes, I can find it. I'll be there at four.† He sat down hard on one of the kitchen chairs and let the phone fall into its cradle. â€Å"What's going on?† Brine demanded. Travis was shaking his head. â€Å"Some woman is holding Jennifer and Amanda and her husband hostage. Catch is with her and she has the candlesticks. And you were right, there are three invocations.† â€Å"I don't understand,† Brine said. â€Å"What does she want?† â€Å"She thinks that Catch is some kind of benevolent Earth spirit. She wants his power.† â€Å"Humans are so ignorant,† the Djinn said. â€Å"But what does she want with you?† Brine asked. â€Å"She has the candlesticks and the invocations.† â€Å"They're in Greek. They want me to translate the invocations or they'll kill Jenny.† â€Å"Let them,† the Djinn said. â€Å"Perhaps you can bring Catch under control with the woman dead.† Travis exploded. â€Å"They thought of that, you little troll! If I don't show up at four, they'll kill Jenny and destroy the invocation. Then we'll never be able to send Catch back.† Augustus Brine checked his watch. â€Å"We've got exactly an hour and a half to come up with a plan.† â€Å"Let us retire to the saloon and consider our options,† the Djinn said. 32 THE HEAD OF THE SLUG Augustus Brine led the way into the Head of the Slug. Travis followed, and Gian Hen Gian shuffled in last. The saloon was nearly empty: Robert was sitting at the bar, another man sat in the dark at a table in the back, and Mavis was behind the bar. Robert turned as they entered. When he saw Travis, he jumped off the stool. â€Å"You fucking asshole!† Robert screamed. He stormed toward Travis with his fist cocked for a knockout blow. He got four steps before Augustus Brine threw out a massive forearm that caught him in the forehead. There was a flash of tennis shoes flailing in the air as Robert experienced the full dynamic range of the clothesline effect. A second later he lay on the floor unconscious. â€Å"Who is that?† Travis asked. â€Å"Jenny's husband,† Brine answered, bending over and inspecting Robert's neck for any jutting vertebrae. â€Å"He'll be okay.† â€Å"Maybe we should go somewhere else.† â€Å"There isn't time,† Brine said. â€Å"Besides, he might be able to help.† Mavis Sand was standing on a plastic milk box peering over the bar at Robert's supine form. â€Å"Nice move, Asbestos,† she said. â€Å"I like a man that can handle himself.† Brine ignored the compliment. â€Å"Do you have any smelling salts?† Mavis climbed down from her milk box, rummaged under the bar for a moment, and came up with a gallon bottle of ammonia. â€Å"This should do it.† To Travis and the Djinn she said: â€Å"You boys want anything?† Gian Hen Gian stepped up to the bar. â€Å"Could I trouble you for a small quantity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"A salty dog and a draft, please,† Travis interrupted. Brine wrapped one arm under Robert's armpits and dragged him to a table. He propped him up in a chair, retrieved the ammonia bottle from the bar, and waved it under Robert's nose. Robert came to, gagging. â€Å"Bring this boy a beer, Mavis,† Brine said. â€Å"He ain't drinking today. I've been pouring him Cokes since noon.† â€Å"A Coke, then.† Travis and the Djinn took their drinks and joined Brine and Robert at the table, where Robert sat looking around as if he were experiencing reality for the first time. A nasty bump was rising on his forehead. He rubbed it and winced. â€Å"What hit me?† â€Å"I did,† Brine said. â€Å"Robert, I know you're angry at Travis, but you have to put it aside. Jenny's in trouble.† Robert started to protest, but Brine raised a hand and he fell silent. â€Å"For once in your life, Robert, do the right thing and listen.† It took fifteen minutes for Brine to relate the condensed version of the demon's story, during which time the only interruption was the screeching feedback of Mavis Sand's hearing aid, which she had cranked up to maximum so she could eavesdrop. When Brine finished, he drained his beer and ordered a pitcher. â€Å"Well?† he said. Robert said, â€Å"Gus, you're the sanest man I know, and I believe that you believe Jenny is in trouble, but I don't believe this little man is a genie and I don't believe in demons.† â€Å"I have seen the demon,† came a voice from the dark end of the bar. The figure who had been sitting quietly when they came in stood and walked toward them. They all turned to see a rumpled and wrinkled Howard Phillips staggering out of the dark, obviously drunk. â€Å"I saw it outside of my house last night. I thought it was one of the slave creatures kept by the Old Ones.† â€Å"What in the hell are you talking about, Howard?† Robert asked. â€Å"It doesn't matter any longer. What matters is that these men are telling you the truth.† â€Å"So now what?† Robert said. â€Å"What do we do now?† Howard pulled a pocket watch from his vest and checked the time. â€Å"You have one hour to plan a course of action. If I can be of any assistance†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Sit down, Howard, before you fall down,† Brine said. â€Å"Let's lay it out. I think it's obvious from what we know that there is no way to hurt the demon.† â€Å"True,† Travis said. â€Å"Therefore,† Brine continued, â€Å"the only way to stop him and his new master is to get the invocation from the second candlestick, which will either send Catch back to hell or empower Gian Hen Gian.† â€Å"When Travis meets them, why don't we just rush them and take it?† Robert said. Travis shook his head. â€Å"Catch would kill Jenny and the Elliotts before we ever got close. Even if we got hold of the invocation, it has to be translated. That takes time. It's been years since I've read any Greek. You would all be killed, and Catch would find another translator.† â€Å"Yes, Robert,† Brine added. â€Å"Did we mention that unless Catch is in his eating form, which must have been what Howard saw, no one can see him but Travis?† â€Å"I am fluent in Greek,† Howard said. They all looked at him. â€Å"No,† Brine said. â€Å"They expect Travis to be alone. The mouth of the cave is at least fifty yards from any cover. As soon as Howard stepped out, it would be over.† â€Å"Maybe we should let it be over,† Travis said. â€Å"No. Wait a minute,† Robert said. He took a pen from Howard's pocket and began scribbling figures on a cocktail napkin. â€Å"You say there's cover fifty yards from the caves?† Brine nodded. Robert did some scribbling. â€Å"Okay, Travis, exactly how big is the print on the invocation? Can you remember?† â€Å"What does it matter?† â€Å"It matters,† Robert insisted. â€Å"How big is the print?† â€Å"I don't know – it's been a long time. It was handwritten, and the parchment was pretty long. I'd guess the characters were maybe a half-inch tall.† Robert scribbled furiously on the napkin, then put the pen down. â€Å"If you can get them out of the cave and hold up the invocation – tell them you need more light or something – I can set up a telephoto lens on a tripod in the woods and Howard can translate the invocation.† â€Å"I don't think they'll let me hold the parchment up long enough for Howard to translate. They'll suspect something.† â€Å"No, you don't understand.† Robert pushed the napkin he had been writing on in front of Travis. It was covered with fractions and ratios. Looking at it, Travis was baffled. â€Å"What does this mean?† â€Å"It means that I can put a Polaroid back on one of my Nikons and when you hold up the parchments, I can photograph them, hand the Polaroid to Howard, and thirty seconds later he can start translating. The ratios show that the print will be readable on the Polaroid. I just need enough time to focus and set exposure, maybe three seconds.† Robert looked around the table. Howard Phillips was the first to speak. â€Å"It sounds feasible, although fraught with contingencies.† Augustus Brine was smiling. â€Å"What do you think, Gus?† Robert asked. â€Å"You know, I always thought you were a lost cause, but I think I've changed my mind. Howard's right, though – there's lot of ifs involved. But it might work.† â€Å"He is still a lost cause,† the Djinn chimed in. â€Å"The invocation is useless without the silver Seal of Solomon, which is part of one of the candlesticks.† â€Å"It's hopeless,† Travis said. Brine said, â€Å"No, it's not. It's just very difficult. We have to get the candlesticks before they know about the seal. We'll use a diversion.† â€Å"Are you going to explode more flour?† asked Gian Hen Gian. â€Å"No. We're going to use you as bait. If Catch hates you as much as you say, he'll come after you and Travis can grab the candlesticks and run.† â€Å"I don't like it,† Travis said. â€Å"Not unless we can get Jenny and the Elliotts clear.† â€Å"I agree,† said Robert. â€Å"Do you have a better idea?† Brine asked. â€Å"Rachel is a bitch,† Robert said, â€Å"but I don't think she's a killer. Maybe Travis can send Jenny down the hill from the caves with the candlesticks as a condition to translating the invocation.† â€Å"That still leaves the Elliotts,† Brine said. â€Å"And besides, we don't know if the demon knows the seal is in the candlesticks. I think we go for the diversion plan. As soon as Howard has the invocation translated, Gian Hen Gian should step out of the woods and we all go for it.† Howard Phillips said, â€Å"But even if you have the seal and the invocation, you still have to read the words before the demon kills us all.† â€Å"That's right,† said Travis. â€Å"And the process should begin as soon as Rachel starts reading the words I translate, or Catch will know something is up. I can't bluff on the translation at my end.† â€Å"You don't have to,† Brine said. â€Å"You simply have to be slower than Howard, which doesn't sound like a problem.† â€Å"Wait a second,† Robert said. He was out of his seat and across the bar to where Mavis was standing. â€Å"Mavis, give me your recorder.† â€Å"What recorder?† she said coyly. â€Å"Don't bullshit me, Mavis. You've got a microcassette recorder under the bar so you can listen to people's conversations.† Mavis pulled the recorder out from under the bar and reluctantly handed it over to Robert. â€Å"This is the solution to the time problem,† Robert said. â€Å"We read the invocation into this before the genie comes out of the woods. When and if we get the candlesticks, we play it back. This thing has a high speed for secretaries to use when typing dictation.† Brine looked at Travis. â€Å"Will it work?† â€Å"It's not any more risky than anything else we're doing.† â€Å"Who's voice do we use?† Robert asked. â€Å"Who gets the responsibility?† The Djinn answered, â€Å"It must be Augustus Brine. He has been chosen.† Robert checked his watch. â€Å"We've got a half hour and I still have to pick up my cameras at The Breeze's trailer. Let's meet at the U-PICK-EM sign in fifteen minutes.† â€Å"Wait – we need to go over this again,† Travis said. â€Å"Later,† Brine said. He threw a twenty-dollar bill on the table and headed toward the door. â€Å"Robert, use Howard's car. I don't want this whole thing depending on your old truck starting. Travis, Gian Hen Gian, you ride with me.†

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Non Biodegradable Wastes

Turning biodegradable waste such as food scraps and yard trimmings into compost or recycling them through your local yard waste collection facility, eliminates a large portion of any household or business’s waste stream. However, the bulk of waste does not biodegrade quickly or ever. By thinking ahead, you can reduce your waste generation and reuse packaging rather than throwing it away. Consider Packaging When buying food or consumer goods, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends you choose products with recyclable or reusable packaging, such as plastic or glass jars. If that’s not possible, choose the product with the least packaging. For example, if one set of headphones comes in a plastic shell and another comes in a cardboard box with a plastic window, choose the latter. At the office or at home, buy reams of paper packaged in paper and cardboard, not plastic. Plastic Product Manufacturing Great Quality Great Value 24h Quote UK Owned and Managed in China Star-Prototype. com/Tooling Sponsored Links Use Cloth Items The CalRecycle website recommends using cloth towels, napkins and rags for cleaning and eating and reusable bags—particularly cloth bags, for shopping, picnicking and transporting items. To reduce waste even more, cut up old clothes for rags and napkins and cut raggedy beach and bath towels into hand towels rather than buying new ones. You can even sew your own reusable bags from jeans or canvas. Cover and Store Leftovers in Reusable Containers Don’t buy aluminum foil, plastic wrap or waxed paper. Use glass or plastic containers with lids to store leftovers. Rather than transferring food from serving dishes into storage containers when you’ll eat it within the next day or two, place a plate over the top of the plate or bowl and put it right into the refrigerator. Buy in Bulk CalRecycle recommends buying items like cereals and grains in the largest available packages to reduce packaging waste. Many grocery stores have a bulk items section where you can buy the exact amounts of grains, cereals, pasta, rice, dry beans and spices you need. Bring your own reusable bags to the store to buy bulk goods. Reuse Food Jars for Dry Storage When you get your bulk purchases home, protect them for long-term storage by transferring them to plastic or glass food containers that you have saved. Put items you’ll use within the next few weeks, such as cereal, in plastic containers like large dairy containers. Store spices in baby food or other small jars. Pasta, rice, flour and beans can go into old spaghetti sauce or pickle jars. To remove odors from jars you plan on reusing, â€Å"Natural Home† recommends washing them with hot water and white vinegar or even letting them sit overnight with the mixture before rinsing. Recharge and Recycle Batteries Instead of buying alkaline batteries, buy rechargeable batteries and a charger. You can charge these batteries up to several hundred times before they are spent. When alkaline or rechargeable batteries are completely spent, recycle them through your local hazardous waste facility or a business that recycles batteries. Drugstores, hardware stores and electronics retailers are some examples of businesses that may have battery recycling programs. Read more: http://www. livestrong. com/article/158892-effective-ways-of-recycling-reducing-non-biodegradable-waste/#ixzz1j0iEADCx

Friday, September 27, 2019

George Whitefield Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

George Whitefield - Term Paper Example Whitefield was educated at home by his mother and later in life at St. Mary de Crypt School and Pembroke College, Oxford2. Whitefield was s diligent student but he was a loner. He spent a lot of time meditating; in fact, he was once reported to have meditated for six weeks without any food except bread or tea. This experience weakened him so much that he had to see a doctor 2. Whitefield was ordained as a minister at the tender age of 21. The bishop who ordained him had earlier said he would refuse to ordain anyone that young but Whitefield showed some remarkable characteristics that were ideal for preaching, he was exceptionally hard-working, he was ready to learn, he had a vivid imagination, he attracted children and perhaps most importantly of all, he exuded an exuberance that made people listen to him. Whitefield mainly preached against sin and for Jesus Christ1. It was Whitefield’s association with brothers Charles and John Weasley that led him to Georgia, America as a missionary. Whitefield spent the year after being ordained preaching in the UK and raising funds to travel to Georgia2. The Weasley brothers had both been preaching in America to no avail and they had failed to convert the masses of people1,2. However, when Whitefield arrived in America, he found he had a voice almost immediately. People listened to him and responded almost immediately. His charisma probably contributed to this greatly. A year after his arrival, Whitefield decided to return to the UK to collect funds for an orphanage that was being planned by the colony’s founder. The orphanage and schools, when they were built finally helped an abundance of people. Whitefield never profited from this endeavour financially1. After his first trip to America, Whitefield made six more trips. Each journey across the Atlantic was danger but Whitefield had a large audience which he wanted to preach to in America1,2. In 1940, in Philadelphia, he preached to fifteen thousand people,

Thursday, September 26, 2019

'Human capital' (economics) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

'Human capital' (economics) - Essay Example Labor productivity refers to the amount of output produced per unit time. It is a measure of economic growth for a country. One of the factors which are shown to contribute positively towards increased labor productivity is human capital. Several studies at the macro as well as the micro level have been conducted which show a positive relationship between the investment in human capital and productivity; i.e. the better the quality of human capital the higher the earnings as well as the capability to generate efficient output. Studies by Becker (1964), Schultz (1961) and Miner (1971) have proven that there exists a positive relationship between human capital and labor productivity which then translates into higher economic growth. Investment in human capital increases workers’ efficiency and it helps produce better quality products at lesser costs which contribute to economic growth. Investment in human capital ensures that workers are aware of production methods and technologies. This prevents them from wasting precious business resources which enhances productivity. When the labor productivity is higher, there is more output available for the country to market and sell. This increased capability then translates into higher local and international earnings thus speeding up economic growth. Recently, economies such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand etc. have proven the importance of investing in human capital. These economies have sped up their economic growth rates tremendously by investing in education and training for its labor force thus highlighting the positive relationship between human capital, labor productivity and economic

Bank (money supply) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Bank (money supply) - Essay Example Any government has the power and responsibility to regulate the economy of a country and not only does it regulate the economy, it has a vital role to ensure that the economic condition remains stable. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that all the aspects of economy maintain a stable level so that the country can grow and expand. Government regulates many things in an economy including inflation, exports and imports, prices of many vital commodities, and many important economic aspects. For example Government of England has entrusted the job of determining the monetary policy, in the hands of Bank of England. Bank of England looks into many other big issues. One of the most important issues is that of ensuring monetary stability in the economy, which can be achieved through a combination of stable prices of goods and services across the economy coupled with a low inflation level and level of confidence of the investors in the currency of the country. The Bank come s out with the monetary policy in order to ensure a certain key objectives like, delivering price stability with a low inflation level coupled with an objective to support the Government's economic objectives of growth and employment. Price stability is taken care of, by the Government's usual inflation target of 2%. There is a need to contemplate the crucial and critical role played by price stability in achieving the aforesaid economic stability, and in providing just the right conditions for a sustainable and longer living growth in output and employment. Chancellor of the Exchequer announces the Government's inflation target every year in the annual Budget statement. Though The 1998 Bank of England Act enables it to set interest rates independently, however, The Bank does hold accountability to the parliament and the wider public, which can not be refrained from. The legislation provides the government the power to instruct the bank on the interest rates issues for a limited per iod of time during emergency, for the sake of national interests. (How Monetary Policy Works) A target of 2% does in no way mean that inflation will be held at this rate constantly. That would be neither possible nor in any way desirable. Interest rates would be changing all the times, causing unnecessary volatility in the economy. Even then it would neither be possible nor feasible to keep inflation at any predetermined level, say 2% in each and every month continuously. Instead, the committee aims to set interest rates so that inflation can be brought back to target within a reasonable and imaginable span of time without creating undue instability and volatility in the economy. The government is also entrusted with the job of regulating property and commodity prices. To have a look into this in detail, we may need to analyze the factors that are generally responsibly for a rise in property prices. Before buying a house property, any buyer's first job is to assess the price of the property depending on the location, as location as a non-economic factor plays the biggest role in determining property prices all over the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Risk and Return Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Risk and Return - Assignment Example According to CAPM, r = Rf +? (Km - Rf ) Where r= Expected return of the security Rf = Risk free rate ?=beta of the security Km= expected return of the market RA= 0.06+0.27(0.25-0.06) =0.1113 =11.13% RB =0.06+0.75(0.25-0.06) =0.2025 =20.25% Characteristic Lines of Securities A and B The SCL:Ri,t -Rf =?i +?i (RM,t - Rf ) + diversifiable risk ? is the excess return ?i (RM,t - Rf ) represents the non diversifiable risk The security characteristics line is drawn to show the excess return of the investment over that that of the market. The y-axis represents the excess return over the risk free rate. The x-axis represents the excess return over the market in general. The slope of the SCL represents the beta of the individual security. The main reason for the determination of the security characteristics line is to show the performance of a security relative to that of the market. Investors who want to put their finances in investments are interested in securities that will pose performance that is higher than the market or is at par with that of the market. From the slope of the security characteristics line, it is easier for investors to see the alpha of the security and also to compare the performance of the security relative to others. Moreover, a security characteristics line reveals the quantity of both the systematic and unsystematic risk (Roll & Ross 1980). Systematic risks are those that cannot be minimized through diversification and the investors must avoid investments with higher systematic risk. Likewise, the level of unsystematic risk can also be revealed from the diagram. To interpret the diagrams, the lines with high gradients re taken to have a higher beta factor and are therefore more risky than those with lower gradients. At the same time, the return of securities with higher gradients will exhibit high return level. In the diagram as well, the y-intercept represents the alpha value i.e. the excess of the return of an investments over the risk free r ate of return (Roll & Ross 1980). On the other hand, the x-intercept represents the excess of the security return over that of the market. A security with a high value of X-intercept has a higher return than those of the lower x-intercept values. It is therefore clear that a security characteristics line is an important tool that investors rely on when making investment decisions and should be able to help in the making of investment decisions. The security characteristics line therefore reveals the properties of the respective securities. Question 2 The arbitrage pricing theory is an asset pricing model that was developed due to the limitations of the capital asset pricing model. APT is a multifactor model that considers the various macroeconomic factors affecting the pricing of a security (Roll & Ross 1980). In this model, the risk free rate is added to all the macroeconomic factors affecting the pricing of the asset with each factor having its own beta. According to the arbitrage pricing theory, the return of a security is determined by the formula: r= Rf + ?2F2+ ?3F3+†¦..+ ?nFn Where r=return of a security ? i’s=betas of respective factors Fi’s= macroeconomic factors affecting the returns The APT is therefore a multifactor model and the arbitrage process is the selling of the inefficient securities in inefficient markets in order to maximize the return on the assets. In this process the overvalued assets are sold in order to get the profits and undervalued

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

World Religions Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

World Religions Report - Essay Example Marriage of non-Filipinos to those belonging in Iglesia families is just one of the examples of how those comprising the minority of the Iglesia population have been involved in the religion (Catholic Answers, 2004). Despite the widespread estimate of the number of the constituents (which is between three million and ten million including those outside the Philippines), the Iglesia conceals their real population. It has a larger population than the more known Jehovah’s Witnesses, which also assert their being the genuine Church of Christ (Catholic Answers, 2004). Indeed, unlike most of the other cults which have Western origins, Iglesia ni Kristo (INC) or the Church of Christ has its roots from the Philippines with Encyclopedia Britannica (2007) describing it as indigenous. Historically, it was a small church founded by Felix Manalo in July 27, 1914 (Elesterio, 1988). Thus, he was considered by his followers as the messenger of God. After the fast expansion 1945, the number of members reached the 600,000 mark by the end of the 20th century (â€Å"Iglesia ni Kristo†, 2007). This has also led to the building of chapels throughout the country and to their being a well-heeled federal religious organization. However, the foundation of INC was not an easy task; it was a great struggle for Manalo. Yet, Harper (2001) noted that one thing is certain: preliminary association with the Bible pushed him to impugn what has been taught to him regarding religion and God in the Roman Catholic Church. According to her research, Manalo had joined other religious groups before he finally established INC. At the age of 18, it was found out that he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church where he trained about the Bible and become a lay preacher. At 22, he also studied with the Presbyterians and joined Mision Cristiana, the Christian Mission of the

Monday, September 23, 2019

The Hulk and The Incredible Hulk Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Hulk and The Incredible Hulk - Movie Review Example The Hulk originated as a superhero in the Ultimate Marvels comic books and has since gained world recognition and gained celebrity status as a movie hero. There has been much discussion and comparisons made between the 2003 Hulk Movie and the 2008 movie The Incredible Hulk and this will be discussed in this essay. It puts a life history to the character; he was adopted after David Banner, his father, accidentally killed his mother after causing an explosion at his lab when the government closed it down due to discovering his dangerous experiments. Baby Bruce was adopted after his father became institutionalised in a mental hospital.The 2008 movie The Incredible Hulk was directed by Louis Leterrier and the Hulk/Dr Bruce Banner was played by Edward Norton. This movie was not to be viewed as a sequel to the 2003 film and also rebooted the history of the character (Lee, 2008). Edward Norton was the screenwriter who rewrote the first draft written by Zak Penn, and attempted to base the story more on the Marvel Comic strip and the TV series than the 2003 movie had been. In this movie the Hulk was developed as a military project, a super soldier as was the Hulks character in the Ultimate Marvels comic books.... The Los Angeles Time movie review called it 'Freud for Dummies' (Dargis, 2003). There are comparisons also to make regarding the profits of the two movies. The Incredible Hulk in the US grossed $134,533,885 at the box office in its first 2 months compared to $132.2 million for the 2003 movie so whilst it appears both films were as successful inflation also has to be taken into account [1]. The films both received mixed reviews and so The Incredible Hulk had to overcome the negativity that The Hulk had received and according to many critics did not succeed its predecessor. In The Incredible Hulk an experiment goes wrong with Dr Bruce Banner being left with gamma radiation poisoning. Banner had been led to believe by General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross that the purpose of the experiment was to make humans immune to gamma radiation poisoning and when the experiment fails Banners genes are mutated and he transforms into the Hulk. Like The Hulk film from 2003 the movie sees him avoiding capture by the military forces led by General 'Thunderbolt' Ross. Dr Banner seeks refuge in Brazil where he seeks to find a cure for his condition. Both films provide histories for the character and similarities do obviously occur, his love affair with Betty, and the centre of the story being the alter ego of Dr Bruce. The comparisons lye in the narration of how the Hulk developed into the alter ego of Dr Bruce Banner and the experiences he had. Bibliography [1] http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/id=incrediblehulk.htm Dargis, Manohla. "Hulk" puts a Freudian spin on the dualities of human nature, but this monster is a little too mild" New York Times (20th June 2003) 11th November 2008

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Nature-nurture debate Essay Example for Free

Nature-nurture debate Essay In this task I am going to be going to be discussing the nature-nurture debate in relation to Morgan Freeman’s development through two life stages childhood and adolescence. The theories that I am going to be discussing in relation to the individual are Determinism Choice and interaction Biological programming Maturation theory Theorists and philosophers have argued that we are born to be the way we are and some have argued that it could down to the way we are brought, our environmental influences and surroundings that makes us the way we are. This is known as the nature- nurture debate. Nature is genetic. It is what we inherit from our parents for example eye colour Nurture is the social, economic and environmental influences. Determinism This is a belief that our future’s our determined by either what we have genetically or by the environment and social interaction. According to Morgan Freeman’s biography, he loved movies from a very young age and when he started going to school he appeared in a lot of school plays. I would say that he had the passion but the environment influenced him even more, however in this case I would say that the environment, the passion for acting determined what he wanted to be like in the future. When he won the State-drama competition at the age of 14 that probably added to his determinism environmentally. I don’t think his abilities were down to his genetic makeup because the plays he took part in school and the training to improve his abilities, skills and knowledge. I can also argue that he had the abilities but all he needed was some proper training and guidance to make him the actor he is today. His experiences through these things training and school plays probably made him better since he was a very shy person; I would not say that it was down to his genetic makeup because none of his family members or parents were or are actors. Choice and interaction This is the belief that we can control our own lives through the choices we  make. When you are very young your parents make your decisions for you but as you get into your teenage years you start to make your own choices with the help of your parents. Morgan Freeman from a very young age had the love for cinemas and acting so he made a choice that he wanted to become an actor. I don’t think his parents told him what he should do in the future; even if they did as he got older he still would have had the choice to choose whatever it is that he wanted to do. He had the free will to take control of his own life through the choices that he made he did not have to pursue acting. I can also argue that it could have been down to nature he was probably born with the gift of acting and that was all he knew apart from other careers he could have pursed. He had the choice to stop because at some point in his life he actually stopped when he joined the army this was because of the influences he got from watching movies that had aeroplanes. But he got bailed out and got back into acting because that was his real passion drama and performing arts. I would say Morgan Freeman’s future to become an actor was influenced by the environment because when he moved from Memphis Tennessee to Chicago that is where he developed the love for, he would scour the streets looking for looking for empty bottles of drinks to cash in. However I can say that it could have been down to both nature and nurture because if you have a certain talent in this case acting I think you are more likely to pursue that career and that if you are influenced by the environment for example going to the cinemas to watch movies that is a choice but that choice is influenced by the environment The movies that he watched and the plays he took part in at school made him want to pursue a career in acting. I think Morgan Freeman’s choice to become famous has been down to the choices he made because when he won the State-side drama competition he got exploited and he enjoyed the attention, attention could have been another influence of his choice, by pursuing a career in acting opened a lot of opportunities for him and he got recognition by the roles that he played, however his success could have been down to nurture because I think it all fall into place. Biological programming Morgan Freeman’s biological programming was down to his parents. He is 6’22† in height and I would say that his father or mother were probably tall. His  body shape and size would be down to nature, genetic inheritance for example if both your parents are tall and skinny there is a chance that one may grow up to be like that. However body shape and size can be influenced by the environment for example lifestyle factors what you choose to eat and drink. I would argue that his behaviour was probably influenced by his environment but also it could have been, the area that he grew in there was so much racism. He was very shy and that probably influenced his behaviour even more to be assertive and behaved. His behaviour changed as he got older with the influence of the environment and the choices he made. Maturation Theory The ability to speak a first language and some aspects of development are thought to be an inbuilt genetic process. In Morgan Freeman’s case his ability and a genes that he inherited from his parents, development to speak was probably a genetic thing I don’t think Morgan Freeman had any difficulties learning a native language. His development whether it was social, emotional, intellectual and physical was maybe because of his genes but at the same time it worked in correlation with environment that he grew up in, because genes cannot operate without an environment.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Canada Statutory Law Analysis

Canada Statutory Law Analysis David Kafka Californias statutory law establishes that employment, having no specified term, may be terminated at will by either the employer or employee. Cal. Lab. Code ÂÂ § 2922 (2017). This presumption is subject to contrary evidence, such as an implied or expressed agreement that an employment relationship will continue indefinitely. The issue in this case is whether Reynaldo Perez had an implied contract of employment with Malloys Department Store that could be terminated only for cause. If an employer has created an implied or expressed contract for permanent employment, that employee may be terminable only for good cause. When determining if an implied agreement exists, the court will look at a number of factors. These include: personnel policies or practices of the employer, employees longevity of service, assurances by the employer for continued employment, and practices of the industry. Formal handbooks and manuals outlining employment terms are also given consideration. An implied covenant of good faith protects the parties right to receive the benefit of their agreement, but does not necessarily create any other duty outside of the contract. Pugh was found to have had an implied agreement with Sees Candies based on his duration of employment, lack of criticism for work, assurances given, and his employers acknowledged policies. Pugh v. Sees Candies, Inc., 116 Cal. App. 3d 311 (1981). Pugh was frequently told that if he did a good job, his future with the company was secure. There was also a policy where administrative staff would only be fired for good cause. Pugh was not given a reason for his termination, nor was it based on good cause. The court found that an implied contract existed, and Pugh was wrongfully terminated. Id. At will provisions in company manuals are significant in determining the policies of an employer. Parol evidence is admissible to explain, supplement, or even contradict the terms on an unintegrated agreement Guz v. Bechtel Natl, Inc., 8 P.3d 1089 (Cal. 2000). When an employer has policies in formal handbooks, it create[s] a clear and uniform alternative to haphazard practices, understanding, and arrangements within the company. Id. Guz was told by a Bechtel official that the company avoids arbitrary firings. However, the court found that the company did not waive its right to discharge its employees at will based on this statement. Id. The court places great credence in what is included in formal handbooks when determining if employment is at will. An official cannot waive those policies simply by making his or her own arrangements. Guz received no promises that he would be retained except for good cause. His long employment, raises, promotions, and good reviews were not sufficient enough to prove that an implied contract existed where he was no longer an at will employee. The court found that the implied covenant of good faith did not protect Guz from termination. Id. Perez was employed at Malloys for a total of 20 years, consistently received good evaluations, had salary increases, and on one occasion was given assurance his job was safe if he kept performing at a certain level. Perez was told early in his employment by the president of Malloys that his job would always be safe, and that the company doesnt just fire people. The length and success of his employment might also benefit his argument for an implied contract. The companys application form contained ambiguous language which could be interpreted as a contract for continued employment. It stated that Malloys hires and retains hard-working people. However, both the application form and employee manual reiterate that employment is at will. The application stated our employment relationship will end whenever we determine that it should. The employee manual had similar language, stating that an employee could be fired at any time, for any reason. It is likely that the employee manual and job application form will be given great consideration. Malloys clear policy of employment at will was outlined in these documents and contradict any promise that was made to Perez early in his career. As in Guz v. Bechtel Natl, Inc., 8 P.3d 1089 (Cal. 2000), an employee handbook is admissible in court to explain or contradict terms of an unintegrated agreement. In Perezs case, the handbook will likely contradict the presidents statement that his job would always be safe. Perez agreed with the company president that he was fine with his reassignment. He continued working in this position for an entire year. There was never a clear agreement that Perez would only be fired for just cause, and there was no indication that this was Malloys company policy. Therefore, it is unlikely that the court will find that Perez had an implied contract of employment that could be terminated only for cause.

Friday, September 20, 2019

History of and Development of Apple

History of and Development of Apple History of Apples success Apple was founded in 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniack and Ronald Wayne. These three young men at this time, decided to produce and sell a computer. As Apple was growing continuously, the company searched for some managers to help with the expansion. During the next couple of years, Apple hired new people for the most important positions, such as CEO. In 1984, the moment was finally there, Apple introduced there first computer to the world, the Macintosh. This computer was very special, because it was the first small computer with a graphical user interface. At the end of 1984, there was a big decrease in sales for Apple and deterioration in Jobs working relationship with the CEO of Apple. In May 1985, there followed a lot of struggles within company of Apple and Sculley relieved Steve Jobs of his duties as head of the Macintosh division. The founder of Apple was fired of his own company. Steve Jobs moved on and founded another computer company, called NeXT Computer. The NeXT Company was known of its technical strengths and their development system. All years Steve Jobs was working at NeXT with the philosophy of perfection, as showed by things like the NeXTcube interpersonal computer. In 1993, Jobs introduced a new development in software, with the release of NeXTSTEP Intel. During the period of NeXT computers, Jobs bought Pixar, a company focused on the high-end graphics. After a few years of struggling with sales, NeXT decided to contract with Disney. During their period with Disney, they started to produce numerous of computer-animated movies and Disney co-financed and distributed it. At the end of the 20th century, Apple decided to buy NeXT. This means that Steve Jobs returned to Apple. In the next couple of years, Steve Jobs changed a lot within the company, because there were too many employees working and introduced new projects. Steve Jobs was back in business for Apple. From this point, the success of Apple started with the introduction of Mac OS X and the iMac. (Guha, 2005) The last ten years Over the last ten years, Apple is doing something different than most IT companies in the world. Apple keeps it simple with its product line. If you are going to compare the products Apple offers and the products Microsoft or Sony are offering, you will notice that Apple only has 4 iPods, one cell phone, three notebooks and three desktop computers. If you take a look at Sony, you will see that they offer us a wide variety of the same kind of products. The same is happening with many other companies, such as HP, TomTom, Garmin and Dell. Within those last ten years, you can see that Apple is finding niche markets and try to fill the gabs in these markets. Since Steve Jobs returned to Apple, it has changed a lot. Steve reviewed all product lines and changed it into distinct segments. Every Apple product has a different destination, because an iMac is available for all-in-one solutions and the Mac Pro is for the professional buyer. These are just examples of two of Apples products, but it is exactly the same with the other products, such as the iPod or Notebooks. If you go into more detail about the simple product lines Apple uses, we will find that the company Garmin produces approximately 82 GPS systems that can be used in a car or carried in your hand. From all those 82 designs, there are no big differences between all models, but the price different is huge. Compare this with the Apple strategy; you can conclude that Apple will make only one or two different GPS systems, because Apple will use all their technology they have into one or two models, instead of 82. This strategy counts for a higher profit, because Apple does not waste a lot of money on all kind of different designs with slightly different specifications. If we have a look at the cell phone industry and we have a look at Samsung, we will discover that Samsung offers plenty of different models on their website. Apple produces only one cell phone and upgrades this phone every year with better technology, instead of making 20 different models. To conclude this, customers hate to choose between many different products with the same specifications. Imagine that you are at a random TV store and see all the different LCD or Plasma TVs. Many people will say they like to have many choices, but on the other hand they hate it. That is something Apple took into account and only produces one or two models of the same product of top-notch quality that are easily available. Furthermore, everybody knows Apple for more than five years now and Apple is known as the company with fantastic quality and easy accessibility. All the advertising and promotions Apple did in the last ten years worked, because the iPhone which you can buy at Best Buy, does not require a salesman to sell this phone. The brand sells itself. (Asay, 2010) Over the last five to ten years, Apple had an enormous growth explosion. As you can see in Figure 3, Apple had a slow growth up to 2005, but after that they started introducing new technology, which gave Apple its growth explosion. The findings of this explosion are shown in Figure 3. Product differences between Apple and other companies Apple is a company that started with computers; this is still their main market. If we have a look at the differences between Apple computers and other PCs, we can conclude that there are big differences. The biggest difference between the two is the way both parties think about processes and philosophies. According to many people, after using a Mac, they say: Macs think like I do and PCs dont. Although the operating systems of PC and Mac are kind of similar to each other, the Mac requires less clicking, less menus and it is working as smooth as people expect them to. If we move on to the other products Apple offers, the iPhones, we will notice a lot of differences compared to other mobile phones. If we are going to compare the iPhone with other mobile phones, you need to compare it with the Androids in first place, because these phones are Apples competition at the moment. The first thing we will notice is the operating systems within the phone, because Apple uses iOS Mac systems and Androids is mostly based on Google. If you are using the iPhone with all the features Apple gives you, you will never notice the differences, but Apple does not support Adobe Flash, which allows you to view Flash Videos and Flash Games. Androids have a better open system, because if you want to download an application and this application is not in Googles official Android Market, you can still download it and run it properly. If we have a look at the Apple applications, you can only use the applications giving to you via the AppStore. This brings us to our next poin t, because security is really important using these expensive phones. The problem with Android is that one in five applications have security holes, which makes the phone less safe and changes of viruses or any other inconvenient error. That is what makes the iPhone the safest phone around at the moment, because they have a closed system, which allows you only to download within the AppStore. Furthermore, we can compare the interfaces of both phones. Apple is doing a great job using a very easy but fantastic interface. If you like to use the iOS interface, life is great, because it works smooth and quick. On the other hand, if you prefer to use widgets and see what other interfaces look like, the Androids are the way to go. (Dotree, 2010)

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Physics of Fencing :: sport physics fencing sword fighting

Before I begin my discussion about how physics effects fencing and how fencers use physics for more effective fencing, I will briefly discuss the origins of the sport of fencing. The first two fencing manuals were created and published in 1471and 1474. These emerged from an attempt at developing a system to teach people how to weild a light sword more effectively inbattle and duels in Frankfurt, Germany. Over the years, two distinct styles emerge. They were French and Italian. The french style relied mostly on strategy while Itialian used mostly physical strenght(Roswell). The first foils emerged during the seventeenth century for a more effective way of teaching students the "art" of dueling. In the eighteenth century, the rules were created for fencing as a sport. It is from these rules that today's rules for fencing were created(Roswell) In fencing there are three types of weapons that are taught. They are the epee, foil, and sabre. For the sake of this paper, the weapon being demonstrated is foil and the style is modern Italian. So without further ado.... Let us begin our discussion of physics with basic moves, and then move on to more advanced moves in fencing. Basic Fencing To begin with, we will discuss the effects of gravity on the body in the regular or "on garde" stance., and what forces are used during the "thrust" and the "lunge". On Garde Look at a picture of what a fencer looks like in the "on garde" position. As you can see, the larger arrow shows the pull of gravity. The smaller arrows show where gravity is pulling the limbs. Red being for the legs and yellow for the arms. Lunge Next, we will discuss the lunge. Below you will see two more images. First it is from the thrust position. Then the next image shows the lunge position. The lunge picture shows the forward momentum in the blue arrow. As in the previous pictures, the same colors are used for the same gravity applications, but the major difference is the effects of gravity on the legs. In this position, the effects of gravity are more severe because the legs are again further from the center mass of the body and therefore, more of the force of gravity is "pushing down" on the legs. So that will conclude the discussion of basic stances and physics of them. Next, we will discuss the more advanced moves and how fencers use physics to their advantage with them.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Innocent Victims :: essays research papers

Innocent Victims   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The news came one late afternoon. My girlfriend told me that Naomi had given birth. Instead of feeling joyous over the birth of my one time friend’s child, I felt both saddened and angry about this occasion. So I asked the inevitable question, â€Å"Is it OK?† The response to my question was just what I had hoped would not happen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Naomi is a heroin addict. She had just given birth to a premature baby boy that was addicted to the same drug his mother was shooting up. This innocent little guy was born with what doctors say is a mild form of brain damage. For the first few weeks of his life, he had to be treated with methadone to combat his withdrawal symptoms. Despite the severe damage Naomi caused to her baby, she still walks the streets of Carlsbad looking for her fix. The last I had heard of the little boy was that he was taken by Child Protective Services and placed in foster care waiting for a home.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mothers who prenatally expose their babies to hard illegal drugs cause serious damage to these children and should be criminally prosecuted. The physical, neurological, and behavioral effects on babies caused by drug use during pregnancy are disheartening. In spite of this blatant disregard for the child’s life, it is not considered a form of child abuse in most of our states. If a mother injected drugs into the tiny arm of her baby, causing permanent brain damage or death, surely the mother would be arrested and prosecuted. Yet that is exactly what addicted mothers do when they consume drugs throughout their pregnancy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In California, when a woman gives birth to baby with illegal drugs in its system, not much happens to the mother. According to an official from San Diego County’s Child Protective Services, the baby is placed on hold and is put in foster care. The case is then referred to family court for review. A judge then looks at the extent of the mother’s drug use and decides if it is safe to return the child to its mother. Depending on the amount of drug abuse, a mother is referred to a drug treatment program. If the mother completes her assigned program, she is reunited with her child. If she does not complete the program, the baby is then left in foster care and goes up for adoption.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Lionel Messi

Alex Bello Writing 2 Mrs. Chavez 1/17/13 Soccer I decided to write about soccer because it is something I love and have passion for. I have been playing soccer all my life since I started walking and haven’t stopped playing. I play soccer here at MCC and I was the leading scorer and I was selected for the 2nd team all-region as a freshmen. I was the only freshmen on the team to get this award. It is a privilege for me to have soccer in my life. I am so thankful that I am able to do something I love. I have an idol. A mentor and someone I look up to in soccer.His name is Lionel Messi. He is known as the best player in the world today, and some people say that he is the best ever. To my opinion, he is the best ever. He has done things in soccer that no one has ever done in the history of the sport. He scored 92 goals in one calendar year. The previous record was 86 goals in the 1980’s. That is an unbelievable record. Messi is only 5’6 but he is very strong for a sh ort guy. He was in born in Rosario, Argentina. He moved to Spain when he was only 7 years old and he has Spanish citizenship.When he became a pro, he decided to come play for his native country. Another part of soccer that really motivates me to play better, is watching the team FC Barcelona play. They are known as the best team In the world today. They are smooth and have a great touch with the ball. No other team in the world keeps up with their fast pace. Messi also plays for this team. This is where he set the record. In 2010, Barcelona set the record for winning every tournament of that year. I love to watch this team play. I learn a lot from them.Lionel Messi has played in 2 world cups, and by record, he doesn’t usually perform at his best. People say he is more lazy when he is playing for his country. Messi says that he always gives his 100% when he is out in the pitch. He also said that he is more nervous, but he promised that in the world cup of 2014 he will perform at a successful level. I am very excited to watch the 2014 world. It will be held in Brazil. It should be a very exciting event, also because it is the biggest sports tournament of the world.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Buddhism Versus Greek Mythology Essay

â€Å"[A human being] experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness, â€Å"said Albert Einstein. â€Å"Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty† (â€Å"Heart Quotes†). Einstein’s view on nature is similar to that of Indian Buddhists. Life-giving Indian weather inspired the Buddhist cyclic view of rebirth while the rugged terrain of Greece inspired their harsh outlook on nature. Buddhists believe man is one with nature while Greek mythology emphasizes the all-importance of man. Buddhists live in harmony with nature whereas the Greeks show violence towards it and all its creatures. However, as the Greek mindset shifted towards philosophy, so did it shift towards similar reverence towards nature. The defining distinction between these two perspectives on life is that the outlook on nature of Buddhists show values from the belief that all is in harmony with Atman, whereas the Greek outlook on nature shows that man is above nature. India is a country of lush plains, striking mountains, beautiful deserts, and dazzling bays. 2, 545 years ago, this incredible scenery served as the backdrop to Buddha’s life and eventual Enlightenment, from which Buddhist teachings would one day grow (Eckel 6). The impact of Buddha’s surroundings on Buddhist thinking is obvious, especially when one takes into consideration India’s dramatic seasonal climate changes. Every summer in India, the monsoons arrive. Every summer in India is monsoon season, a time of torrential downpours raging uninterrupted for months. Before these monsoons, the earth is dried and parched; food and water are scarce. It is, in every way, a season of death. Then, however, the rain arrives, harsh and relentless, but life giving nonetheless. The rain is the amniotic fluid catalyzing the re-entrance of life unto the barren earth. This annual cycle of death and rebirth presents the native people with a dire ultimatum: they must either obey nature or not survive. If they try to go against nature’s course, they will inevitably fail. Nature controls life. Observing this phenomenon, Buddhists learned from nature and realized that this cycle can be found everywhere. They realized that humans undergo an equivalent cycle called samsara, or reincarnation. ————————————————- â€Å"He could no longer distinguish the many voices, the cheerful from the weeping, the children’s from the men’s: they all belonged together. The lament of the knower’s yearning and laughing, the screaming of the angry, the moaning of the dying- everything was one; everything was entwined and entwisted, was interwoven a thousand fold. And all of it together, all voices, all goals, all yearnings, all sufferings, all pleasures, all good and evil-the world was everything together. Everything together was the river of events, was the music of life. And when Siddhartha listened attentively to this river, listened to this song of a thousand voices, when he did not listen to sorrow or laughter, when he did not bring his soul to any one voice and did not enter them with his ego, but listened to all of them, heard the wholeness, the oneness- then the great song of the thousand voices consisted of a single word, which was ‘om’: perfection†¦belonging to the oneness† (Hesse 118-119). At the core of Buddhism lies an important lesson about maya and Enlightenment. To reach Enlightenment, one must understand all. One of the first steps towards such understanding is to understand maya, or illusion. Everything that one sees, feels, and tastes belongs to the world of maya. Even one does not exist but in the world of maya. Thus, if all does not exist, then all is equal. One is equal to everything in the surrounding world, especially nature. All are one in Atman, which is the heart of all of Buddhism. Everything is one. All of this separation from nature and from one another is simply maya, or an illusion. Consequently, in Buddhism, any injustice done to nature is an injustice to oneself. To reach Enlightenment, peace and oneness with nature are essential. Man and nature are one. Therefore, everyone and everything, especially nature, should be treated as so. â€Å"[Siddhartha said,] ‘This stone is a stone, it is also an animal, it is also God, it is also the Buddha, I love and honor it not because it would become this or that someday, but because of this because it is a stone, because it appears to me now and today as a stone, it is precisely because of this that I love it and see worth and meaning in each of its veins and pits, in the yellow, in the gray, in the hardness, in the sound it emits when I tap it,  in the dryness or dampness of its surface. [T]hat is precisely what I like and what seems wonderful to me and worthy of worship†¦I love the stone and the river and all these things that we contemplate and also a tree or a piece of bark. These are things and things can be loved† (Hesse 126-127). In harmony with the principle of reincarnation, any plant, creature, or other aspect of nature is a part of the cycle of rebirth. Therefore, any of these can one day become a man, for when something in nature dies, it undergoes the cycle of rebirth and can be reborn as anything. One day, it will become a human. Nature holds the ability within itself to be a human and, for that reason, should be considered as an equal. The true magnitude of nature’s presence in Buddhism is truly portrayed by the distinct mentioning of Siddhartha reaching enlightenment under a tree, specifically the Bodhi tree or the Asiatic fig tree (Gach 16). The scriptural account of the Enlightenment of Buddha gives this significance to nature when Buddha sits under the Bodhi tree for seven whole days. After the seven days, the Buddha gets up only to sit down again at an Ajapala banyan-tree for another length of time. He rises once again just to sit down once more at the foot of a Mucalinda tree (â€Å"Bodhi Leaf†). Nature is therefore made clear as one of the most important aspects of Buddhism. As Buddhists have such a deep reverence for nature, they believe in keeping peace with every aspect of nature. This does not just mean plants but also animals and other living creatures. However, that does not mean that all Buddhists must be vegetarians although it is strongly suggested to do so. It is said that the act of eating meat is a form of karma that will lead a person farther from Enlightenment. Therefore, the more meat one eats in one’s various lives, the more times one will have to experience the cycle of death and rebirth. On the other hand, some Buddhists believe in another view of meat eating. One is allowed to eat meat that one receives unless one knows or suspects that the meat in question was killed especially for one (Epstein). As far as sacrificial practices, meat is not sacrificed but instead herbs and incense are given up in prayer. Peace is a very important aspect of treating nature. Peace comes in many forms: peace towards environment, towards creatures, towards man, etc. A Buddhist definition of peace is â€Å"softening what is rigid in our hearts† (Chodron 17). In keeping with their attitude towards nature, Buddhists also believe that a man should not kill another man for any reason. In Buddhism, war is never the answer. In fact, the first few lines of the Dhammapada, a Buddhist scripture, state â€Å"For love is not conquered by hate: hate is conquered by love. This is a law eternal† (Chappell 81). Therefore, instead of fighting hate with hate, Buddhists believe in fighting hate with love. That is the only way to overcome and to reach Enlightenment. â€Å"’When someone seeks,’ said Siddhartha,’ then it easily happens that his eyes see only the thing that he seeks, and he is able to find nothing, to take in nothing because he always thinks only about the thing he is seeking, because he has one goal, because he is obsessed with his goal. Seeking means: having a goal. But finding means: being free, being open, having no goal. You, Venerable One, may truly be a seeker, for, in striving toward your goal, you fail to see certain things that are right under your nose. † (Hesse, 121-122) As previously stated, to reach Enlightenment, Buddhists believe all that is needed is understanding. The ultimate goal of Buddhists is to attain this understanding, this meaning, this Enlightenment. However, one must be aware that spending a life seeking is not the way to reach Enlightenment. To be a faithful Buddhist, one must understand that the key is not to seek. For, in seeking, as this quote says, the obvious is not seen. Buddhism then teaches that to reach Enlightenment, one must find not seek. Therefore, Buddhists do not seek to explain nature (Hanh 78). They are content with nature as it is- unexplained, for nature’s explanations can be found without seeking. â€Å"’Is this what you mean: that the river is everywhere at once, at its source and at its mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the rapids, in the sea ,in the mountains, everywhere at once, and only the present exists for it, and not the shadow of the future? ’ ‘That is it,’ said Siddhartha. ‘And when I learned that, I looked at my life, and it was also a river and the boy Siddhartha was separated from the adult Siddhartha and from the old man Siddhartha only by shadow, not by substance. Nor were Siddhartha’s earlier births the past, and his death and his return to [Atman] are no future. Nothing was, nothing will be; everything is, everything has being and is present† (Hesse 94). A final important aspect of Buddhism is the concept that time does not exist. Time is a man-made notion that does nothing but bring about worries. All sufferings in life can be attributed to time. Buddhists believe that once the concept of time is released, life will hold no more problems, worries, or stresses. Only then can Enlightenment be truly reached. When the concept of time is destroyed inside oneself, it allows for a completely new philosophy to surface. Greece is a country lined with hostile, jagged mountains, in which there are very few arable location surrounded by threatening seas. There is no cycle, no preconception, no structure. To the Ancient Greeks, it seemed that nature was not kind; nature was no friend to them. Therefore, their logic decided that they should be no friend to nature. Such was the physical and mental location of this people, and the beginning of many differences between Greek thought and Buddhism. Greeks living about six hundred years ere the birth of Christ were very religious, as well as very diverse spiritually. All the answers to their questions were found in different religions. Ancient Greeks passed down their religious traditions orally through myths. A myth is â€Å"a story about the gods which sets out to explain why life is as it is† (Gaarder, 22). Greek mythology was an integral part of Greek culture. The ‘miracle of Greece’ is a phrase that describes the awakening of Greek culture and its effects on the rest of the world. One way the Greeks accomplished this was through their focus on man’s importance. They put mankind at the center of their world so that man was all-important. The Greeks even created the gods in their own image, complete with very human qualities. This was the first time in history that a god was made into a recognizable, tangible form. Erstwhile, gods had no lucidity about them. â€Å"Greek artists and poets realized how splendid a man could be, straight and swift and strong. He was the fulfillment of their search for beauty. They had no wish to create some fantasy shaped in their own minds† (Hamilton, 9). Man was put on a pedestal and made the most prominent being in the world, so that he was made into a deity. Any human could be the son of a god, thereby half-divine, an idea unheard of before this time. This idea of man being the ultimate authority is in complete contradiction to Buddhism, where man was equal to nature, not above it. â€Å"And soon as the men had prayed and flung the barley, first they lifted back the heads of the victims, slit their throats, skinned them and carved away the meat from the thighbones and wrapped them in fat, a double fold sliced clean and topped with strips of flesh. And the old man burned these over dried split wood and over the quarters poured out glistening wine while young men at his side held five-pronged forks. Once they had burned the bones and tasted the organs they cut the rest into pieces, pierced them with spits, roasted them to a turn and pulled them off the fire† (Homer 93) Myths were also used for other purposes than learning. â€Å"But a myth was not only an explanation. People also carried out religious ceremonies related to the myths† (Gaarder, 25). Like most other religions at the time, the Ancient Greeks’ religions consisted of brutal rituals and rites that contrasted greatly to the thoughts of Buddhism (Connolly 87). Buddhism teaches of kindness to animals whereas Greek religion utilized animal cruelty as part of their holy worship to the gods. The gods of Olympus, who were created in the ultimate image of the Greek people, used the forms of innocent animals to manipulate and get what they wanted. In many instances, Zeus used the guise of animals when he wanted to capture a woman and gain her trust. â€Å"[T]hat very instant [Zeus] fell madly in love with Europa [†¦ H]e thought it well to be cautious, and before appearing to Europa he changed himself into a bull† (Hamilton 101). However, rather than setting an example to revere animals, this teaches people to use animals in any way possible to reach the desired end. Even more opposed to Buddhism was the fact that a Greek hero was someone who had extreme strength or other physical features that he could use against animals. Hercules is one of the best examples of this notion. He is considered the greatest Greek hero ever to live. Through a tragic sequence of events, he killed his sons and wife, but was doomed to live on in order to undergo a series of trials to redeem himself. His first predicament was to â€Å"kill the lion of Nemea. Hercules solved [that] by choking the life out of [the lion]† (Hamilton 231). Hercules also had to drive out the â€Å"Stymphalian birds, which were a plague to the people of Stymphalus because of their enormous numbers† (Hamilton 232). This shows that, unlike Buddhists, Greeks could not live in peace with nature, but instead hated nature. Ancient Greeks did not want anything to do with nature, let alone be a part of it. Hercules also had to capture many animals in these trials such as the â€Å"stag with horns of gold†, â€Å"a great boar which had its lair on Mount Erymanthus†, â€Å"the savage bull that Poseidon had given Minos†, â€Å"the man-eating mares of King Diomedes of Thrace†, the cattle of Geryon†, and â€Å"Cerberus the three-headed dog† (Hamilton 232-233). Hercules inspired the Greeks not by staying in peace with nature but instead by forcing it to conform to his will in a harsh, cruel way. Hercules made sure he was above nature, a predicament the Buddhists avoided and even condemned. In summary, Greeks wanted to overcome nature whereas Buddhists wanted to be one with nature. â€Å"So by the beaked ships the Argives formed for battle, arming round you, Achilles –Achilles starved for war-and faced the Trojan ranks along the plain’s high ground[†¦T]he Achaeans kept on gaining glory- great Achilles who held back from the brutal fighting so long had just come blazing forth. Chilling tremors shook the Trojans’ knees, down to the last man, terrified at the sight: the headlong runner coming, gleaming in all his gear, afire like man-destroying Ares† (Homer 503, 505). As previously stated, Buddhists lived by the doctrine to fight hate with love. If Ancient Greeks had a concise doctrine about war, it would have been to fight hate with more hate. Ancient Greek civilization centralized around their love of carnage. The majority of Ancient Greek myths revolved around war or other forms of fighting. The Iliad is a 537-page myth about one war and it glorifies all aspects of war. The heroes of The Iliad are not monks or The Buddha like in Buddhism. Instead, the heroes of The Iliad are Achilles and Hector, two soldiers magnificent in warfare and bloodthirsty through and through. In addition, Achilles is most illustrious in The Iliad when he is the most sanguinary. â€Å"[Diomedes] went whirling into the slaughter now, hacking left and right and hideous groans broke from the drying Thracians slashed by the sword-the ground ran red with blood. [†¦]Tydeus’ son went tearing into that Thracian camp until he’d butchered twelve. [†¦]But now the son of Tydeus came upon the king, the thirteenth man, and ripped away his life. [†¦]Patroclus tore [Pronous’s] chest left bare by the shield-rim, loosed his knees and the man went crashing down. [†¦ Then Patroclus] stabbed [Thestor’s] right jawbone, ramming the spearhead square between his teeth so hard he hooked him by that spearhead over the chariot-rail, hoisted, dragged the Trojan out. [†¦Patroclus then] gaffed him off his car [†¦] and flipped him down face first, dead as he fell. Next [†¦] he flung a rock and it struck between [Erylaus’s] eyes and the man’s whole skull split in his heavy helmet. [Patroclus] crowded corpse on corpse on the earth. † (Homer, 292, 426-427) Even more horrific to the eyes of Buddhists would be the battle scenes in The Iliad that truly show the awe and glory the ancient Greeks saw in war. The Iliad was a myth that served more as entertainment than anything else. This shows that Ancient Greeks were amused by this kind of literature. Buddhists believe in not seeking to explain nature. By contrast, Ancient Greeks did precisely this with their myths. â€Å"[A myth] is an explanation of something in nature; how, for instance, any and everything in the universe came into existence: men, animals, this of that tree or flower, the sun, the moon, the stars, storms, eruptions, earthquakes, all that is and all that happens† (Hamilton 12). Ancient Greeks wanted to know how everything happened around them so they could manipulate their environment more easily. This is a central division between Ancient Greeks and Buddhism. Whereas Buddhists believe that time does not exist, Ancient Greeks were engrossed by time. All throughout The Iliad, Homer stresses how long the war has been going on and how it worries and distresses everyone involved. Unlike Buddhists, the Greeks do not disown the belief of time. They stay true to the traditional man-made vision of time instead of throwing out their problems by abandoning the idea of time. â€Å"[The natural philosopher] Heraclitus (c. 540-480 B. C. )[†¦] was from Ephesus in Asia Minor. He thought that constant change, or glow, was in fact the most basic characteristic of nature. [†¦ ]‘Everything flows,’ said Heraclitus. Everything is in constant flux and movement, nothing is abiding. Therefore we ‘cannot step twice into the same river. When I step into the river for the second time, neither I nor the river are the same’† (Gaarder 34). Slowly, Greek culture started to move away from religion and more towards philosophy. It evolved from a â€Å"mythological mode of thought to one based on experience and reason† (Gaarder 27). People could make ideas for themselves and create new beliefs instead of going back to the myths. The world started a shift from relying on religion to analyzing the world with science and philosophy. Surprisingly, this is where similarities between Greek and Buddhist culture were born. At first, the two religions of the ancient Greeks and the Buddhists clashed greatly. However, through the move away from mythical religion the Greek beliefs were brought closer towards the religion of Buddhism. Heraclitus here used the same metaphor for his philosophy as Siddhartha used for his. Although the passages were said in different situations and with different words, both quotes have the same general philosophy that time does not truly exist. A river is usually a sign of separation; a river acts as a divider in most cases. However, this river brings two very different cultures together in a very powerful way that is clear to all. Nature is everything outside and inside a man or a woman or a child. Nature is every breath taken, every step forward, every glance made, every wind blown, and every flower planted. The two cultures of Greece and Buddhism showed great contrasts in the beginning but one resounding similarity was found in something as simple as a river. India shows a cyclic weather that inspired the thought of rebirth while Greece shows a harsh terrain that inspired animosity between man and nature. As a consequence, Buddhists thought that nature and man are one while Greeks were taught to be above nature and manipulate it in any way possible. Buddhists lived in ultimate peace while the ancient Greeks lived in love of carnage. The Buddhist outlook on nature is derived from the belief that man is one with nature whereas the original Greek outlook is derived from the thought that man is above nature. Nature is the essence of the world, the aura of everything around people. These two cultures, although vastly different, impacted human belief and intellect forever.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Characteristics of Maggie and Don in the Rainbow Bird Essay

Maggie is a nature-lover & fascinated by nature. Instead of paying attention in class, Maggie’s mind â€Å"had been filled with a vision of the bird.† This clearly shows that she is so enthralled by the rainbow bird that she cannot concentrate in class. From what her mother said, â€Å"It’s a bird now†, I can infer that she may have other interests before. In school, she carried â€Å"beetles’ wings and cowries† about in her desk â€Å"to stare at† and this shows that she is a person who loves nature. Her love for nature is also evident in the way she reacts when she finds out that the Honey Man killed the rainbow bird and its family. Her anger and sorrow reveal how much the bird means to her. She is secretive, loner and is misunderstood by others. Maggie refuses to let her friends know about â€Å"her secret† about the rainbow bird. She is afraid that if they find out about the rainbow bird, they will start teasing and making fun of her. Maggie is very emotional, sensitive and revengeful. Upon hearing about the rainbow bird’s death, Maggie â€Å"lets herself get worked up† and started to curse the Honey Man. This is evident in â€Å"He will die. I know he will.. Serve him right, too† She hates the Honey Man so much that she describes him as a â€Å"devil† and a â€Å"beast† and wished that â€Å"forked lightning would leaped out of the sky and char him to ashes.† This clearly shows that Maggie holds a grudge against the Honey Man and is revengeful. Maggie immediately questioned the Honey Man, â€Å"What’re you doing with that gun?† This shows that Maggie is very straightforward and rude because she did not greet the Honey Man when she saw him. Immediately after school, Maggie â€Å"raced down† constantly urging Don to hurry up. This shows that she is anxious to meet the rainbow bird and impatient. She told Don to â€Å"chuck† the bird away and Don â€Å"obeyed† her. Maggie was able to make Don listen to her and able to control Don. Maggie could identify that it was Cafferty the Honey Man who was the â€Å"big, dark figure† on the slope. She could see a â€Å"lump† in his pocket. Maggie watched the Honey Man’s every move and is therefore observant. Even though the rainbow bird is dead, Maggie is still hating the Honey Man that he killed the bird. She also thought that the people were â€Å"burying the rainbow bird†. This shows that she is unrealistic and was still thinking about the rainbow bird. Maggie is imaginative. Although the rainbow bird is dead, Maggie is trying to â€Å"imagine† the rainbow bird and thought that the people were â€Å"burying the rainbow bird†. This shows that Maggie is very imaginative. Upon hearing that the Honey Man is charging â€Å"six-pence† for every rainbow bird, Don planned to go hunting for rainbow birds with other boys. He was not on his sister’s side and wanted to kill the rainbow birds for money. This shows that Don is greedy. Don â€Å"obeyed† his sister and â€Å"chuck† the rainbow bird away. Don wanted to † feel if there were any little ones† in the nest without considering that the mother bird would go away. He did not know that there was someone near the nest and was about to go on but Maggie stopped him. This clearly shows that he is rash, and do things without thinking. Even though the rainbow is dead, Don â€Å"pretended he did not care† and did not console his sister. He did not feel sad when the rainbow bird is dead. This shows that he is unfeeling and cruel.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Biblical Servant Leadership

Jesus set a great model to us. Yet He is the master, the greatest?he has the power and the ability to stand on top of the crowd but He Is also the least and the lowest to be able to wash the feet to human beings. I think the most challenged but precious part is the second one especially if you are a leader. That's why called â€Å"Servant† leader. Yet serving others can be tough; expending energies and time in the interest of others can be exhausting. I believe as a Christian we all experience that spent lots of time accompany with non-believers but then captioned later on or felt being used.Yet we felt hurt and trust me, I DO. However, every time when I look through what Jesus had suffered, the betrayal, I know there Is nothing to compare and I also be comforted from Him knowing He Is taking in charge; thereby, I become more mature slowly by slowly. I do believe the more you emulate from Him, the more you know how to be a real leader who stand firmly in this spiritual and sec ular world. Does one leadership model appeal to you more than the others? If yes, why? Yes.In y point of view, Richard Arden gives the most understandable and the easiest concept when we talk about how to be a servant leader. The whole point of being a servant leader is that you know God is the Lord. In other words, He is the first of the first. If there Is not God involves in then there will be just talking about the secular leadership. Therefore, God holds all the authority not a person (leader) who has this right from his own. Secondly, as a servant leader you must know you are the chosen partner from God to lead a group of people or a task to fulfill God's own wills.Therefore, leadership Is a partnership between the leader and God the almighty. Thirdly, Jesus has given the best example of being the first is being the last. He is the first, the almighty and the only one without the sin but bore the mocks from sinners and crucified for the rest. Another example, He, the first, had washed the feet for the followers as a servant (the least) with a humble heart. The real leader is not the one who can only be on top but often the one who humble himself to do the lowliest thing In the group.Fourthly, leadership Is a fullness of concept and action. A servant leader must do and think It completely from Inside out. You cannot hide the arrogance in your heart and do all the good things to others and say you are the loyal servant of God. There is no hidden thought that can't be seen from our Lord. Fifthly, leadership is the spiritual gift from God because not anyone can be given this empowerment. Therefore, the great power comes the great responsibility. At last, a true servant leader should be clear that all the followers who be authorized to lead

Friday, September 13, 2019

Is illegal immigration beneficial to the U.S. economy Term Paper

Is illegal immigration beneficial to the U.S. economy - Term Paper Example Illegal immigration, also known to as unauthorized or undocumented immigration refers to the passage and settlement of immigrants in a manner that contravenes the immigration rules and regulations of the destined country. Barry Chiswick, PhD, Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago  defined illegal immigration as follows; "By definition, illegal immigration arises from a divergence between whom the United States will accept as an immigrant and the desire of some foreign nationals to live and work in this country† (Procon 2007). Broadly speaking illegal immigration may take the form of undocumented/unauthorized entry, admission gained through fraudulent documents, extending the stay after the expiry of the temporary visas or crossing the border illegally. An estimated 11.9 million unauthorized immigrants live in the United States. In the last decade, on average, 5, 00, 000 new illegal immigrants made their way into the United States every year. The tally of total immigrant population in the United States touched 40 million in 2010, the highest in the history of the country. Approximately 66 percent of the unauthorized immigrants come into the United States by crossing the US-Mexico border; making Mexico the top illegal-immigrant-sending country. The rest of the one-third illegal immigrants reportedly continue to stay on in the country after the expiry of their temporary visas (Hanson 2009). At one point of time, the phenomenon of illegal immigration served the national interests of United States Pretty well. The illegal immigrants are willing to take up jobs in labor-scarce regions and also have no problems in accepting jobs that native workers and legal migrants shun. The illegal immigrants hold anywhere between 12 to 15 million jobs or 8 percent of the jobs in the United States (Hanson 2009). For varied reasons the existence of

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Our Parents Affect Us Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Our Parents Affect Us - Essay Example His aunt who was a devout Christian raised Hughes; she encouraged him to attend church proceedings so that he could be saved. Hughes narrates how his aunt told him that extraordinary things would occur in his life after he gets saved. He attends the revival church service where his aunt Reed worshipped so that he could experience the unusual feeling. Prior to the service, his aunt had advised him that he would experience â€Å"something on the inside and he would see the light† Hughes was anxious about experiencing the everlasting light of Jesus Christ (Yagelski, Amy & Robert 224). He attended the church service with the expectation of seeing the light physically. However, this does not take place because he was waiting for Jesus to appear and encourage him to join the rest of the children on the altar. He is forced to join the rest of the children on the altar out of peer pressure. Deep down he thought salvation was something physical not an inside feeling. He pretends to hav e experienced salvation to please his aunt. The impact of the words of our parents can be massive. Parents are the adults children look up to. Therefore, anything they tell their children is assumed to be true. Even when the words or stories told present some gaps the children perceive the words of the adults as something not to be questioned. Hughes believed the words of his aunt and when the anticipated feeling did not occur he was afraid to question his aunt and opted to lie. Hughes experience in â€Å"salvation† is similar to many other experiences of children. Children tend to comprehend the words told by our parents plainly. They believe that something will happen for real and not through imagination. Parents do not know the children fathom things that way; therefore, they keep on telling them fantasy stories that they understand as being true. Most of the time, the words of our parents influence our decision-making. Even though children do not comprehend all that their parents say when they are young. They pretend to understand so that they may not disappoint their parents. This is why Hughes pretended to be saved - he wanted to make his aunt happy. Maxine Hong Kingston is another victim of the impact of parents in â€Å"No Name Woman†. The stories told by our parents are meant to nurture our growth and ensure we behave properly (Yagelski, Amy & Robert 87). Parents fail to understand the fantasy developed by children because of the story or narration. For instance, Kingston is a young Chinese woman approaching adolescence; the mother is afraid of the impact of adolescence that may befall Kingston. Kingston’s mother tells her a story to frighten her and ensure she respects traditional morals and ethics, but many things go through the daughter’s mind; she tries to imagine the possible ways that her aunt’s misfortune happened. Kingston develops an imagination of what might have happened to her aunt. She kept on wondering what led to the suicidal decision of her aunt. Children have the tendency of developing similar fantasies from the stories told by parents. They tend to fill the gaps not answered by parents. The imaginations are developed because the stories told by parents are not fully imaginative; therefore, the children develop their own fantasy world to fill the gaps. The imaginations can go as far as Kingston’s imaginations. She keeps on wondering if her aunt was miserable because of the

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Issues currently occurring in the hospitality industry Article

Issues currently occurring in the hospitality industry - Article Example The author discusses the different approaches of research and their implications in organizational science and provides guidelines as to the ways of improving the credibility and value of research. The second article discusses the importance of competence in frontline management and the different methods of assessing the level of competence among students and managers with respect to frontline management in hospitality sector. The major issues faced by the global hospital industry are the changing demographics of the world which are impacting the trends within the travel industry. The emerging markets across the world, the shortage of labour and skills, innovations in technology, availability of capital, restrictions imposed in the travel industry, the increasing costs of constructions, balancing the expenses with the immediate need of increasing the rates and distribution revolution are the major factors affecting the global hospitality industry. Article 1: The importance of research tools and methods are critical in deciding the success of the hospitality industry, especially in the light of the changing global scenario. The various factors affecting the major changes in the trends of the hospitality industry can be effectively analysed through the use of different research tools and an increased level of collaboration between the research of academicians and practitioners (Dougherty and Westley, 2001). The author indicates that the proper use of research can create value for the hospitality industry. An approach of research through the practitioners is especially critical as the practitioners have a first-hand experience and can strongly indicate the customer satisfaction factors. Using a careful balance between the theoretical and practical aspects of a research work is necessary to create value for the research. The practitioners can contribute to the practical approaches to

Business letter assigment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business letter assigment - Essay Example He is the kind of person who has hope in every individual he comes across. His philosophy dictates that we are all unique, able, and capable in our own rights. These among many others are the reasons why I chose to take my classes from Professor XXXX in the past. The ultimate aim of writing this letter is to let the Faculty Affairs Committee know that Professor XXXX is the best candidate for the 2012-2013 Outstanding Professor. In this respect, I hope that my nominee will clinch the George and Miriam Phillips Outstanding Professor Award and enjoy the $1,000 gift therein. This hope and subsequent nomination of Professor XXXX is driven by the following three main reasons: The teaching and learning environment is critical to the realization and achievement of the set academic goals and objectives. For students to maximize on their ultimate potentials, this environment has to be favorable, reliable, and effectively and efficiently managed. Failure to do this results in functional complications here and there, aspects that tend to derail the desired academic direction. In the light of Professor XXXX’s duties and responsibilities at the CSU East Bay, the teaching and learning environment stands enhanced and aligned with student needs. His ability to collaborate with numerous campus stakeholders makes this process much easier. Student welfare reflects both personal and academic aspects. In order to promote student welfare, both personal and academic factors/variables have to be accounted for. It is important to note that welfare is a broadly defined provision that encompasses different needs, issues, concerns, tastes, and preferences. Summing up and balancing all these aspects produces the welfare effect. Notably, this welfare effect is fundamental to students and the education fraternity in general. Professor XXXX is essentially influential when it comes to promoting student welfare. His ultimate interest is to have every student