Ella Baker, the Grassroots Civil Rights Organizer

Ella Baker was a tireless fighter for the social equality of African-Americans. Whether Baker was supporting local branches of the NAACP, working behind the scenes to establish the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) with Martin Luther King Jr.,  or  mentoring college students through the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), she was always working to push the agenda of the Civil Rights Movement forward.   One of her most famous quotes encapsulates the meaning of her work as a professional grassroots organizer, This may only be a dream of mine, but I think it can be made real. Early Life and Education Born on December 13, 1903, in Norfolk, Va., Ella Jo Baker grew up listening to stories about her grandmothers experiences as a former slave. Bakers grandmother vividly described how slaves rebelled against their owners. These stories laid the foundation for Bakers desire to be a social activist.   Baker attended Shaw University. While attending Shaw University, she began challenging policies established by the school administration. This was Bakers first taste of activism. She graduated in 1927 as valedictorian.   New York City Following her college graduation, Baker moved to New York City. Baker joined the editorial staff of the American West Indian News and later the Negro National News. Baker became a member of the Young Negroes Cooperative League (YNCL). Writer George Schuyler established the YNCL. Baker would serve as the organizations national director, helping African-Americans build economic and political solidarity. Throughout the 1930s, Baker worked for the Workers Education Project, an agency under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Baker taught classes concerning labor history, African history, and consumer education. She also dedicated her time to actively protesting against social injustices such as Italys invasion of Ethiopia and the Scottsboro Boys case in Alabama. Organizer of the Civil Rights Movement In 1940, Baker began working with local chapters of the NAACP. For fifteen years Baker served as a field secretary and later as director of branches. In 1955, Baker was influenced greatly by the Montgomery Bus Boycott and established In Friendship, an organization that raised funds to fight Jim Crow Laws. Two years later, Baker moved to Atlanta to help Martin Luther King Jr. organize the SCLC. Baker continued her focus on grassroots organizing by running Crusade for Citizenship, a voter registration campaign. By 1960, Baker was assisting young African-American college students in their growth as activists. Inspired by students from North Carolina A T who refused to get up from a Woolworth lunch counter, Baker returned to Shaw University in April 1960. Once at Shaw, Baker helped students participate in the sit-ins. Out of Bakers mentorship, SNCC was established. Partnering with members of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), SNCC helped organize the 1961 Freedom Rides. By 1964, with the assistance of Baker, SNCC and CORE organized Freedom Summer to register African-Americans to vote in Mississippi and also, to expose the racism existing in the state. Baker also helped establish  the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP). MFDP was a mixed raced organization that gave people not represented in the Mississippi Democratic Party an opportunity to have their voices heard. Although the MFDP was never given a chance to sit at the Democratic Convention, the work of this organization helped to revise a rule allowing women and people of color to sit as delegates at the Democratic Convention. Retirement and Death Up until her death in 1986, Baker remained an activist—fighting for social and political justice not only in the United States but the world.

Abraham Lincoln and the Fourth Estate The White House and...

In â€Å"Abraham Lincoln and the Fourth Estate: The White House and the Press during the American Civil War† Richard Carwardine discusses the incredible increase in the Press’ contribution to the American Civil War. Carwardine explains Abraham Lincoln’s role with the media and his use of newspapers as political weaponry from before the election and into his presidency. This topic is significant because it illustrates Abraham Lincoln’s intelligence and strengths as a president during the Civil War. The article gives insight to how Lincoln may have been as successful as he was during his presidency. Also, no previous political leader had had the task of managing an administration in a mass democracy where over a million of its citizens were†¦show more content†¦In Roman numeral VI Carwardine concludes his article and wraps up with the influences of Lincoln’s victory in the 1864 election. All of which contribute to Lincoln’s intelligen t use of the media. Carwardine uses several primary and secondary sources. He uses obvious primary sources such as the Emancipation Proclamation and several quotes from Abraham Lincoln himself. These sources make the article more interesting by getting to read exactly what Abraham Lincoln said. However, Carwardine mainly uses secondary sources in his article such as autobiographies, various books, and news articles dealing with Abraham Lincoln. He quotes several news articles from during the Civil War time period. The use of these quotes made the article more interesting, and gave a direct idea of what was being said in the press during that time. Overall, I believe that â€Å"Abraham Lincoln and the Fourth Estate: The White House and the Press during the American Civil War† was a successful article. Richard Carwardine accomplishes covering everything that is mentioned in his thesis, and informs the reader of Abraham Lincoln and his relationship with the media. Which is a topic that I didn’t know very much about. Richard Carwardine successfully discusses Abraham Lincolns understanding of newspapers, his relationship with editorial corps, and his use of newspapers as a political weapon. I

Organizational Learning free essay sample

All correspondence please via Shabi. Lecturers Coordinator and lecturer Dr. Marius Rietdijk, assistant professor Strategisch management and behavioral change, management consultant, co-author Slag om de toekomst; director. Martien van Winden MBA, management consultant, director Hoofbosch Investment Fund, former head investment Robeco Germany, France and USA, co-author Slag om de toekomst; Drs. Renate Kenter, De Ruijter Management, Consultancy firm Scenarioplanning; Prof. ir. Kees van der Heijden, pioneer Scenarioplanning at Royal Dutch Shell, professor Strategic management Oxford University, author of Scenarios, the art of strategic conversation, boardroom consultant for large companies around the globe. Introduction This course provides the state of the art in the scientific field of Strategic management and the professional application in Scenario planning. Scenario planning provides tools for helping organizations to develop a deeper understanding of the longer-term business environment and its impact on their business model. The course builds upon the course Strategy and Environment in block 1 year 2. After extensively studying theories, this time you will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills on a real life organization. In the books and lectures you will get acquainted with different strategy schools and the scientific background of Scenario planning. Simultaneously you will be trained in applying this approach in coaching a board of directors in strategy formulation and implementation. As you are a third year student, the expectations are high. The knowledge of strategy and management will be deepened, and you will demonstrate your strategic management skills in real life. Learning objectives This course has two objectives. The first objective is to observe and analyze the strategic behavior of firms from a scientific perspective. To this end, you will be exposed to scientific research into the strategic management phenomena. We will especially focus on the Organizational Learning approach. After this course, you will be able to: †¢ Describe the main approaches within current research on strategic management; †¢ Discuss the theoretical value of scenario planning †¢ Discuss the value of knowledge and capabilities for the strategy of firms; †¢ Explain whether strategic management should best be viewed as a learning or a planning exercise; The second learning objective is to apply professionally the scenario planning method as described by (the book of) Van der Heijden. After following this course, you will be able to: †¢ Analyze the business model (succes formula) of a certain organization of your own choosing; †¢ Describe the contextual and transactional environment of that organization; †¢ Generate options for scenario dimensions, make an informed choice of two of these dimensions, and describe four even probable scenarios; †¢ Test the current business idea of the firm in relation to four possible futures (‘windtunneling’); †¢ Formulate a managerial advice regarding the adaptation of the business idea based on the scenario planning exercise. Number of participants Because of the large number of participants in this course, it is not possible to give much feedback for the group reports. We hope you have consideration for this. As long as you follow the rules as described in this course manual, a satisfactory mark is within reach. Course Content Theory and Practice of the Scenario Planning method Credits Strategic Management and the Strategy Process: 6 ECT (=160 hours) Program Make sure you are present at all the classes. At minimum one of the six questions at the exam will be from the classes. The art of strategic conversation. Chichester: Wiley (obligatory for all students); †¢ Rietdijk, M. M. Van Winden (2003). Slag om de toekomst. Bedrijfsstrategieen voor goede en slechte tijden. Amsterdam: Balans (recommended for dutch students, if still available). Structure Guest) lectures + Group Project Group formation process During the break of first lecture, you will form a group of totally three or four members (not more). Please send the names of the members together with an invented group name as soon as possible to s. [emailprotected] vu. nl. Within two weeks every group has to send a project proposal to the same email address (see project proposal under section Dates and deadlines below). Therefore you must soon start finding a suitable organization. Fortunately, this was never a problem in former years. During the breaks of the lectures, there is a ‘market’ for forming a group. Group projects You will form a group with at maximum 4 members. You will demonstrate your scenario planning skill by formulating a strategic plan for an organization. The organization preferably belongs to one of the business service sectors (consultancy industry; finance, banking and insurance; e-business and ICT-consultancy; transport, distribution and logistics), but this is not a requirement. Next to these for-profit corporations (parts of) the VU may be chosen as a ‘corporation’. Groups that manage to act as strategic consultants for a real life organization will be considered as excellent. Groups that are not able to find an organization are allowed to do a â€Å"paper case† (from internet). It is not necessary to find a board of directors or top management team. A division or department or small company is also allowed. We will work the options out in the following: Best option: Organizing sessions with a management team If you succeed with your group in motivating a management team of a small or medium sized organization for a few sessions with you, your mark will be avorably affected. In this case your team approaches an organization and asks if they are interested in a free strategic advice from experts. In order to achieve this, the following recommendations will be made: (Representatives of) your group will ask some questions to (representatives of) the management team. Follow at least some of the steps of chapter 9 of the book of Van der Heijde n. The research will result in a report that consists of the following parts (to be derived from the books): 1. Management summary 2. Theoretical framework . SWOT analysis with explanation 4. Describing your interpretation of the business idea of the organization 5. Description of the contextual and transactional environment 6. Generating options for scenario dimensions 7. Selecting two scenario dimensions out of the contextual environment 8. Description of four even probable scenario’s of the contextual environment with a minimum of one page each (you have to use your imagination, but consistently) 9. ‘Windtunneling’ the four scenario’s with the current business idea 10. Conclusions and recommendations for adapting the business idea towards the scenario’s and/or for entering new markets with the current business idea Number of pages: 30-40 Second best option: Designing a strategy for the Vrije Universiteit The second best option is to formulate a strategy for the VU. The result is a report of 30-40 pages for the board of directors of the VU in which the following points will be reflected: 1. Management summary 2. Theoretical framework 3. SWOT analysis with explanation 4. Describing your interpretation of the business idea of the VU 5. Describing its contextual and transactional environment 6. Generating options for scenario dimensions 7. Selecting two scenario dimensions out of the contextual environment. 8. Description of four even probable scenario’s for the VU (at least one page each) 9. ‘Windtunneling’ the four scenario’s with the current business idea 10. Conclusions and recommendations for adapting the business idea towards the scenario’s and/or for entering new markets We will ask a member of the board of the VU to answer questions of students during the lectures. The reports will be offered to the board of directors of the VU. Third best option: Designing a strategy for a real life organization without being a consultant For this option your group formulates a strategy for a corporation researchable from the media and its own publications (including website). The report has the same structure as the other two options, although there will, inevitably, be a lot more guesswork in it. Students will have to compensate for their ‘guesswork’ by a thorough analysis of the environment of the company of their choice. Methods of Assessment †¢ Group paper (Scenario report) (50% of grade); Formal written examination (50%): Consists of multiple choice questions about the book of Van der Heijden and the (guest) lectures as well. About 15% of the questions will be about the guest lectures;

Scaffolding as a Teaching Strategy free essay sample

In a chapter on scaffolding, Scaffolding for Success, Jamie McKenzie provides a visual image analogy of how scaffolding works, â€Å"The workers cleaning the face of the Washington Monument do not confuse the scaffolding with the monument itself. The scaffolding is secondary. The building is primary. † (McKenzie, 1999, Matters of Definition section, para. 6). He goes on to describe eight characteristics of scaffolding. The first six describe aspects of scaffolding instruction. The last two refer to outcomes resulting from scaffolding and are therefore presented in a later section of this paper. According to McKenzie scaffolding: 1. Provides clear direction and reduces students’ confusion – Educators anticipate problems that students might encounter and then develop step by step instructions, which explain what a student must do to meet expectations. 2. Clarifies purpose – Scaffolding helps students understand why they are doing the work and why it is important. 3. Keeps students on task – By providing structure, the scaffolded lesson or research project, provides pathways for the learners. We will write a custom essay sample on Scaffolding as a Teaching Strategy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The student can make decisions about which path to choose or what things to explore along the path but they cannot wander off of the path, which is the designated task. 4. Clarifies expectations and incorporates assessment and feedback – Expectations are clear from the beginning of the activity since examples of exemplary work, rubrics, and standards of excellence are shown to the students. 5. Points students to worthy sources – Educators provide sources to reduce confusion, frustration, and time. The students may then decide which of these sources to use. 6. Reduces uncertainty, surprise, and disappointment – Educators test their lessons to determine possible problem areas and then refine the lesson to eliminate difficulties so that learning is maximized (McKenzie, 1999). Scaffolded instruction is also employed in problem based learning environments. â€Å"Problem-based learning (PBL) is an educational approach that challenges students to learn to learn. † (Ngeow and Yoon, 2001, p. 1). In this type of classroom the teacher must assess the activities that the students can perform independently and what they must learn to complete the task. The teacher then, â€Å"†¦designs activities which offer just enough of a scaffold for students to overcome this gap in knowledge and skills. † (Ngeow and Yoon, 2001, p. 2). The authors also describe several of same scaffolding activities or characteristics that were presented by Bransford, Brown and Cocking and McKenzie thus illustrating scaffolding’s applicability to various educational settings. II. Scaffolding – Related Theory, Theorists, and Research Scaffolding instruction as a teaching strategy originates from Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and his concept of the zone of proximal development (ZPD). Lev Vygotsky was a Soviet psychologist whose works were surpressed after his death in the 1930s and were not discovered by the West until the late 1950s (â€Å"Lev Vygotsky’s archive,† n. d. ). His sociocultural theory proposes that social interaction plays a fundamental role in the development of cognition. (â€Å"Social Development Theory,† n. d. ). Vygotsky â€Å"†¦theorized that learning occurs through participation in social or culturally embedded experiences. † (Raymond, 2000, p. 176). In Vygotsky’s view, the learner does not learn in isolation.

Information System Strategy

Information System Strategy Several decades ago, the UAE telecommunication market used to be widely criticized for its slow development, the exceeding extent of the governmental regulating power, and the high cost of the offered services. However, the situation seems to have changed significantly with the appearance of the Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company that has become better known as du.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Information System Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Today, the company is, beyond any doubt, the recognized leader in the UAE market of telecommunication providers. According to the specialists’ estimate, du’s customer base comprises of more than 7.5 individual clients and about 80,000 firms that are quite impressive figures for a company which began operating less than a decade ago. Today, du is the recipient of numerous regional and international awards (Kelly Flanagan 2015). The analysi s of the corporate strategy makes one assume that the efficient integration of innovation systems in the company’s performance is one of the determining factors of its success. Information systems have become an integral part of the global environment, and thus, play an important role in the organisational strategy. The implementation of these systems requires careful monitoring and forecasting – whereas some innovations can be applied in a short period, the integration of others might require extra time and effort. According to du’s Sustainability Report, information systems are on the top list of the company’s priorities. Thus, one might note that the development of this field is considered both in the short and long-term perspectives (Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company, 2015). It is evident that the company that has already proved to be one of the most progressive IT users is not going to rest on ones laurels. Among the short-term strategies referring to information systems, one should necessarily point out the recently signed agreement that implies the strengthening of collaboration between du and the Project Management Institute (PMI). This initiative is likely to bring a lot of benefits for the company’s performers as du will receive access to the entire global database that the institution currently possesses. The implementation of the following practices is likely to assist in the development of the company’s new projects, Smart City Initiative and Managed Services Solutions. As long as PMI has a reputation of one of the most progressive research centers in the field of IT and information systems, one may suppose, that this cooperation will enable du to find innovative solutions for the projects mentioned above.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to its Chief Corporate Affair s Office, Ananda Bose, the initiative is likely to give du an opportunity to â€Å"generate maximum value† for its clients (Kelly Flanagan, para.3). Meanwhile, du’s CEO, Osman Sultan, in his interview for Entrepreneur, also puts a particular emphasis on the role of information systems in the corporate strategy. While Ananda Bose focuses on the importance of the collaboration with progressive organisations and adopting the best world practices, du’s CEO points out the significance of the Internet’s integration in the existing context. Thus, according to Sultan, the company is planning to perform a contribution to the development of its cloud-based platforms that are considered to be one of the most successful Internet innovations (Thomas 2015). Therefore, the company is decisive to employ all the innovations that appear in the information system market. As to the long-term perspectives, du has a lot of bold ambitions, among which, one can point out their intention to become the regional innovation hub. Thus, the launch of the BabNoor App aimed at facilitation of the communication between family members and educating communities has become the first step on the long way to their ultimate goal. The mentioned above Smart City project is going to be another example of the successful integration of IT in the company’s performance, and, what is more important, in the everyday life of the customers. The rough model of the innovation has been already demonstrated during the UAE Innovation Week. As the Smart City’s preview has shown, the model is likely to offer a series of innovative opportunities including the homes of the future that will be virtually controlled by the owners (Du Demonstrates How Innovation Is Improving Day-to-Day Life During UAE Innovation Week 2015). Nevertheless, one should point out that the benefits of the information resources’ development imply more than the creation of the output that will fit the customers’ demand. In fact, the skillful implementation of the information resources is likely to improve the performance of a company at every level. In other words, it might affect not only the firm’s clientele but its workforce as well.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Information System Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus, the strategic management discipline lays a particular emphasis on the implementation of information resources in the organisational performance. It is presumed that such an approach can have positive outcomes. First of all, a company can employ information resources in order to optimize the delivery of the product or service it offers to the targeted client. For example, the SelfCare portal that du has recently designed has significantly facilitated the process of company’s cooperation with its clients. With the help of the relevant service, the customers ar e able to get acquainted with all the du’s products both that already exist and those that one plans to introduce. Moreover, the platform enables one to perform the instant payment that particularly appeals to those who search for the time preserving service. The following innovation also has a feedback option that enables the company to gather all the actual data on the customers’ demand and allows performing necessary changes whenever required. Furthermore, the information resources provide an opportunity to improve the inner management structure and the staff’s interaction that can increase the management’s efficacy considerably. Thus, according to du’s Sustainability Report, the corporate workforce is largely encouraged to use the latest IT in their work. It is particularly important to note, that every employee receives an opportunity to improve his or her IT competence with the help of corporate seminars and courses. The company has establish ed a special Innovation Ideas Award that is aimed at inspiring the work staff to work out the strategies of effective implementation of the modern information resources and technologies (Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company, 2015). The skillful use of the information resources in du allows the firm not only to improve the quality of the inner performance but to attract the high-qualified specialists from without. Hence, the company’s strong media presence, including their constant update in social networking, lets the worldwide specialists remain aware of the company’s progress, get acquainted with its general policy and targets, that increases the chances of employing professional workers from foreign countries. According to the report, a considerable part of du’s current workforce is comprised of specialists from different countries (Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company, 2015). Finally, a business strategy that does not neglect the applicatio n of information resources has good chances to raise its compatibility in the relevant market. There are a lot of examples that illustrate how the successful implementation of the existing information resources has turned a firm into a leader in the relevant field. One can definitely claim that du’s case is not an exception. According to the specialists’ estimate the company now takes the leading position in the UAE telecommunication market which is proved by its profit increase. Du’s Chairman, Ahmad Bin Byat, believes that the successful performance is largely determined by the company’s focus on the information systems implementation and the innovations’ encouragement (Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company, 2015).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One might even presume that today, du has no competitors in the regional market. Such an assumption is determined by the fact that the company has been nominated for the GIS Implementation Award. In 2015, du received the following award that was aimed to mark its progress in the implementation of the information systems. The platform GISWORX that was designed by du is likely to contribute significantly to the network planning and improve the conditions for the business analytics in general. According to du’s Senior Vice President of the Information Technology Department, Walid Kamal, the information system has already become â€Å"an integral part† of the company’s operation, and du will keep on working on the development of the new platforms that will allow their customers to benefit from the so-called â€Å"home† services (Du Honored as Pioneer in Geographic Information Systems in GISWORX 2015). Therefore, du’s reasonable approach to the informat ion resource’s implementation has a beneficial effect on the company’s performance at every level. First of all, du has strengthened its company-client connection. Secondly, the information system helps to improve the management activity as well as to attract new specialists from other countries. Finally, the successful integration of the information resources and technologies has determined the rise of the firm’s competitiveness and enabled du to become a recognized leader in the relevant field. It is particularly important to add that the company is aware of the changing character of the information system environment and, thus, it is determined to adjust to the potential transformations in order to maintain its competitive capacity. As well as every other field, the information systems can be most effectively applied on the basis that a company performs an interchange of experience with other organisations. Such cooperation is particularly important regarding large-scale projects. A strategic alliance helps both participants benefit equally providing one another with the existing information database gathered throughout the company’s operating. It seems that from the very beginning, du’s management has realized the necessity for cooperating with other organisations in order to complete it short and long-terms. Thus, in 2009, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced the beginning of its cooperation with du that was supposed to open the new horizons for both the companies. Whereas, du, at that period, was a relatively new player in the information resources field, it already had an efficient platform fitting DEWA’s demand. Du, in its turn, received an opportunity to access DEWA’s fibre optic networks on the basis of which a series of its innovations later appeared (DEWA Enters into Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Du to Lease-Out Part of DEWA’s Dark Fibre 2015). Meanwhile, most of the strategic alliances are normally formed in connection with a particular project’s launch when the existing information resources’ base turns out to be insufficient for the goal’s realization. One has already mentioned du’s strategic cooperation with the Project Management Institution that is likely to help improve its information strategy. Another important alliance that du has recently entered is its strategic collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC). The alliance is determined by du’s intention to develop the Smart City project that requires extra resources and assistance. Thus, ADSIC and du have decided to pool forces in order to improve their performance. Among the short-term aims, they point out the design of a new WiFi UAE network that will offer a client to choose between WiFi and Premium WiFi options. As to the long-term perspectives, the companies have announced their intention to cooperate in order to c ontribute to the development of the regional infrastructure and public sectors (ADSIC and Du Ink Cooperation Agreement 2015). Moreover, one should necessarily note that the provided examples should not be regarded as one-off incidents the strategic alliance issue is included on the company’s priority list. Hence, according to the Sustainability Report, du eagerly considers any chance of cooperation in the field of information systems. The company is aware of the necessity to exchange the experience in order to remain updated in such an unstable environment as IT and innovations. It is important that du announces its readiness not only to use the information resources of their partners but to share the corporate ideas as well. In fact, the companies authorities admit that it is their cooperative attitude that allowed them to launch such projects as du Live!, Pay as You Go, and Wow recharge Card (Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company, 2015). Therefore, the example of d u’s case shows that a strategic alliance is an indispensable condition for sustaining and innovating information systems. The phenomenon might be explained both by the process of constant transformations, which take place in the relevant field and the fact that some projects are too long-scale to be carried out successfully without a strategic alliance. In his interview, du’s CEO, Osman Sultan, supports this point of view and announces the company’s willingness to extend its collaboration in the field of information systems (Thomas 2015). As long as the significance of the information systems implementation is undoubted, the question arises regarding the fact how the following implementation can be carried out in such a manner that it becomes an integral part of the corporate strategy. One of the key factors determining the successful implementation is the preceding planning. Thus, one is to work out a strategy that would coincide with the organisational design and would describe the integration of the informational resources at every level of the company’s operating. The analysis of du’s case makes one come to a conclusion that the company has already managed to work out a proper approach. Hence, unlike the global companies that focus on the implementation of information systems in the perspective of the inner hierarchy’s improvement, du realizes its regional character and employs informational resources for the purposes of the client base’s extension. Du’s management, being aware of the specificity of the organisation’s structure, focuses on the attraction of the new clientele via the worked out platforms and services. In fact, one might presume that information resources are the only opportunity for du to become a player in the global market. The relevant approach enables the company not only to attract new customers but to preserve the loyalty of the existing ones as well. The employed informat ion resources allow receiving the latest feedback and performing the necessary actions to maintain the dynamic business process. The compatibility aspect also seems to be worth focusing on in case one is eager to maintain the business process’s agility. Modern information systems enable a firm not only to develop their own services and products but also to perform the profound monitoring of other players’ performance in order to adapt the successful experience and avoid the potentially wrong decision-making. In the case of du, the company’s management seems to be perfectly aware of the unstable character of its leading position, thus, the necessity to follow the progress of the rivals is openly discussed by its leaders (Thomas 2015). Nevertheless, it is necessary to note that one can hardly find any examples of du’s implementation of the information system with a focus on the staffs’ performance. Apart from the particular courses and seminars that are supposed to improve the general IT consciousness, the practical application of information resources to the employees operating is not enlightened. Meanwhile, this aspect is rather important. In fact, modern information resources are likely to facilitate the operation of both a particular department and the company on the whole. Various platforms that allow employees to stay in contact with their colleagues and the front office tend to optimize the management by making the regulation process independent of the location. Another option that information systems provide for the establishment of a dynamic business process and that seems to be neglected by du is the low-cost leadership strategy. Thus, many modern companies benefit successfully from the capacity to stay constantly aware of the pricing policy of their competitors. The following monitoring allows them to adjust their own costs to the customers’ demand and to win the â€Å"competition† due to the low-cost o ffer. In du’s case, the strategy seems to be unemployed as the company is often criticized for being one of the most expensive telecommunication providers in the eastern market. As it has already been mentioned, the information system is a rapidly changing environment. As a result, companies are required to perform constant monitoring process to be aware of the latest trends and tendencies that appear in the relevant context. In order to carry out a successful implementation of the existing information resources, one is frequently required to make some changes in the corporate strategy and to adjust it in accordance with the social needs and demands. According to the Sustainability report, du is aware of the described challenge and keeps working on the effective solutions. Thus, the company has recently established a special department responsible for the Information System integration (Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company, 2015). One might suggest that in order to i mprove competitive competence the company can employ a network-based strategy that will help du to strengthen its position in the global market. Another challenge is connected with the company’s intention to become the regional innovation hub. The accomplishment of this aim might require extra efforts in the information resources’ implementation. The company will have to find a way to apply the latest resources to set a contact with the society that can be highly helpful in the evaluation of particular initiatives. Finally, whereas the reducing cost of the information resources might be beneficial for a company that wants to implement them, it may be simultaneously regarded as a disadvantage as it signifies that this option is equally available for any organisation. The recently appeared firms often prove to be more susceptible to the new trends and, thus, show a better performance in the innovation field, while their older rivals might be unwilling to undergo signific ant changes. As a consequence, it is crucial that du lays a particular emphasis on the optimization of its inner structure through information resources. The introduction of some information technologies can imply inner reformation and a shift to the self-managing regime in certain departments. Whereas the practice might seem too challenging, the resistance to transform is likely to be more harmful than the potential outcome of its implementation. Moreover, the long-term perspective of the potential challenges is connected with the Internet platforms gaining their popularity. The modern services create favorable conditions for distant employment that usually leads to the significant staff reduction. As a consequence, du might soon face the ethical dilemma whether to optimize the efficacy by reducing the salaries expenses or to preserve the workforce carrying out its obligations of the employer. The following problem requires careful consideration and the changes should not be perfor med too promptly. Finally, the successful implementation of the information resources requires innovative ideas and approaches. In fact, the information system provides resource base to which every company has an equal access. Therefore, it is a firm’s unconventional decision-making that lets it become a leader in the relevant field. It means that innovative thinking should be encouraged at every corporate level. One has already mentioned the special Innovation Ideas Award that du offers to the most successful performers. It is important that the following award is equally available to every employee regardless of the hierarchy status. In conclusion, one should note that information system plays an important role in a company’s strategy. The successful implementation of existing information resources enables a firm to improve its general performance and raise its competitive competence. Meanwhile, a positive outcome of the following integration can be expected on condi tion that the suggested approach coincides with the initial organisational design taking into account its specificity and weak points. The analysis of du’s information strategy has shown that the company manages to remain a leading player in the telecommunication market largely to its effective implementation of the available information resources. Thus, du’s information strategy is aimed at the improvement of the customers’ service both by providing the clients with new convenient options and monitoring the feedback. Moreover, the company makes a lot of effort to form strategic alliances that might be beneficial for the development of its information strategy. Therefore, du’s readiness to cooperate along with its intention to maintain the innovative activity, determine the success of its performance and enable it to remain the leading telecommunication company in UAE. Reference List ADSIC and Du Ink Cooperation Agreement 2015, http://gulfnews.com/busines s/sectors/telecoms/adsic-and-du-ink-cooperation-agreement-1.1634056. DEWA Enters into Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Du to Lease-Out Part of DEWA’s Dark Fibre 2015, du.ae/about-us/media-centre/newsdetail/DEWA-enters-into-partnership-and-cooperation-agreement-with-du-to-lease-out-part-of-DEWA-s-dark-fibre. Du Demonstrates How Innovation Is Improving Day-to-Day Life During UAE Innovation Week 2015, du.ae/about-us/media-centre/newsdetail/2015/05/06/du-honored-as-pioneer-in-geographic-information-systems-in-gisworx-2015. Du Honored as Pioneer in Geographic Information Systems in GISWORX 2015, du.ae/about-us/media-centre/newsdetail/2015/05/06/du-honored-as-pioneer-in-geographic-information-systems-in-gisworx-2015. Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company 2015, Sustainability Report, du.ae/docs/default-source/About-Docs/du-sustainability-report-2014.pdf?sfvrsn=4 Kelly, MM Flanagan, K 2015, Du and Project Management Institute Strengthen Bonds for Strategic Collabo ration, media release, 2 December, pmi.org/About-Us/Press-Releases/du-Project-Management-Institute-strengthen-bonds-strategic-collaboration.aspx. Thomas, AS 2015, Follow The Leader: Osman Sultan, CEO, du, Entrepreneur, 15 September, entrepreneur.com/article/250611.

History of the Jet Ski

History of the Jet Ski Personal water craft have been around for more than half a century. The â€Å"Jet Ski,† however, is a trademark used by Kawasaki for its line of personal motorized water craft. Although the word Jet Ski has now become a more generic term describing all personal watercraft, well use it to refer specifically to the Kawasaki vessels. Early Years The earliest water scooters- as they were originally called- were introduced to Europe in the mid 1950s by motorcycle makers looking to expand their markets. The British company Vincent produced some 2,000 of its Amanda water scooters in 1955, but it failed to create the new market Vincent had hoped for. Despite the failure of European water scooters to catch on in the 1950s, the 60s saw continued attempts at tinkering with the idea. The Italian company Mival introduced its Nautical Pleasure Cruiser, which required users to hang onto the craft from behind. Australian motocross enthusiast Clayton Jacobsen II decided to design his own version so that its pilots would be standing up. His big breakthrough, though, was switching from the old outboard motors to an internal pump-jet. Jacobsen made his first prototype out of aluminum in 1965. He tried again a year later, this time opting for fiberglass. He sold his idea to the snowmobile manufacturer Bombardier, but they failed to catch on and Bombardier gave up on them. With patent back in hand, Jacobsen went to Kawasaki, which brought out its model in 1973. It was called the  Jet Ski. With the benefit of Kawasaki’s marketing, the Jet Ski won a loyal audience as a way to waterski without the need  for a boat. It was a small audience, however, as remaining on board while standing up- especially in choppy water- remained a challenge. Jet Skis Go Big The next decade planted the seeds for an explosion in the  popularity of personal water craft. For one thing, new models were introduced that let  riders do what they could do back on the old water scooters. The ability to sit down helped pilot stability. New designs not only improved stability further, but they allowed for two riders at a time, introducing a social element to personal water crafts. Bombardier got back into the game with the introduction of the Sea-Doo, which went on to become the best-selling personal watercraft in the world. With further advances in engine technology and emissions, today’s personal water craft enjoy new-found success in every metric. They can go faster than ever, reaching 60 miles an hour. And they now sell more than any boat in the world. Jet Ski Competitions As the popularity of personal water craft started to take off, enthusiasts started to organize races and competitions. The premiere racing series event is the  P1 AquaX, which launched in the United Kingdom in May 2011. London-based sports promoter Powerboat P1  created the racing series and expanded to the United States in 2013. And by 2015, as many as  400 riders from 11 countries had signed up to compete in an AquaX event. The organizers are looking to expand to other countries.

Jobs and Career Goals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Jobs and Career Goals - Essay Example This begs the question, when is it right for an individual to focus on financial progress and when should the family be given time? This question has arisen as more and more families find themselves in a state of disconnection with one another as a result of spending a decreasing amount of time with each other (Latshaw, 2011). The argument can be made that the time taken away from the family is placed in providing for their needs but it can also be stated that the physical presence of an individual in a relationship can be one of those needs. The economic downturn has also affected those yet without families but looking to start one as well (Gerson, 2011). This is because the increase in hours that an individual has to work in order to make ends meet has in turn decreased the amount of time that they have to go out and socialize with people thus denying them the opportunity to meet potential partners. There are a number of ways in which working long hours can have an impact on an ind ividual’s lifestyle (Rampell, 2013). Some of these include the fact that the longer hours will mean that by the time an individual gets through the day they are too tired to do any socializing. This decreases the chances they have of meeting potential partners. ... a person goes without socializing the more awkward they are likely to be when given the opportunity so it can be said that a long term result of the long hours is that an individual is left a little â€Å"rusty† in their social skills especially with jobs that based in solitary environments. The marriage of an individual is also affected by long working hours and they are number of considerations that should be taken into account for couples that find themselves in such a situation. The first is always finding time for your spouse despite the busy schedule one may have (Estes, 2011). This will make an individual feel loved and appreciated as they can see the individual making an effort to make time for them despite the other responsibilities that they may have. Communication is also another very important tool that should be used in the battle against long working hours versus marriages (Rampell, 2013). Keeping in touch with one’s spouse on a fairly regular basis allows both sides to sync up their plans for the day and if possible find a time of the day where both parties are free to meet up (Gerson, 2011). In today’s society the financial turmoil has made it so that in most households both parents have to work and as such it is essential that both spouses respect each other’s jobs so as to avoid any form of tension that may arise from doing otherwise. The most important thing to remember is that a successful marriage requires time and effort from both sides and thus it is essential that both parties find time to be together. There is also a third party that may be potentially involved when dealing with matters of family and that is the children. The children in a family can be seen as the binding thread that ties a relationship together in some instances and it

Capital Structure and Firm Value Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Capital Structure and Firm Value - Assignment Example The perfect capital markets are not characterised by any market frictions like trading costs, taxes and the information is easily transmitted between the investors and the managers. M&M made a clear distinction between the financial risk and business risk faced by a firm. While the financial risk refers to the choice of risk distribution between the bondholders and shareholders, the business risk refers to the uncertainty of cash flows of the business. It has been pointed out by Miller and Modigliani that changes in leverage does not cast any significant influence on the cash flows generated by the business. Therefore changes in leverage cannot alter the value of the firm. According to them leverage simply defines the distribution of cash flows between the bondholders and the shareholders. As per M&M model the value of levered firm (VL) is equal to the value of unlevered firm (VU). Suppose there are two companies- Company 1 and Company2. It is assumed that the two companies have identical cash flows and belong to same risk profile. The difference between the two companies is with respect to financing. M&M state that the market value of the two companies is same. Suppose the pay-off of Company 1 in good state is 160 and in bad state is 50. This company is financed only by the equity mode of financing. Similarly the payoff of Company 2 is 160 in good state and 50 in bad state. It is financed by the combination of debt and equity. Suppose the total debt of Company 2 is $60 and its market value is $50; the market value of its equity is $50. Then the value of the Company 2 is- Modigliani and Miller have stated that the â€Å"value of leveraged firm† is equal to the sum of â€Å"the value of unleveraged firm plus tax advantage of debt†. Miller modified the equation obtained under MM Proposition without taxes (Lee, et al., 2009, p.208).   

World War II Essay Example for Free

World War II Essay During the Eisenhower administration many changes were taking place in American culture. Following World War II, the country experienced a period of industrialization and growth like never before, especially in terms of the economy and the American family. Post- World War II the so-called â€Å"baby boom† occurred, a period when birth rates rose as a result of the soldiers coming home from the war and due to the young ages of people who were marrying, but also the booming economy with the emerging middle-class suburban culture drastically changed the way people viewed their lives. They were comfortable, able to afford nice things, like cars and other newly developed appliances, as well as the small suburban houses that kept them close enough to the cities to find work, but far enough way that they could create a quiet, peaceful life. All of these factors helped develop a culture of consumption, a culture where people had some disposable income due to their middle-class economy and larger amounts of couples with children in the market to buy. This consumption helped create a booming housing market, department stores, new inventions to make life easier like kitchen appliances, and a strong automobile industry. This large-scale, new-found getting and spending formed an entirely new culture that continues today, in many respects. The way people within the country viewed America was very favorably. They saw this new way of life as being wonderful and much better than what their parents would have experienced. With many young, professional suburban couples coming from all walks of life, from urban to rural, they would have seen the life of suburbia as a haven where they could raise a family, buy a home, and use their disposable income to buy things they wanted, instead of just what they needed. The rest of the world would have viewed this aspect of American culture as a paradise, a dream-life that many could not fathom having for themselves because of America’s strong economy.

Agriculture for Mars Colonization :: Environment Mars Planet Life Essays Papers

As the world population grows at an astonishing rate, our mother earth is getting very crowded. Our natural resources are being overused and the land available for life is getting smaller and smaller. Farmers have to find ways to make what land they have usable and profitable. Farmers in general are a shrinking population. How does this relate to the general public? Without farmers we would not have food, without food we will all die. The world is realizing this problem and the best way to solve it is to find more land for habitat. We can not tack on a few million acres to earth and start using that, so we have to find somewhere else to go. Mars, the beautiful red planet, is the most similar planet to earth. The terrain in general is very close to what we are used to on earth, minus the vegetation. Earth and Mars both contain polar ice caps. Mars also has water throughout the planet, but it is mostly subsoil. Water is a very important part of agriculture. The water on Mars is a little different than the water here on earth. If we tried using the polar ice caps, we would have to do many things to make it worth out time. The location of the ice caps is in an area with â€Å"permafrost.† This means that the water remains frozen unless we do something to melt it. The bad part is that we don’t know what the water is actually like. When we get the contained water free, we will then have to test it and see what is needed to make the water useful. The water underneath the soil is already free, but there are many unanswered questions about that water also. The water contained under the soil has had some various effects on the Mars terrain. When the robots were on mars collecting samples, they found some rocks that looked like rocks from prehistoric life here on earth. When analyzing these samples, the scientists deemed that the water was very acidic and salty. This is similar to some of the earlier times in the Australian area.

Iron Crowned Chapter 1

Don't confuse fairy queens with fairy princesses. Where I come from, girls who want to be fairy princesses usually dream about gossamer wings and frilly dresses. Pink dresses, at that. I'm pretty sure rhinestones are part of being a fairy princess too, as are cute wands with stars on top that grant wishes. Fairy princesses expect lovely lives of luxury and lounging, ones that involve small woodland creatures waiting on their every need. As a fairy queen, I can admit that there is a bit more involvement with woodland creatures than one might expect. But the rest? A total joke. Fairies – the kind I deal with, at least – rarely have wings. My wand is made of rough gemstones bound together, and I use it to blast Otherworldly creatures out of existence. I've also whacked a few people in the head with it. My life is dirty, harsh, and deadly, the kind of life no frilly dress could withstand. I wear jeans. Most important, I look horrible in pink. I'm also pretty sure that fairy princesses don't have to deal with this kind of shit first thing in the morning. â€Å"I have killed †¦ Eugenie Markham.† The words rang out loud and clear through a dining room filled with about thirty people eating at round wooden tables. The ceilings were vaulted, and the rough stone walls made it look like part of a medieval castle because †¦ well, it kind of was. Most of the morning diners were soldiers and guards, but a few were officials and high-ranking servants who lived and worked within the castle. Dorian, King of the Oak Land and my bondage-loving Otherworldly boyfriend, sat at the head table and looked up from his breakfast to see who had made such a bold statement. â€Å"I'm sorry, did you say something?† The speaker, standing on the other side of the table, turned as red as the uniform he wore. He looked about twenty-something in human years, meaning he was probably a hundred or so in fairy – or gentry, the name I preferred – years. The guy bit his lip and straightened his posture, making another attempt at dignity as he glared at Dorian. â€Å"I said I killed Eugenie Markham.† The man – a soldier, it appeared – looked around at the faces, no doubt hoping his message would inspire horrified reactions. Mostly his words brought about good-natured confusion, largely because half of the people gathered in the room could see me standing in the hall outside. â€Å"I have killed your queen, and now your armies will crumble. Surrender immediately, and Her Royal Majesty, Queen Katrice of the Rowan Land, will be merciful.† Dorian didn't answer right away and didn't look very concerned. He delicately patted his mouth with a brocade napkin and then returned it to his lap. â€Å"Dead? Are you sure?† He glanced over at a dark-haired woman sitting beside him. â€Å"Shaya, didn't we just see her yesterday?† â€Å"Yes, sire,† replied Shaya, pouring cream into her tea. Dorian brushed autumn-red hair out of his face and returned to cutting up the sugary, almond-coated pastry that was serving as his most important meal of the day. â€Å"Well, there you have it. She can't be dead.† The Rowan soldier stared in disbelief, growing more and more incredulous as people continued to either regard him curiously or simply ignore him altogether. The only person who seemed mildly concerned was an elderly gentry woman sitting on the other side of Dorian. Her name was Ranelle, and she was an ambassador from the Linden Land. She'd only arrived yesterday and clearly wasn't used to the wacky mishaps around here. The soldier turned his attention back to Dorian. â€Å"Are you as insane as they say you are? I killed the Thorn Queen! Look.† He threw down a silver and moonstone necklace. It clattered against the hard, tiled floor, and the pale, iridescent stones just barely picked up some of the morning light. â€Å"I cut this off of her corpse. Now do you believe me?† That brought some silence to the room, and even Dorian paused. It was indeed my necklace, and seeing it made me absentmindedly touch the bare spot on my throat. Dorian wore his perpetually bored expression, but I knew him well enough to guess at the maelstrom of thoughts swirling behind his green eyes. â€Å"If that's true,† Dorian replied at last, â€Å"then why didn't you actually bring us her corpse?† â€Å"It's with my queen,† said the soldier smugly, thinking he'd finally gained ground. â€Å"She kept it as a trophy. If you cooperate, she might release it to you.† â€Å"I don't believe it.† Dorian peered down the table. â€Å"Rurik, will you pass the salt? Ah, thank you.† â€Å"King Dorian,† said Ranelle uneasily, â€Å"perhaps you should pay more attention to what this man has to say. If the queen is dead – â€Å" â€Å"She's not,† said Dorian bluntly. â€Å"And this sauce is delicious.† â€Å"Why don't you believe me?† exclaimed the soldier, sounding oddly childlike. â€Å"Did you think she was invincible? Did you think no one could kill her?† â€Å"No,† admitted Dorian. â€Å"I just don't think you could kill her.† Ranelle tried again. â€Å"My lord, how do you know that the queen isn't – â€Å" â€Å"Because she's standing right there. Will you all shut up now so I can eat in peace?† The interruption – and end to this farce – came from Jasmine, my teenage sister. Like me, she was half human. Unlike me, she was totally unstable and was consequently eating her breakfast while wearing loose but magic-stunting handcuffs. She also had headphones on, and the breakfast debate must have been overpowering her current playlist. Thirty faces turned toward where I stood near the doorway, and there was a mad scramble as almost everyone shoved back their chairs and tried to rise for a hasty bow. I sighed. I'd been comfortable leaning against the wall, resting from a hard night's journey as I watched this absurdity unfolding in my Otherworldly home. The gig was up now. I threw back my shoulders and strode into the dining room, putting on all the queenly airs I could. â€Å"The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated,† I announced. I had a feeling I'd messed up the Mark Twain quote, but in this crowd, nobody knew the reference anyway. Most thought I was simply stating the facts. Which, really, I was. The Rowan soldier's flushed face suddenly turned white, his eyes bugging out. He took a few steps backward and glanced uneasily around. There was really nowhere else he could go. I gestured for those who were standing and bowing to sit down as I walked up to my necklace. Picking it up from the floor, I eyed it critically. â€Å"You broke the clasp.† I studied it for a few more moments and then turned my glare on him. â€Å"You broke it when you ripped it off my neck while we were fighting – not when you killed me. Obviously.† I just barely recalled grappling with this guy last night. He'd been one among many. I'd lost him in the midst of the chaos, but apparently, Katrice had decided to send him here with a story after he'd captured this â€Å"evidence.† â€Å"You look amazing for being dead, my dear,† called Dorian. â€Å"You should really come join us and try this sauce that Ranelle brought.† I ignored Dorian, both because he expected me to and because I knew I didn't look so amazing. My clothes were ripped and dirty, and I'd accrued a few cuts in last night's battle. Judging from the haze of red I kept seeing out of the corners of my eyes, I had a feeling my hair was frizzy and sticking up in about a hundred different directions. It was already turning into a hot day, and my stuffy castle was making me sweat profusely. â€Å"No,† gasped the Rowan soldier. â€Å"You can't be alive. Balor swore he saw you fall – he told the queen – â€Å" â€Å"Will you guys stop this already?† I demanded, leaning in close to his face. This made a few of my own guards step nearer, but I wasn't worried. This loser wouldn't try anything, and besides, I could defend myself. â€Å"When is your fucking queen going to stop turning every rumor about Dorian or me dying into some huge proclamation? Haven't you ever heard of habeas corpus? Never mind. Of course you haven't.† â€Å"Actually,† piped in Dorian. â€Å"I know Latin.† â€Å"It won't work anyway,† I growled to the Rowan guy. â€Å"Even if I were dead, it's not going to stop our kingdoms from trampling yours.† That pulled him out of his stupefied state. Fury lit his features – fury spiked with a little bit of insane zeal. â€Å"You half-breed bitch! You're the one who's going to be blighted from existence! You, the Oak King, and everyone else who lives in your cursed lands. Our queen is mighty and great! Already she's in negotiations with the Aspen and Willow Lands to unite against you! She will grind you with her foot and take this land, take it and – â€Å" â€Å"Can I kill him? Please?† This was Jasmine. Her gray eyes looked at me pleadingly, and she'd taken the headphones off. What should have been teenage sarcasm was actually deadly seriousness. It was days like these I regretted keeping her in the Otherworld, rather than sending her back to live with humans. Surely it wasn't too late for reform school. â€Å"I haven't killed any of your people, Eugenie. You know I haven't. Let me do something to him. Please.† â€Å"He's under a truce flag,† replied Shaya automatically. Protocol was her specialty. Dorian turned toward her. â€Å"Blast it, woman! I've told you to stop letting them in with immunity. Wartime rules be damned.† Shaya only smiled, unconcerned by his mock outrage. â€Å"But he is protected,† I said, suddenly feeling exhausted. Last's night battle – more of a skirmish, really – had ended in a draw between my armies and Katrice's. It was incredibly frustrating, making the loss of life on both sides seem totally pointless. I beckoned some of my guards forward. â€Å"Get him out of here. Put him on a horse, and don't send him with any water. Let's hope the roads are kind to him today.† The guards bowed obediently, and I turned back to Katrice's man. â€Å"And you can let Katrice know that she's wasting her time, no matter how often she wants to claim she's killed me – or even if she manages it. We're still going to see this war through, and she's the one who's going to lose. She's outnumbered and out-resourced. She started this over a personal fight, and no one else is going to help her with it. Tell her that if she surrenders immediately, then maybe we'll be merciful.† The Rowan soldier glared at me, his malice palpable, but offered no response. The best he could manage was to spit on the ground before the guards dragged him off. With another sigh, I turned away and looked at the breakfast table. They'd already brought up a chair for me. â€Å"Is there any toast?† I asked, sitting down wearily. Toast was not a common item on the gentry menu, but the servants here had gotten used to my human preferences. They still couldn't make decent tequila, and Pop-Tarts were totally out of the question. But toast? Toast was within their skill set. Someone handed a basket of it to me, and everyone continued eating peacefully. Well, almost everyone. Ranelle was staring at all of us like we were crazy, which I could understand. â€Å"How can you be so calm?† she exclaimed. â€Å"After that man just – just – and you †¦Ã¢â‚¬  She looked me over in amazement. â€Å"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but your attire †¦ You've clearly been in battle. Yet, here you are, sitting as though this is all perfectly ordinary.† I gave her a cheerful look, not wanting to offend our guest or project a weak image. I'd just arrogantly told the Rowan soldier that his queen would never gain any allies, but his comment about her negotiating with the Aspen and Willow Lands hadn't been lost on me. Katrice and I were both scrambling for allies in this war. Dorian was mine, giving me the edge in numbers right now, and I didn't want to risk any chance of that changing. Dorian caught my eye and gave me one of his small, laconic smiles. It warmed me up, easing a little of the frustration I felt. Some days, it seemed like he was all that was going to get me through this war I'd inadvertently stumbled into. I'd never wanted it. I'd never wanted to be queen of a fey kingdom either, forcing me to split my time between here and my human life in Tucson. I certainly hadn't wanted to be at the center of a prophecy that claimed I'd give birth to humanity's conqueror, a prophecy that had driven Katrice's son to rape me. Dorian had killed him for it, something I still didn't regret, even though I hated every day of the war that had followed in the killing's wake. I couldn't tell Ranelle any of that, of course. I wanted to send her back to her land with an image of confidence and power, so that her king would think allying with us was a smart move. A brilliant move, even. I couldn't tell Ranelle my fears. I couldn't tell her how much it hurt me to see refugees showing up at my castle, poor petitioners whose homes had been destroyed by the war. I couldn't tell her that Dorian and I took turns visiting the armies and fighting with them – and how on those nights, the one who wasn't fighting never got any sleep. Despite his flippancy, I knew Dorian had felt a spark of fear at the Rowan soldier's initial claim. Katrice was always trying to demoralize us. Both Dorian and I feared that someday, one of her heralds would show up telling the truth. It made me want to run away with him right now, run away from all of this and just wrap myself up in his arms. But again, I reminded myself that I had to brush those thoughts away. Leaning over, I gave Dorian a soft kiss on his cheek. The smile I offered Ranelle was as winning and upbeat as one he might produce. â€Å"Actually,† I told her. â€Å"This is a pretty ordinary day for us.† The sad part? It was true.

Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia

Do men and women view artistic pieces differently? When we consider numerous articles surrounding Antoni Gaudi’s architectural wonder Sagrada Familia, is there a difference between the way men and women view this piece of history. In the articles we are to analyze, we find that women are more subjectively critical than men who are somewhat more objective in the perceptions. In a architectural piece, the standpoints are unavoidable because they are readily visible to the public regardless of whether or not you want to see it. Gaudi’s ostentatious Gothic facade has acquired admiration and criticism over the years and we discuss this criticism of his work with reference to various articles seen from the viewpoint of both genders in order to ascertain whether there is indeed a difference between the genders’ perceptions. â€Å"Heresy or Homage in Barcelona† was written by Margot Hornblower in TIME magazine and is dated 28 January 1991. Hornblower describes the Sagrada Familia as â€Å"sensual, spiritual, whimsical, exuberant† (Hornblower, 1991). In this description, she obviously spares no time in making the piece seem irresistible. Furthermore, she insists that the building ‘symbolizes’ the city of Barcelona in a way that few other buildings do (Hornblower, 1991). Hornblower is complimentary of the piece of architecture that at times has been seen as gauche and over-the-top, she explains that very style of the building is almost a mockery of modern architecture (Hornblower, 1991). Although this in itself is not complimentary of the presence it holds in Catalina, but the way Hornblower has written it, makes it seem awesome in its own way. She does, however make it known that the fact that the Sagrada Familia was never completed poses a problem for many critics. The problem it appears, according to Hornblower is: who will be seen as fit to complete the work considering the immense esteem in which Gaudi was held? (Hornblower, 1991). The article was written prior to the 1992 Olympic Games and dissention was caused surrounding the people chosen to complete the piece. Hornblower writes about the difference between art nouveau and the man Suribachs who was chosen to complete the building (Hornblower, 1991). You can read also  Similarities and Conflicts in † a Streetcar Named Desire† This is comparable to another female writer who in fact wrote about the completion of the Sagrada Familia and is written by a Spanish female writer by the name of Rosario Fontova who writes for the El Periodico de Catalunya and is dated 22 October 2000. She writes factually about the re-evaluation of Gaudi’s work and the subsequent reopening of the Sagrada Familia as a completed work. She is completely unbiased and writes objectively although at times slightly on the complimentary side: â€Å"Part of the scaffolding has been removed, revealing the â€Å"Gaudian† shape of the temple's central nave as seen from the floor. (Fontova, 2000). From the other hand, male American writer for the New York Times also describes the Sagrada Familia in a complimentary fashion. Edward Schumacher writes for the New York Times Special on 1 January 1991 â€Å"Gaudi’s Church Still Divides Barcelona†. Similar to Hornblower’s article, Schumacher also explores the confli ct that surrounds the famous building. Schumacher, while complimentary, he does draw attention to the aspect of incongruity that the building holds, that is, its ‘exaggerated’ appearance (Schumacher, 1991). In this case Schumacher uses the word ‘exaggerated’ with the word ‘glorious’ in the phrase â€Å"The Sagrada Familia (Holy Family), a soaring, gloriously exaggerated Art Nouveau church that is taller than St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, was only a quarter done when Gaudi was killed by a streetcar in 1926. †(Schumacher, 1991). Schumacher therefore obviously looks fondly upon the architectural piece. Schumacher writes in the sense that the Familia Sagrada is a challenge to the old norms expected in fine art architecture. He believes, or writes at least that Gaudi challenged the ‘tired revival styles’ and formed his own ‘eclectic’ approach to building (Schumacher, 1991). He calls Gaudi a ‘visionary’ and goes into quite a lot of depth surrounding architectural terminology. He speaks about angularity, architraves, columns and vaults, meaning that to some extent he is learned in the field of architecture (Schumacher, 1991). Schumacher also goes into detail about the history of the Sagrada Familia, stating that Gaudi had seen the work as a culmination of his life’s work (Shumacher). He also explains the controversy surrounding the commission and building of the Sagrada Familia especially in terms of its artistic revival (Schumacher, 1991). Hattie Hartmann is a female writer for the New York Times and wrote â€Å"Barcelona Celebrates its own Architectural Visionary† dated 19 August 2002. She writes, in contrast to our first female writer in a very factual manner. She does not write much about how she feels about the piece but relates the facts and history surrounding the building. She acts as a sounding-board for what others think. The proposed route of the Madrid-Barcelona high-speed train passes near the Sagrada Familia site, and some say that offers an ideal opportunity to take another look at the current plans for the cathedral in its urban context before it is too late. †(Hartmann, 2002). This example shows the willingness of Hartmann to allow other opinions is strongly objective. Her choice of subject, however, also reveals the need to question what others believe and also in a way to stand up against the changes that might detract from the beauty and stature of the building. She writes about Gaudi’s popularity, his following and his status but refrains form using her own opinion of him and uses no emotive words regarding to herself in this situation (Hartmann, 2002). The differences between male and female discourse in terms of Gaudi’s work do not display any particular traits with regards to the way in which it is viewed form on gender to the other. One female writer (Hornblower) writes subjectively with many emotive words used to fondly describe the Sagrada Familia while the male writer, Schumacher does the same. The writer from Spain who obviously is familiar with the work is more factual and intent on creating a news-flash rather than advertising the piece. Fontova does not speak badly of the piece but refrains from making a value judgment on the building. On the one hand we have an American woman gushing Gaudi’s praise and on the other hand we see a local Catalan woman writing about the building as if it were part of her daily life. Schumacher does use far more technical terms in his description of the building while Hartmann and Hornblower both write with little weight placed on the technical value of the architecture. Fontova probably has more access to information surrounding the building works and is therefore more attentive to the technicalities. In the case of Sagrada Familia we see that the only real difference in perception of the piece is that the male writer appears to see the technical value of the building. The Sagrada Familia itself is a profoundly ostentatious and decorative building with an almost Gothic facade. His work pushed many boundaries in terms of breaking with norms and created a thoroughly art nouveau impression of the original religious relic that is the form of a cathedral. Comparable to Michaelangelo’s Sistine Chapel we see a modernised version of an old religious ideal. The Sagrada Familia has different meaning for different people and this is essentially the crux of the matter. For the Catalan female writer, Sagrada Familia is a part of her daily life, something she sees almost daily. It is also part of the Barcelonian heritage which the American writers, both male and female do not see. It is recognised by them but not necessarily seen in the same light. The male alternative to the praise given Gaudi’d works, is seen more from a technical point of view but is still strongly emotive. The female American writer was obviously in praise of Gaudi’s work more in terms of its aesthetic value than for its technical parts. There is therefore a difference between the way a local sees the building and a foreigner. There is also a difference in the purposes of the writing: Hartmann was more documentary about the piece and did not place as much importance on her own opinion as she did on the facts. The meaning behind the writing was predominantly in terms of the controversy the alterations to the building has caused. There was very little difference between the way males and females viewed the artwork in this particular case.

Free Essays on ACA Airlines

As Atlantic Coast Airlines(ACA) begins to make the transition from regional commuter to low cost airlines there are a lot of different aspects of the industry which they needed to look at before the final decision could be made. The first and made the most important was factor they needed to examen was what type of industry there where going to be competing in and what there competition was going to be. The airline industry today is what is know as an oligopoly which is a market structure dominated by a small number of large firms, selling identical or similar products, and there are significant barriers to entry into the industry. ACA knows the risks that it faces in making this decision, but they feel confident that there new Dulles International Airport based airlines will be successful as a low cost air carrier. There where several barriers to entry which made it difficult for ACA to get to this point, but they have proved through market research and financial forecasting that they have what it takes to succeed. The main barrier to entry was the shear cost of this type of venture, starting an airline is a very expensive business proposition. After studying ACA’s past financial report it show that they have been able to make a profit for the last five years as regional carrier and plan do continue to do so as a low cost carrier. The cost part of the transition was made even easier due in part to there large cash reserve, and the fact they already have a lot of the assets they need in place to make the conversion, such as facilities, equipment, employees. Another barrier ACA faced when trying to form this new airlines was there regional air carrier contract with United airlines. As of earlier this year when United Airlines filed for bankruptcy they contract was considered null and voi d due to stipulation in the contract. This open the way for ACA to go ahead with there plans. Several other barrier to entry existed while ACA pl... Free Essays on ACA Airlines Free Essays on ACA Airlines As Atlantic Coast Airlines(ACA) begins to make the transition from regional commuter to low cost airlines there are a lot of different aspects of the industry which they needed to look at before the final decision could be made. The first and made the most important was factor they needed to examen was what type of industry there where going to be competing in and what there competition was going to be. The airline industry today is what is know as an oligopoly which is a market structure dominated by a small number of large firms, selling identical or similar products, and there are significant barriers to entry into the industry. ACA knows the risks that it faces in making this decision, but they feel confident that there new Dulles International Airport based airlines will be successful as a low cost air carrier. There where several barriers to entry which made it difficult for ACA to get to this point, but they have proved through market research and financial forecasting that they have what it takes to succeed. The main barrier to entry was the shear cost of this type of venture, starting an airline is a very expensive business proposition. After studying ACA’s past financial report it show that they have been able to make a profit for the last five years as regional carrier and plan do continue to do so as a low cost carrier. The cost part of the transition was made even easier due in part to there large cash reserve, and the fact they already have a lot of the assets they need in place to make the conversion, such as facilities, equipment, employees. Another barrier ACA faced when trying to form this new airlines was there regional air carrier contract with United airlines. As of earlier this year when United Airlines filed for bankruptcy they contract was considered null and vo id due to stipulation in the contract. This open the way for ACA to go ahead with there plans. Several other barrier to entry existed while ACA pl...

How the 2016 Republican Primaries Worked

How the 2016 Republican Primaries Worked The 2016 presidential election was notable for many reasons, not the least of which was the outcome. Major changes to the Republican primary system made in the wake of the 2012 election were intended to speed up the candidate-selection process. But it didnt quite work out that way. What Happened in 2012 Party rules put in place before the 2012 presidential election  lengthened  the amount of time it took the eventual nominee to secure the 1,144 delegates necessary for the nomination. The top three candidates,  Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and  Newt Gingrich, were locked in a tight race until the very end, when Utah held the last of the primaries in the nation on June 26. The party convention was held a month later in Tampa, Florida. That November,  Romney  lost by a wide margin to President Barack Obama, giving Obama a  second term in the White House. Two years later, Republican Party leaders met to draft rules for the 2016 primaries. Their chief concern was avoiding another drawn-out primary battle that would force the eventual nominee to spend too much time and money defending himself from attacks by members of his own party. Republican National Committee Chairman  Reince Priebus put it this way in 2014: We have been saying for months that we were no longer going to sit around and allow ourselves to slice and dice for six months, participate in a circus of debates, that we were going to take hold once again of our responsibility at the Republican National Committee because we are the custodians of the nomination process, he said. The 2016 Primaries Per tradition, Iowa Republicans voted first; they caucused on Feb. 1, 2016, and gave Texas Sen. Ted Cruz a slim win over Donald Trump, 28 percent to 24 percent. A little over a week later, New Hampshires GOP held the nations first primary on Feb. 9. Trump won a commanding 35 percent of the vote. Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who would dog Trump throughout the campaign, took second place with 19 percent of the vote. South Carolina and Nevada voted later that month, and Trump won both states. But Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz also did well. The ground was set for a fast, brutal primary fight leading up to the July 18 beginning of the national convention.   Because Iowa and New Hampshire guard their first-in-the-nation status so dearly, the GOP rules made sure that any states that tried to vote earlier than these would be punished by losing delegates at the national convention. Victories in these early states would also give an early boost to the winners. Once March began, the pace quickened. States holding their primaries between March 1 and March 14 had to award their delegates on a proportional basis, meaning that no one candidate could likely win the nomination before late-voting states held their primaries. States voting on March 15, 2016, or later could award their delegates on a winner-take-all basis, meaning candidates will likely pay more attention to them.   As the weeks wore on, the contest came down to Trump and Cruz, with Kasich a distant if vocal third. By the time the Indiana Republican primary took place on May 3, it was apparent that Trump would win the nomination after Cruz came in second in that contest and subsequently dropped out of the race. Trump officially crossed the delegate threshold of 1,237 when he won the North Dakota primary on May 26. Aftermath Donald Trump went on to win the presidential election that November ​and the Republican Party maintained its control of both houses of Congress. Yet even before the election, some party leaders were already talking about changes to the 2020 primary system. Among them was a proposal to allow only registered Republicans a vote. Trump won primaries in both South Carolina and Nevada in part because both states permitted independents to vote. As of August 2017, the GOP hasnt yet implemented these reforms.

Computer Software Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Computer Software Review - Essay Example However, unlike previous software packages, it is not possible to acquire windows 8.1 through the windows update program (Sosinsky, 2013). It was the intention of the developers of windows 8.1 to address the various complaints that users of windows 8 had. These complaints emanated from the difficulties in understanding the user interface of the software, to incompatibility problems with some important computer software programs (Sosinsky, 2013). Visible enhancements introduced in windows 8.1 includes an improvement in the start screen, a tight integration of OneDrive, additional number of snap views, internet explorer 11, an additional bundled apps, a unified search system that is empowered by Bing, capability of restoring a visible start button on the computer taskbar, capability of restoring previous behavior of an opening of the desktop of a user on the login, as opposed to the start screen (Sosinsky, 2013). Furthermore, windows 8.1 has managed to add support features for emerging technologies, such as 3D printing, high resolution displays, Miracast streaming, Wi-Fi Direct, etc. Furthermore, the user interface of windows 8.1 enables users to get the capability of easily interacting with the computer system. It uses a graphical user interface, and a point to click technology of the cursor and the mouse. This makes it to be very user friendly, giving users a good experience in using the computer system that is installed with windows 8.1 (Sosinsky, 2013). It is important to understand that the common features of a graphical user interface include menus, and icons. In windows 8.1, the start screen is able to provide the first interaction that an individual has with the operating system. This is the first image that an individual sees in a monitor, once the system has been booted. It is able to provide an individual with an access to the tools, and applications of the commonly used programs of the computer

Direct-to-Customer Drug Advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Direct-to-Customer Drug Advertising - Essay Example But United States of America allows direct-to-customer drug advertisement and some people appreciate this policy. In this paper categorical imperative will be used to solve this dilemma of drug advertisement. We will argue through Kant’s deontological approach that drug advertisement directed to the end users is not ethical. Why Direct-to-Customer Drug Advertising is unethical? Deontological ethics emphasize on the moral duties of a person irrespective of the consequences of an action (Stanford Encyclopedia, 1). An act, therefore, is ethical or good only if it is morally right. An act cannot be ethically justified only by the consequences it follows because wrong actions (like lying) can sometimes lead to good consequences. Therefore deontologists argue that rules or duties make an action ethical, and not the consequences of those actions. Drug advertisement is not morally right because it violates the moral rule that one should act in a way in which one wants to be treated. D rug advertisement is not something desirable for a person who has limited knowledge of medical sciences. I am simply arguing against customer directed drug advertisement because I would not want to expose myself to such advertisement that can harm my health. Drug advertisement will only have limited information and they will entice a person to take self medication. The moral principle that should guide our behavior tells us that drug advertisement should be banned irrespective of the good and bad consequences it has to offer. Categorical imperative is a moral philosophy given by Immanuel Kant. Categorical imperative calls for behaving in a manner that would one be willing to make a general universal principle (Kant, 30). A person, according to Kant, should act according to his or her moral duties and should not take into account the possible consequences of an action. Ethical actions should be based on moral principles rather than ‘good’ consequences. Direct-to-customer drug advertisement is similar to lying in many ways. No one would like to be on the receiving end of lying therefore it can be termed as an unethical behavior. In advertisement no company can tell everything about a drug therefore there will be chances of misunderstanding. Most of the people are not familiar with the medical terms therefore they may perceive it differently. It will be similar to concealing and therefore cannot be termed as an ethical behavior. No matter what are the consequences of drug advertisement to consum ers, the act itself is not moral therefore it cannot be allowed. It is also important to understand that drug marketing can hurt children considerably. The main principle of categorical imperative calls for acting in a way so as you, by will, allow that act to become universally applicable. No one would like their children to see drug advertisements at homes therefore it is not justified morally to legalize customer directed drug marketing. There are also people who argue that it is in the best interest of the society that customer directed drug advertisements should be allowed all over the world. Their arguments stem from the sheer need of the ordinary people who are not able to go to doctors. It will allow them to treat themselves in a better way and avoid high costs of doctors. The argument is of utilitarianist nature that argues maximum good for the majority of population (Bentham, Chapter 1). This argument does not strengthen the case of customer directed

Supreme court case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Supreme court case - Essay Example In 1954, Oliver L. Brown began the process of reversing this by challenging the Topeka Board of Education on its policy of segregated schools. He was angry because his daughter had to walk six blocks across, cross train tracks, then board a bus and ride for over a mile to get to her black school, while there was a white school only six blocks away. This seemed especially ridiculous because his daughter’s playmates were largely white and attended that school. Unlike many areas, Topeka worked very hard to ensure that its white and African American schools were largely equal – they had equal funding, facilities and staff, so it essentially came to question whether it was possible for two facilities to actually be equal if they were separate. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court said that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal, and that the only way to ensure truly equal access to education was to have them not be segregated at all. This decision made it illegal to segregate schools based on race, and began a process of re-integration, which would eventually pave the road for many other improvements in race relations in

The Social Network Facebook And Privacy Media Essay

The Social Network Facebook And Privacy Media Essay Introduction: We are living in the golden age of technology. Day by day technology is going to be more important in human life. Every aspect of our life like education, medical, business, information, transport, communication etc. demand technological support. It is helping us many ways in our daily life. Nothing is impossible nowadays. Information technology, given us the power to move around the world within minutes. What we got from IT: the communicative world is blessed of IT. There is no community in the modern world which can go through without IT. People nowadays become much more depended on IT. Operating business, financial transaction, entertainment, communicating everywhere we are using IT. In a word the globe is in palm and it happened for IT. As the Information technology playing an important role in our life but sometimes it is affecting our privacy and social life. Privacy: Privacy refers to personal secrecy or private or confidential information or property. In general everyone has some preference, someone likes to listening music and collecting songs and it is his personal privacy or secrecy. If anyone interfere his listening or collecting music that mean it is interfere in his privacy. In the website http://www.privacilla.org, they published, The word privacy has been used to describe many concerns with the modern world. It is a complex concept even before other concerns are lumped with it. The concept of privacy deserves to be carefully examined. It defies easy, and many proposals to protect privacy have gone forward without a clear articulation of what privacy really is. Importantly, privacy is a personal, subjective condition. One person cannot decide for another what his or her sense of privacy should be. (http://www.privacilla.org/fundamentals/whatisprivacy.html) So privacy has no visible size or feature. It actually depends on person and varies community to community and situation. It might be personal opinion, political view, or likings or sensitive information. Day by day the globe is coming closer by influence of various inventions and technological bless. And the word privacy is going to be much more complicated in this technological arena Social networks: Social networking is a grouping of people of same community or people of same neighbour or same likings or we can say it a group of friends. But in the IT world, social network is the best way of communication among people from same institutes or workplace via internet. For example; Facebook, twitter, MSN and many other open networks. Facebook: Facebook is the second largest social network on internet was founded by former-Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg and launched in February 2004.People using Facebook find their older friends and stay keep in touch with friends and family, make friendship with new people, publish their personal information. Like as, name, gender, interest, study, job etc. people are posting their likings, personal views, or in a word every single moment of our time we are publishing to share with our friends. This information is recorded by the operators in the server. Though sometimes we are deleting from our profile but we cannot delete it from there. How we are affected: According their (Facebook) privacy and policy, Facebook has the right to save our information and to share with third parties if necessary. That mean, with whom they are sharing our information we do not know it. In the same hand the third party, they do not have any obligation to share our information. So the third party can share our information with anyone or can use our information for any purpose. And thats how we are losing our privacy. Our personal preference is going to anyone who is not familiar with us. On the other hand anyone in our friend list can affect us or our social status putting any comment or any post in our wall which result harassment and hamper social status. Again various companies they can use the preference of individuals for their surveys without acknowledging people from their information given at the time of having the account of any social network. Another thing is, as Facebook is an open source network when you sign in you are gett ing a lot of advertisement or application where someone can easily access. And if anyone access in those applications, there is terms that they can access your personal information. By this you are giving your information to them unwillingly. A case study about Facebook abuse/offence: in 28th of August 2010 the popular newspaper METRO in UK published,  £ 10,000 bill for Facebook Jokes'. The news was about two friends. One of them posted a joke about his friend. He said his friend, he likes kids and he is a gay. And it was claimed that about 800 people watched this and that person was so scared to leave home. And their family expressed, it was a horrible and really stressful time for us. [http://e-edition.metro.co.uk/2010/07/28/] This case has been solved by court and the magistrate court fined  £10,000 the person, who commented about his friend. Recent warnings about Facebook: Recently The chief executive of search engine Google has predicted, Web users will one day be able to change their identity in order to escape the traces of their misspent youth available on social networking sites such as Facebook. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/18/google-facebook] Jason Deans guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 18 August 2010 16.54 BST Article history In the same hand the founder of Facebook cited, The Age of Privacy is over. In a six-minute interview on stage with TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington, Zuckerberg spent 60 seconds talking about Facebooks privacy policies. He said, If he were to create Facebook again today, user information would by default be public, not private. [http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/facebooks_zuckerberg_says_the_age_of_privacy_is_ov.php ,January 9, 2010] So that mean in average everyones privacy is the risk. No one is in secret at least who is using the social networks. Conclusion: Finally we can say that social networks does not only publishing or reciting information about personal but also it is a medium of entertainment. If some steps can be taken to prevent the invasion of privacy all the networks are for our society and our community; to entertain people, keeping them happier and peaceful. On the other hand individuals should be much more aware about their privacy and secrecy. And we can stop to interpret anyones personal life and preference and thus the networks of community will be fruitful otherwise day by day it is going to much worse situation as the founder of Facebook is aware about the privacy and policies of society.