Alkali flies in the Mono Basin (Mono Lake) Article

Alkali flies in the Mono Basin (Mono Lake) - Article Example Alkali flies also known as brine flies or Ephydra hians are a very rare species to find (Eagen 29). This is attributable to the fact that the species breeds well only in certain habitats, especially in alkaline waters. This probably explains why the insect is called the alkali fly. Found in Mono Lake, California, the fly breeds well on the surface, shorelines, as well as beneath the lake. Most of these species of fly are dark brown in color with an adult measuring between 4 to 7 mm long (Carle, and Banta 25). The fly has segmented thorax, which is bluish in color, while the wings are brownish in color. Unlike the ordinary flies, alkali flies normally spend most of their life circles entirely beneath the water surface. This makes the fly unique in addition to the fact that it breeds well in alkaline environment. Mono Lake is one of the most dominant lakes in California. Circular in shape, Mono Lake draws most of its waters from the surrounding streams. However, since the lake has no outlet, the lake is highly alkaline (Eagen 29; Jiang, Steward, Jellison, Chu, Choi 19). This is attributable to the continuous accumulation of salt in the lake. A research conducted more than three decades ago indicated a correlation between the alkalinity of Mono Lake and the availability of alkali flies. According to the research, the alkalinity of Mono Lake provides a suitable breeding ground for alkali flies (Tierney 15). Other researchers have also demonstrated that salinity and alkalinity of Mono Lake has a huge impact on the algae found on the lake. The presence of these algae on the lake also influences the growth and development of alkali-fly. According to Wiens, Patten and Botkin (595), the salinity of the lake makes it difficult for algae to thrive. This leads to a reduction in the number of algae in Mono Lake, thereby compelling larvae to utilize high amount of energy to rummage. This normally leaves very little osmoregualation to take

Microsoft's Diversification Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Microsoft's Diversification Strategy - Essay Example It has looked to provide the best quality service to the customers at cheaper rates and also the service been provided is in the best condition. In 1980, IBM selected the company to build the operating system for its computers and in 1986 the company went public and in the same year, the company became the first billionaire company in the country. Â  In this report, the various strategies used by Microsoft to tackle the growing competition in the global market can be seen using various marketing theories. The way in which the company has looked to diversify from its core business to get a competitive advantage and also to explore new markets can also be seen by studying various articles and books to understand the importance of diversification for the current competitive global market. Â  As per this, the diversification strategy is the type of strategy used by the companies to have a growth in their business process. The companies look to launch new products while entering the new markets to capture the maximum market share and also for increasing their sales volume and also the profit margin by huge percentage compared to earlier times. Â  In 2001, the company entered in the market of video games and launched its video game Xbox console in the market. But by then the company found it lacking way behind as other companies like Nintendo, Sony has already entered this market and also had a good market share in the global competitive market zone (OaShaughnessy, 1995, pp. 56-63). The company is now present in mostly all the countries across the globe and has looked to provide the best facility service to the customers by developing most reliable and also high-quality software and operating system for the computers both for personal and official use. Microsoft had strong competition from the latest innovative video games that were launched by other companies and mainly by Sony and Nintendo.

Key Distinctions Between Positivism And Phenomenology

Key Distinctions Between Positivism And Phenomenology The purpose of research is simple according to Francis Dane (1990: 212) in that it is a means by which we seek to acquire knowledge and understanding by answering questions about the world. Knowledge is a very important concept which is closely related to the concept of epistemology; defined as the study or theory of the origin, nature and limits of knowledge (May, 2001). The theory of Positivism is an epistemological position that concerns the application of the methods of the natural sciences to the study of social reality and beyond (Bryman, 2004). Smith (1998) states that Positivist approaches to the social sciences . . . assume things can be studied as hard facts and the relationship between these facts can be established as scientific laws. For positivists, such laws have the status of truth and social objects can be studied in much the same way as natural objects. The general elements of positivism, adapted from Bond (1989), Easterby-Smith et al (1997), and Hughes (1994) are concerned with methodology, value-freedom, causality, operationalisation, independence and reductionism (cit May, 2001). Basically, all research should be quantitative as it is only such data that can be the basis for valid generalizations and laws. In order for facts to be measured quantitatively, concepts must be operationalised accordingly. The choice of what to study, a nd how to study it, should be determined by objective criteria rather than by human beliefs and interests. Positivism also addresses that the aim of research should be to identify causal explanations and fundamental laws that explain human behavior. Positivists also believe that the role of the researcher should be independent of the subject under examination and also, if problems are reduced to their simplest possible elements then they will be better understood (Bryman, 2004). Positivists therefore most commonly use close ended questionnaires and structured interviews when conducting research as they best suit the requirements embraced within this theory of knowledge. The theory of phenomenology can be used in contrast to Positivism as it concerns the question of how individuals make sense of the world around them. Alfred Schutz (1962) states The world of nature as explored by the natural scientist does not mean anything to molecules, atoms and electrons. But the observational field of the social scientist social reality- has a specific meaning and relevance structure for the beings living, acting, and thinking within it. By a series of common sense constructs they have pre selected and pre interpreted this world which they experience as the reality of the lives. It is these thought objects of theirs which determine their behavior by motivating it. The thought objects constructed by the social scientist, in order to grasp this social reality, have to be founded upon the thought objects constructed by the common sense thinking of men, living their daily life within the social world. (cit Bryman, 2004) This firstly illustrates that there is a fundamental difference between the matter of natural science and social science. It asserts that human action is meaningful and it is thus the job of the social scientist to gain access to peoples thinking and actions to interpret them from the persons point of view. Phenomenology places great importance on Webers concept of verstehen and thus has an empathetic approach towards the research sample (May, 2001). Phenemenologists focus on meaning and understanding and therefore do not generate or test hypotheses (deductivism) as positivists do; nor do they focus on collecting facts that provide laws. An example of a phenomenological study is that carried out by Foster (1995) who used participant observation and semi structured interviews in the Riverside area of London. Official statistics, of which positivists approve, illustrated extremely high levels of crime. Foster however, as a phenomenologist wanted to measure the human attitudes to crime in the area. Her findings can be contrasted to the areas statistics as she found that residents did not perceive the estate to be of a high level crime, nor did they feel insecure or unsafe (Bryman, 2004). Question Two With use of examples distinguish between qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Distinguish between nominal, ordinal and continuous quantitative data and discuss briefly how these might all be used in a research project. Qualitative data emphasizes words rather than quantification in the collection and analysis of data. Qualitative data is mainly carried out by phenomenologists and used for inductive reasoning (Bryman, 2004). It involves collecting written or verbal information of the variables that the researcher is interested in. This data is more descriptive than numbers and can be obtained through questionnaires, focus groups, interviews and discussions (Fulcher and Scott, 2003). As it emphasizes the ways in which individuals interpret their social world, it is rejected by most positivists. Although qualitative research is typically associated with generating theories it can however be employed for testing theories as Adler and Adlers study (1985) on the exploration of educational attainment and sports participation illustrates this (Bryman, 2004). Qualitative data can often be hard to analyze as it involves studying often lengthy and complex documents but overall, it has a deeper richness and me aning than empirical data. In contrast to qualitative data is that of quantitative data. This data describes something in numbers and thus emphasizes quantification in the collection and analysis of data (Bryman, 2004). This numerical data is carried out mainly by positivists and thus embodies the view that social reality is an objective reality. Quantitative data enables information to be easily tested and analyzed in order to provide statistics and facts such as official statistics. Questionnaires and telephone surveys consisting of structured and closed ended questions are ways in which this data is carried out. Although quantitative data enables generalizations to be made and trends to be found, it does however lose the value of meaning as it consists merely of numbers rather than description and explanations. Data can either be nominal, ordinal or continuous. Nominal data consists of a variable with no implicit order such as race, sex or religion. This data therefore can be counted but cannot be ordered or measured (May, 2001). Nominal data can be used in a research project by for example, coding males as zero, females as one or coding the marital status of an individual as Y if they are married or N if they are single. This must however be planned and carried out carefully as confusion and lack of clarity when analyzing the data can occur. Ordinal data however is different to nominal data in that it may counted and ordered but it cannot be measured. Ordinal values can therefore be ranked as they have a natural order; age or level of satisfaction are examples of ordinal variables (Bryman, 2004). For example, if a group of people were asked to taste varieties of biscuit and classify each biscuit on a rating scale of one to five, representing strongly dislike, dislike, neutral and so on, a rating of five indicates more enjoyment than a rating of four, illustrating that such data is ordinal. Continuous data however concerns variables that can take any possible value. This data can be counted, ordered or measured continuous and may include, for example height, weight or temperature. Question Three Discuss the importance of reliability and validity in the operationalisation of concepts in research. Compare a focus group, an individual semi structured interview and survey in terms of the ease with which reliability and validity may be assured. Reliability refers to the extent to which a measurement instrument yields consistent, stable and uniform results over repeated observations or measurements under the same conditions each time (Fulcher, 2003). Validity however refers to the accuracy and truth of the data and findings that are produced. It refers to the concepts that are being investigated, the people or objects that are being studied, the methods by which data are collected and the findings that are produced (May, 2001). A study is valid if and only if it tests what it sets out to test. There are several different types of validity which are face validity, content validity, criterion-related validity, construct validity, internal validity and external validity (Bryman, 2004). Data can be reliable without being valid. Those that support qualitative methods argue that quantitative methods lack validity but are often reliable. Qualitative methods are criticized for being unreliable and unsystematic as there is no way of replicating the study and checking the reliability of the findings. Thus positivists whose concepts need to be operationalised in a way that enables facts to be measured quantitatively, place great importance on the reliability of data as it enables them monitor trends over time and to use them as a future secondary data source. Surveys such as questionnaires are considered as being reliable as there is a much lower risk of subjectivity or bias when compared to, for example, interviews or a focus group. Surveys, whether they consist of closed ended questions or matrix questions, often lack in validity however as the researcher might not have measured exactly what was intended to be measured. For example, if a researcher posted out questionnaires on the perception of crime, applicants might not be able to answer to answer questions fully only by ticking certain boxes. On the other hand however, a semi structured interview would be more valid than a survey as it specifically aims to allow the respondent to voice their opinion and have an equal input into the conversation. Personal interviewing is also better suited for difficult or sensitive issues rather than for example a focus group as an interview is more intimate and provides the respondent with the opportunity to open up. A semi structured interview howe ver can be unreliable as well as unrepresentative as if the interviewer approached another individual to participate in the same interview, their views may be completely different to that of the original interviewees. As there are a multiple people in a focus group, however, the data attained is often therefore more valid than in an interview. An advantage of a focus group is that challenges can be made to contrasting view points which cannot be done in an interview. The validity of a focus group can be challenged however if a number of people dominate the conversation as it does not provide everyone with an equal opportunity to speak. Focus groups are slightly more reliable than a semi structured interview but not as reliable as a survey. Therefore, for research to both reliable and valid many researchers employ more than one method of research such as carrying out surveys and conducting focus groups. This is known as triangulation (Fulcher, 2003). Question Four Select one of the three sets of research case studies presented at the end of the module guide. Critically assess the research presented. Your answer should make reference to validity and reliability of methods; it should detail any additional information you might require, why this may be required and what if any reservations you might have regarding the study. (Please refer to appendix One for the details of case 3) It is evident that case three entitled Do we need to educate people to question authority more carefully given evidence of inappropriate obedience is valid, as it quite simply tests what it was set out to test. The mere fact that ninety percent of subjects were prepared to apply shocks of up to 450 volts because they were asked to do so by a person of authority of which over half (twenty six out of forty) of them did just that confirms the cases validity. Internal validity is prominent in this case as the independent variable that is the distribution of electric shocks, has an effect on the dependent variable that is the subjects. The validity of the study is also increased as the sample is quite large since it consisted of forty subjects. Had it have been a smaller sample, there would have been a high chance that a completely different set of results could have been obtained. Given that the reported data was qualitative as the research method employed was that of observation and thu s that the likelihood of stable or uniform results being produced in a repetition of the experiment is low, it is clearly evident that the study lacks reliability. However, if for example the researcher had asked the subjects to complete a questionnaire after the experiment, then the data would have been classed as being reliable. There is one major ethical concern with this experiment as the subjects were informed that they were required to give electric shocks to other human beings. This is clearly inhumane treatment; therefore the researcher should have altered the experiment in order to avoid this. Another concern with this experiment is that there is no mention of a control group as we are only informed of the experimented group, that being the forty subjects. This is necessary to monitor the effectiveness of the variables in an experiment. Another concern is that although some of the subjects may have been sweating and were nervous this may have been due to the fact that they were being observed in an abnormal environment and not due to the effects of the carrying out of the experiment. Being in such an environment may therefore affect the validity and reliability of the data. Additional information on the comments made by subjects concerning the experiment would be beneficial as would more information o n actually educating people on questioning authority. Overall, the study was a success in that it sought sufficient data in relation to answering the proposal. The reliability of the experiment however was threatened because of factors such as the research method employed (observation). More information could have been disclosed in the data regarding the subjects reactions and comments. The experiment should also have not focused on the unethical issue of giving electric shocks.

The Graphic Novels: Maus, Persepolis, Fun Home, and Barefoot Gen Essay

The super-genre of what collectively can be called ‘comics’ represents a cultural phenomenon which has exploded in the last fifty-plus years onto the public scene. Evolving from newspaper strip comics to superhero stories in paperback periodicals, the world of comics spread further and further into public appeal. With the publication of Art Spiegelman’s Maus, however, comics opened the door onto a world of possibilities. After Maus received high acclaim, despite its academic taboo as a medium, many more historical-commentary graphic novels found their way into the public eye: Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis, Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home, Keiji Nakazawa’s Barefoot Gen, and a legion of others. Taken together, this new sub-genre of the super-genre provides a personal glimpse into many historically tragic, enlightening, or revolutionary events. These historic-autobiographic stories can effectively introduce people, whether students in a classroom or a curious independent reader searching for truth, to history, because of the format, the popularity of the historical events they encircle, the relatable personal perspective, and the groundbreaking, attention-amassing approval they enjoy. While graphic novels such as Maus, Persepolis, Fun Home, and Barefoot Gen may differ greatly in content, the format of conveying a story of novel-length complexity through sequential art consolidates all these titles into one sub-genre. These graphic novels would effectively represent history in a classroom setting (besides a personal, individual enjoyment) due to the changed demographic of students in high schools and colleges in the United States (if not throughout the world). With the advent of the Internet and the popularity of the television and video... ...tting within significant historical periods, and relatable, personal point of view, historic-autobiographic novels effectively represent historical events. The next step toward gaining academic respect requires proving their efficacy to scholars both of history and of literature. Once these works secure an educational following similar to the public fanbase, perhaps history classes and interdisciplinary venues may begin incorporating the graphic novel into their reading lists. Until then, the usefulness of Maus or Barefoot Gen as commentaries on World War II, Fun Home on homosexuality and the Sexual Revolution, and Persepolis on the Iranian revolution must be enjoyed purely from an individual standpoint. Works Cited "Your Right-Brained Visual Learner." Time 4 Learning. Time 4 Learning, Web. 6 Oct 2009. . The Graphic Novels: Maus, Persepolis, Fun Home, and Barefoot Gen Essay The super-genre of what collectively can be called ‘comics’ represents a cultural phenomenon which has exploded in the last fifty-plus years onto the public scene. Evolving from newspaper strip comics to superhero stories in paperback periodicals, the world of comics spread further and further into public appeal. With the publication of Art Spiegelman’s Maus, however, comics opened the door onto a world of possibilities. After Maus received high acclaim, despite its academic taboo as a medium, many more historical-commentary graphic novels found their way into the public eye: Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis, Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home, Keiji Nakazawa’s Barefoot Gen, and a legion of others. Taken together, this new sub-genre of the super-genre provides a personal glimpse into many historically tragic, enlightening, or revolutionary events. These historic-autobiographic stories can effectively introduce people, whether students in a classroom or a curious independent reader searching for truth, to history, because of the format, the popularity of the historical events they encircle, the relatable personal perspective, and the groundbreaking, attention-amassing approval they enjoy. While graphic novels such as Maus, Persepolis, Fun Home, and Barefoot Gen may differ greatly in content, the format of conveying a story of novel-length complexity through sequential art consolidates all these titles into one sub-genre. These graphic novels would effectively represent history in a classroom setting (besides a personal, individual enjoyment) due to the changed demographic of students in high schools and colleges in the United States (if not throughout the world). With the advent of the Internet and the popularity of the television and video... ...tting within significant historical periods, and relatable, personal point of view, historic-autobiographic novels effectively represent historical events. The next step toward gaining academic respect requires proving their efficacy to scholars both of history and of literature. Once these works secure an educational following similar to the public fanbase, perhaps history classes and interdisciplinary venues may begin incorporating the graphic novel into their reading lists. Until then, the usefulness of Maus or Barefoot Gen as commentaries on World War II, Fun Home on homosexuality and the Sexual Revolution, and Persepolis on the Iranian revolution must be enjoyed purely from an individual standpoint. Works Cited "Your Right-Brained Visual Learner." Time 4 Learning. Time 4 Learning, Web. 6 Oct 2009. .

Ikea Global Business

Resource Based View This view focuses on Value, Resource, Imitability and Organizational factors (VRIO) of capabilities and resources deposit within the firm. Ikea has out performed its competitors since the time it was born. Below is the analysis of Ikea based on VRIO analysis- Value – When different companies enter into the industry dominated by a single firm. Then, the firm dominating needs to focus on its value adding capabilities and resources. Ikea is a firm that has been dominating the industry in which it’s operating.The reason behind this success is the firm has some valuable resources and capabilities. For example. the firm has strong long-term commitment with the suppliers, which has been beneficial for the firm to get its products at lost cost and the company specializes in recycling five of its waste materials. It is known for its franchising missions, unlike other companies it does not get into the international markets via joint ventures or partnerships b ut through agreements.One of them is, in 2001 it entered into an agreement with Musicmusicmusic, Inc. to introduce industrial sound service. Rarity – This means the firm needs to have certain resources and capabilities, which are not available by the others. Ikea possesses huge real estates for forests that are under its responsibility and management. The firm has adopted environmental conservational culture that does not allow it to accept timber, plywood, layer glued wood and veneer from forest of high conservation value. Also you can read  Business Ethics ComprisesThe company is popular for its designer products and classical furniture that range from Egyptian art to Asian style. Point to be noted is that the firm imports curve wood and bamboo heavy lacquers from China using which furniture is made by using high quality craftsmanship, which is all sold at a low cost. This makes the firm to have rare quality products which are most demanded by customers and therefore, giving a competitive advantage.

Basic Bookkeeping Essay

Assessment 1. Written Assessment 1. Give an example of daily financial records that you could have to maintain? Update your accounts receivable and accounts payable daily on your accounting computer using the software provided or modifies to suit the organisational particular needs. 2. What are the requirements regarding identifying and rectifying errors in documentation? – Using the right accounting method: cash and accrual – Using professional bookkeeping method: hiring specialist, qualified accountant or bookkeeper. – Separate personal and business finances – Ensuring employee and other categories are recorded accurately†¨ – Perform basic account reconciliation. – Implement adequate internal controls – Save receipts for small purchases – Know the difference between profit and cash flow – Rely also on a paper environment – Honour your cheques and GST 3. How can you ensure that credit and debit transactions are accurately recorded, in accordance with organisational requirements? The use of computer software. The system will automatically record entries behind the scenes. Consider each transaction as amount that will either increase or decrease specific accounts, i.e. your bank, revenue as the Chart of Accounts. 4. What are the requirements regarding the maintenance of transactions in a general ledger? The process is to record each journal entry into the general ledger. A general ledger holds four types of accounts: assets, liabilities, income, expenses and references equity. Income and expenses are actually types of asset and liability accounts. There are only two types of accounts managed by a General Ledger: – Accounts that tell you how much you are owed – Accounts that tell you how much you owe 5. What are the requirements regarding the posting of transactions into the general ledger? – Commencing business entries – Correction of posting errors – Interest expense – Interest receivable; non-cash transactions – Purchase of a fixed asset on credit – Sale of a fixed asset on credit - Withdrawal of stock/assets by owner – Write-off a bad debt 6. What is the process for reconciling systems for accounts payable and receivable in the general ledger? – Checking accuracy or creditor account balances (e.g. cash payments journal, purchases journal, purchases returns journal, general journal)†¨ – Checking accuracy of debtor account balances (e.g. cash receipts journal, sales return journal, general journal) – Checking cash payments and receipt journals against bank statement – Checking the total of the creditors schedule equals the balance of the creditors control account. – Checking the total of the debtors schedule equals the balance of the debtors control account 7. Financial Reporting has two methods of accounting. What are they? †¨ – Cash – Accrual 8. Explain the two methods and give examples of which reporting method can be used by what size organisation? Cash Accounting: This is the simpler method because it is based on the actual flow of cash in and out of a business. The cash method is used primarily by sole proprieties and business with no inventory. Accrual Accounting: This records income and expenses as they occur, whether cash has actually changed hands or not. Most small business should switch to accrual  accounting, because this makes it easier to accurately match revenue to expenses.

More Answers to Questions About Commas #2

More Answers to Questions About Commas #2 More Answers to Questions About Commas #2 More Answers to Questions About Commas #2 By Mark Nichol Here are three recent questions from readers about the use of commas, along with my responses. 1. Can you tell me why there should be a comma in this sentence: â€Å"Such programs will also reduce operations costs and indemnity payments, and improve communications between employer and employee.† It seems like there shouldn’t be, because these aren’t two independent clauses. It’s common for writers to insert a comma before a conjunction in a sentence when the conjunction does not begin a new clause but the phrases before and after it include their own conjunctions. This effort to make the sentence’s organization more obvious is not wrong, but it’s unnecessary. The sentence structure becomes clearer if the first verb, the one that’s overworked in its efforts to support the entire sentence, is relieved by being repeated in a parallel position after the major conjunction: â€Å"Such programs will also reduce operations costs and indemnity payments and will improve communications between employer and employee.† 2. I saw this sentence in one of your posts lately: â€Å"It enables individuals and groups to meet online to collaborate, and to share presentations, applications, or their entire desktop, while increasing reliability and security and reducing costs.† Why is there a comma after collaborate? The first comma in this sentence does not have the same function as the extraneous one in the previous example. It is the first in a pair of commas that mark a parenthetical. The phrase â€Å"and to share presentations, applications, or their entire desktop† may be omitted from the sentence, and the remaining statement will still be grammatically sound. 3. In â€Å"Our vision statement is a succinct way of explaining our purpose to others, be it our own staff, our residents or community clients or the wider public,† the two ors make it clunky to me. The or between â€Å"our residents† and â€Å"community clients† signals that the sentence is about to end, and then theres another or! Should I have a comma in there somewhere? If your style calls for serial commas (â€Å"a, b, and c†), insert a comma after clients: â€Å"Our vision statement is a succinct way of explaining our purpose to others, be it our own staff, our residents or community clients, or the wider public.† If not (â€Å"a, b and c†), leave it as is. However, if that solution seems clumsy to you (I don’t find the final or confusing), separate â€Å"our residents or community clients† into two items: â€Å"Our vision statement is a succinct way of explaining our purpose to others, be it our own staff, our residents, our community clients or the wider public.† (Insert a comma after clients, or don’t, depending on whether you insert or omit serial commas.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:36 Adjectives Describing LightHang, Hung, HangedOne Scissor?

An informational speech on Gatorade.

An informational speech on Gatorade. Water will not replace all the ingredients of sweat. Tonight I will inform you about Gatorade and the benefits of drinking it while exercising. You're probably asking yourself "Why should I care about Gatorade while exercising?" and the answer to that is dehydration. Dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. First I will give you a history of Gatorade, 2nd I will tell you what Gatorade is, then I will explain how Gatorade works, and finally I will compare Gatorade against other sports drinks on the market.Deep in Florida Gator country dehydration was a major problem. The University started to research on an "alternative to water" and Gatorade was created by Dr. Robert Cade and Dr. Dana Shires in 1966 at the University of Florida and named Gatorade after the University's football team, the gators. A year later after Dr. Cade made an agreement with Stokely-Van Camp to market Gatorade, which he already patented.GatoradeThe Florida Gators used it in 1967 for the first t ime. It was also the first time they won the Orange Bowl title beating Georgia Tech. During an interview with the Georgia Tech head coach a reporter asked why they lost. The head coach replied "Because we did not have Gatorade on our sidelines." In 1969 the Kansas City Chiefs used the sports drink an attribute their Super Bowl victory that year to Gatorade. Only one year after its commercial introduction, Gatorade reformulated its recipe due to the Food and Drug Administration banned Sodium Cyclamate, which is a sweetener, according to Gatorade.com, last accessed on October 9, 2005. The Quaker Oats company bought Stokely Van-Camp in 1983 and licensed marketing rights to Pepsi co. until 2001 when Pepsi Co. bought the Quaker Oats Company, according to wikipedia.com, last accessed on October...

Creative Inspiration from David Bowie

Creative Inspiration from David Bowie The news of David Bowies death reverberated through the world and caused an outpouring of words of affection, admiration and grief at the loss of such an incredible artist. Bowie was known for his creativity which included not only his music and lyrics but his physical appearance and the personas he created. Any individual seeking creative inspiration can find a gold mine of it in Bowies life and work. Here are some ways David Bowie manifested as a creative genius. Keep Ch-ch-ch-ch-changin Bowie was famous for his ability to constantly reinvent himself. Even in the early days of his fame in the late 60s early 70s, he experimented with different styles from hippie-folk to heavy metal. Perhaps his greatest transformation was the invention of the rock persona Ziggy Stardust. At the time, many felt that Bowie could have ridden the fame and popularity of his Ziggy persona to the end of his career, but at the height of his popularity, he decided to kill Ziggy and move on to other experiments. In America, he explored funk and soul music and then released his most popular album â€Å"Lets Dance† which was the ultimate ode to rock and the most popular of his career. But even the popularity of this album didnt tempt him to ground his artistic vision and his next phase was a Berlin-inspired industrial and house/electronica experiment. Bowies ability to keep moving forward and constantly explore new artistic styles are what made him the icon he became. Indulge in Artistic Angst but Dont Self-Destruct Bowie had some dark moments in his career. One of his most successful and yet darkest phases was during the time he spent in LA. The glamour and glitz of LA stardom, the parties and cocaine-fueled recording sessions sent him on a tailspin into darkness. Unlike other stars riding their fame into self-destruction, like Iggy Pop, Bowie was able to put an end to that phase when he left LA and moved to Berlin. Change of Scene Can Be Inspiring Just as his move from the UK to LA proved to be an enormous boon to his career, his decision to leave LA and station himself in Cold-War Berlin was another artistically driven choice. The grit and realism of Berlin was the complete opposite of the surreal opulence of LA. The experience grounded him as he moved into yet another creatively experimental phase. Collaborate with Other Artists Bowie enjoyed working with other artists and some of his greatest creative endeavors were the result of these collaborations. Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury, Brian Eno and Iggy Pop were included in some of his most successful team projects. He once famously called the then virtually unknown guitarist Phil Palmer at his mothers house to ask him to collaborate on an album since he felt his own guitar skills were subpar. He was known for being generous and respectful of other peoples work and didnt let fame or ego get in the way of his artistic vision. Set Your Standards and Stick to Them No matter how famous he became, Bowie didnt abuse his fame. He held himself to a strict work ethic. Though he had a phase where he lost himself in drugs, particularly cocaine, he always managed to pull himself together to perform, record and give interviews. His foil during his LA years was Iggy Pop, who became known for his unpredictability and where Iggy allowed himself to be dragged under by his drug addiction, Bowie set limits for himself and maintained his professional ethics. Dont Be Afraid of the Unknown Bowie was always pushing the boundaries of his art. He was never repetitive or boring. Each album was borne of a daring new journey into unknown waters as he constantly sought to find a new voice and a new inspiration. He explored with musical technology and was known for being fearless and pioneering. His natural curiosity allowed him to follow many different artistic paths to the delight of his fans and music lovers. Bowies artistic vision was fueled by his constant striving for newness. He never allowed himself to settle into one style or voice and as a result, his lifes work is rich and diverse.

Competing Values Skills Assessment Leadership Research Paper

Competing Values Skills Assessment Leadership - Research Paper Example In this paper, we will try to look at the competing value assessment framework and its efficiency in nurturing successful organisations as well as explaining how the various personal traits direct an individual’s choice of leadership roles Competing value assessment framework type of leadership matches specific environments with certain and specific roles, for instance a broker and an innovator role can be directly matched with communication and creativity environment. Successful leadership involves joggling between the eight roles in competing value assessment framework that include monitor role, coordinator role, director role, producer role, broker role, innovator role, mentor role and facilitator role. When a leader or a manager is taking a certain role, the role is mainly influenced by his personality characteristics and traits hence that determine his leadership style and how well the manager performs in his roles. Personal traits have also been found to affect the cognitive, interpersonal and work styles that a manager will use to reach the set target of goals, the five-factor personality model which includes agreeableness, emotionality, extroversion, conscientiousness and openness were found to be related to effective transformation and transactional behaviour, army officers leadership effectiveness and problem solving capabilities (Leung & Bozionelos 2004). The theory of competing value framework is divided into four quadrants that are based on the eight activities that create value as they have been highlighted above, each of the four quadrants is named with a verb that best explains it such as control, compete, create and collaborate. Leaders who run successful organisations have perfected one or more of these four quadrants however with time most of the leaders and organisation tend to move towards one of the quadrant in which they specialise and his means

Team motivation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Team motivation - Essay Example The organization is now on the treat o dissolving. In due with that, he should quickly establish many changes (which are actually revivals based on their history as currently they had not implemented) on the organization. He should revive the parliamentary rules and procedures on meetings. According to the code of ethics, it to make sure that the meeting shall go professionally, or is in other terms without bias (Slaughter, online, 2006). This is a kind if self-regulation on the president's part, which is technically backed up by a due process-i.e. he could not make decisions on his own, pass bias judgment. In fact he cannot even vote. In meetings, the writer must be careful of his nonverbal cues, which can influence other emotions (Academic, 1992, 18:12). He should smile often, and control the tone of his gestures into non-threatening, as Patton would suggest in her example (1997, 118-120). It is about 10 years ago that the since SAO had appointed chairpersons on its activities. Choosing the right people for the first time to chair the right activity was the next challenge. The writer must, prior on that meeting had asked members individually what event do they want to lead. During the past 10 years, the president always "led" all of the activities, which were just a carbon copy of that of last year.

Courts are independent Agrents of social Change Essay

Courts are independent Agrents of social Change - Essay Example There are many sides of the argument when it comes to evaluating the importance of courts as justice institutions. For instance, in as much as they promote justice, equality, and the principles of social justice, there are occasional instances when the established institutions can be taken as being biased. The following discourse is going to delve into the position that the institutions play in social justice. In particular, the analysis seeks to identify whether the courts are systems that bring change as they are supposed to. As legal institutions, courts have been serving their purpose in established and just societies as the setups for offering justice. In addressing the topic under discussion, the paper takes the position that courts are free and independent platforms for introducing change. In addressing the importance of courts in contemporary societies, the discussion is going to refer to the opinions of other authors. For instance, Rahl’s book on democracy is quite relevant in addressing the social justice system amongst humans (1993). In normal democratic systems like in the United States, the system of justice is organised into hierarchies. In the case of America, the ultimate decision when it comes to legal judgements or decisions lies with the Supreme Court. Rahl argues that the court is an institution that should be used to protect the interest of the minorities (1993). This is because the majority can be favoured by established institution policies. In the case of bringing change, courts have been used to protect the interest of the majority. However, this view is also arguable. Change is normally brought through policy formulation. This is normally the jurisdiction of the legislature. However, courts act as legal advisers when it comes to having an interpretation of the constitution. Therefore, even in the interpretation of the constitution, the courts play a role in policy making.

Ethics of the Sale of Body Parts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Ethics of the Sale of Body Parts - Essay Example So, what is the cross-section where these two areas meet? Is it ever ethical to, in effect, â€Å"sell† body parts? Blood and semen are bodily fluids that are donated for money—so what would make donating body parts that much more different? For one thing, the sale of body parts in the U.S.—or anywhere else, as a matter of fact—is ethically questionable, at best. According to Wilkinson (2003), â€Å"Many of the arguments [we will] address†¦apply equally to all body parts and, indeed, to all body products† (pp. 101). Legally speaking, the sale of body parts is strictly forbidden in the United States. According to Gunning and Holm (2007), â€Å"For example, property right in human body or body parts is forbidden in the United States† (pp. 169). This is for many reasons, one of them being that the idea of trading body parts for cash could lead to the poor and disadvantaged selling their body parts for money. Also, people might sell these bo dy parts wholesale, making the black market for body parts even greater. Section II. Five Ethical Issues Associated With the Sale of Body Parts Five ethical issues with regard to the sale of body parts—outside of the biomedical ethical standpoint—is that such a practice would be morally wrong, it would take away the human dignity of the sellers, it would take away the human dignity of the person whose body part would be taken, it would take away from the dignity of the doctors, and also create greed within the buyers. The mere practice of selling body parts would be wrong—not to mention the donation of an organ—in Judaism and Islam. The importance of the body being whole is emphasized due to the fact that going to the afterlife depends upon how one took care of one’s body. According to Holland and Johnson (1998), â€Å"For it may be thought that the human body has a significance that is incompatible with treating its parts as items for sale in a b ody shop or that such treatment is an affront to human dignity and respect for self† (pp. 192). Sellers’, doctors’, and recipients’ dignity would also be compromised. The dignity of the person whose body part would be taken would definitely be diminished by donating a body part for cash. According to Miller (2010), â€Å"It doesn't follow, though, that the sale of body parts is good for the parties or for the rest of us. Such sales—or gifts—might unduly alienate the seller from parts of his or her body that are and should remain so integral to [oneself]† (pp. 235). Section III. The Position of a Biomedical Products Engineer on the Sale of Body Parts, Using Two Ethical Theories (Utilitarianism and the Golden Rule) The two ethical theories that were selected were utilitarianism and the Golden Rule. Both of these ethical theories could both be applied to the pro as well as the con sides of the argument. With regard to utilitarianism, biom edical products can be used expediently for the greatest good of all. That may seem to endorse the sale of organs or body parts, but actually it doesn’t, therefore it shouldn’t be allowed. The sale of organs is actually prohibited for the good of everyone, because such sales would ultimately create a larger black market for body parts, and murders would skyrocket in number. Utilitarianism is generally regarded as â€Å"the greatest good for the greatest number.† Of course, utilitarianism does not always end up being the best deal out fo the bunch. According to Brandt (1992), â€Å"

Urban renewal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Urban renewal - Essay Example gs to me was the way Majora Carter talked about how rich peoples decisions had hurt her community in the past, but how all she wanted to do now was make life better in the city for everybody. It was inspiring to see that she was more interested in making her own community better and not on punishing the people who had made her community so bad in the first place. Especially because her own life had been made bad as well in the start because of that. Because it was easy to relate to Majora Carter, her talk was very interesting. I also liked how she explained how things would effect people and not just what they were. The thing I wanted to learn more about was green roofs. According to Majora Carter these are roofs made out of plants and soil instead of normal roof material. I guess this would be like having a garden on your roof, and I think it would be really nice to have a whole city of nothing but green roofs. It would be like turning a whole city into a garden. I will be looking up more about these to see how they work and what you need to do to get

Lab research 5.10 Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Research 5.10 - Lab Report Example Practical research will be used in this study. This type of research is the most effective type of research for it ensures that all aspects of the study are carried out. The advantage of this research is that the researcher has the ability to relate directly with the people in the area and this assists in getting more content for the research. This research is different from theoretical research since the researcher would just get information from people that have carried out extensive research on the region and as common with secondary research, it is open to bias and thus not a reliable source of information. Carrying out primary research provides critical information that secondary research may leave out (Chipev 85). Moreover, practical research addresses the issues facing the particular place at the time while secondary research may have outdated and unreliable research. The importance of carrying out this research is that very few people focus on animals in this region. Many people in the contemporary world either focus on plants and for those that pay attention to animals they focus on animals in dry lands and tropical regions (Chipev 103). Rarely do people research animals in the Antarctic region. Another reason for carrying out research in this region is that the researchers have the ability to offer the information that they acquire to the general public and environmentalists. The consequent of this is having people visiting the region and assisting in better conservation of the species. The length of the research is another issue that ought to receive concentration. An aspect that comes with this issue is the competency of the researcher. There are some researchers that are very poor at carrying out the required activities since they are not always after vital information but go out for the adventure while others just participate to earn money. Carrying out research on an animal is an activity that ought to take a considerable time. The

Urban renewal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Urban renewal - Essay Example gs to me was the way Majora Carter talked about how rich peoples decisions had hurt her community in the past, but how all she wanted to do now was make life better in the city for everybody. It was inspiring to see that she was more interested in making her own community better and not on punishing the people who had made her community so bad in the first place. Especially because her own life had been made bad as well in the start because of that. Because it was easy to relate to Majora Carter, her talk was very interesting. I also liked how she explained how things would effect people and not just what they were. The thing I wanted to learn more about was green roofs. According to Majora Carter these are roofs made out of plants and soil instead of normal roof material. I guess this would be like having a garden on your roof, and I think it would be really nice to have a whole city of nothing but green roofs. It would be like turning a whole city into a garden. I will be looking up more about these to see how they work and what you need to do to get

Jonathan Glover Essay Example for Free

Jonathan Glover Essay Jonathan Glover (born 1941) is a British philosopher known for his studies on ethics. He was educated at Tonbridge School, later going on to Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He was a fellow and tutor in philosophy at New College, Oxford. He currently teaches ethics at Kings College London. Glover is a fellow of the Hastings Center, an independent bioethics research institution in the United States. Glovers book Causing Death and Saving Lives, first published in 1977, addresses practical moral questions about life and death decisions in the areas of abortion, infanticide, suicide, euthanasia, choices between people, capital punishment, and war. His approach is broadly consequentialist, though he gives significant weight to questions of individual autonomy, the Kantian notion that we ought to treat other people as ends in themselves rather than merely as means. He criticises the idea that mere consciousness or life itself are intrinsically valuable: these states matter, he argues, because they are pre-requisites for other things that are valuable and make for a life worth living. There is, then, no absolute sanctity of human life. [1] He criticises the principle of double effect[2] and the acts and omissions doctrine,[3] the notion that there is a huge moral difference between killing someone and intentionally letting them die. In his discussion of real cases of moral decisions about killing he draws on insights from history and literature as well as philosophy. Throughout, the emphasis is on the consequences of moral choices for those affected, rather than on abstract principles applied impersonally. In Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century, published in 1999, Glover considers the psychological factors that predispose us to commit barbaric acts, and suggests how man-made moral traditions and the cultivation of moral imagination can work to restrain us from a ruthlessly selfish treatment of others. Gaining greater understanding of the monsters within us, he argues, is part of the process of caging and containing them. [4] He examines the various types of atrocity that were perpetrated in the 20th century, including Nazi genocide, communist mass killings under Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot, and more recent slaughter in Bosnia and Rwanda, and examines what sort of bulwarks there could be against them. He allows that religion has provided bulwarks, which are getting eroded. He identifies three types of bulwark. The two more dependable are sympathy and respect for human dignity. The less dependable third is Moral Identity: I belong to a kind of person who would not do that sort of thing. This third is less dependable because notions of moral identity can themselves be warped, as was done by the Nazis. [5] In The End of Faith, Sam Harris quotes Glover as saying: Our entanglements with people close to us erode simple self-interest. Husbands, wives, lovers, parents, children and friends all blur the boundaries of selfish concern. Francis Bacon rightly said that people with children have given hostages to fortune. Inescapably, other forms of friendship and love hold us hostage too Narrow self-interest is destabilized. [citation needed] In 1989 the European Commission hired Glover to head a panel on embryo research in Europe. [6] He is married to Vivette Glover, a prominent neuroscientist. Jonathan is father to three and grandfather to one (father to Ruth, Daniel and David Glover and grandfather to Samuel Glover).

Non-Profit Organization Finances and Pricing

Non-Profit Organization Finances and Pricing The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) is a non-profit organization which uses its revenues to develop new, simpler, faster-acting TB drug regimens[1] rather than distributing those profits to its shareholders and board of directors.[2] It is also a PDP (product development partnership) that operates like a biotechnology firm creating collaborations between the private, public, academic, and philanthropic sectors to drive the development of new TB drugs for developing countries using various licensing and partnership agreements. In this way risk and incentives are shared between the partners. TB Alliance manages the various projects although the laboratory experiments and clinical studies are performed by external partners. Donors include private foundations, governments, multilateral donors including the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Commission, the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, Irish Fund, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Di sease, UK AID, UNIT AID, United States Agency for International Development, and the US Food and Drug Administration.[3] As a corporation, TB Alliance has to maintain legal status and reporting functions by filing reports with federal, state and local authorities. However, they have to demonstrate â€Å"no profit† and show how the money was utilized by submitting a Form 990 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to keep their tax-exempt status.[4] The financial position for non-profit research based organization is important because it is funded by various donors. The board of directors and management of TB Alliance are accountable for how the money is spent for research, administrative activities, and production of new, faster-acting and affordable TB drugs. Ratios to Measure the Financial Position of an Organization: An efficient measure which could analyse the trends and financial position of the organization over a period of time is the ratio analysis. Ratio analysis is a gauge which indicates the organizational financial performance.[5] Management of a non-profit organization uses ratio analysis in order to highlight the flaws and strengths of various strategies on the basis of which plans could be shaped. Funders or private donors of the organization can use the ratio analysis to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of the projects and make decision about management’s performance.[6] The assessment of financial condition of non-profit organization starts with the evaluation of financial reports.[7] Various ratios are there to analyse the financial position of organization but a ratio is more useful if it is consistent in nature over time and measure the precise financial information.[8] We normally look at the published annual reports http://www.tballiance.org/annualreport/ and review their financial position and look for any red flags. We make sure their cash position is good relative to the annual operating income, and their equity / net assets are reasonably positive. We also make sure that any grant or investment we give is not a huge percentage of their annual budget.[9] There are eleven ratios identified by Non Profit Assistance Fund which could be used by a non-profit research based organization which is funded by private donors.[10] There are 5 Balance sheet ratios which could be used by a non-profit organization: Debt ratio: It is used to examine how much organization is relying on other people debts and how much cushion there is for the company. It is calculated by dividing total debt to total net assets.[11] Current ratio: Current ratio is current assets to current liabilities and it identifies the ability of the organization to pay its debts on time. It is a measure which tells about the cash flow in near future.[12] Days cash on hand: It is cash and current investments to daily cash requirement and helps to identify the amount of operating cast required by organization. It is helpful as it tells about the unrestricted cash available to the organization.[13] Accounts receivable aging: Account receivable aging ratio is important because it helps to identify all those bills which have become older and are aberrant. This ratio identifies the cash flow problems of the non profit organization. It consists of all the accounts payable overdue for more than 90 days to total accounts receivable.[14] Accounts payable aging: It is all the accounts payable over due for more than 90 days to total accounts payable. It specifies the cash flows problems related to payments and serve as a tool for several financial problems.[15] There are 3 expense ratios which are important for a non-profit organization as donors will need to examine the expense incurred and these are: Personnel costs ratio: It indicates the expense incurred on the human resource of the organization and tells how much budget is allocated for staff. It is the total wages to total expense.[16] Administration cost ratio: It is the total general and administrative expense to total expense. It is very helpful for the donors who regularly examine the expenses of company over time.[17] Fundraising efficiency: It is the income contributed to fundraising expense. As the organization raise funds from private donors it’s important to know each dollar which is being raised from the contribution by incurring expense on fundraising.[18] There is 1 ratio related to income statement: Reliance ratio. This ratio helps to identify the major source of income which is utilized by the organization for income. It highlights major activities which help to increase organizations income and it is the largest income source to total income.[19] Contracts and Its Affect on Provider Behaviour: Private donors can use Donor Advice Funds which is a written agreement between the donor and the non profit organization.[20] It is the fastest growing technique for non profit organization funded mainly by private donors. In this contract a special fund is created by the private donor to donate as charity or for well being of society. In this type of contract there is an agreement between the organization and the donor which states that the non profit organization will respect the donor’s wishes while using funds. But the agreement is non-binding and the ultimate decision and control is in the hands of non profit organization. The nature of provider in the contract is advisory and can only give suggestions to the board of non profit research company and the ultimate decision lies with management.[21] Contracts can be: (1) Fixed price contract when there is no uncertainty in the scope of work. The contractor is bound to complete the task within the agreed amount of money and time and is required to finish the task within a fixed amount. In this type of contract, the contractor bears the risk and the scope needs to be as detailed as possible[22]; (2) Cost reimbursable contract where the contractor is reimbursed for completed work and paid a certain amount representing the profit. In this type of contract, the buyer bears the risk since the buyer pays for all (allowable and reasonable) costs incurred by the contractor[23]; (3) Time and Materials contract when a contractor is paid on the basis of cost of labor specified hourly, actual cost of materials and equipment used, and an agreed upon amount to cover the contractor’s overhead with instructions not to exceed a certain limit. Here the risk is distributed between both buyer and seller[24]. Pricing Policy and Costing Methods: Price is the value charged for a product and pricing policy is the strategy by which the wholesale or retail price of the product is decided.[25] In developed countries the price of product is high due to high cost of RD as compared to underdeveloped countries.[26] Various costing methods which could be used by organization are cost based, competition based and value based pricing. Cost based pricing is the price of product decided according to the cost plus a profit margin. Cost based pricing consider both the fixed plus variable cost of the product and adds a margin over it.[27] Competition based pricing is a pricing technique that considers the industry in which the firm is operating and the competition.[28] Finally, Value based pricing is the customer based pricing technique which is based on customers’ needs, habits and attitudes.[29] The pricing structure for a non-profit pharmaceutical company providing inexpensive drugs is cost based pricing method which includes the fixed and variable cost plus an addition of suitable profit margin to cover the expenses for instance Howard Hugh medical institute uses cost based pricing. [30] The company can also use three tiered pricing policy in which it could make the pricing strategies by dividing countries into groups. The drugs could be sold at marginal cost in those countries where there is hard strike of disease and can be sold at a higher price with profit margin to middle income countries for instance Abbott uses three tiered pricing policy.[31] GlaxoSmithKline was one of the first vaccine companies to adopt this approach – higher prices for high income countries; low prices in GAVI eligible countries; and intermediate prices in middle income countries. [32] References Allen, S. ‘Pricing Methods’. 2015. http://entrepreneurs.about.com/od/salesmarketing/a/pricingstrategy_2.htm (Accessed 2015-3-9) B. Barkin, TB Finance Manager, Bill Melinda Gates Foundation (personal communication, March 13, 2015) Basu,C.‘Four Basic Types of Financial Ratios Used to Measure a Companys Performance’. 2015. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/four-basic-types-financial-ratios-used-measure-companys-performance-25299.html (Accessed 2015-3-9) Bate, R. Boateng, K. ‘Drug Pricing and Its Discontents’. 2007. http://www.aei.org/publication/drug-pricing-and-its-discontents/ (Accessed 2015-3-10) Business Dictionary. Cost reimbursable contract. http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/cost-reimbursement-contract.html (Accessed 2015-3-10) Business Dictionary. Time and materials contract. http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/time-and-materials-T-M-contract.html (Accessed 2015-3-10) Chabotar, k., J., Financial ratio analysis comes to nonprofits.The Journal of Higher Education, 1989.pp. 188-208. Chuang, J., and Marvin, S. Pricing multicast communication: A cost-based approach.Telecommunication Systems, 2001, vol.17, no.3, pp. 281-297. DCU. ‘Charitable Planning: Donor Advised Funds vs. Private Foundations’. 2015. http://dcufinancial.org/new/dcufinancial/content.asp?contentid=2017940795 (Accessed 2015-3-10) FRA. ‘Financial Ratio Analysis’ 2013. http://www.demonstratingvalue.org/resources/financial-ratio-analysis (Accessed 2015-3-9) Global Alliance for TB Drug Development. (2015) http://www.tballiance.org/about/operating-model.php (Accessed 2015-3-9). GSK Tiered pricing and vaccines. (2014) http://www.gsk.com/media/280905/tiered-pricing-for-vaccines-policy.pdf (Accessed 2015-3-13) Herman, R. D., Renz, D. O. ‘Theses on nonprofit organizational effectiveness’.Nonprofit and voluntary sector quarterly, 1999,vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 107-126. Investorwords. Fixed Price Contract. http://www.investorwords.com/19291/fixed_price_contract.html (Accessed 2015-3-10) Joskow, P. Alvin, K. A framework for analyzing predatory pricing policy.Yale Law Journal,1979, pp. 213-270. Kanter, R. M., Summers, D. V. ‘Doing well while doing good: Dilemmas of performance measurement in nonprofit organizations and the need for a multiple-constituency approach’.Sage publication, 1994, pp. 220-236. Kaplan, R. Strategic performance measurement and management in nonprofit organizations.Nonprofit management and Leadership, 2001,vol.11, no. 3, pp.353-370. Mckeever,M. ‘Family Foundations: Donor Advised Funds and Supporting Organizations as Alternatives to Private Foundations’ .1999. http://www.pgdc.com/pgdc/family-foundations-donor-advised-funds-and-supporting-organizations-alternatives-private-foundations (Accessed 2015-3-10). NAF. â€Å"Analyzing Financial Information Using Ratios†. 2014. https://nonprofitsassistancefund.org/sites/default/files/publications/nonprofit_financial_ratios_2013.pdf (Accessed 2015-3-10). Nagle, T., T., and Reed K., H.,Strategy and tactics of pricing. Pearson Education Limited, 2013. Salamon, L., M., The rise of the nonprofit sector.Foreign Affairs, 1994, pp. 109-122. Tuckman, H., P., and Cyril F. C., A methodology for measuring the financial vulnerability of charitable nonprofit organizations.Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 1991,vol.20, no.4, pp.445-460. Zall, M., ‘The Pricing Puzzle’. 2006. http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/archive/mdd/v04/i03/html/03zall.html (Accessed 2015-3-10). Z, J., ‘Nonprofit financial objectives and financial responses to a tough economy’.Journal of Corporate Treasury Management,2010,vol.3, no.3, pp. 238-248. [1] Global Alliance for TB Drug Development. (2015) http://www.tballiance.org/about/operating-model.php (Accessed 2015-3-9). [2] R. M. Kanter, D. V. Summers. ‘Doing well while doing good: Dilemmas of performance measurement in nonprofit organizations and the need for a multiple-constituency approach’. Sage publication, 1994, pp. 220-236. [3] Global Alliance for TB Drug Development. (2015) http://www.tballiance.org/about/operating-model.php (Accessed 2015-3-9). [4] B. Barkin, TB Finance Manager, Bill Melinda Gates Foundation (personal communication, March 13, 2015) [5] R. D. Herman, D. O. Renz. (1999). ‘Theses on nonprofit organizational effectiveness’. Nonprofit and voluntary sector quarterly, 1999,vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 107-126. [6] FRA. ‘Financial Ratio Analysis’. 2013. http://www.demonstratingvalue.org/resources/financial-ratio-analysis (Accessed 2015-3-9). [7] R, Kaplan. ‘Strategic performance measurement and management in nonprofit organizations’. Nonprofit management and Leadership, 2001,vol.11, no. 3, pp.353-370. [8]FRA. ‘Financial Ratio Analysis’. 2013. http://www.demonstratingvalue.org/resources/financial-ratio-analysis (Accessed 2015-3-9) [9] B. Barkin, TB Finance Manager, Bill Melinda Gates Foundation (personal communication, March 13, 2015) [10] C, Basu. ‘Four Basic Types of Financial Ratios Used to Measure a Companys Performance’. 2015. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/four-basic-types-financial-ratios-used-measure-companys-performance-25299.html (Accessed 2015-3-9) [11] J. K., Chabotar, ‘Financial ratio analysis comes to nonprofits’. The Journal of Higher Education, 1989.pp. 188-208 [12]H, Tuckman, and C, Cyril. ‘A methodology for measuring the financial vulnerability of charitable nonprofit organizations’. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly20.4 (1991): 445-460 [13] J. Zietlow, ‘Nonprofit financial objectives and financial responses to a tough economy’.Journal of Corporate Treasury Management,2010,vol.3, no.3, pp. 238-248. [14]R, Kaplan. ‘Strategic performance measurement and management in nonprofit organizations’. Nonprofit management and Leadership, 2001,vol.11, no. 3, pp.353-370. [15] NAF. ‘Analyzing Financial Information Using Ratios’. 2014. https://nonprofitsassistancefund.org/sites/default/files/publications/nonprofit_financial_ratios_2013.pdf (Accessed 2015-3-10) [16] H, Tuckman, and C, Cyril. ‘A methodology for measuring the financial vulnerability of charitable nonprofit organizations’. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly20.4 (1991): 445-460 [17] J,,K.,.Chabotar, ‘Financial ratio analysis comes to nonprofits’. The Journal of Higher Education, 1989.pp. 188-208 [18] NAF. ‘Analyzing Financial Information Using Ratios’. 2014. https://nonprofitsassistancefund.org/sites/default/files/publications/nonprofit_financial_ratios_2013.pdf (Accessed 2015-3-10) [19] L., M. Salamon. ‘The rise of the nonprofit sector’.Foreign Affairs, 1994, pp. 109-122. [20] M. Mckeever. ‘Family Foundations: Donor Advised Funds and Supporting Organizations as Alternatives to Private Foundations’ .1999. http://www.pgdc.com/pgdc/family-foundations-donor-advised-funds-and-supporting-organizations-alternatives-private-foundations (Accessed 2015-3-10). [21] DCU. ‘Charitable Planning: Donor Advised Funds vs. Private Foundations’. 2015. http://dcufinancial.org/new/dcufinancial/content.asp?contentid=2017940795 (Accessed 2015-3-10) [22] Investorwords. Fixed Price Contract. http://www.investorwords.com/19291/fixed_price_contract.html (Accessed 2015-3-10) [23] Business Dictionary. Cost reimbursable contract. http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/cost-reimbursement-contract.html (Accessed 2015-3-10) [24] Business Dictionary. Time and materials contract. http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/time-and-materials-T-M-contract.html (Accessed 2015-3-10) [25] P, Joskow K, Alvin. ‘A framework for analyzing predatory pricing policy’.Yale Law Journal,1979, pp. 213-270. [26] R. Bate, K. Boateng.‘Drug Pricing and Its Discontents’. 2007. http://www.aei.org/publication/drug-pricing-and-its-discontents/ (Accessed 2015-3-10) [27] John,Chuang Sirbu, Marvin. ‘Pricing multicast communication: A cost-based approach’. Telecommunication Systems, 2001, vol.17, no.3, pp. 281-297. [28] T, T. Nagle, H.,,K., Reed.‘Strategy and tactics of pricing’. Pearson Education Limited, 2013. [29] S. Allen, ‘Pricing Methods’. 2015. http://entrepreneurs.about.com/od/salesmarketing/a/pricingstrategy_2.htm (Accessed 2015-3-9) [30]M., Zall.. ‘The Pricing Puzzle’. 2006. http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/archive/mdd/v04/i03/html/03zall.html (Accessed 2015-3-10). [31] R. Bate, K. Boateng.‘Drug Pricing and Its Discontents’. 2007. http://www.aei.org/publication/drug-pricing-and-its-discontents/ (Accessed 2015-3-10) [32] GSK Tiered pricing and vaccines. (2014) http://www.gsk.com/media/280905/tiered-pricing-for-vaccines-policy.pdf (Accessed 2015-3-13)

EasyJet Essay -- Business and Management Studies

EasyJet EasyJet has become the European leader in a no frills frenzy for low cost, cheap air travel. This market however has since the mid nineties gone from strength to strength and we have witnessed the arrival of a number of low cost airline companies which cater for the no frills approach. In Europe the top two competitors in this market are EasyJet and Ryan Air which serve their customers from London Luton and Dublin respectively. They offer a differentiated product compared with the major traditional airlines and the key to their success has been to offer the lowest cost/fare structure possible and the differentiated â€Å"no frills† product is purely a consequence of the implementation of this rigorous low cost strategy. Background information about the companies is listed below: Comparative Company statistics EasyJet Ryanair Date of commencement 1995 1985 Date of IPO 2000 1997 Passenger Numbers 20.3m 15.7m Number of Staff 3,453 1,897 Aircraft 73 67 Routes served 109 133 Source: http://www.easyJet.com, http://www.Ryanair.com Comparative Key Financial Data EasyJet ( £) Ryanair (Ââ‚ ¬) Share Capital 758,461,000 563,732,000 Earnings per share 8.24pence 31.71cents Operating revenue 931.8m 842.5m Retained profit 32. 4m 239.3m Source: Company Accounts 2004 Both airlines have adopted similar business models and strategies. Key common features of the business model of both companies are: - Point to point se...

Interpreting the Constitution Essay -- essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the Federalist party was organized in 1791, those people who favored a strong central government and a loose constitutional interpretation coagulated and followed the ideals of men such as Alexander Hamilton. The first opposition political party in the United States was the Republican party, which held power, nationally, between 1801 and 1825. Those who were in favor of states rights and a strict construction of the constitution fell under the leadership of Thomas Jefferson. These Jeffersonian republicans, also known as anti-federalists, believed in strict adherence to the writings of the constitution. They wanted state’s rights and individual rights, which they believed could only be granted under strict construction of the constitution. Thomas Jefferson, the third president, and James Madison, his successor, were close friends and lifelong political associates. Long regarded as advocates for liberty, Jefferson and Madison believed in the principles of government and sought to restore the spirit of the revolution of 1776. These republicans spoke out against anti-monarchial attitudes and opposed the aristocratic and elitist attitudes of the federalists (Peterson, 1975). A weaker central government by the people was the goal of the republican party. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, were two presidents who believed in the theory of the republican party, but due to circumstances within the parties and the increasing conflicts between Britain and France abroad, they found it increasingly difficult to act in a manner which coincided with their republican beliefs and at times had to reconcile their actions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jefferson’s victory in the presidential election is notable because this was the first transfer of national authority from political group to another that was accomplished by peaceful and strictly constitutional means. He began his presidency with a plea for reconciliation and described his election as a recovery of the original intentions of the American Revolution (Ellis, 2000). In his true ideology, Jefferson said that a republic did not require a powerful central government to flourish. In fact, he felt that the health of the nation was inversely proportional to the power of the federal government. ******In Document A, Jefferson writes of the preservation of the constitution and the princ... ... 1801 to 1807, Jeffersons policies initially reflected these Republican priorities, which meant decreasing the power of the federal government and the army and navy, and ending federal taxation as well as placing the national debt on the road to extinction. By 1807, circumstances dictated that Jefferson take some actions which seemed to contradict his ideals. From 1808 to 1817, threats to the United States’s strength as a nation and domestic and political struggles, forced James Madison to also veer away from the ideology that he initially preached. Both men exhibited a conflict between idealogy and practice of that idealogy. Bibliography 1. Ellis, Joseph. J, American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. New York: Vintage Books, 1996. 2. Ellis, Joseph. J; Maier, Pauline, et al. Thomas Jefferson: Genius of Liberty. New York: Viking Studio, 2000. 3. Ketcham, Ralph. James Madison; a Biography. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1990. 4. Peterson, Merrill, D. The Portable Thomas Jefferson. New York: Penguin Books, 1975. 5. Rutland, Robert A.,ed. James Madison and the American Nation, 1751-1836: An Encyclopedia. New York: Random House, 1994

Impact of Illegal Drug Use Among Teens

For over one hundred years, the United States has been dealing with the use and abuse of illegal drugs. The federal government has spent billions of dollars since 1906 trying to stop the production, distribution, possession and use of drugs. The war on drugs has been long and costly with minimal progress made. Although the use of illegal drugs among teenagers has reduced, their abuse of prescription drugs has risen substantially. Drug use is a very serious problem among school age and college-age individuals and is present on every campus across this country.Even though the war on drugs is ongoing, the government’s efforts to reduce drug trafficking has had little effect on the use or abuse of illegal drugs among teenagers. Drug abuse continues to plaque our nation, causing destruction along its path, there seems to be no escape from this alarming trend. The most important challenge for drug policy is to reverse these dangerous trends. Illegal drugs are easily accessible; they are in our homes, schools, businesses and even in the jails and prisons. They affect most people in this nation in some form or another, whether abusing them themselves or knowing someone who does or has abused them.The use of drugs early among teens is especially dangerous, and often lead to unproductive, unhealthy behavior. Involvement in criminal justice system, juvenile delinquency, premature sexual activity (which exposes them to sexually transmitted diseases and increase the risk of unwanted pregnancies), are all associated with the use of illegal drugs. The staggering cost for unnecessary health care, auto accidents, crimes resulting from drug use and extra law enforcement has caused even more damage to an already failing economy.If the government is to move forward in its attempt to fight the war on drugs, it has to create effective drug policies and develop better programs to stop the onset of initial drug use. Informing today’s youth about the dangers of illegal dr ugs will prove far more beneficial than simply using scare tactics with harsher penalties. A key component in the fight to save the children from drugs is effective drug education. The Narconon drug curriculum will teach them why they should say â€Å"NO†, by helping them understand the lasting damage of drugs.In tackling the teenage drug problem, first, we have to determine what some of the risk factors are that may have led them down that path from the beginning. How a child interacts in various settings like at school, with teachers, their peers, siblings, parents and in their neighborhood can play a crucial role in their emotional, social and cognitive development. If they begin to act out in the class, fail classes, have poor social coping skills, begin to associate with the wrong crowd and change in overall perception about things they know are wrong like lying, drugs, crimes, etc.These are all red flags and should be investigated and addressed immediately. You have to try talking with them or taking them to see a professional to find out what is wrong, if possible, change their environment, place them around positive peers, get them involved in sports, church, social clubs. Do whatever it takes to prevent things from spiraling out of control, utilize all your resources. Try to let the child know you are there and that you care about what they are going through, this could make all the difference, in whether or not you reach them.If parents read, educate themselves of the dangers in using drugs, then and only then will they be able to teach their children how to getting involved in drug use. To compile enough research for a well-rounded paper sites like; the Office on National Drug Control Policy, National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Internet, ProQuest, and the Ashford Online Library were used. These sites along with others sources contained an abundance of information, enough data to create an informative paper.This research pointed out the soci al and health cost of illicit drug use, and further identified that drug-related illness, death and crime, cost the nation over one hundred billion dollars a year. The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reports, of the 263,871 emergency department visits by adolescents age 12-17, nearly one tenth (8. 8 percent) involved suicide attempts, almost three of every four (72. 3 percent) were females. Of the 95. 4 percent drug-related suicides pharmaceuticals were involved and more than three-fourths (77. 0 percent) ended with follow-up care (SAMHSA, 2008).The greatest cost of all drug abuse is paid in the lost of human lives, either directly through overdose, or drug abuse-related diseases such as tuberculosis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis. (NIDA & NIAA, 1992). It was important to conduct this research to make readers aware of just how bad society is failing the youth of this nation. The United States government cannot do it by itself. This is a national problem a nd it is going to take a nation to solve it, everyone has to help or this fight will be forever lost.After an almost ten- year decline, marijuana is on the rise again among teens. High school seniors reported that they smoked pot more than cigarettes according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse recent â€Å"Monitoring the Future† survey. While 21. 4% admitted to using marijuana in the last 30 days, only 19. 2% smoked cigarettes during the same time frame. This was the first time since 1981 that pot was used more than cigarettes in that age group. Although the public health campaigns to reduce cigarette smoking among teens consider this a victory, its decline can mainly be contributed to the rise of marijuana use.Many kids seem to feel that smoking pot is simply â€Å"not that big of a deal†, after all, it is only pot; even eighth graders do not believe the risk is that great. This type of attitude explains why there is a 1% increase of daily use for eighth graders and a 3% increase for tenth graders and is an indication that marijuana use will likely continue to climb as these kids move closer to graduation. About one out of four seniors and one in four tenth-graders said they smoked marijuana in the last year.Obama administration’s drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, blames state medical marijuana measures like California’s Proposition 19 for making pot seem less dangerous to young Americans. â€Å"Calling marijuana ‘smoked medicine’ is absolutely incorrect, young people have taken the wrong message† (Healy, 2010, p. A-10). According to the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dr. Nora Volkow, because teenager’s brains are still developing the increased daily use of marijuana is particularly disturbing, since it has been known to cause learning and memory damage.The fact that they use marijuana more frequently puts them at a greater risk of becoming dependent on it and other drugs. The use of th e club drug Ecstasy has increased among eighth- and tenth graders but not all drugs showed an increase. The abuse of the prescription pain medication Vicodin was down to 8% compared to 9. 7% in 2009 and the illicit use of opioid painkiller OxyContin rose among tenth-graders but remained steady with twelfth- graders. The use of drugs prescribed for attention deficit disorder, (ADHD) for non- medical reasons in the last year among high school seniors is 6. % and is about the same for amphetamines use (Healy, 2010). One of the latest growing teenage trends, which centers on the sampling of a variety of prescription drugs and then drinking alcohol is causing much concern. Kids feel that prescription drugs are safer than street drugs, because they are prescribed by a doctor and are usually purchased in a drug store.This is simply not true; they actually are more powerful which makes them even more dangerous especially when adding alcohol to the mix. Nora Volkow, says, â€Å"Kids are not pharmacologists, they may say, Fentanyl OxyContin- what’s the difference? So they take a bunch of things and may combine them with alcohol, that is a deadly miscalculation† (Jetters, A, 2010-2011, p. 146). To achieve feelings of euphoria, the amount of opioid painkillers needed is so close to the amounts that can kill you. If you add alcohol or tranquilizers like Klonopin, Valium, Xanax, which also depresses the brains respiratory center. Just one gin and tonic combined with a 40 mg methadone pill can be fatal. They are playing a very dangerous game of Russian roulette, one that they clearly do not understand.When you think of drugs and how they got into the United States, most of us think about them coming from another country, like maybe Mexico or somewhere in South America. However, more now than ever we need look no further than our own medicine cabinets. The days of taking an aspirin or Tylenol for a headache, backache or toothache are long gone. We can now look i n our medicine cabinets and choose from a variety of powerful leftover painkillers previously prescribed to us for various aches and pains. For over the past twenty years, four times the number of opioid prescriptions was written.Doctors prescribed them at a rate of more than 180 million per year. By providing patients with enough medication to ease their pain, doctors believe it aids in the healing process and allows the patient to focus on getting well and not on the pain. This type of rationale may have caused doctors to over medicate, thereby prescribing painkillers for even the slightest pain. Painkillers like Vicodin, OxyContin, and Percocet are even prescribed to children that have barely reached adolescence. This may explain why they are the most abused pills among 12 and 13- year- olds (Jetters, A, 2010-2011, p. 148).Dentist and oral surgeons are prescribing opioid for simple procedures like molar extractions. In addition, the kids are being sent home with way more pills th an they need. Yes, kids feel pain just like adults however; doctors cannot simply prescribe these potent drugs and then forget how long and how many pills the kids are taking, that is a recipe for disaster. If your children are prescribed these or any medication for that matter, be sure to monitor their usage. You should count them and if there is cause for concern, take them and store them in a secure place under lock and key and dispense the correct amount to them yourself.You must be sure to properly dispose of all expired or unused medication, take every precaution when doing so. Many experts are now advising people not to flush them in the toilet because it may pollute the water. If you throw them in the trash, place them in a bag mixed with cat litter, coffee grounds or anything that will discourage your kids from looking for them. Talk to other parents and family members, especially if your child visits their homes often; advise them to safeguard their prescription drugs as w ell. Check around your community to see if there is a prescription pill- drop off point.More towns are sponsoring these sites to assist in disposal of medicines in hopes of possibly cutting back on teenage drug use. As parents, you must realize that you play a big role in how your children view prescription drugs and whether or not they will end up abusing them. Many teenagers believe that parents will be less concerned or upset if they are caught misusing prescription drugs because, after all they are legal. A clear message needs to be sent to them, letting them know that you do care if they illegally use prescription drugs just as you would if they abused any other illicit drug.It is important that they know if they are in trouble they can come to you for help regardless of what the problem is, even drugs. Pill popping is so popular among kids because the high is not instantly detected like marijuana and alcohol. It is definitely easier to buy pills than beer, you do not have to w ait for the store to open or need a person twenty- one over to purchase them. Pills and money are easily be exchanged by a handshake, at school or other public places without ever being noticed.You do not need a bottle, can, glass, rolling paper, a match or a pipe; all you do is place that one small white pill in your mouth that is it. On the other hand, marijuana and alcohol both have very distinctive smells and are detected almost immediately. However, if he or she has taken prescription drugs you do not usually notice it right away unless their behavior has changed erratically. Although alcohol use maybe down, it remains popular among teens and cannot be taken lightly. Over the years, it has had a devastating impact on teenagers; more than eight young people a day die from fatal car crashes or re fatally injured due to alcohol- related accidents. Because so many households have alcohol, it is easy for children to begin drinking at an early age. The younger the child is when he be gins consuming alcohol the more likely he is to increase his alcohol intake. The more he drinks the greater his chances are of using other drugs in the future, which is why alcohol along with marijuana has always been believed to be a gateway drugs. Parents should beware, more kids are trying whatever they can get their hands on to get high.Isobutyl nitrite is a volatile liquid solid without a prescription for use as a room deodorizer but commonly used as an inhalant to produce a euphoric feeling (Peary & Schwartz, 1986). It causes dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision and pounding heart, these symptoms can make them really sick. Nevertheless, kids appear to believe this method of getting high along with experimentation with other drugs is the norm. As this research, progressed, other dangerous drugs were introduced, and now that we have learned more about them and the various ways they are being used; we are better equipped to help fight the war on drugs.Informing the minds of our youth so they can reason more clearly on the subject of alcohol and other drugs is a vitally important way to curtail addiction down the road. Children who never start abusing drugs will never become addicts in need of drug recover. As the government continues its war on drugs, society must begin theirs. This great nation is equipped with a vast amount of resources to assist in this endeavor; therefore, every effort should be made to do whatever is necessary to ensure the youth of today will be around for tomorrow.

Political Science and Federal Bureaucracy Essay

Develop a detailed outline of your second main point. (For assistance with your writing skills, check out the Ashford Writing Center at https://awc.ashford.edu/essay-dev-essay-structure.html) 1. Federal Policies: a. Provide a topic sentence that briefly describes one advantage and one disadvantage to a national policy that must be implemented by one agency of the federal bureaucracy. One advantage of a policy that must be implemented by one agency of the federal bureaucracy is the actual federal experts in the bureaucracy. The people set up the policy know much more about the issues than the president and this creates bureaucracy power. One disadvantage is that at any time the president can rearrange the organization chart of the bureaucracy. b. Provide a topic sentence that recommends one option to maintain the advantage and one to improve the disadvantage. One option to maintain the advantage is to keep the detail of the policy inside the bureaucracy. The less the president knows about the issue, the more the bureaucracy has control of the issue. One way to improve the disadvantage is implement order. The reorganization should be authorized through congress. 2. Scholarly Support: (For assistance with your research see the Tutorials provided by Ashford University’s Library at http://library.ashford.edu/tutorials.aspx, the APA Style Aid at https://www.wou.edu/provost/library/clip/apa/, and for Annotated Bibliographies at https://awc.ashford.edu/tocw-sample-annotated-bibliography.html for additional help) a. Provide two credible sources in APA format to support your main points. O’CONNELL, A. J. (2014). BUREAUCRACY AT THE BOUNDARY. University Of Pennsylvania Law Review, 162(4), 841-927 Scholz, J. T., Twombly, J., & Headrick, B. (1991). Street-Level Political Controls Over Federal Bureaucracy. The American Political Science Review, (3). 829 b. Briefly discuss how these sources support your main points. Both articles provide a vast amount of detailed information on what the president can and cannot control in the bureaucracy. Also it provides information on their limitations as well as to why they generate polices. c. Briefly evaluate your sources for bias, validity, and reliability. Both sources have been reviewed for bias, validity and reliability. The source were found on Ashford’s peer scholarly reviewed sources in the library which makes them credible.

My First Day of School Essay

I have been reading in Beaconhouse Sri Inaigot up early in the morning of 8th July to get myself prepared. With my tutor I started towards my new school. On the way it began to rain. When we reached the school we were completely wet. Secondary School for four years. I still remember my first day at this school. On that fortunate day, I got freedom from the control of my tutor who loaded me with heavy home task. I had no holiday in a week. You can think of my joy when I was told that I would be sent to a new school. The sight of the grand building made me nervous. I was uneasy in mind. I entered the office where I found four people sitting behind the counter. My tutor got a form from one of them. Then we entered the Principal’s Office. My tutor gave the form to him. He looked at it carefully. He stuck a bell. At once a peon rushed in. He ordered him to take us to the staff room. The peon led us to the room where I found the teachers seated round a long table. He gave the form to one of them. The teacher put my knowledge to test my English. He found me up to the mark. Then another teacher gave me five sums to solve. I solved them with great ease. Both the teachers wrote some thing on the form. Again my tutor entered to the office and deposits my dues. I was sent to classroom with a chit. I reached the classroom and took my seat in the last row. In front of me there was a big blackboard on the wall. Near it there were descent chair and a table for the teachers. After a few minutes a teacher entered into the class. I gave the chit to him. He wrote my name in the register. To my good luck the teacher is an interesting fellow. He passed a few funny remarks. He also made some interesting and harmless jokes. As the recess bell rang, we rushed out of the class. It was the recess period. The playground becomes the centre of activity. Finding me alone some boys approached me. They cut jokes. One of them asked me â€Å"from which jungle are you coming†? I was salient. Fortunately three boys ran for my help. They took me round the school building. With them I saw the reading room and library. We also reached the hall. I found it decorated with pictures and paintings. In the meanwhile the bell rang and we were again in the class room. One by one other teacher come but none taught us. t 12:30 the last bell went. The classes were dispersed. When I reached home, my head was full of new ideas. I told my mother how great school was. She was very glad to hear the account of my first day.

Collective Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Collective Security - Essay Example It was to be an organization that would use peaceful negotiation to maintain international peace and security. Moreover, it would be an organization where all member states would be bound by the belief that all acts of "aggression and war are crimes against humanity" (Harney), and nations would therefore consider it their duty to desist from and prevent aggression. After any major conflict, prevention of future conflicts is always high on the agenda. To this end, the "favorite technique is to institute measures of co-operation and consultationwith a view to preventing war by moderating and restraining the free-for-all operation of the international anarchy" (Buzan, 163). Thus the setting up of the League of Nations, [and later the United Nations] was a paradigm shift from a policy of national defence to one of collective security. However, the League of Nations failed to achieve its goal of securing international peace and security, amply proven by the fact that the world was at war again within twenty years of its formation. Nevertheless, the failure of League of Nations cannot be called a failure of the idea of collective security. It was more a failure of political will amongst nations to look beyond their own short-term gains in order to make collective security a workable proposition. According to Meg Harney, "While an excellent idea in theory, the League met with repeated problems simply because the nations had not adapted their foreign policy to change to look after, instead of looking after the interests of the League as a whole working unit". The lack of political will among the bigger nations to implement collective security is evident in the stand taken by the big powers vis--vis the League of Nations. The rejection of the Treaty of Versailles by the US and by extension to the League was almost a 'death blow' to the fledging organization. As a result of domestic political compulsions, US President Woodrow Wilson failed to garner the support of the Senate, which according to the US Constitution is the body responsible for ratification of any treaty. The Senate voted against the Treaty and as a result the US did not become a member of the League of Nations. This left Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan as the main powers in the League of Nations. According to Karl Schmidt, "The majority of the British public supported the ideals of the League, but the British government viewed the League largely with indifference". This was largely due to the fact that men like Lloyd George, Stanley Baldwin and Curzon who dominated the government of the day believed in the 'old diplomacy'. Lloyd George preferred, as per Karl Schmidt, "Diplomacy by conference - where the great powers would meet in a less formal setting to discuss problems - to any such system as the League". Apart from this, the British were also affected by the US defection, as they did not want to shoulder the responsibility of single handedly securing the peace in Europe. France supported the League of Nations less for its idealism and more as a tool for securing its own protection. Ever fearful of an attack from Germany, the French leaders saw no difference between its own national security concerns and the League's collective security elements. Italy on the other hand, viewed the League with a certain amount of skepticism, which turned to dislike once Mussolini came to power,