Supply Chain Management And Malaysian Palm Oil Industry

This Piece of Essay will show in depth that what is meant by â€Å"Sustainable Supply Chain Management† and its relation to Malaysian Palm Oil industry. The use of Supply chain management in Malaysian palm oil industry and diverse areas will be discussed. Further discussing what businesses and managers should consider utilising Malaysian palm oil like the challenges and downstream issues. This will be linked with different perspective like diverse workforce, issues of social responsibility and challenges of leadership. Then further discussing ethical responsibilities of consumers of palm oil industries. â€Å"Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Malaysian palm oil industry† â€Å"The best companies around the world are discovering a powerful new†¦show more content†¦The manufacturer (whether he is a manufacturer of a product or a provider of any service) keeps these people in mind while producing his commodity so that these people are satisfied by the product which is being sold to them. Their satisfaction is known as consumer satisfaction and if they are satisfied then profits for the firm become quite inevitable (Lambert, 2005). The rationale behind this is very simple as your consumer becomes more satisfied, he will become more loyal to your product and will prefer to purchase your product only and the priority over other competitors will be set on your product. SCM is a dynamic concept, it doesn’t necessarily move in the same direction. It can be upstream and it can be downstream as well. Supply chains are not supposed to be considered linear every time (GarcÄ ±a-Dastugue, 2003). Upstream chains talk about those links which are com ing into the organization and it could be in the form of raw materials or any sort of necessary information that is produced by the firm and then going outside (Simatupang, 2005). On the contrary, it can be downstream where finished goods are taken out of the organization. Downstream chains are those links through which the information or the product is taken out of the organization and it will be provided to its stakeholders (Halldorsson, 2007). The beauty of this concept can only be seen if the link is two-way. By a two-way link what we mean is that if some sort of information is transmittedShow MoreRelated SWOT Analysis of Sime Darby Company in Indonesia, Malaysia1975 Words   |  8 PagesCompany Background Almost 200 years ago, pioneering English planters established rubber plantations in Malaya, most of which later converted into oil palm. 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He was once the 3rd richest man in Malaysia with a net worth estimated to be 4.2 billion USD, making him the 204th richest person in the billionaire list compiled by Forbes. And to hisRead MoreResearch on Dalda Cooking Oil8217 Words   |  33 Pages |PAGE No | |INTRODUCTION | 2-4 | |Pakistan Edible Oil Industry Overview |5-6 | |Introduction History Of Dalda |5-6Read MoreEvaluating External Environment and Business Ethics: Samsung in Malaysia Case Study4568 Words   |  18 Pagesengineering for exports in Peninsular Malaysia during the 19th century, by 1883 Malaysia had turned into the biggest tin creator in the world (Miller, J. A., 2002). By the end of the 19th century, it was providing approximately 54% of the worlds tin. Palm oil and rubber are also important exports during this period. Samsung: Executive Summary Samsung Electronics was a company that had been established around the yard of 1969 and became an organization that was effectively industrialized its own productsRead MoreKFC ASSESSMENT4269 Words   |  18 Pagesï » ¿Table of content Introduction KFC is the largest and most famous brand in the quick service restaurants of the fast food industry in Malaysia. The firm opened its first outlet in Jalan Tungu Abdul Rahman in 1973. Today the firm boasts 390 restaurants nationwide and controls 35% market share of the fast food industry in Malaysia. Source: http://www.kfcholdings.com.my/English/Flashsite/BusinessUnits/Restaurants_KFC.asp Company vision: â€Å"To be the leading integrated food services groupRead MoreGreen Incentives in Malaysia3216 Words   |  13 Pagescountries such as UK, Japan have implemented strict environmental policies to enhance the quality on the environment and to preserve the sustainability of its resources. It is viewed that Malaysia’s effort has been marginal in achieving effective management of resources, pollution control and prevention of environmental degradation. Tax Incentives ENERGY Energy sector is one of the target sectors of Green Technology under the National Green Technology Policy. Various attractive incentives are givenRead MoreInternational Trade And The Uk4694 Words   |  19 PagesBeing an open economy also means that people from foreign countries can come to the UK and open their own business and start trading (Gabriele Giudice, 2012). The Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby offered to buy New Britain Palm Oil and because they are offering to buy a company in the UK they can bring palm oil into the UK. Palm oil has a high demand so buying this company will enhance the GDP in the UK and also create jobs. 1.2 Comparative advantage is when an individual or company is made to

Dictatorship And The Concept Of Good Government - 1221 Words

Dictatorship and the Concept of Good Government Introduction The government form of dictatorship (literally, ‘a chief magistrate’ from Latin ) is a form of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limitations , and is often stood in direct contrast to the government form of democracy (literally, ‘rule by the people’ from Latin ), a system of government in which all the people of a state... are involved in making decisions about its affairs, typically by voting to elect representatives to a parliament or similar assembly. ‘Good government’ is the description of how a government is supposed to be constituted and run, under the principles of good government. To be classed as a†¦show more content†¦Promising to uphold the tenants of democracy after the political instability of a military coup had subsided, Amin’s legitimacy as third president of Uganda began to be cemented in the United Kingdom, among other parts of the western world whilst these aforementioned crimes against humanity continued. It would not be until 1977 when the UK would officially sever diplomatic ties with the dictator8. Consensus Oriented Consensus decision-making is a group decision-making process in which group members develop, and agree to support, a decision in the best interest of the whole . This is displayed within the context of Australia’s representative democracy in two steps; first, via the delegates/representatives who stand for the will of the people are elected via consensus at an election, where the elected are those with the popular vote; and secondly, via the delegates/representatives standing for the will of the people during parliamentary hearings, where, once again, the popular vote is taken as the choice that will be enacted. Contrastingly, in dictatorial Uganda, these group decision-making processes are completely ignored. The will of one man – Idi Amin – is viewed as that of the people, who will then be forced into submission or face threats of thuggery, extortion, or public execution . This breaches the tenant as this is not the will of popular opinion of the people, however, a subset of the people who have the power (the dictator

What Men Live by free essay sample

Tolstoy What Men Live By is a story about a shoemaker named Simon. He did not have house or any land of his own. He earned his living by work to feed his wife and children. They had to share a sheepskin coat because he only had enough money to spend on food. Now he needed a new one because his only coat was worn out. He had money saved for his wife and he was supposed to get some from his customers. When he went to collect the money, no one had it for him and he only managed to get a small amount of money and he spent it on drinks. On his way home, he saw a man sitting naked on a rock. He gave his coat to him and brought him home. When his wife saw that he was drunk and also brought home a stranger, she was really mad. We will write a custom essay sample on What Men Live by or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Then she felt bad for the man and gave him food. The next morning, Simon told him to identify himself and he said his name was Michael. He knew the trade of shoe-making very fast. Within a year, his fame spread far and wide and Simon became rich. One day, a man came with a piece of leather that he wanted a long pair of boots made out of. Michael started working and instead of making boots, he made a pair of soft slippers. Simon was amazed. But the man who ordered the boots died and his mistress wanted soft slippers instead. A couple years passed by when one day a lady came to Simon’s place with 2 young girls, one was cripple. The woman went on to explain that they were not her children, but she takes care of them because their mother died. When the mom and the girls left, Michael spoke about himself saying that now God has forgiven him. He was actually an angel of God, who was sent to earth to get the soul of the mother of those girls. Michael who was a good angel learned the answers to the 3 questions God sent him to answer- what dwells in men? What is given to man? What do men live by? He learned from Simon’s wife that love dwells in man. He made the slippers because he knew that the man would not live to wear the boots so he made the slippers. He saw that it is not given to man to know his own needs. And lastly, he realized that all men live not by the thoughts they spend in their own welfare, but because love exist in man. I personally loved the story. It really makes you appreciate what you have in life and the actual beauty behind every little thing you do. A lesson can be learned from everything you do. You have to see God in everything you do.

Software Licensing Essays - Intellectual Property Law, Monopoly

Software Licensing In 1993 worldwide illegal copying of domestic and international software cost $12.5 billion to the software industry, with a loss of $2.2 billion in the United States alone. Estimates show that over 40 percent of U.S. software company revenues are generated overseas, yet nearly 85 percent of the software industry's piracy losses occurred outside of the United States borders. The Software Publishers Association indicated that approximately 35 percent of the business software in the United States was obtained illegally, which 30 percent of the piracy occurs in corporate settings. In a corporate setting or business, every computer must have its own set of original software and the appropriate number of manuals. It is illegal for a corporation or business to purchase a single set of original software and then load that software onto more than one computer, or lend, copy or distribute software for any reason without the prior written consent of the software manufacturer. Many software man agers are concerned with the legal compliance, along with asset management and costs at their organizations. Many firms involve their legal departments and human resources in regards to software distribution and licensing. Information can qualify to be property in two ways; patent law and copyright laws which are creations of federal statutes, pursuant to Constitutional grant of legislative authority. In order for the government to prosecute the unauthorized copying of computerized information as theft, it must first rely on other theories of information-as-property. Trade secret laws are created by state law, and most jurisdictions have laws that criminalize the violations of a trade-secret holder=s rights in the secret. The definition of a trade secret varies somewhat from state to state, but commonly have the same elements. For example, AThe information must be secret, Anot of public knowledge or of general knowledge in the trade or business, a court will allow a trade secret to be used by someone who discovered or developed the trade secret independently or if the holder does not take adequate precautions to protect the secret. In 1964 the United States Copyright Office began to register software as a form of literary expression. The office based its decision on White-Smith Music Co. v. Apollo , where the Supreme Court determined that a piano roll used in a player piano did not infringe upon copyrighted music because the roll was part of a mechanical device. Since a computer program is textual, like a book, yet also mechanical, like the piano roll in White-Smith, the Copyright Office granted copyright protection under the rule of doubt. In 1974, Congress created the Natural Commission on New Technological Uses (CONTU) to investigate whether the evolving computer technology field outpaced the existing copyright laws and also to determine the extent of copyright protection for computer programs. CONTU concluded that while copyright protection should extend beyond the literal source code of a computer program, evolving case law should determine the extent of protection. The commission also felt copyright was the best alternative among existing intellectual property protective mechanisms, and CONTU rejected trade secret and patents as viable protective mechanisms. The CONTU report resulted in the 1980 Computer Software Act, and the report acts as informal legislative history to aid the courts in interpreting the Act. In 1980 The Copyright Act was amended to explicitly include computer programs. Title 17 to the United States Code states that it is illegal to make or to distribute copies of copyrighted material without authorization, except for the user=s right to make a single backup copy for archival purposes. Any written material (including computer programs) fixed in a tangible form (written somewhere i.e. printout) is considered copyrighted without any additional action on the part of the author. Therefore, it is not necessary that a copy of the software program be deposited with the Copyright Office in Washington, D.C. for the program to be protected as copyrighted. With that in mind then a copyright is a property right only. In order to prevent anyone from selling your software programs, you must ask a court (federal) to stop that person by an injunction and to give you damages for the injury they have done to you by selling the program. The Software Rental Amendments Act Public Law

Creatine Response essays

Creatine Response essays Contrary to the popular belief, not every single person will respond to creatine monohydrate. Approximately 20-30% of the people who try to use creatine in order to gain muscle mass will not be affected in normal circumstances. These nonresponders may not always be unresponsive to creatine administration. Under certain circumstances, such as taking the creatine monohydrate along with high glycemic sugars (sugars that are quickly absorbed into the blood stream), the desired results may be attained. People who may not necessarily benefit as much from creatine supplementation are those individuals who have a naturally high level of creatine in their blood due to liver production. Also, older people and very young people such as children seem to respond less to creatine supplements. Less known to the general public is creatines medical use. Even though touted for its effects on helping to increase muscular mass, creatine monohydrate can also be used as a therapeutic agent. Studies at McMaster University in Canada have shown that people suffering from muscular dystrophy have had positive results when creatine was given to them. While creatine cannot cure muscular dystrophy, it can certainly improve the quality of life for a person suffering from this disease. Creatine also can be useful in helping people ailing from Huntingtons disease or ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrigs disease). A study by Cornel University Medical Center proved showed that the taking creatine supplements by people suffering from neuromuscular diseases such as ALS or MD shows better maintenance (up to 100% better) than some prescription drugs. According to the Cornell study, the reason for ALS improvement is that there is an increased availability of energy to injured nerve cells or to a blocking of the chemical pathway that le ads to cell death. ...

7 New Year’s resolutions for career-oriented parents

7 New Year’s resolutions for career-oriented parents Do you fall prey to the New Year’s resolution rollercoaster? In winter, most of us decide I will do better. By springtime, you already feel like a failure- or, you simply forget why it was so important to wake up every day at 5 a.m. to go to the gym. With kids, you’re not only navigating personal or professional goals; your resolutions can also factor in a whole other person or set of people: This summer I will finally teach my daughter to ride a bike! Setting resolutions can be truly intimidating, and if you reach too far, you’ll set yourself up for disappointment and bad feelings. The real goal in making resolutions is to tap into the motivation you feel in the new year by setting low-key, flexible goals so you’re not setting yourself up for failure.1. Shoot for good-enoughism, not perfectionismThis first one is a meta-resolution. There’s an old proverb:   Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Whether you missed a school recital or aren’t as far along in your career as you hoped, you have to get over the longing to be all things to all people, ditch the guilt, and meet yourself where you are. Give yourself a forgiving timeline to meet your goals and allow yourself to simply be good enough.2. Establish new traditionsSchedule a new family outing once a month on the weekends- maybe explore a hiking trail or visit a local museum. Fostering a sense of adventure and trying new things can help you get out of a rut, and it also allows you to prioritize family time in a fun way outside of the house. Plus, once a month is a reasonable goal to set, and something the family can look forward to every time the calendar page turns.3. Take a personal day once a monthPrioritizing self-care is something working parents â€Å"forget† to do (or perhaps feel is impossible), but it is something you need to do in order to remain centered, healthy, and able to be a good employee and a good parent. A whole day to do those little tasks that have been nagging but not urgent, or to get yourself organized, or take a long bath or read a good book- whatever a personal day looks like to you that would help you re-center- can allow you to de-stress and gain better overall focus. When you have too much going on, sometimes it’s important to just hit the pause button. You  can tackle all your tasks the next day, we promise.4. Ditch the multi-taskingHave you heard multi-tasking is bad? Like, really bad. When you try to do two things at once, which is actually impossible, you do both things worse and your ability to focus suffers. But parents, whether you are aware of it or not, are constantly multi-tasking by default, trying to meet the needs and demands of multiple people at once. So, it takes extra care to try to focus on one task at a time. You need to establish boundaries. Kids know when you’re distracted, so half-listening to your daughter tell a story as you write an email sends the w rong message to her. Give yourself a clear space to do this task; go into another room and help your kids learn patience as they wait until you are finished.5. Declutter your commitmentsParents get really good at saying â€Å"no† to their kids but are not necessarily good at applying the same practice to peers or coworkers. When you’re juggling too much, you have to prioritize. Will doing this make me happy, will it make me a better person, will it enrich my life? Make sure you feel a strong â€Å"yes† when you agree to do something. You don’t need to bend over backwards for everyone. Learn when your â€Å"yes†es constitute being a good coworker, a good parent, or a good citizen, and learn to say â€Å"no† when things are too much.6. Curb your emailThis is along the same lines as learning to say â€Å"no.† Email â€Å"autoreply messages† aren’t just for vacation time. It can be really freeing to turn on your autoreply me ssage on your email as the last thing you do before you step out of the office. It sets a clear boundary in your mind that you will leave work behind, and also communicates that to others. If you don’t have a 9-to-5 job, this can prove trickier, but all the more vital. Set times when you will actively not check email and not think about work.7. Declutter your â€Å"stuff†The new year brings all the stuff you collected over the old year plus the new stuff you got from the holidays. It’s time to make space for that new stuff: recycle, donate, make a few bucks on Ebay, and empower your kids to decide what they no longer use and discover what clothes no longer fit. This can be a seasonal practice. But if you find your collection of â€Å"stuff† too daunting, even just getting rid of just one thing you don’t need in the new year will clear your mind and make you feel productive for 2019.

Place, Promotion and Price Strategies ZTE Computer Tablet Market Entry Research Paper

Place, Promotion and Price Strategies ZTE Computer Tablet Market Entry in the US - Research Paper Example â€Å"According to leaked screenshots leaked by an Amazon source of its internal inventory management system Alaska, and published by Cult of Android, the Kindle Fire is on its way to outselling even the Apple iPad† (Barbara, 2011). Kindle Fire’s Tablet recent robust performance in the market is a positive development in marketing computer tablet in the US because it demonstrates that Apple’s Ipad is not invincible to the competition as initially perceived. This is an encouraging development for ZTE because it manifests that given with a right product and strategy mix, it is possible that ZTE can outsold Apple’s Ipad. This development tells that ZTE’s aggressive marketing objective in 2015 is realistic and doable. ZTE is not new in the U.S. market. It currently sells smartphones, feature phones, modems and devices within the U. S. market and has worked with U.S. carriers like AT&T Inc., Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA (Khariff, 2011). In terms of brand recall, ZTE is no longer a stranger to American consumers. Such that when it introduces its tablet computers in the American market, it already has brand awareness where it can capitalize to gain more market share. ZTE Corporation is the second largest manufacturer of mobile phone gear in China. Being such, it has the advantage of scale to be able to sell its products at a lower cost. In contrast, Apple Inc is only the fourth selling computer brand in its own domestic market (America) dominating only the computer tablet market segment. This leading position is even currently threatened by Amazon’s Kindle Fire Tablet’s recent robust sales performance. ZTE also had a successful launch of its tablet outside the U.S., offering global tablet markets Google Android based tablets, like the one used in the Kindle Fire and Samsung Galaxy Tablet (Khariff, 2011). Considering these factors in competition, the possibility that ZTE’s inexpensive product offerings will establish them as the tablet PC market share leader by 2015 as predicted by TechGadgetWeb.com (2011). ZTE however has to employ the right marketing mix to successfully penetrate the US market and become a market share leader by 2015. To be able to employ the right marketing mix, it is necessary to elaborate the aspects of marketing mix which are; Table I Place Distribution and retail channels, online presence, geographic considerations, public appearances and performances (also an aspect of promotion), and delivery Promotion Marketing materials, initial offerings, social media /internet, press and PR, advertising, relationship marketing and public appearances and performances Price Market penetration goals, competition, customer buying power, regional and segment differences, current economic conditions (Source: www.businessmate.org) Place For ZTE to successfully enter the US market, ZTE has to capitalize on its existing marketing channels. Currently, it has a partnership with five majore carriers in the US that includes Verizon, the dominant US mobile phone carrier. Capitalizing on the existing network of this mobile phone carriers provides ZTE an easy penetration in US the market. The major carriers in the US has an established marketing network that makes it ideal for a new entrant like ZTE as a place of distribution for its products. ZTE’s exposure to Verizon and other mobile phone carr

Compare and contrast the work and lives of Walter Gropius and Oscar Essay

Compare and contrast the work and lives of Walter Gropius and Oscar Niemeyer - Essay Example The art of architecture is not in its defiance of function, but in its ability to create a form through which functioning within the structure takes on meaning. Walter Gropius created a school in which the exploration of craft, art, and the functionality of a building through the form of its design was explored. His theories on teaching were based upon ideas of innovation and his students were encouraged to create their world by working with materials so that they could find how they could be used in expressive and innovative ways. Gropius must be understood to understand how the rest of Modernity through architecture has been achieved. Oscar Niemeyer is still a working architect, even at the age of 106. At the age of 101 he wrote his memoirs, explaining the trajectory of his life and how his politics prevented his work in the West and despite them he was still able to contribute to architecture because of his beautiful and extraordinary curvaceous forms. Although he was a Communist and he was dealing with the world as it was conditioned during the 1940s and 1950s to deny those who believed in Communist politics to work, he was still able to be a contributing architect to the UN building and to build beautiful works of art within which public functions could be accomplished. Gropius and Niemeyer were contemporaries, although Niemeyer was younger. Their histories intersect in the United States where the German born Gropius had migrated to Boston and Niemeyer was asked to become the dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, the second post that he would have to decline because of his associations with the Communist Party and the political climate in the 1950s. Walter Gropius Walter Gropius was born in 1883 and died in 1969, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and a history of teaching those ideas that he came to discover. Along with Oscar Niemeyer, who is the second subject of this paper, was a pioneer of modern architecture and ideas on form. Lupfer, Sige l, and Gropius write that without knowledge about Gropius, Modern architecture cannot be understood. His ability to communicate was his most powerful resource as he could not draw well.1 Therefore it was necessary for his associates to create what he could describe, his work the result of collaborations with those who could put into a drawing what he could not. His ability to communicate resulted in founding the Staatliches Bauhaus, or more commonly just referred to as the Bauhaus, was a school that was focused on the arts and craft.2 Craft is often seen as something less in modern interpretations, but the true idea of craft is the ability to build something that is high quality and with fine design. It might be said that art interprets life while craft enables it. Something is crafted when raw materials are developed into something that can be used in the everyday. Gropius said that â€Å"Let us then create a new guild of craftsmen without the class distinctions that raise an arro gant barrier between craftsman and artist!†3 Of course, not all art is interpretation and not all craft is used in the everyday, but it is a good way to consider the two. The Bauhaus was likely the direct result of the

Qvc Case Analysis Essay Example for Free

Qvc Case Analysis Essay Case QVC Author: NA HG495 – Case Analysis Instructor: NA Abstract This case analysis will be focused on the company QVC (Quality, Value, and Convenience). We will perform an analysis review, which, will provide a comprehensive insight into the company’s historical and current business structures, strategies and efficiencies in their operations. It will include a detailed SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) (Humphrey) and the primary activities of the Value Chain Analysis (Porter), to provide greater insight into the firms’ competitive advantage. These key concepts will be used to analyze QVC’s business model, define potential challenges and initiate a plan of execution. We will then recommend solutions such as advocating products with higher profit margins, finding evolving technologies and untapped markets and streamlining logistics. These strategies would expand the customer base and create higher ROI (Return of Investment), positioning the company towards timely growth. Introduction: QVC is a multimedia retailer, specializing in televised home shopping, broadcasting in five countries (US, UK, Germany, Japan and, Italy), 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to over 90 million households in the United States and 160 million homes worldwide. They offer a wide range of products with over 1500 major brands and 50,000 products, including beauty, fashion and accessories, jewelry, craft and leisure, home electronics, garden, and do-it-yourself (DIY), and clearance goods. The company has store operations in the US, which includes Delaware and Pennsylvania. QVC also has a lucrative website called iQVC (www. qvc. com) that generates over 1 billion of sales on its Internet operations. Since it was launched in 1986; QVC has rapidly grown to become the largest television shopping network. By 2006, its reach had extended to over 95 percent of all U. S. cable homes, as well as, over 25 million satellite homes. It shipped over 140 million packages during 2006 to customers around the world, resulting in almost $7. 1 billion in sales and over 1 billion operating profit. Sales were made to over 10 million customers, who watched its shows across the US, UK, Germany, Japan and Italy. Problem: Doug Rose, QVC’s vice president of merchandising brand development, claims that the interactivity in all aspects of the firm’s business and operations, including its television shopping channel, will need to become more pronounced. Making it easier for customers to act on what they see. QVC believes that it still has a lot of room to grow, since only about 2% to 3% of its television viewers currently purchase at any given time. Bringing that percentage higher is the main problem that affects the major revenue stream and would require an internal/external analysis (balance scorecard) to bring in new viewers/customers to purchase their products. There are other challenges that can attribute to generating more revenue, such as, selling products with higher margins and offering shopping channels to customers outside North America. They could also add more interactive features that would allow more access.

MARK OF THE X: PETER TOSH & MALCOLM X :: essays papers

MARK OF THE X: PETER TOSH & MALCOLM X Words can influence and move a group of people to fight for what they believe in. There have been several influential leaders throughout time. These men and women have changed the shape and direction of our world. Their influence and passion has made it possible for people to fight against injustices. Within this group of leaders there are several different styles and approaches to uniting people and fighting for a cause. Some of these leaders and their styles are ubiquitous, while others only have a few paragraphs in the history books. The civil rights movement in the United States and the civil unrest in Jamaica had two different types of leaders. The first was the civil, peaceful and universally excepted leader. Bob Marley and Martin Luther King Jr. encompassed these qualities. On the other hand, the militant, revolutionary and controversial leaders also played a major role in these movements. Peter Tosh and Malcolm X were the characteristically hostile leaders of each of these mo vements. Although, all four of these leaders were effective in their own ways, ultimately, it was only the peaceful and socially "accepted" leaders that had a lasting impact and were able to create, what seemed like, permanent change. The similarities between Peter Tosh’s life and Malcolm X’s are uncanny. They both went about change in a way that was exclusive and unsettling. In the end it is clear that in order to impact people significantly one has to play by the rules that the dominate society sets up. Bob Marley and Martin Luther King Jr. did this. The change and "justices" that Marley and King fought for seem somewhat misleading. Although took steps towards equal rights they did this on the white man’s terms thus making their "justices" seem more illustrious then they actually were. Both Malcolm X and Peter Tosh had similar upbringings in that they both experienced the hardships of growing up poor without their parents. Peter Tosh grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. This area is located outside of the larger Trenchtown and is known as a "ghetto." Without the guidance of either of his parents, Tosh was raised by his grand-aunt until he was fifteen years old. Similarly, Malcolm X’s father was murdered when Malcolm was only six and a couple of years later his mother was taken from their home and put into an institution.

Economic Impact Of The Development Of Airline Industry Essay

Hardly many inventions can manage to change the way people live and also how they experience the world like the way inventing airplane has done. The airline industry offer air transport for passengers. The airlines companies own the airplanes or may lease them. Airlines Company differs in terms of capacity, some are smaller with one or two airplanes to transport mail and cargo, while other are big multinational companies with hundreds of aircrafts. Majority of airlines are privately owned, though some are government owned. Today, the air travel has grown to an extent that no one can imagine life without it. Air travelling as greatly reduced travelling time and opened up links all over the world. Economic Impact of the development of airline The air airline industry has played a major role in world economic growth; it has improved the mobility and facilitated world supply lines all over the world. The aviation industry not only serves as an economic tool for nations and cities, but also servers as a vital network for transport within the world. The industry creates jobs by providing them directly and also by creating opportunities in the travel and hotel industry. Aviation industry has continued to be critical in the world economy, in terms of creating these job opportunities, and the industry has employed thousands of employees in the whole world. And has the industry continue to grow more jobs are created. This leads to economic growth. Transport plays a major role in making sure that goods reach their destinations. The World Bank estimates that the airline industry contributes to a total of 5% economic growth in the world. Competition Competition in the industry can be traced back when most governments deregulated the industry I order allow competition among the industry to regulate fares. For many years now this resulted in low fares as the airline industry responded to customers needs. Most of the reduced fare also comes from new players on the market, and also from the big airlines themselves. With the growth of economy in many countries, more travellers are using the air, this id due to the fact that the fares have also been reducing gradually. In a report carried out in America by the senate, it was found out that competition has resulted into low fares, and from 1990 the traffic has gone up by over 33%, it was found out that the number of flights had also gone up to over 20%. This of course has a positive impact on economic growth. Competition in the industry has also lead to mergers as small companies fail to compete. This has improved the industry service delivery. It is important to note better service delivery has economic advantage. With the economic development being witnessed in many countries, the amount of travelling has gone up. Many people are travelling to transact their business. The high demand of air passengers has caused resource constraints, on airports and also on airways, especially during the peak travelling periods. Business community usually travels at these times and normally makes last minute bookings. However, main airlines have planned their networks to be able to meet the high rate flight requirement by the business passengers, though; these fares are expensive as the airlines need to cover cost of servicing high number flight. Nevertheless, airline competition and the way they price their tickets causes concerned. It has been noted that, with the emerging of low fare trends that have been occurring since 1996, when smaller airlines enter into this market with low fares, the major airlines drastically reduce their prices. And also avail a high number of low fare seats. This behaviour seems to be ill intended because it aims at repressing competition from the smaller airlines. Increase in fuel prices Oil and fuel prices have continuously increased for the past 10 years, for example, in 2001 the price per barrel was $20, yet in 2006 it had reached $75. The increase in price can be attributed to various such as, high demand of oil, collapse of Yukos Oil Company in Russia and political instability in the Middle East. This high increase in oil prices has affected the aviation industry. The increase in fuel prices has lead to reduction in the global trade. It is estimated that about 40% of goods traded on the world market are transported by the air, and cargo traffic is used to reflect economic growth. Fuel account for 20-30% of the total cost of operation expenses of the airline industry. Due to this high cost in oil the economy has suffered negatively. The microeconomic effect for those countries which import oil will be harsh, in the industry high prices is a big problem; the companies are forced to increase consumers’ fares to upset the fuel price increase, for example if fuel price reached 100$ per barrel, then a gallon of jet fuel will be more than 3$. This will imply that a passenger will have to pay 50$ more to travel than previous. This will result in reduction of passengers and for the case of cargo transporters it may lead to high reduction in demand of their services, which may spell down for the airline companies. The indirect impact on the airline industry caused by high fuel prices in the increase in airline products prices. The overall impact is reduction in international trade. As pointed out by the world trade organisation , increase in oil prices leads to low economic growth as it was observed in 2005. Terrorist threat Since the September 11 terrorist attack, the airline industry suffered so much, the industry experience a reduced number of passengers as many opted to use alternative means. The economic impact on the global level was immerse, has many countries experienced low foreign exchange due reduced business especially in tourism industry. The terrorist attack had a big effect on the aviation industry, and also on the economy. In America alone, more than 2 million passengers travel on air daily. Airline industry and tourism alone account for mote than 8% the world GDP. With the imminent threat of terrorism, the industry has undertaken different security measures. For example in America, the industry has to use over 11$ billion in security improvements. This costs at the end of the day have to be met by the passengers, thus, the fare in the industry have steadily gone up. This has reduced the volume of goods and passengers using the industry and negatively affected the economy. Any small distractions in the industry send shock waves in many other industries. Currently, the industry has experienced a trend by which they are weak economy, insecurity fear and other issues. This has led to reduced number of passengers flying. Even those passengers who are flying they are paying less because most of them are taking economy seats. This trend has resulted in decline of the growth of the industry. In decline in the industry usually result in reduction of economy growth of the world economy. After the September 11 many airline companies grounded their business due to security concerns this was so pronounced in America. The impact of the attack reverberated all over the world. It was estimated that the attack caused a reduction of 1% world economic growth. In this area of global economy the aviation industry all over the world suffered. The industry saw an increase in costs of airline insurance, increased expenses on security, and customer fear to travel using the air due to insecurity. This led to massive losses for the industry in the whole world. This was the worst disaster the industry had suffered in the past 50 years. In whole world more than 400,000 jobs were lost. Decline in the air travel has a direct consequence on number of business which includes tourism, travel agencies and entertainment spots, this is felt global. It is important to note that, in the continuous threat of terrorist, the world economy has been affected badly. The industry had to go through lean times and some companies had to shut down. Conclusion The airline industry is very important in economic development, the airline employees a lot of people directly and indirectly. The industry has developed steadily over the last 50 years, and has continuous grown. Competition, fuel increase and terrorist attack pose a serious challenge to the industry and the industry should come up with ways to controlling these effects to maintain profitable. However, the airline industry will continue to grow though, it will be faced with more challenges.

Paul Kennedys arguments on the rise and fall of great powers Essay

In the world’s history, the face of the earth has witnessed power supremacy between various countries and states. All along from the Spanish rein in their days on the sun, the Britain, France and now the US. All this scenes on the globe have a significant impact on the relative powers on the either side. The outstanding issue is not the power but forces behind that power rise, sustainability and its fall. Therefore this essay shall examine the ways of measuring this power sustainability according to the Paul Kennedy’s perspective in his argument on the rise and fall of major world powers. Introduction  Professor Paul Kennedy argues about how predictable and determinable is the raising and declining of the major powers in his book entitled: The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Change and Military Conflict From 1500 to 2000. In this book he presents the parameters which are used to measure the prospects and indicators of rising and decline of world’s major power. Furthermore, arguments are presented together with empirical studies of the major world powers, which encompass both political and economical dimensions of the Great Powers. This studies rates and discusses the rise and their fall from 1500 to 1980. Additionally, apart from exclusively discussion their rise and fall, his argument goes beyond the prevalent conditions and projects the future of the US, Japan, China, European Economic Commission and USSR. The core of the Kennedy’s argument is that the strength of a power of a nation or a state can only be measured relative to the other existing powers . In this connection, the fundamental issue that he uses as a scale is the fact that major powers rising, falling and their sustainability entirely depend on the available resources and economic durability and military strength relative to its requirements for prospering. Therefore, the argument for measuring the decline or prosperity of a given world power is through military power and its inputs and the economic and productive power. The two measuring devices employed by Professor Paul Kennedy 20 year earlier are the central base for this essay paper. Through use of military and economic propensity this essay shall examine the major world powers their rise and decline. Also related to the Kennedy’s argument is the prediction of the decline of the USSR and US as a major world power or super power , while prediction of gradual but steady raise of china as a major power. The central thesis of Paul Kennedy is that the power of a state needs to be maintained and sustained. Therefore the more the power of a state increases, the more resources shall be needed to maintain. The maintenance of a power should be balance between both in military and economic power . But when more state resources are devoted towards maintaining military power in long term it weakens the power and directs it to the path of decline. While when productivity economy slightly overweighs military expenditure the power is stable and can be maintained. Therefore the key driver of the power of a state entirely relies on the economic component of the power. Thus the main argument is; power can only be maintained by a prudent balance between the creation of wealth and military expenditure. Therefore the essay shall closely look at this argument that emphasizes on the power measuring parameter using the balance between wealthy creation and military expenditure. In order to do this effectively the essay shall evaluate how reliable and valid is the argument basing on the major historical world powers; especially the Germany, France, US, Moguls of India, Ottoman Empire, USSR, China, Japan and Great Britain. Measures for rise and fall of a great power state The countries in this regard power can only be measured and gauged with each other only when their military mighty sustainability costs balances with their economic production or wealth creation through investments or production of gods and services. 0 years earlier Paul Kennedy researched, wrote and interpreted the major world power how they rose over the years into their day on sun and the dark side of their power into decline. Therefore at this point it is worthy to examine how relevant are the two measuring parameter and how realistic are they to today’s reality on our globe, traced from the past and extrapolated into the future. Economic and productive power The key driver of the power of a state entirely relies on the economic component of the power in terms of its productivity. This is because as the government running, planning and execution of the plans depends on the engine of the economy. Most evident is that, British financial strength was the single most decisive factor in its victories over France during the 19th century. Therefore in this argument Professor Kennedy argues that it is possible to detect the rise and fall of different powers in the world by looking at the economic indices. In this regard economic power dictates the power prosperity. For instance the economic dimension is important to maintain the military mighty. In this connection, economic production should overweigh or balance the expenditure to the military sector. For example Spain, Britain, France and Netherlands military expenditure overweighed their economic production that has lead to their declines since then. Addition to that, we can agree today that during the entire 19th to early 20th century the Great Britain was the fore front in the entire world as a great power. The reason for its being on the fore front was the fact that industrial revolution placed it on that position. This is can be empirically evident that Britain per capita grew from 10, 16, 25, 64, 87 and 100 in 1750, 1800, 1830, 1860, 1880, and 1900 respectively. At this time France which was a relative competitor for this great power had its per capita from 9, 9, 12, 20, 28 and 39 in 1750, 1800, 1830, 1860,1880 and 1900 respectively . Therefore gauging at these two difference in the production of the in terms of industrial per capita, it implies that the UK had an upper hand even in financing its major military operations than France therefore can maintain the slot of being major power on the globe . Another indicator that is used to measure the rising and declining power under the economic and productive power; is the relative share of the worlds manufacturing outputs. In this respect, great power states manufacturing output can really determine the peaks and troughs of power. For example UK’s output is1. 9 percent in 1750, then in 1860 it was at 19. 9 percent, and 22. 9 percent in the year 1880. While china’s starts at an index of 32. 8% in 1750 and declines to19. % in 1860, after the Taiping Rebellion and Opium Wars ; then declines further to 12. 5% in 1880. The two combinations give an insight of the power that is capable financially so that it can be able to run its functions effectively. In this light, statistics of war time indicates that during its reign Britain was capable to maintain its war expenditures effectively. Thus in 1688 to 1815 the total wartime expenses were ? 2,293,483,437 , Britain income was pitched at  Ã‚ £ 1,622,924,377. Thus it only had a balance of  £ 670,559,060. But from 1890s the US economy overtook that of Britain and Germany to become the world super power together with other political factors . Thirdly the measures can be in today’s economic environment through the use of the states share of the total world GDP which is a round $45 to $50 trillion. At this juncture Kennedy’s argument predicts the decline of the US as a world super power. Since the share of the US in the world GDP ever declining since 1945 when it over took from Britain. In fact China is a major threat to the US as a world great power. To this effect the statistics indicates that China’s total GDP will be higher than that of the US by 2025, if the trading systems are not interfered with by natural calamities or human caused activities. Military power Military power is necessary to safeguard the overall power and the economic power of the state. Military power is the symbol of real and hard power. All great powers that rose in the face of the earth had a relatively stronger military power that enabled the m defeat major battles and wars. For instance the Germany, France, Britain, Spain and Soviet Union . But that one does not exempt the central thesis of the discussion; power sustainability can only be achieved through a balance between the wealth creation and the military expenditure that do not over stretch the economy of the state. In this regard at the beginning of the 16th century, Spain was the worlds and European great power with excellent armed forces . This made it powerful. But the argument is the measure for this power sustainability; that makes it relative to either prevail or decline. Therefore fort the Spain’s case, this excellent army required sustenance from economic resources. Which were over spent on a higher scale from Spain’s mismanaged resources, deficit budgeting and inflation. Hence in the long run it declined as a major power. The French also saw the same way as Spain at end of the 17th. Whereby France mismanaged its economic resources that was largely used for supporting an increasingly expensive regular armed forces until the period of the American Revolutionary that led to the French Revolution making this expenditures too huge for the economy top support that ended in a bankruptcy ; hence its decline. Britain on the other hand had to have a loan to finance its military campaigns, making it use more of the resources than what it creates as economical input. On the other hand the on his prediction for decline of the US as a major world power in terms of it’s overstretch on the military expenditures, it is evident that US is spending too much on the military. For instance nuclear full-fleet carrier of the US navy that is 20 storey high, that displaces105, 000 tonnes of water. This total expenditure for construction is about $28 billion , which is greatest budget ever in the world’s history. In general, US defense budget only accounts for just over half of total defense expenditure in the world. This together with other reasons makes US ever crisis as a super power. Conclusion The argument of Kennedy Paul about the rise and fall of the world’s greatest powers over human history is to a great extend valid. However it is not 100% accurate and any where in this universe it can not happen. Basing on his central thesis of the argument that; the power measuring parameter using the balance between wealthy creation and military expenditure. The essay has explored these measuring devises used by professor Paul indeed there is some validity in this claims. For instance, china over currently has concentrated on the wealth creation by production and controlled minimal military expenditure: has seen to pose a threat to US supremacy. Therefore whenever the governance system fails to balance there scorecards between the economic output and inputs to sustain military force activities the decline shall be knocking at the door. Whereas the reverse is true.

Valentines Day Date Ideas for College Students

Valentines Day Date Ideas for College Students As we all know the key to stellar Valentine’s Day dates is a mixture of creativity and originality†¦with a dash of personalization for good measure and nuance. Without ample life-experience to draw on, some great date ideas are pretty valuable commodities. Here’s 5 we know you and your special someone are going to simply adore! 1. Get Saucy Romantic Through Antioxidants Who says that eating healthy has to be crummy or dry? If you focus on antioxidants you can create unbelievably tasty and sensual meals that compliment a date extremely well. Think about this: A bottle of quality Merlot is jam-packed with antioxidants that help the mind become sharper, fight off cancer-causing agents and improve the digestive system. Plus, it’s a pleasant aphrodisiac! Your wine is then complimented with an assortment of darkly colored berries like blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries, etc. Each of these are like little packets of healthy micronutrients that excite the senses and add to the flavor of the experience. A slab of organic dark chocolate, which is a little on the bitter side and will pair well with the pinch of the wine and the sweetness of the berries. Also, brimming over with antioxidants. That there is a healthy and quite romantic Valentine’s Day treat, especially if your date is a health nut. 2. Organic Food Memories Speaking of chocolate and berries, why not make a tongue-tantalizing meal and serve it to your date in the place where you met? Along with some wholesome food that gives them a sense of home, bring back the memories that will remind both of you why you’re together. Remember to choose something lite, because if you burden the digestive tract the mind tends to follow in its wake. Salads. White seafood with scampi-like accoutrements. Lean chicken with pasta and vinaigrette. Choices like that. Then, add in some music that brings you back as well. Some great songs that lighten the mood with romantic songs intermingled into the playlist. Also, don’t be afraid to go into a genre of music you’ve never really listened to together before that can transport you out of your generation and into another from the past. Swing is a stupendous option! 3. Incorporate the Wolf Pack Who says the occasion just has to be about you and your date alone? Why not the more the merrier? Perhaps you could find a way to get the whole gang in on the action, including both family and close friends. Make the date a celebratory event that takes so much pressure and focus off the two of you and is instead spread evenly throughout the wolf pack. Plus, when you put your minds together you can come up with some really intriguing and memorable things to do. Pictures are a must. A great location is another. After that, it just about good old fashioned quality human experience. Your date will adore it, unless they were already intending on the date being more conservative. 4. Take it to the Highbrow Level Is there a club or restaurant in your area that’s almost impossible to get into? If so, plan way early and do whatever it takes to get reservations. Make sure that your date understands it’s a formal dress-up occasion so they don’t show up under-dressed. Just the fact that your there will really make a huge impression. Take it high-brow. Do the limousine. Splurge on expensive classy appetizers and drinks. Afterwards don’t just go to a movie, go to an opera, a dance, a play or something like that. If this isn’t your typical lifestyle it will be a real treat in every way. They’ll feel special in a way no one has bothered to show them before. For college students this could be a stretch, but it all comes down to saving up the necessary cash using a budget and being connected with the right people. 5. Buy Them an Experience! What if you rented a freaking Lamborghini for a night? What if you got an air balloon ride set up, or helicopter or plane? How about parachute jumping? Scuba diving? How about a day on a gorgeous sailboat equipped with a full staff? The idea here is not to buy a thing, but provide them with an exceptional experience that they’ll never forget and always regard with a smile and excitement. These memories will be more than date memories. They’ll transcend your relationship and really just be a great gift from one human being to another and that’s the way to make a real impression on someone. Is there anything you’ve done on Valentine’s Day, or had someone do for you that people should hear about? Share it and help make Valentine’s Day an awesome holiday.

Idioms for Fabric and Other Materials

Idioms for Fabric and Other Materials Idioms for Fabric and Other Materials Idioms for Fabric and Other Materials By Mark Nichol Words for various materials used in clothing have been applied to various descriptive terms and idiomatic expressions, including those described below. Cotton-picking is a euphemism to express anger or frustration. To cotton to something is to take a liking to it or to come to an understanding of it (the phrasing can also be â€Å"cotton on to†), and to cotton up to someone is to flatter. Meanwhile, to be in high or tall cotton is to be successful (from the notion of a cotton planter walking among large plants). Dyed-in-the-wool is an adjective meaning â€Å"set in one’s ways,† from the practice of dying wool fibers before they are spun into thread so that the dye is more durable. To pull the wool over someone’s eyes (a reference to a wig made of wool) is to deceive them, to wrap them up in cotton wool is to be overprotective (with the connotation of swaddling someone as if they were a baby), and to live in cotton wool is to live a protected life. To woolgather, meanwhile, is to daydream; the idiom stems from the seemingly aimless act of collecting bits of wool on bushes and fences. â€Å"All wool and a yard wide† and â€Å"all wool and no shoddy† both denote an honorable person or something of high quality. Various other expressions including wool, including â€Å"all cry and no wool† â€Å"great cry and little wool,† and â€Å"more cry than wool,† allude to much attention given to something of little significance. â€Å"Go hell for leather† or â€Å"go hell-bent for leather† means â€Å"act quickly† or â€Å"act recklessly.† (The leather in question originally referred to a saddle, with the notion of riding a horse quickly or recklessly.) â€Å"Tough as (shoe) leather† refers figuratively to physical fortitude or literally to something resembling leather, as a cut of meat. Leathery may describe something akin to leather in appearance or texture, as to skin roughened by exposure to the elements, and someone who is leather lunged has a very loud or strong voice, while the phrase â€Å"as ever trod shoe leather† is a more colorful way of saying â€Å"as ever lived† or â€Å"as ever walked the earth† following a compliment (or denigrating remark) in order to intensify it. Lacy describes something resembling lace, such as a dew-drenched spider web or a delicate coating. To lace is not only to thread or trim but also to add a color, flavor, or other quality to something or otherwise enhance it. Silky describes fluid or smooth movement or texture, and â€Å"smooth as silk† describes something or someone delicate in demeanor or texture. The expression â€Å"You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear† means that something refined cannot be produced from rough materials, while â€Å"silk-stocking district† connotes an affluent neighborhood, from the fact that at one time, only the wealthy could afford such items. To hit the silk, meanwhile, is to parachute from an airplane (an allusion to the material used for the parachute). Satiny also suggests smoothness. Meanwhile, the smooth, plush texture of velvet, which is made of one of several fabrics, is suggested with the adjective velvety. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Idioms About NumbersGrammar Quiz #21: Restrictive and Nonrestrictive ClausesSit vs. Set

FASB Standards Overview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

FASB Standards Overview - Essay Example The essay "FASB Standards Overview" talks about the FASB, and particularly Statement No. 116, in which over the vociferous objections of many of its constituent not-for-profit organizations, decided that unrestricted pledges should be reported as revenue in the period received. They should measure the pledges at â€Å"the present value of estimated future cash flows using a discount rate commensurate with the risks involved†. They should take into account both anticipated bad debts and the time value of money. If they establish an allowance for uncollectible(s), then they should use a risk-free discount. If not, then they should use a higher rate-one that takes into account the risk of being unable to collect the pledge. They should not both establish an allowance for uncollectible(s) and adjust the discount rate for risk. That would cause the default risk to be accounted for twice. Entities need not discount pledges to be collected within one year. To avoid recognizing contri butions as revenue before they are available for expenditure, not-for-profits should consider pledges of cash to be received in future period as subject to time restrictions. The FASB concluded that by promising to make payments in the future, donors implicitly restrict the donated resources to support of future, not current, activities. The recipient organizations should classify them as temporarily restricted. When the cash is received and available for expenditure, they should release resources from the temporarily restricted category.... Contributions also include unconditional promises-that is, pledges- to give those items in the future. Thus, pledges are regarded as contributions, although they exclude conditional promises to give these items in the future. A conditional promise depends on a specified future and uncertain event to bind the donor. For example, a university alumnus may pledge funds to construct a new physics laboratory if the university is successful in winning a government research grant. Contributions must be distinguished from exchange transactions. A contribution is a transfer of assets in which the donor does not expect to receive equal value in return. An exchange transaction is a reciprocal transfer in which each party receives and gives up resources of commensurate value. For example, if a private corporation were to give a not-for-profit research foundation funds to study the cause of a disease with the expectation that the results would be published in a scientific journal, the transaction would be considered a contribution. If, on the other hand, it gave the funds with the contractual agreement that it would have the rights to resultant patents, then the transaction would be an exchange transaction. The difference between the two is not always obvious. When people join the local Friends of the Library Association, do they do so to support the library's scholarly activities or to benefit for the right to attend member-only lectures Do they join the American Automobile Association to promote auto safety and good roads or to obtain emergency road service and travel directions Do they join the AARP to advance the interests of senior citizens or to take advantage of low-cost life and auto insurance

Gender Disparities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Gender Disparities - Essay Example Their preference for the son superseded their preference for their son’s happiness. One can only imagine what a woman feels when she realizes that because she is a daughter, she is less than a son. The love of her parents will always be inferior. Then when she grows, she becomes aware that this problem goes beyond her house. It affects the entire society, or rather, it infects the whole civilization. Being a daughter is her first state of defeat; it is the defeat of being a daughter, which will eternally turn her into a second-class citizen.Gender discrimination produces unfair gender norms and expectations that delimit women’s capacity for self-development. Mrs. Pritchett wants to feel loved, but she feels it is too late for she married a self-centered man who is unaware of her needs as a woman. She has not developed her personhood because of her restrictions as a woman. These experiences are unique to women because of their womanhood. Their patriarchal society produce s unfair perceptions of women. Gender prejudice drives discrimination that turns women into slaves of men, and as wives, they are slaves of their husbands. Those who are poor are worse off. Mangalam experiences sexual harassment, though this gives her power over a life of poverty. Nevertheless, her experience shows that because she is poor and a woman, she cannot attain the kind of life she wants to have. Sexual harassment is common in patriarchal countries, especially among the working-class women, since they are often powerless.... One can only imagine what a woman feels when she realizes that because she is a daughter, she is less than a son. The love of her parents will always be inferior. Then when she grows, she becomes aware that this problem goes beyond her house. It affects the entire society, or rather, it infects the whole civilization. Being a daughter is her first state of defeat; it is the defeat of being a daughter, which will eternally turn her into a second-class citizen. Gender discrimination produces unfair gender norms and expectations that delimit women’s capacity for self-development. Mrs. Pritchett wants to feel loved, but she feels it is too late for she married a self-centered man who is unaware of her needs as a woman. She has not developed her personhood because of her restrictions as a woman. These experiences are unique to women because of their womanhood. Their patriarchal society produces unfair perceptions of women. Gender prejudice drives discrimination that turns women int o slaves of men, and as wives, they are slaves of their husbands. Those who are poor are worse off. Mangalam experiences sexual harassment, though this gives her power over a life of poverty. Nevertheless, her experience shows that because she is poor and a woman, she cannot attain the kind of life she wants to have. Sexual harassment is common in patriarchal countries, especially among the working-class women, since they are often powerless against these male sexual predators (Gupta 95). Being a woman and being poor are the worst human conditions because they prepare women for a life of servitude, and with servitude, disappointment looms. Middle-class women are trapped in middle-class norms. They are afraid of what their society will think of them if

Architecture of the Pantheon and its History Essay

Architecture of the Pantheon and its History - Essay Example The ancient look of the porch provides no clue of the surprise inside, which is planned as an inside space of huge size. WWW.BDONLINE.CO.UK. Picture by Gareth Gardner. Author: Renato Benedetti. June 2010. Issue: 1919. The Pantheon. Arch. Marcus Agrippa. Rome, Italy. 27 B.C. The inside of the dome is furnished with five concentric circles of deeply-sunk coffers, 28 in each ring. At the top of the dome is an oculus (8.2 meters in diameter), the only means of the natural light illuminating all the corners of the dome internally. The building is totally made of concrete, the overall attentively selected from the heavy travertine and tufa of the lower walls, through tufa and brick, brick only, and brick and pumice, to pumice only near the oculus. As it reaches the top level, the shell of the dome shrinks in thickness (â€Å"Pantheon†). The Pantheon is an architectural wonder constructed 2000 years before. One can- WWW.BDONLINE.CO.UK. Picture by Gareth Gardner. Author: Renato Benede tti. June 2010. Issue: 1919. The Pantheon. Arch. Marcus Agrippa. Rome, Italy. 27 B.C. -not remain untouched by the marvel of this dome that impresses one and all alike. It is equally magnificent now and at the time when it was built. It is not easy to find buildings spanning 2,000 years and standing still with reverence in the eyes of visitors for its architectural finesse; what more, it is still in use. The Pantheon attracts visitors from all the nook and corners of the world, wondering at this marvel of architecture while sitting on the stairs of the Pantheon for 2000 years (Benedetti 15). The Pantheon creates an impression of a building belonging to some other planet; such a feel comes from its craftsmanship. It gives the visitors an impression of strength, which comes from the innovative design of the Pantheon. The view of the building is just magical, particularly in black and white as in the picture above. For example, the use of concrete has been made innovatively, requiring thin layers of concrete to minimize weight and stresses in the top layers of the dome. The dome of Pantheon is till now the only single biggest non-reinforced concrete dome. Behind its huge brick walls lay a line of alleviating arches that add to its finish and body image. The humongous bronze doors are functional. It is because they are standing on pivots that provide increased strength relatively to a hinge. It seems each pivot must be as heavy as a small house (Benedetti 15). WWW.BDONLINE.CO.UK. Picture by Gareth Gardner. Author: Renato Benedetti. June 2010. Issue: 1919. The Pantheon. Arch. Marcus Agrippa. Rome, Italy. 27 B.C. All the buildings around the Pantheon are newer. It is surrounded by tight lanes of the increasingly populated baroque city, offering tempting scenes. The front portico is spacious enough to accommodate the visitors to breathe with the Piazza della Rotonda. The main front leads the piazza with its magnificent gable and the 16 huge grey Egyptian granite colu mns; these columns add grace to the Pantheon although they are in plenty in the city. Whichever path one takes to reach the Pantheon, the size of the drum and humongous columns is sweeping (Benedetti 15). WWW.BDONLINE.CO.UK. Picture by Gareth Gardner. Author: Renato Benedetti. June 2010. Issue: 1919. The Pantheon. Arch. Marcus Agrippa. Rome, Italy. 27 B.C. A close-up look of the huge columns kindles a feeling of relative

Homelessness The Hidden Nightmare Of Los Angeles Economics Essay

Homelessness The Hidden Nightmare Of Los Angeles Economics Essay Los Angeles, California ranks in as the second largest city in the United States. It is home to 3.8 billion people, including many famous movie stars. Known for being one of the sunniest and most tourist-conscious cities, Los Angeles offers many attractions for visitors (problem of homelessness). They hold many sports venues as well, including the Staples Center, which houses the L.A. Lakers and many award shows, like the Grammys. Over the years Los Angeles developed nicknames for its city, such as L.A. and The City of Angels (Los Ang. Wikipedia). While some people might call it The City of Angels, others could not disagree more with the nickname. During the daytime Los Angeles is a place of business, upper-class citizens roam the streets and movie producers are filming there next big hit. On the other hand, at nighttime its nothing more than a nightmare you cannot wake up from; thousands of people are left roaming the streets searching for a place to sleep. What we do not typically hear about or see is Los Angeless Skid Row, which hides in the shadows of the downtown skyline. This fifty block section of downtown L.A. holds the largest concentrated area of homeless people in the entire United States (los Ang City of stars). The section of Fifth Street is also referred to as the nickel. It is said that Skid Row is Americas only third world city (Skid Row wikipedia). Skid Row is nothing more than a result of the neighborhoods gentrification. These horrifying streets are home to the unwanted. Many police officers from other jurisdictions have been seen dumping homeless people in the area; they cannot provide correct services to them, so they dump them there. Already overwhelmed with the abundance of homeless people, the county is facing a major problem with social service organizations being short staffed and are experiencing a shortage of funds. Any services that a homeless person might be offered, is located in the downtown area of Los Angeles (Los An. City of stars). The LAPD Chief thought he had found a solution to help local businesses and real estate developers weed out the site of homeless people. He would have anyone arrested for minor infractions, littering, sleeping on sidewalks, and public urination. Unfortunately, his strategies were only wishful thinking. Soon after his rules were put into affect the city jails were overpopulated with homeless people and could not hold anymore. It was also costing the city more to keep them in jail, than it did to help house them for the night (Los An. City of stars). Recent plans for Skid Row have been to build condos and lofts that sell for $700,000. This would completely gentrify the area and push homeless people further away. Without anywhere else in the county offering assistance for the homeless, they have nowhere and no one to turn to for help. Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority could not afford the new rent. They were forced to move because the building was being renovated into condominiums. The downtown area is being renovated to attract new businesses, but the downfall of it all is that its causing rental prices to become non-affordable. New homes and condos are priced at an average of $2,000 to $3,000 per month. Los Angeles has the most expensive rental market in the entire state of California. With housing costs on the rise and the supply of affordable housing falling, many people are struggling to keep a roof over their head. Due to the renovations and demolitions, the 28,000 affordable homes L.A. produced from 2001 to 2006 meant nothing, because they lost 11,000 homes in the process (research briefly). Los Angeles is demolishing perfectly good homes, during the middle of a housing crisis. Coalition for Economic Survival and Housing LA, have both been fighting to stop renovations and demolitions. Thankfully, the City Planning Department has recently started to deny some request for such demolition. They are also making it a requirement that some of the residences have to be affordable (livable places). To restore Los Angeless middle class society, it must provide and create enough affordable housing units. Affordable housing is the ratio of housing costs to household income. Families should not pay more than 30% of their income, but in L.A. most moderate to low income families, pay 50%. For someone to live in a one-bedroom apartment in L.A., they must make a minimum of $48,000 a year (livable places). An average family of four with two working parents must make $70,000 a year, just to skim by (Los An. City of stars). In 2007, only 3% of homes sold in Los Angeles were affordable for median income families (Pricey properties). As the need for housing grows larger the number of homeless people, also increase. Not only are these developers building new condos, but they are evicting residents as well. These families that are being evicted or flat out cannot afford the new pricing are left without a home. Due to the shortage of affordable housing units, the Hollywood Community Housing Corporation formed a lottery for people to have a chance to secure a spot in a new fifty-eight unit subsidized apartment. Lines formed seven hundred people deep, waiting for an application. Even though they might have received an application, that did not mean they were accepted. The housing corporations executive director, said that subsidized projects similar to this one were becoming more and more difficult to finance (Hundreds wait). For families who do not win the lottery, they are left on the streets and shooed away. Because of the increase and wide spread of non-affordable housing, homelessness is at an all time high. What used to be a designated area for the homeless in Los Angeles, Skid Row, is now a wide spread community epidemic. Homelessness is no longer designated to the poorer areas of Los Angeles; the entire county is now seeing, what was once an isolated phenomenon. All eight of the Service Planning Areas have been heavily affected. On an average night in Los Angeles, 73,000 homeless people roam the streets without a place to sleep. Around 40% of the homeless have been this way for less than a year. About half the residents living in L.A. are housing a family member or friend, to keep them off the streets. Los Angeles County supplies 17,000 emergency beds for the homeless. This low amount does not even come close to the demand for them. Shelter Partnership did a study that showed how L.A.s shelters and agencies only accommodate a quarter of homeless families (research and). The Los Angeles Unified School District has reported a 35% increase of homeless students. Recent data has revealed that the number of homeless families with children is rising. Between 2006 and 2007 HUD data reported that public schools were teaching an estimated 680,000 children that were either homeless or living in an unstable environment. Studies have shown that homelessness can lower a childs academic performance and reduce high school completion. Homeless children are nearly three times more likely to suffer from emotional or behavior problems, thus in the long run affecting their education. An estimated amount of 10,000 people were found living in inhabitable areas (the medical news). Not only has the lack of affordable housing caused homelessness, but the economy as well. The recession has impacted the job market greatly. It has been projected by Goldman Sachs that unemployment will continue to rise throughout 2010. This would cause nearly 10 million Americans to live in poverty. The United States is dealing with the highest amount of unemployment rates, it has ever seen. It is likely that the nation will face its highest increase in severe poverty, than it has in the last 30 years. The current recession is more likely to cause the risk of homelessness. Unlike previous recessions that provided safety nets to protect jobless families, the assistance for families now is weaker than ever (budget and policy). The non-profit organization, Chrysalis, provides employment opportunities to help family prevent the risk of becoming homeless. Chrysalis Enterprises is Los Angeles only non-profit organization. Each year, they help over 2,500 people avoid the risks of poverty and homelessness. They provide yearly assistance for transitional jobs to 600 men and women every year (Chrysalis). Even though Congress is expected to try and restore several million jobs, an unbelievably high number of people will still be at the risk of becoming homeless Local and state jurisdictions have arranged interagency plans to prevent homelessness. This has helped reduce the number of unsheltered people in the past, and if proper resources are used than it could lessen the increase of homelessness during the recession. Adequate funding must be provided in order for the interagency plans to function effectively. However, states and localities are dealing with budget shortfalls. The recession has caused them to cut programs and raise taxes to try and keep their budget balanced. Homelessness prevention will without a doubt struggle to maintain, let alone increase proper funding (budget and funding). Between 2007 and 2008 Los Angeles County has reported a 12% increase in welfare assistance for families who are homeless. More families will fall into deep poverty if the unemployment rate keeps rising. An estimated 900,000 to 1.1 million families with children will reach the level of severe poverty if this happens, leaving them with the risk of homelessness and housing instability. Despite falling incomes and rising unemployment, rents are still being driven through the roof. Home foreclosures constantly keep pushing home owners into the rental market. The severe problem with home foreclosures and housing sectors only help cater the increase of homeless families. The demand for rental units will continually grow even though the prices of homes are falling. Families, who would originally be buying homes right now, are renting; they are waiting for the economy and prices to stabilize before doing so. Homelessness will continue to rise during the recession, as long as the housing market maintains its ongoing troubles. One way Los Angeles can help try to prevent homelessness, is by offering housing vouchers. These vouchers can be used for families to pay past due utility bills or rent. Families dealing with foreclosure can be assisted with relocation funds, a one-time cost associated with moving into a new home. Unfortunately, the only way these short-term assistance programs will work, is if families are able to uphold their ongoing rental costs. A recent five year study has proven that housing vouchers are effective in preventing homelessness. The government needs to grant a substantial number of additional vouchers in the economic recovery package. In an economic crisis, such as now, voucher programs work the best. As a familys income changes the amount of subsidy they receive will also change. Costs will also decline as the participants gain employment and their earnings increase. In 2008, Congress provided 15,000 new housing vouchers. Only 2,840 of the new vouchers were given to families with children; the families also had to be connected to the foster system. The rest of the vouchers were set aside for disabled people and homeless veterans. If no special restrictions on eligibility for new vouchers are set by Congress, then state and local agencies that receive the funds will be responsible for disbursing them. It is likely that more than half of the vouchers will be given to poor families with children. If 200,000 new housing vouchers were given throughout 2010, including administrative fees, it would cost $2.1 billion. These additional vouchers could strain HUDs 2011 budget. Subsequent budget pressures could be avoided, if the recovery package stated that agencies could not reissue vouchers after a family has left the program and other vouchers have to be out of circulation by the end of 2010. By not allowing agencies to reissue vouchers, roughly 30% of the new vouchers will be retired by the ending calendar year of 2010. Because of the recession, it is unlikely that families will leave the program, but there is still a chance that some families might leave the program for non-economic reasons. The possibility of less people leaving the program than anticipated could result in a need for additional funding in 2011, to sustain new vouchers that were not offset. The proposed funding of $2.1 billion is only meant to cover a sixteen month period. If Congress provided a twenty month program, than agencies could accept a higher number of vouchers and further help prevent homelessness in their community. With the new proposal, families would be able to spend more money on food, clothing, and health care. The benefits of trying to eliminate and reduce homelessness would be immediate and long-term. New vouchers would help pump funds back into local economies within a four to six month period. When comparing Michigan to California with the estimated state shares of recommended increases in housing vouchers and ESG homelessness prevention funding, California will receive 26,962 more vouchers and $182,507,187 more new ESG funds than Michigan (Budget and Policy).

Creatine: Hazardous or Healthy Essay -- essays research papers

CREATINE: Hazardous or Healthy?  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In sports today, everyone is looking for that extra advantage to enhance their performance, and to compete harder and stronger than their opponent. Creatine has become a major part of many athletes weight training and conditioning programs in the past few years. Many people have different opinions as to whether or not this substance should be used. After researching the topic of Creatine, I have concluded that there is nothing wrong with taking the supplement called Creatine.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The supplement, known as Creatine or â€Å"Nature’s Steroid†, is the latest craze of the movement, and is selling over 100 million dollars in profit each year. â€Å"Creatine is a natural substance that was first discovered by a French Chemist named Chevreul† (Higher Power Creatine Web page). It is found in its highest form in lean red muscle tissue of animals and humans in the form of Creatine Phosphate. â€Å"Creatine must be combined with exercise to get an effect. When muscles are used to lift a weight, or perform any type of work, ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is quickly broken down to ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) and energy is released. The amount of ATP stored in the muscle must rely on Creatine to restock its supply of ATP. This cycle is repeated throughout the training period. Therefore, the addition of supplementary creatine allows the duration of the body’s maximum effort to increase. Which basically means you can lift more weight for a longer pe riod of time†(Applegate 25). Muscles will only increase in size when stimulated by a greater workload. For example, before one was using a Creatine supplement, he or she was bench-pressing 170 pounds, for 3 sets with 8 repetitions each set. With use of Creatine one is able to bench press 180 pounds, for 3 sets with ten repetitions per set. Thus, enhancing performance, and gradually increasing overall strength and muscle mass.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The one major concern about Creatine is if it is harmful, and the type of side affects that may occur from its use. â€Å"Creatine is a natural, safe substance that already exists in the human body. Its function is to provide the body with energy reserves. Reports have also shown that it is not an addictive substance, like tobacco. Creatine is safe for both sexes. Common side eff... ...efore exercise†(Fitness Pros Bodybuilding Web page). This gives the Creatine time to get to the muscle.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are two periods in which one takes Creatine. â€Å"The Loading period, in which he or she takes 2 to 4 full teaspoons per day spaced throughout the day, for a weeks time. The purpose of the Loading phase is to overdose the body with the supplement, which allows maximum absorption. After Loading is done one has to maintain or regulate the amount of Creatine in their system. The recommended Maintenance period includes taking 1 to 2 full teaspoons daily, for as long as one continues using the supplement†(Fitness Pros Bodybuilding Web page). Through my research, I found that these periods varied, but this program was the most consistent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To conclude, Creatine or â€Å"Nature’s Steroid†, is an over the counter dietary supplement that helps build lean muscle mass, and shortens recovery time between workouts. Its side effects are nowhere near life threatening, and the supplement is natural and already in our muscles. Creatine is a legal, healthy way to enhance muscular strength and endurance in the striving athletes of the world.

How far were southerners to blame for the civil war? Essay

During and for years after the war, Northerners blamed Southerners and Southerners blamed Northerners for starting the war. With hindsight today, it is easy to dish out blame and easiest to point the finger at the South. After all it was the Southern states that seceded from the union, and it was obvious to many Southerners at the time, and to most Northerners that the result of such secession would be war. It was the Confederates that fired the first shots of the war at Fort Sumter in April 1861, and in doing so they provoked a conflict that would leave one in four white adult male southerners dead, the South’s economy devastated and slavery, the â€Å"peculiar institution† they fought to defend, abolished. However because slavery is seen today to be such a morally and ethically wrong and evil thing, people’s views can be blurred, leading them to side automatically with the North. There were of course many events that furthered America’s sectionalism and eventually led to the civil war, most of which blame can be divided equally. It is therefore necessary to be objective and take each into account, concluding perhaps that the South was not entirely to blame for the civil war, just as Germany was not entirely to blame for the first world war. The Missouri dispute was the first of events that caused division between North and South. In 1819 the territory of Missouri applied to become a state in the union, it was settled mainly by Southerners and ten percent of its population were black slaves. Its constitution therefore would make Missouri a slave state. This would cause imbalance in the Senate whereby the South would have a majority, so congressman Tallmadge from New York proposed that Missouri should only be allowed to join the union if it would abolish slavery. This issue was debated across the country; the South saw Tallmadge’s proposal as an attack on their political power. In the House of Representatives the North already had a large majority and if any new states were to be free, any of the South’s wishes could be ignored in both houses. In 1820 a compromise was made whereby Missouri was made a slave state, and Maine was made a free state, thus keeping the balance in the Senate. Also there were to be no slaves above the line of 36 30†² latitude. This dispute to an extent can be blamed on the North, as it was Tallmadge’s statement that sparked off tension and Southern determination to defend slavery. The North could have been satisfied with their majority in the House of Representatives and just allowed Missouri to be a slave state, knowing that soon other states would arise possibly wanting to be free. The 1828 Nullification Crisis was a cause of further sectionalism that was not directly about slavery; it was instead focused on state rights versus federal rights. Congress proposed to raise import duties making foreign goods more expensive. This would protect industry in the North as consumers would buy American made goods, but it would hurt the South as they relied heavily on cotton trade with Great Britain. The South saw this as another attack from the North, so Senator Calhoun from South Carolina declared that if a state felt the Federal Government was abusing it’s power, that state could nullify or ignore any measure or act it disagreed with. He also said that any state had the right to secede. In 1832 South Carolina ignored the new import duties and President Jackson threatened to send in troops. Eventually they backed down and excepted a lower set of duties. This escapade and Calhoun’s statement about secession threatened the very existence of the union. Blame for this can fall on both the North for selfishly looking after their interests without regard for the South, and on the South for supporting Calhoun’s idea of secession which threatened to tear apart the country at such an early stage. Next came the dispute over California and New Mexico. In 1846 USA won a war against Mexico and gained the lands of California and New Mexico. Congressman Wilmot from Pennsylvania proposed that slavery should be banned in all land taken from Mexico. The South opposed Wilmot’s proviso, as according to the Missouri compromise, California should be part free and part slave. However the climate of California and New Mexico was unsuitable for cotton growth and it was unlikely that slavery would expand that far west anyway, so there was no need for Wilmot to say what he did. By opening his mouth, Wilmot opened an old wound, making the South firmer in their defense of slavery. Calhoun reiterated his views on secession in his doctrine and tension grew with the Californian gold rush. Thousands rushed to California and its settlers formed a constitution that banned slavery. Before it could be a state Congress had to approve the constitution. The Southern states opposed it and the break up of the union was on the horizon once again. As usual a compromise was reached. In 1850 California became a free state but a new harsh Fugitive Slave law was introduced, meaning if a slave escaped to a free state, men could hunt the slave down across the borders and bring him back. The bitterness and tension here can be blamed on both the North and South. The North because Wilmot and his supporters were willing to blatantly go against the 1820 compromise, and the South as they would not simply accept the wishes of the Californian people. The dispute over Kansas and Nebraska is perhaps the best example where both Northerners and Southerners were to blame for what happened. In 1854 Senator Douglas from Illinois proposed a bill to form two new territories, Kansas and Nebraska, in order to buy land to build a transcontinental railroad. Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska act but it was left for the inhabitants of the territories to decide for or against slavery. Nebraska was unsuitable for slavery but Kansas wasn’t. So, despite the fact that Kansas was above 36 30†² latitude, slave owners from Missouri moved in, in an attempt to make Kansas a slave state. Similarly so did abolitionists from the North. Both groups set up governments and sought approval from Congress. Violence followed in a war lasting several years which was nicknamed â€Å"Bleeding Kansas† Eventually abolitionist settlers outnumbered the slavers and in 1861 Kansas became a free state. In this case both sections were as bad as each othe r with their childish quarrels and fights. So who really was to blame for the Civil war? From the above-mentioned factors, which are only a few of many, you could conclude that both Northerners and Southerners were equally responsible. However the most important factor as mentioned in the beginning is the fact that the Southern States seceded. They did not have to, but they did. In 1861 there was no immediate threat to slavery, Lincoln said when he was elected that he would not interfere with slavery in states where it was already established. He thought it would take a hundred years or more before slavery would fade away, and considering the Republicans did not have a majority in Congress in 1860, there was little Lincoln could do to threaten slavery. Despite this, Southern politicians, representing the wishes of their constituents, acted irrationally and established an independent Southern nation, believing they were protecting themselves from the wrath of the North. Most Southerners knew that in doing so they would start a war and some realized at the time the full extent of their mistake. They knew they would start a war and they realized they would lose. The North was far more industrialized and stronger in numbers of men and it was very likely that they would win. Jonathan Worth from North Carolina said in spring 1861 â€Å"I think the South is committing suicide, but my lot is cast with the South and being unable to manage the ship, I intend to face the breakers manfully and go down with my companions† If all Southerners had realized their foolishness a lot of bloodshed could have been avoided. However a mass delusion seemed to effect the South, they believed they had to fight to survive. Southerners picked the fight; they fired first and were made to lie in the grave they dug for themselves.