Abuse of power Vs Spiritual Redemption Essay

The Tempest is full of different themes that work perfectly to bring out the mastery of Shakespeare. However, two themes that stand out in the play, and they have been the source of much debate over the years. Both themes are backed with incredible, pinpoint accurate evidence over the dominance of the other. Over the years, scholars have found it hard to settle on one theme being dominant over the other, but with an analysis of the evidence presented on both counts, the decision is left to the reader of the play or the audience for that matter. The first theme that stands out is; spiritual redemption and goodwill. It can be explained in the play through the character Prospero whereby he struggles, loses his kingdom, finds another and learns from his past in order not to have history repeat itself. In the world crested by The Tempest, through Prospero, Shakespeare tries to examine the human condition of sin, redemption and goodwill. At the beginning of the play, the audience is made aware that Prospero was a Duke of Milan but his brother Antonio, with the king’s consent, took his Dukedom away from him. During his tenure as Duke, Prospero was more concerned with education and magic than he was ruling his kingdom. For this reason, Antonio was able to take advantage and win over the hearts of the people of Milan, which consequently led to the usurping of Prospero from his dukedom, but with help from the King of Naples. Prospero was then exiled with his daughter Miranda, on a wrecked boat where they ended up on an island. Here, Prospero learned the values of authority by turning Caliban into a slave under his command. At one point, his slave alongside two other men tried to kill him but he manipulated them and changed their minds completely. When the shipwrecked men had been brought to him, he could have chosen to exact his revenge and kill them, but he was kind to them. In so doing, Prospero found redemption for his sin as a previously failed ruler. The other theme that stands out is that of Colonial Abuse of Power. In almost every scene, there is a portrayal of power whereby there is a character that has power over the other. The relationship of Prospero and Caliban is that of master and slave and this stands out throughout the play, where Caliban submits to Prospero. The Tempest brings to light the theme of colonization when in 1610, the Sea Adventure to Virginia ended in shipwreck in Bermuda. Also, the anagram of the name Caliban is derived from the name cannibal which shows a difference in cultures. This also shows that Caliban was the native of the island that Prospero had asserted himself as king. Propsero’s relationship with Ariel also demonstrated the intense theme of power. Ariel is a spirit but she is submissive to Prospero, by saying â€Å"All hail, Great master† In both themes, there is enough evidence to warrant a discussion, but to my opinion, I think that the theme of spiritual redemption and goodwill is most dominant. Primarily, this is because the use and abuse of power is an age-old tradition that never seizes. However, the act of Prospero showing mercy stands out because as royalty, there is a need to show humility and making decisions not out of feeling, but out of reason. Thus, the theme of spiritual redemption and goodwill is most convincing in all manners and rights. Source document

Legacy of the Kazakh Khanate in the Political Culture and Traditions

In 1991 year new state the Republic of Kazakhstan is appeared on the map. The history and culture of Kazakhstan is numbered a thousand years. One of the important issues is about aboriginal population’s origin, formation and origins of its nationality, development of culture and cultural traditions, relationships with other civilizations. Applying for written sources we can verify that Kazakhs khanate had been formed to 1470 when on the territory of Kazakhstan in south-eastern regions Semirechye and in vales of Chu Kazakh sultans Dzhanibek and Girey could head the numerous tribes, which had been jointed in tribe named â€Å"Kazakh†, ‘Kazakhs†.At the beginning of XVI century in the time of Kasymkhan the Kazakh khanate was strengthened, its borders were widened, syrdarya towns Turkestan, Otyrar, Sayram, Sauran, Syganak, Suzak and Chimkent were part of Kazakh khanate . Kazakhstan becomes known in Asia and Europe. The XVI century is an important milestone in the history of Moslem world from which the new time reckoning is began. The distinguished east scientist V. V. Bartold wrote  « In the new history of Moslem in contrast to rapid change of dynasties and powers? olitical instability, states small dimensions and that’s why lack of any whatsoever patriotism, now we can see the countries establishing there. We see the Moslem power of Great Mongols in India, then Turkey, Persia †¦ † Approximately at that time Kazakh, Yarkend khanates had been appeared in Central Asia. The Turkic Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Kara-kalpaks were announced on the historic scene. When the last khan Taukekhan died, the power had deputed to the number of steppe khans and each of them was at the head of separate groups of Kazakhs and the territories Kazakh khanate existed up to 1716.At that time the process of disintegration and decay had began and the end of this process the state was being included in Russian empire. The ethnicon of â€Å"Kazakhâ⠂¬  given the name of state is Turkic word. It is generally agreed that it means â€Å"free man† Kazakhs were very hardworking nomads and farmers, have had the great fat herd, rich pastures, and fertile lands on sub mountain and vales of rivers. But telling about Kazakhs and the first Kazakh nation it is necessary to know that origin of that nation as its culture and statehood dated from centuries. Bibliography: http://www. toptravel. ru/bgkkfl2. htm http://kazakhstan. awd. z Turkic roots of Kazakh political culture and traditions Kazakhstan has a rich past. Its geographical and geopolitical position has played a vital role in promoting the country’s development. Located in the center of Eurasia, Kazakhstan has long found itself at the crossroads of the world’s most ancient civilizations and trade routes. It has been a land of social, economic and cultural exchange between East and West, North and South, and between the major players in Eurasia. At different st ages of its history, various states emerged and developed in the land which became today’s Kazakhstan. All contributed to Kazakh culture.In later centuries, the steppes were home to a powerful state formed by the Huns. Their empire greatly influenced the geopolitical map of that time. The Great Roman Empire in Europe eventually fell from the blows of the Attila the Hun’s daring warriors. Later, the Huns were replaced on the steppes by Turkic tribes. They founded several large states known as â€Å"kaganats† stretching from the Yellow Sea in the East to the Black Sea in the West. These states were distinguished by a culture progressive for that time. They were based not only on a nomadic economy but also on an oasis urban culture with rich trade and handicraft traditions.During this time, cities and caravanserais were founded in the oases of Central Asia, the territory of South Kazakhstan and Central Asia. They stood along the famous trade route known as the Grea t Silk Road which connecting Europe and China. Other trade routes were also important including the route along the Syr Dariya River to the Aral Sea and the South Urals as well the so called â€Å"Sable Road† from South Western regions of Siberia through Central Kazakhstan and the Altai region. It was through trade on the â€Å"Sable Road† that the Middle East and Europe were supplied with expensive furs.Major cities and trade centers founded on these routes included Otrar (Farab), Taraz, Kulan, Yassy (Turkestan), Sauran, and Balasagun. The Great Silk Road not only stimulated the development of trade, it also became a conduit for progressive scientific and cultural ideas. For example, the great philosopher Al-Farabi (870-950) was greatly influenced by the culture of the trade routes. Born in the Farab district, Al-Farabi was dubbed in the East â€Å"the Second Teacher† after Aristotle for his profound researches in philosophy, astronomy, musical theory and mathe matics.The outstanding scholar of Turkic philology Mahmud Kashgari lived here in the 11th century. He created the three-volume â€Å"Dictionary of Turkic Dialects† which summed up Turkic folklore and literature heritages. In the 11th Century, Yusup Balasaguni of the town of Balasagun, a famous poet and philosopher, wrote â€Å"Kutaglu Bilig† (â€Å"A Knowledge that Brings Happiness†) which is recognized as having played an important role in the development of modern social, political and ethical conceptions. The Sufi poet Hodja Ahmet Yassaui, who lived in the 12th century, wrote a collection of poetic thoughts â€Å"Divan-i-Khikmet† (â€Å"Book of Wisdom†).He is famous throughout the Muslim world. Part of the cultural legacy of that period is the elegant urban architecture. Examples such as the mausoleums of Arystan Baba, of the great Sufi Hodja Akhmet Yassaui in Turkestan and Aisha Bibi in Taraz are among the best preserved. Apart from this, the m ost ancient nomads of the region invented the â€Å"yurt†, a dome-shaped easily dismantled and portable house made from wood and felt, ideal for their nomadic life and beliefs. In 1221, Mongolian tribes of Genghis Khan conquered Central Asia and added their culture and values to the increasingly complex society of the region.By the second half of the 15th Century a process of consolidation had begun among the peoples of the Central Asian steppe. This process, derived from the various ethnic and cultural identities, was drawn together by a common world view and lifestyle. The first Kazakh khanates emerged at this time. By the first half of the 16th Century, the formation of a single Kazakh nation was completed. The word â€Å"Kazakh† in the old Turkic language meant â€Å"free† or â€Å"independent† which perfectly fit the character of the people who had been long yearning for their own independent state.In the 17th and 18th Centuries the nomadic Jungar tr ibes directed by the Chinese Bogdykhans started a large scale war against the Kazakh khanate. However, thanks to the courage of the â€Å"batyrs† (knights), the decisiveness of the Kazakh leader Ablai Khan, the diplomatic skills of the Kazakh ‘biys’ (sages) Tole Bi, Kazdausty Kazybek Bi, Aiteke Bi, and self sacrifice of the people, the Kazakhs escaped total capture and physical annihilation. The Kazakh khans were forced to seek the military protection of the Russian Empire, which eventually led to Kazakhstan’s loss of sovereignty in 1871. For a time, the fate of Kazakhstan was tied to theEuropean model of social development and the fate of the Russian State and its peoples. After the 1917 revolution Soviet power was established in Kazakhstan. Kazakhs suffered greatly under Soviet control. Due to the forced collectivization in the 1930s, hunger caused the death of 1. 5 million Kazakhs, which was more than 40 percent of the nation. Hundreds of thousands Kaza khs fled to China and elsewhere. The brightest and the best of the nation were repressed and often shot dead. The regime’s last gasp was the brutal repression of the Kazakh people on December 17, 1986 as they took to the streets seeking justice.Many consider this the beginning of the end for the once mighty Soviet Union. Kazakhstan proclaimed its independence on December 16, 1991, and Nursultan Nazarbayev was democratically elected the first President of the country. Bibliography: Kiessling, Kerstin Lindahl. â€Å"Conference on the Aral Sea: Women, Children, Health and Environment. † Ambio Vol. 27, No. 7 (November, 1998): 560-564. Weiner, Douglas. A Little Corner of Freedom: Russian Nature Protection from Stalin to Gorbachev. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2002.Soviet transformation of Kazakh society and legacy in political culture and traditions Arguably the most drastic economic policy employed by Marxist-fashioned governments and the Soviet Union was that of agricultural and industrial collectivization. Forcing local Soviets to develop state-controlled farms and industrial construction projects, the Soviet collectivization programs generally had two overarching purposes: the ideological liberation of the Soviet orbit from class antagonisms and the concupiscent parasitism of â€Å"kulak† banditry, and the economic attainment of a fiscally self-sufficient Marxist society.Soviet republics endured two major phases of collectivization that yielded both beneficial and catastrophic effects. The Stalin government (1922-53) initiated collectivization projects as a means to cultivate â€Å"socialism in one country,† with an industrialized war machine and a well-fed population completely free of the capitalist approach. As the Comintern and NATO plunged into the Cold War, the Khrushchev government (1953-64) reimposed agricultural collectivization with the so-called â€Å"VirginLands Program† specifically with the inten t of freeing the USSR from humiliating dependency on Western capitalist food imports. Soviet collectivization made possible economic and industrial achievements that would otherwise have been impossible. However, the blatant accomplishments of collectivization came at a tremendous price, directly creating some of the most horrendous human and environmental catastrophes of the twentieth century.In both phases of Soviet collectivization, the people of Kazakhstan endured by far the worst of these disasters, suffering man-made famines and starvation, irreparable environmental desiccation, the eventual transformation of the entire Aral Sea to saline ruin, mass exodus and displacement, and astronomical casualty. Even worse, the second phase of collectivization (the Virgin Lands Campaign) only exacerbated the irrecoverable environmental tragedies of the first phase.These disasters are entirely derived from the legacy of collectivization. 1 Despite the Soviets' ideological insistence on the benefits of collectivization programs in Kazakhstan, the Kazakh people experienced far greater suffering and calamity than they profited, and are still struggling to recover from the ecological consequences even today. It must be acknowledged that the Soviet Union never intended to directly inflict any physical catastrophe on the Soviet republics or the Kazakh people.It must also be readily emphasized that the Soviet collectivization policy eventually contributed to undeniable industrial, political, cultural, and employment achievements, which transformed tribal Kazakhstan into a modern republic and an exporter of anything from steel, to cotton, to Snow Queen ® vodka. But the price that the Kazakh people were forced to pay was far too high. Both phases of collectivization have inflicted an indelible legacy of agricultural ruin, economic depression, physical ailment, and environmental catastrophe that far outweigh the benefits of the forced proletarian liberation brought by the So viet Union.Unfortunate for the Kazakhs, the tragic legacy of calamitous Soviet agro-economic policy did not fall with the Berlin Wall, and it may require centuries to recover Stalin's first phase of Soviet collectivization represents easily the worst physical and environmental nadir of Kazakh history. The collectivization initiative began almost immediately after the final incorporation of the Kazakh tribes and polities into the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) in 1936.The agricultural potential of the fertile and pristine Kazakh steppe was perceived as an invaluable source of tremendous collective output for the state. As in the other, recently â€Å"liberated† peoples newly incorporated into the USSR, those Kazakhs that were fully absorbed into Soviet society through forced collectivization would eventually enjoy significant benefits that would have otherwise been impossible for the semi-nomadic Kazakhs, such as theoretically near-universal literacy and employment, th e development of urbanized cities and transportation systems, health care, job security, and sustenance.Although the majority of these benefits owe themselves to Soviet policy rather than collectivization itself, these accomplishments must be weighed with the tragic consequences if we are to conclude that collectivization had an overall negative effect on Kazakh society.Bibliography: CNN. com. â€Å"Athrax ‘time bomb' ticking in Aral Sea, researchers say. † CNN. http://www. cnn. com/WORLD/asiapcf/9906/21/anthrax. island/ Conquest, Robert. The Harvest of Sorrow. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987. Krech, Shepard, John Robert McNeill, and Carolyn Merchant. Encyclopedia of World Environmental History: A-E. New York: Routeledge Press, 2004.

Compare/Contrast of Political Parties Essay

INDEPENDENT PARTY 1) Values and Beliefs -Protect the right to life of the innocent unborn; -Stop the undeclared wars which are daily costing American lives and billions of tax dollars; -Stop reckless spending, including foreign aid, and take care of America’s domestic needs -End debt financing of both Federal and State governments; -End the Federal income tax, and restore a tariff based revenue system; -Immediately terminate international trade agreements such as NAFTA, WTO, and the proposed FTAA, and stop sending high paying American jobs to foreign countries; -Reduce immigration, and stop all government subsidies to illegal aliens; no driver’s licenses for illegals; deport all illegal aliens; -Defend America’s moral values; keep God in the pledge of allegiance; -Support high standards in education, including encouragement of private schools and home schooling; -Stop the pillaging of consumers and taxpayers by the energy/utility monopolies; -Defend Second Amendment rights; -Restore a debt free, interest free money system; -Uphold traditional marriage and family values; 2)History of the Independents -California’s American Independent Party has been a ballot qualified political party since 1968. The American Independent Party, which now has some 300,000 registered members in California, is affiliated at the national level with the Constitution Party. -On July 8, 1967, formal organization of California’s American Independent Party was completed at a convention held in Bakersfield. â€Å"A new party is urgently needed today because the leaders of the two existing parties, Democrat and Republican, have deserted the principles and traditions of our nation’s founding fathers. Control of the government, under the domination of these two existing parties, has left the hands of the people our government was created to serve.† -In 1967, Gov. George C. Wallace of Alabama was on the move to run for President on a new party ticket. Wallace supporters greeted with enthusiasm the formation of the American Independent Party. -On August 3, 1968, the delegates to the state convention of the American Independent Party adopted the party’s first platform. This document held tremendous significance for A I P activists who had joined the new party because they wanted major changes in public policies. 3)Why Independent? -The American Independent Party has kept alive the best of the American principles which have largely been abandon by the Democrat and Republican parties.The American Independent Party has survived for over a quarter of a century because the party has had effective leaders, along with a popular platform, emphasizing respect for life, fiscal responsibility, a reduced role of government in people’s lives, reduction of the tax burden, control of crime, protection of American businesses, workers, and farmers from  unfair foreign competition, and an America first non-interventionist foreign policy. 4)Young Independents Today -Some have suggested that the American Independent Party may be out of step with young Americans whose views are alleged to be radically different from those of middle aged and older Americans. The commitment of Young Americans to the country’s traditional moral, political, and economic values, however, remains comparable to that of other age groups. -The future of the American Independent Party is assured by a market for its views among young Americans who do not have years of commitment to the dominant parties. Today, the political climate in America is changing. The people are looking for new voices, new choices, new vehicles for political expression. The people are looking to the American Independent Party for leadership. POPULIST PARTY 1)History -delegates adopted the platform of the People’s party also called the Populist party -the populists represented a grand coalition of farmers, laborers, and reformers, which aimed to put government back into the hands of the people -populist leaders were diverse and colorful -the populists chose their candidates amid calls for restricted immigration and a shorter workday for industrial laborers. -the party also aimed to convince the government to allow the free coinage of silver, a measure that would make silver, not just gold, legal tender. -despite action by the farmers alliances and the grangers the plight of thousands of farmers worsened. -the platform of the populist party called for extensive reforms -reformers believed that farmers and workers should be freed from the exploitative practices of banks and railroads and merchants -the populists gained 14 seats in congress, won 2 governorships, and received the largest number of popular votes cast for any third party in the 1800s -by the time of the 1896 election the populist party itself had declined but some of its ideas entered the mainstream -the continuing depression forced the democratic party into a more radical position on one key issue-unlimited coinage of silver -this stance led many populists to support the democratic candidate william jennings bryan of nebraska -populism began to decline -one factor limited populism’s strength in the south -peoples party failed to gain wide support in the south -the southern alliance advised its memebers to support major party candidates who favored agricultural interests -the underlying reason for the failure of populism in the south was the issue of white supremacy -the southern alliance feared that populism might lead to gains for african americans

The effecst and changes in parenting of Asian families after Essay

The effecst and changes in parenting of Asian families after immigration to Western societies - Essay Example If the perceptions of parents and children are dissonant and based on lived historical experience or current realities, then their ability to manage the stresses of forced migration will be diminished even further. If the perceptions of each generation can be made more congruent, then it is likely that both parents and their children will see each other as resources rather than as additional stressors. To understand this problem, Asian parenting styles and characteristics need to be studied. Warmth and dominating control offer two important dimensions of parental style that may be universal, and against which the meaning of specific practices might be elucidated. The use of these styles as touchstones was an important strategy which can be used in understanding data from new western cultures. Immigration of Asian families to Western Societies usually involves major changes in parent–child relationships. The results of some studies have shown that the relations between immigrant parents and their children are vulnerable to the risks commonly associated with immigration, especially during the adolescent years (Nguyen & Williams, 1988). On the one hand, during adolescence, children become more cognitively sophisticated and think differently about what their parents can and cannot control in their lives. This developmental shift is compounded by the process of acculturation for immigrant adolescents, making them more likely to downplay their parents’ values and modes of behavior and adopt values and modes of behavior from the new society. Immigrant parents, on the other hand, may resist change in their traditional values. Some scholars suggest that despite years of living in the country of resettlement, many immigrant parents preserve their ideas about child-rearing, their expectations, norms, rules, and beliefs (Nguyen & Williams, 1988). The research findings suggest that family values that center around household chores,

Impact of the human activities on the sustainability of cities Essay

Impact of the human activities on the sustainability of cities - Essay Example This urbanization then results to increasing numbers of people in these particular areas and hence continued and sustainable growth of the towns. This growth or even the sprouting of the new towns can be attributed to the fact that the new populations are always scrambling for the limited facilities. Therefore, the investors on pointing the new market niches ventures to the cities and hence the whole process of urbanization continues. In this essay, we will seek to explore the activities these people carry-out and their effects in these areas before and after inhabiting the cities. Shenzhen city in China will be used as a case study. Human activities in urban areas can be categorized into two main categories: positive and the negative activities. On the positive side, we will seek to elaborate those activities enhance not only the areas that this entire process of urbanization takes place but also the human beings themselves and the entire ecosystem. We will also highlight the merits this process brings about in the long run (Myron, 2001). On the other hand, in the negative side, we will seek to explain the human effects that the urbanization process has brought about to the ecosystem and the possible results of this process to human life and the entire ecosystem. Effects of human activities in cities are of great concern to everyone who has interests on the sprawling of cities. Investment is one of the major human activities in the process. We are living in a business world whereby everyone aspires to maximize their returns on every single cent they invest in any venture. It is, therefore, true to say that investors deserve the biggest part of the credit for urbanization. Well, how do investors contribute to this? First and foremost it is important to know that the main reason people move from rural areas to urban centers in their endeavor to secure employment and hence better

If stem cell research must rely only on derivation of tissue from a Term Paper - 1

If stem cell research must rely only on derivation of tissue from a vibrant fetus, is harvesting those cells in any way immoral, illegal or unethical - Term Paper Example It is impossible to reconcile these positions due to distinctly opposing views inherent in medical science versus varying views and interpretations of ethics and morality. A typical day-5 human embryo consists of 200-250 cells, most of which comprise the trophoblast, which is the outermost layer of the blastocyst. HESCs are harvested from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, which consists of 30-34 cells. The derivation of HESC cultures requires the removal of the trophoblast. This process of disaggregating the blastocysts cells eliminates its potential for further development. Opponents of HESC research argue that the research is morally impermissible because it involves the unjust killing of innocent human beings. (Siegel par. 2). Moral and ethical debates have raged since the idea of stem cell research first crossed scientists’ minds. One simplistic argument against opposition to the research centers upon abortion fetuses from which many of the cells are gathered. The moral rational is that in the event of an abortion at least some good for the whole of humanity can come of it. Reading into this position, one can make a case that the apologist him or herself is admitting abortion is unethical, highlighting the complexity of the argument. Besides, they might say, research cannot be done on adult stem cells because they don’t share the same aspects as those from an embryo. The good of the research outweighs the bad of the methods. The end justifies the means, since embryonic stem cell research can help find cures for, or prevent diseases including Cancer and Parkinson’s but also Alzheimer’s, Heart disease, Stroke, Diabetes, birth defects, spinal cord injuries, organ damage and trans plant rejection. Medical researchers insist embryonic stem cells are needed because they alone are able to reproduce any other

Conflict Analysis Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Conflict Analysis Paper - Essay Example When I go home after a hard day, I have to pick up unending coffee cups, ash trays, cushions, close open windows, secure locks and switch off lights, before washing the used dishes, as I need them for cooking and eating. Actually they are my own and he does not have many earthy possessions. He would rather spend money on male perfume, pointed shoes and manicure. Our conflict cannot come under philosophical, demonic, classical theories. It is definitely not ecological. It comes under the Functional theory and perhaps this kind of conflict is needed for the social functioning. Also it comes under Anomie theory, because both of us are confused about how to treat the other. "This meant that rules on how people ought to behave with each other were breaking down and thus people did not know what to expect from one another. Anomie, simply defined, is a state where norms (expectations on behaviors) are confused, unclear or not present. It is normlessness, Durkheim felt, that led to deviant behaviour" http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/week8.htm Triggering events that brought conflict into mutual awareness were his smoking inside flat, not cleaning, leaving used dishes all over, being unreasonable about buying things for flat, and arguing on every possible matter. According to him, they are my obsession with cleaning, tidiness, my overbearing desire to have my own way, shrill reaction to smoking and dominating behavior. Historical context on this ongoing relationship, could be from my point of view Communism produces only selfishness and cunning behavior. According to him, Asian people are overbearing, fastidious, without any scope for easy, laid back relationship. External events could be his late hours of work, his unhappiness over not getting a musician's job paying $300 per day, his failure in finding permanent, caring (read money spending) provider in the form of a girl friend and external environment that makes him hesitate to mingle, and thus, more aggressive. He believes that my external events are study pressures, my inability of generating a steady income, my being short of money perennially, and nervousness in completing my degree. I am sure I do not have any prior assumption about conflict, though, could have been a bit biased about erstwhile communism, and the way of expressing the particular bias, whereas Olek definitely has an annoying way of putting things across about colonialism, middle European male supremacy, and Eastern ignorance and poverty. I express the struggle by being grumpy, silent, unresponsive, cleaning the place with obvious unhappiness and by being unfriendly. Olek shows it with supreme indifference while continuing same attitude that is bound to raise my hackles. Perceived incompatible goals mainly are smoking, uncleanliness, loud music, unending heating of the flat, disturbance, using things without asking, and leaving them to clean themselves and find their own way to their proper places etc. Perceived scarce resources are gallantry, carelessness, sensitivity, co-operation, fellow-feeling and genuine friendship. We, being flat mates, are interdependent on mutual harmony and peace in the flat, paying of bills, maintaining a level of mutual respect and concern for one another.

Monty Python Grail Video Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Monty Python Grail Video - Essay Example The Monty Python Grail Government video casts an interesting light on several of the topics we have discussed in this class. Two of the most prominent is relativism and the role of religion in government. Relativism, in general, is the idea that there is no one objective truth, but that everything is relative to the speaker’s viewpoint. In other words, our perceptions of what goes on around us make us see things differently to how others perceive them. This is seen in the video through the way King Arthur and the peasant interpret things so differently, from his right to rule down to how people should be treated. They also clearly have different ideas about what Arthur is doing on his quest. The role of religion in government has a lot to do with relativism. Although some would consider this role to be vital, and the only way for a government to be legitimate, others would not. In the video, for example, King Arthur explains how he became king by getting Excalibur from the lady of the lake, and how this makes him the true king of the country. The peasants, on the other hand, think this is ridiculous. Although the lady of the lake is not religious as such, she makes a good example of the arguments against religious rule. For instance, the male peasant talks about how, instead of â€Å"farcical aquatic ceremonies,† the real right to power should come from the people of a country. This would suggest that the only way to be really a legitimate ruler or government would not be religious, but popular support.

How would a change in the executive-legislative relationship in Research Paper

How would a change in the executive-legislative relationship in Honduras have an outcome of more democratic stability in the cou - Research Paper Example As a function of discussing and analyzing the case of Honduras, the following analysis will be concentric upon the manner in which a change in the legislative – executive relationship that exists within Honduras would ultimately be beneficial to the democratic stability of the nation. As a function of this particular piece of analysis and research, it is the hope of this author that the reader will gain a more informed and nuanced understanding with respect to the way in which this unicameral and executive led structure of government works, the means through which abuse ultimately exists, and a key prescription for growth and change that could be engaged as a means of ameliorating these issues. Rather than coming to the understanding of the fact that anyone nations democratic system is invariably better than another’s, the analysis will strictly focus upon known and measurable shortcomings that exist and means through which these shortcomings can be addressed in order t o promote efficiency, utility, equity, and fairness within the nation of Honduras. Like many nations throughout Central America, Honduras exhibit a surprising lack of diversity. For instance, the broad majority of Hondurans, approximately 90%, can be described as mestizos (a mixture between natives and European background). The remaining 10% of the population is split between indigenous peoples, Amerindians – comprising 7% of the total population, black Africans, comprising 2% of the total population, and whites – comprising 1% of the population.1 Accordingly, this relative lack of diversity creates a situation in which the minority needs of key individuals throughout society are likely brushed aside within a democratically elected government; due to the fact that these diverse stakeholders are not able to have a powerful enough voice within the nation’s unicameral legislature in order to promote the rights and interests that they deem most important. Historical ly speaking, Honduras has had, as with so many Central American nations, something of a rugged past.2 From the late 1960s until the early 1980s, a military junta held complete and total control over the internal and external affairs that this small nation exhibited. Ultimately, this junta was propped up and supported by the United States due to his the opposition to any communism or Marxist ideology within the nation of Honduras. The overall level of importance that this rugged past has had upon the development and governmental structure of Honduras is profound. The underlying reason for this has to do with the fact that individuals within Honduras have come to experience something of a shared history in which a powerful and dynamic government has defined and structured the way in which life, business, and politics have taken place. Such a collective understanding of governance is perhaps one of the causal and most definitive stumbling blocks in seeking to engender a further level o f Democratic change and representation of the people within Honduras. As described briefly within the introduction of this analysis, the current executive – legislative institution relationship in Honduras is one that places an undue level of control within the hands of a single individual; namely the president.3 Even though it is true that the president of Honduras is a democratically

Answer the question to 2 page essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Answer the question to 2 page - Essay Example Interaction between the general public and disabled should not be a taboo based on false perceptions. The first perception for a person with a disability is these people need extra help or assistance from the public. Many in the general public will help a disabled person when asked, but feel pity or disgust. Disabled individuals will ask for help, but generally have a plan for the day. People with disabilities do not wake up and go out in public to depend on assistance from random people. For example, an individual in a wheelchair will have a van that is wheelchair accessible, or even a car that can be driven with hand controls. These people can get in and out of their cars and into their chairs with or without help. If help is needed a paid caregiver, or family member might help. It is rare that a person in a wheelchair will wait in their car to approach the public for assistance. Normally people with disabilities have canes, wheelchairs, service dogs, and other means to help them navigate in public. For an individual that is disabled, they are used to their disability. For example , if a person without a disability does not have a car, but need a ride to work, they plan that ride with family or friends. Disabled people do the same when help is needed. They plan around their disability. The perception of a person can be cured of their disability in order to fix them is a popular one. This can be a helpful approach, but can overlook the needs of the disabled at the moment. For example, a deaf person might benefit from new surgeries. That is a good goal for doctors, but the general public should not wait for this to happen. In order to interact with the deaf individual, the public needs to accept the situation in the here and now. If the disabled person does not feel valued unless being ‘fixed’, then the disability can be depressing and debilitating. Hearing individuals can learn to sign, or learn to look at a deaf

Week Five Exercise Assignment Essay Example for Free

Week Five Exercise Assignment Essay Liquidity ratios. Edison, Stagg, and Thornton have the following financial information at the close of business on July 10: Edison Stagg Thornton Cash $6,000 $5,000 $4,000 Short-term investments 3,000 2,500 2,000 Accounts receivable 2,000 2,500 3,000 Inventory 1,000 2,500 4,000 Prepaid expenses 800 800 800 Accounts payable 200 200 200 Notes payable: short-term 3,100 3,100 3,100 Accrued payables 300 300 300 Long-term liabilities 3,800 3,800 3,800 a. Compute the current and quick ratios for each of the three companies. (Round calculations to two decimal places.) Which firm is the most liquid? Why? Account Edison Stagg Thornton Cash 6,000.00 5,000.00 4,000.00 Short term investments 3,000.00 2,500.00 2,000.00 Accounts receivable 2,000.00 2,500.00 3,000.00 Inventory 1,000.00 2,500.00 4,000.00 Prepaid Expense 800.00 800.00 800.00 Total Current Assets: 12,800.00 13,300.00 13,800.00 Account Edison Stagg Thornton Accounts payable 200.00 200.00 200.00 Notes payable 3,100.00 3,100.00 3,100.00 Accrued payables 300.00 300.00 300.00 Total Current Liabilities: 3,600.00 3,600.00 3,600.00 Edison: Current ratio 12,800.00 / 3,600.00 = 3.56 Quick ratio (6,000 + 3,000 + 2,000) =3.06 Stagg: Current ratio 13,300.00 / 3,600.00 =3.69 Quick ratio (5,000.00 + 2,500.00 + 2,500.00)/ 3,600.00 = 2.78 Thornton: Current ratio 13,800.00 / 3,600.00 = 3.83 Quick ratio (4,000.00 + 2,000.00 + 3,000.00) / 3,600 =2.5 The most liquid company is Edison because they have the most access if necessary. 2. Computation and evaluation of activity ratios. The following data relate to Alaska Products, Inc: 20X5 20X4 Net credit sales $832,000 $760,000 Cost of goods sold 530,000 400,000 Cash, Dec. 31 125,000 110,000 Average Accounts receivable 205,000 156,000 Average Inventory 70,000 50,000 Accounts payable, Dec. 31 115,000 108,000 Instructions a. Compute the accounts receivable and inventory turnover ratios for 20X5. Alaska rounds all calculations to two decimal places. Accounts Receivable Ratio = Net Credit Sales / Average Accounts Receivable $832,000 / 205,000 = 4.10 Inventory Turnover Ratio = Net Credit Sales / Average Accounts Receivable $530,000 / 70,000 =7.60 (205,000 + 156,000) / 2 = 180,500 (70,000 + 50,000) / 2 =60,000 3. Profitability ratios, trading on the equity. Digital Relay has both preferred and common stock outstanding. The com ­pany reported the following information for 20X7: Net sales $1,750,000 Interest expense 120,000 Income tax expense 80,000 Preferred dividends 25,000 Net income 130,000 Average assets 1,200,000 Average common stockholders equity 500,000 a. Compute the profit margin on sales ratio, the return on equity and the return on assets, rounding calculations to two decimal places. b. Does the firm have positive or negative financial leverage? Briefly ex ­plain. Profit Margin = 130,000/1,7500,00 =7.43% Return on equity = 130,000/5,000=26% Return on assets = 130,000/1,200,000=10.83% (120,000 + 80,000 + 130,000) / (80,000 + 130,000) =1.57 It has a positive financial leverage of around 1.57 times. The net profit ratio states Digital Relay made a 9% profit off its sales. 4. Horizontal analysis. Mary Lynn Corporation has been operating for several years. Selected data from the 20X1 and 20X2 financial statements follow. 20X2 20X1 Current Assets $86,000 $80,000 Property, Plant, and Equipment (net) 99,000 90,000 Intangibles 25,000 50,000 Current Liabilities 40,800 48,000 Long-Term Liabilities 153,000 160,000 Stockholders’ Equity 16,200 12,000 Net Sales 500,000 500,000 Cost of Goods Sold 322,500 350,000 Operating Expenses 93,500 85,000 a. Prepare a horizontal analysis for 20X1 and 20X2. Briefly comment on the results of your work. Horizontal Analysis 202 201 Difference %Change Current Assets 86,000.00 80,000.00 -4,000.00 -5.00% Property, Plant, and Equipment (net) 99,000.00 90,000.00 9,000.00 10.00% Intangiables 25,000.00 50,000.00 -25,000.00 -50.00% Total Assets 200,000.00 220,000.00 20,000.00 -9.09% Current Liabilities 40,800.00 48,000.00 -7,200.00 -15.00% Long Term Liabilities 143,000.00 160,000.00 -17,000.00 -10.63% Total Liabilities 183,800.00 208,000.00 -24,200.00 -11.63% Stockholders Equity 16,200.00 12,000.00 4,200.00 35.00% Total Liabilities and Stockholders Equity 200,000.00 220,000.00 -20,000.00 -9.09% Net Sales 500,000.00 500,000.00 0.00 0.00% Cost of Goods Sold 332,500.00 350,000.00 -17,500.00 -5.00% Gross Profit 167,500.00 150,000.00 17,500.00 11.67% Operating Expense 935,000.00 85,000.00 8,500.00 10.00% Net Income 74,000.00 65,000.00 9,000.00 13.85% (4,000) / 80,000 =-5% The company decreased its liabilities which is good but also decreased its assets and costs of goods sold. The operating expenses increased and kept the same amount of net sales. Their Stockholders’ Equity increased so they were able to purchase additional equipment, property, and plant. 5.Vertical analysis. Mary Lynn Corporation has been operating for several years. Selected data from the 20X1 and 20X2 financial statements follow. 20X2 20X1 Current Assets $86,000 $80,000 Property, Plant, and Equipment (net) 99,000 80,000 Intangibles 25,000 50,000 Current Liabilities 40,800 48,000 Long-Term Liabilities 153,000 150,000 Stockholders’ Equity 16,200 12,000 Net Sales 500,000 500,000 Cost of Goods Sold 322,500 350,000 Operating Expenses 93,500 85,000 a. Prepare a vertical analysis for 20X1 and 20X2. Briefly comment on the results of your work. Current Assets 15.20% 16.00% Property, Plant, and Equipment 19.80% 18.00% Intangibles 5.00% 10.00% Current Liabilities 8.16% 9.60% Long term Liabilities 28.60% 32.00% Stockholders Equity 3.24% 2.40% Net Sales 100.00% 100.00% Cost of Goods Sold 66.50% 70.00% Operating Expenses 18.70% 17.00% It seems as if the findings were the same as in the horizontal analysis. There is a difference, which is, seeing the sections changed based upon the previous. There is a 35% increase in the Stockholders’ Equity which is great for the company. 6. Ratio computation. The financial statements of the Lone Pine Company follow. LONE PINE COMPANY Comparative Balance Sheets December 31, 20X2 and 20X1 ($000 Omitted) 20X2 20X1 Assets Current Assets Cash and Short-Term Investments $400 $600 Accounts Receivable (net) 3,000 2,400 Inventories 3,000 2,300 Total Current Assets $6,400 $5,300 Property, Plant, and Equipment Land $1,700 $500 Buildings and Equipment (net) 1,500 1,000 Total Property, Plant, and Equipment $3,200 $1,500 Total Assets $9,600 $6,800 Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity Current Liabilities Accounts Payable $2,800 $1,700 Notes Payable 1,100 1,900 Total Current Liabilities $3,900 $3,600 Long-Term Liabilities Bonds Payable 4,100 2,100 Total Liabilities $8,000 $5,700 Stockholders’ Equity Common Stock $200 $200 Retained Earnings 1,400 900 Total Stockholders’ Equity $1,600 $1,100 Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $9,600 $6,800 LONE PINE COMPANY Statement of Income and Retained Earnings For the Year Ending December 31,20X2 ($000 Omitted) Net Sales* $36,000 Less: Cost of Goods Sold $20,000 Selling Expense 6,000 Administrative Expense 4,000 Interest Expense 400 Income Tax Expense 2,000 32,400 Net Income $3,600 Retained Earnings, Jan. 1 900 Ending Retained Earnings $4,500 Cash Dividends Declared and Paid 3,100 Retained Earnings, Dec. 31 $1,400 *All sales are on account. Instructions Compute the following items for Lone Pine Company for 20X2, rounding all calcu ­lations to two decimal places when necessary: a. Quick ratio 1.17 b. Current ratio 1.86 c. Inventory-turnover ratio 10 d. Accounts-receivable-turnover ratio 13.33 e. Return-on-assets ratio 0.51 f. Net-profit-margin ratio 0.1 g. Return-on-common-stockholders’ equity 2.67 h. Debt-to-total assets 0.81 i. Number of times that interest is earned 15

Mcdonalds Around the World Essay Example for Free

Mcdonalds Around the World Essay Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald’s restaurant in 1955 in the United States. He offered a limited menu of high quality; moderately priced food served fast spotless surroundings. McDonald’s QSCV (quality, service, cleanliness, and value) was a hit. The chain expanded into every state in the nation. By 1983 it had more than 6,000 restaurants in the United States, and by 1995 it had more than 18,000 restaurants in 89 countries. In 1995 alone, the company built 2,400 restaurants, and by 2001 it had more than 29,000 restaurants in 121 countries. In 1967, McDonald’s opened its first restaurant outside the United States- in Canada. Since then, its international growth accelerated. In 1995, the â€Å"Big Six† countries that provided about 80 percent of the international operating income were Canada, Japan, Germany, Australia, France, and Britain. Yet fast food has barely touched many cultures. The opportunities for expanding the market are great, as 99 percent of the world populations are not yet McDonald’s customers. For example, in China, with a population of 1. 2 billion people, there were only 62 McDonald’s restaurants in 1995. McDonald’s vision is to be the major player in food services around the world. In Europe, McDonald’s maintains a small percentage of restaurant sales but commands a large share of the fast-food market. It took the company 14 years of planning before it opened a restaurant in Moscow in 1990. But the planning paid off. After the opening, people were standing in line for up to two hours for a hamburger. It has been said that McDonald’s restaurant in Moscow attracts more visitors (on average 27,000 daily) than Lenin’s mausoleum (about 9,000 people), which used to be the place to see. The Beijing opening in 1992 attracted some 40,000 people to the largest (28,000 square foot) McDonald’s restaurant in China at a location where some 800,000 pedestrians pass by every day. Food is prepared in accordance with local laws. For example, the menus in Arab countries comply with Islamic food preparation laws. In 1995, McDonald’s opened its first kosher restaurant in Jerusalem, where it does not serve dairy products. The taste for fast food, American style, is growing more rapidly abroad than at home. McDonald’s international sales have been increasing by a large percentage every year. Every day, more than 33 million people eat at McDonald’s around the world, with 18 million of them in the United States. Prices vary considerably around the world, ranging from $ 3. 81 in Switzerland to $ 0. 78 in Argentina for the Big Mac, which costs in the United States $ 2. 49. The Economist magazine even devised a Big Mac index to estimate whether a currency is over-or undervalued. For example, the $1. 27 Chinese Mac translates into an implied purchasing power parity of $ 4. 22. The inference is that the Chinese currency is undervalued. Here are other price comparisons for the $ 2. 49 U. S Big Mac: Chile $ 2. 16, Euro area $ 2. 37, Hong Kong $ 1. 40, Japan $ 2. 01, Mexico $ 2. 37, Peru $ 2. 48, Singapore $ 1. 81 and Thailand $ 1. 27. McDonald’s traditional menu has been surprisingly successful. People with diverse dining habits have adopted burgers and fries wholeheartedly. Before McDonald’s introduced the Japanese to French fries, potatoes were used in Japan only to make starch. The Germans thought hamburgers were people from the city of Hamburg. Now McDonald’s also serves chicken, sausage, and salads. Another item, a very different product, is pizza. In Norway, McDonald’s serves grilled salmon sandwich, in the Philippines pasta sauce with frankfurter bits, and in Uruguay hamburger with a poached egg. Any new venture is risky and can be either a very profitable addition or a costly experiment. Despite the global operations, McDonald’s stays in close contact with its customers, who want good taste, fast and friendly service, clean surroundings, and quality. To attain quality, so called quality assurance centers are located in the United States, Europe, and Asia. In addition, training plays an important part in customer service. Besides day-today coaching, Hamburger Universities in the United States, Germany, Britain, Japan, and Australia teach the necessary skills in 22 languages with the aim of providing 100 percent customer satisfaction. It is interesting that McDonald’s was one of the first restaurants in Europe to welcome families with children. Not only are children welcomed, but in many restaurants they are also entertained with crayons and paper, a play land, and the clown Ronald McDonald, who can speak 20 languages. With generally aging populations, McDonald’s takes aim at the adult market. With heavy advertising (it has been said that McDonald’s will spend $200 million to promote the new burger), the company introduced Arch Deluxe on a potato-flower bun with lettuce, onions, ketchup, tomato slices, American cheese, grainy mustard, and Mayonnaise. Although McDonald’s considers the over 50 adult burger a great success, a survey conducted five weeks after its introduction showed mixed results. McDonald’s golden arches promise the same basic menu and QSCV in every restaurant. Its products, handling and cooking procedures, and kitchen layouts are standardized and strictly controlled. McDonald’s revoked the first French franchise because the franchise failed to meet its standards for fast service and cleanliness, even though their restaurants were highly profitable. This may have delayed its expansion in France. McDonald’s restaurants are run by local managers and crews. Owners and managers attend the Hamburger University near Chicago or in other places around the world to learn how to operate a McDonald’s restaurants and maintain QSCV. The main campus library and modern electronic classrooms (which include simultaneous translation systems) are the envy of many universities. When McDonald’s opened in Moscow, a one-page advertisement resulted in 30,000 inquiries about the jobs; 4,000 people were interviewed and some 300 were hired. The pay is about 50 percent higher than the average Soviet salary. McDonald’s ensures consistent products by controlling every stage of the distribution. Regional distribution centers purchase products and distribute them to individual restaurants. The centers will buy from local suppliers if the suppliers can meet detailed specifications. McDonald’s has had to make some concessions to available products. For example, it is difficult to introduce the Idaho potato in Europe because of special soil requirements. McDonald’s uses essentially the same competitive strategy in every country: be first in a market and establish its brand as rapidly as possible by advertising very heavily. New restaurants are opened with a bang. So many people attended the opening of one Tokyo restaurant that the police closed the street to vehicles. The strategy has helped McDonald’s develop a strong market share in the fast-food market, even though its U. S competitors and new local competitors quickly enter the market. McDonald’s advertising campaigns are based on local themes and reflect the different environments. In Japan, where burgers are a snack, McDonald’s competes against confectioneries and new â€Å"fast sushi† restaurants. Many of the charitable causes McDonald’s supports abroad have been recommended by its local restaurants. McDonald’s business structures take a variety of forms, with 66 percent of the restaurants being franchises. The development licenses are similar to franchising, but they do not require McDonald’s investment. Joint ventures are undertaken when understanding of the local environment is critically important. The McDonald’s Corporation operates about 21 percent of the restaurants. McDonald’s has been willing to relinquish the most control to its Far Eastern operations, where many restaurants are joint ventures with local entrepreneurs, who own 50 percent or more of the restaurant. European and South American restaurants are generally company-operated or franchised (although there are many affiliates, or joint ventures, in France). Like the U. S franchises, restaurants abroad are allowed to experiment with their menus. In Japan, hamburgers are smaller because they are considered a snack. The Quarter Pounder does not make much sense to people on a metric system, so it is called a Double Burger. Some German restaurants serve beer; some French restaurants serve wine. Some Far Eastern McDonald’s restaurants offer oriental noodles. In Canada, the menu includes cheese, vegetables, pepperoni, and deluxe pizza. However, these new items must not disrupt the existing operation. Despite its success, McDonald’s faces tough competitors, such as Burger King, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), and now also Pizza Hut. Moreover, fast food in reheatable containers is now also sold in supermarkets, delicatessens, convenience stores, and even gas stations. McDonald’s has done very well, with a great percentage of profits coming now from International operations. For example, McDonald’s dominates the Japanese market with 1,860 outlets (half the Japanese market) in 1996 compared to only 43 Burger King Restaurants. However, the British food conglomerate Grand Metropolitan PLC, which owns Burger King, haw an aggressive strategy for Asia. Although McDonald’s has been in a very favorable competitive position, since 2001 the customer satisfaction level has been below that of its competitors Wendy’s and Burger King. In China, KFC is more popular than McDonald’s. Some observers suggest that McDonald’s has expanded too fast and that Burger King and Wendy’s have tastiest meals. It is Mr. Jack Greenberg’s (McDonald’s top manager) task to change things around.

Job Analysis In Rapidly Changing Organizations Management Essay

Job Analysis In Rapidly Changing Organizations Management Essay The importance of job analysis in obtaining the right people for organizations has been established in literature (Siddique, 2004; Palmer and Valet, 2001; Baruch and Lessem, 1995). Job analysis refers to the process of analyzing the requirements of jobs and identifying skills, behaviours, knowledge, and other characteristics needed for satisfactory job performance (De Cieri and Kramer, 2003; Palmer and Valet, 2001; McKillip, 2001). In recent years however, there have been issues regarding the relevance of job analysis in staffing for modern organizations because of its specific and detailed outcomes, which are inconsistent with the flexible nature of contemporary organizations (Brannick and Levine, 2002). Given the arguments for and against the relevance of job analysis, can it be considered as essential in getting the best staff to work in modern and rapidly changing organizations? Analyzing this statement merits a clear look into the characteristics of best staff in modern organizations and the context where they are working. As opposed to traditional organizations that offer rigid and stable working environments, modern and rapidly changing organizations have been described as flexible (Dessler, Griffiths, and Lloyd-Walker, 2004), dynamic, competitive, and less hierarchical (Brannick and Levine, 2002; Hammer and Champy, 2001; Sanchez, 1994), multidimensional (Hammer and Champy, 2001), influenced by technological, social, political, and global changes (Dessler, et. al., 2004), and boundaryless with tasks and roles that are more fluid and less defined (Nelson, 1997; Hirschhorn and Gilmore, 1992). Given this work context, the best staff to work for modern and dynamic organizations can be considered as those who are flexible, open to learning, dynamic, empowered, and self-directed, able to respond to changing demands of the job, and with sound interpersonal and collaborative skills necessary for team work (Dessler et. al., 2004; Brannick and Levine, 2002; Hammer and Champy, 2001; Hirschhorn and Gilmore, 1992 ). Possession of the essential work-related skills (Palmer and Valet, 2001) and the ability to manage complicated tasks (Hammer and Champy, 2001) is also important. Looking at the characteristics of modern organizations, wherein jobs are constantly changing, a traditional type of job analysis which focuses on specific job descriptors and employee characteristics to match these may no longer be relevant (Nelson, 1997; Sanchez, 1994). A more modern type of job analysis that selects staff on the basis of their capability to function in a dynamic set-up is more appropriate (Sanchez, 1994). Consequently, job analysis, when used appropriately, has been seen to meet the demands of new working environments (Siegel, 1996; Sanchez, 1994). Therefore, job analysis is essential in getting the best staff to work in modern organizations so long as it is performed in a pro-active way (Siddique, 2004) and is able to accommodate and adapt to fast-changing demands (Clifford, 1994). Job analysis is essential in getting the best staff to work in modern organizations, first because it is capable of adapting to organizational needs in regards to providing relevant information for describing jobs and work environment, and staff characteristics that is best for the organization (Siddique, 2004; Nelson, 1997; Sanchez, 1994). Second, it strengthens the validity of measurement tools used to identify characteristics of jobs and employees (Kubiszyn and Borich, 1996). Third, it provides information on education and training needs for staff development (Dessler et. al., 2004; De Cieri and Kramer, 2003). Fourth, it provides the basis for evaluating staff performance needed to enhance their performance (Brannick and Levine, 2002; Palmer and Valet, 2001). Last, job analysis provides data needed in setting-up a working environment that would motivate staff to work at their best (Dessler et. al., 2004). To discuss the first point, job analysis is relevant in getting the best staff for modern organizations because it presents dynamic and new ways of describing jobs, work environments, and organization culture; and the staff characteristics needed to get the work done. Therefore, it serves its basic function of providing a match between organizational needs and staff characteristics. Job analysis no longer limits itself to identifying specific job descriptions and job specifications. Modern job analysis techniques such as the worker-oriented methods of job analysis (Nelson, 1997, p. 43) and competency-focused approach (Siddique, 2004, p.225) provides information on broader qualities such as conflict management skills, motivation, and flexibility that are critical for success in a variety of jobs for modern organizations. In addition, job analysis can also identify team descriptions that can facilitate collaboration in a team-based nature of modern organizations (Brannick and Levine, 2 002; Siegel, 1996). It is worth mentioning however, that there have also been arguments regarding the applicability of job analysis to modern organizations (Sanchez, 1994). Several authors (Brannick and Levine, 2002; Sanchez, 1994) for instance discussed the setbacks of job analysis as being rigid and inconsistent with the fluid nature of modern businesses. However, Brannick and Levine (2002) discussed that problems with job analysis stem from its products such as job descriptors and not necessarily on the entire job analysis procedure. In contrast to accusations, the ability of job analysis to identify characteristics needed to get the best staff to function in modern organizations has been evident in several instances. For example, Milan and Tucker (1992) discussed the story of British Petroleum, the worlds third largest oil company, wherein teams of staff members from its different divisions and locations worked together to develop a skills matrix that included descriptors for families of skills and corresponding performance levels. As a result, the matrix enabled the employees to understand the different roles that they can play in the company and the level of performance required, thus empowering them to take charge of their own development. Similarly, Laabs (1993) related the story of Gillette Co, a fast growing global company that benefited from identifying important broad staff characteristics like adaptability, enthusiasm, and aggressiveness which effectively helped the company in attracting and tapping new graduates that meet its global and competitive needs. Since jobs keep on changing in modern organizations, identifying work environment characteristics has been seen as more important in identifying compatible staff members than specific job descriptors (Nelson, 1997). Job analysis has been discussed to serve this function. For instance, Siegel (1996) mentioned the applicability of job analysis in a TQM environment by detailing the characteristics of the organizations systems and subsystems to enable staff to work interdependently. Similarly, job analysis is also important in ensuring that employees match the organization culture by operationalising and providing a framework for an organizations culture and the necessary staff characteristics that would fit the culture (Dessler et. al, 2004; Nelson, 1994). Clearly, so long as job analysis is up-to-date, it can function as a roadmap for companies to use in selecting the best staff both from within and outside the organization. Job and work descriptions and specifications can only be effective in getting the best staff if measures used to identify relevant characteristics are valid. Dr. Howard Hane (cited in Palmer, H. and Valet W., 2001) said that job analysis aids in the valid and reliable development of these tools by specifying what needs to be measured for a given task and at what standards. For instance, Day (1989, p. 27) emphasized the importance of conducting job analysis in designing a personality inventory and providing an accurate measure for personality traits in selecting employees. Valid personality measurements and other competency measures are important in selecting the best staff for modern organizations because these provide characteristics that are needed for a wide array of jobs. Getting the best staff does not end with matching organizational needs with employee characteristics. Once, their in the organization, they will only continue to be the best if given proper education and training. Education and training are important because in modern organizations, people are expected to be versatile and to attune their skills and knowledge to organizational changes (Dessler, et. al, 2004; Hammer and Champy, 2001). Job analysis is essential in employee education and training needs assessment in modern organizations by identifying skills and competence that needs to be developed and by forecasting skills that will be needed for future responsibilities (Dessler et. al., 2004). For instance Siegel (1996) discussed the use of job analysis in a TQM environment by providing information on employee cross-training for them to work spontaneously in different subsystems. As Clifford (1994) suggested, job analysis also assists the organization and its staff in determining training needs for professional growth planning. Furthermore, job analysis strengthens the validity of training procedures by providing a means to match important characteristics and the emphasis given to these in trainings (McKillip, 2001). The importance of job analysis in employee training for a modern organization was seen in the case of Dixie Group Inc., a major carpet industry in the United States. This company used job analysis as basis for staff education and development to enable them to keep up with and deliver good results amidst fast changing technology (Palmer and Valet, 2001). Once employees are hired, put in the right position, trained, or educated, the effective way of determining the quality of performance is evaluation. Evaluation will provide an objective basis whether the best staff is indeed at place in the organization. The basis for all evaluation is of course a clear criteria or standard of how jobs and tasks should be accomplished (Borich and Kubiszyn, 1996). Job analysis again enters the picture by providing up-to-date information for acceptable standards of job performance that will be used to assess the quality of work of staff (Dessler et. al., 2004; Siddique, 2004). If duties and standards are clearly provided by a job analysis, then evaluation procedures would proceed smoothly (Clifford, 1994). The results of the evaluation can then be used for training needs analysis as well as personal improvement plans of the staff. It can also be the basis for putting people in job categories wherein they excel. Another area of employee evaluation wherein job analysis is important has to do with compensation decisions (Dessler et. al., 2004). Fast changing organizations would likely get the best staff that they require if compensation packages are reasonable and commensurate to the responsibilities given to people and their qualifications. The information on various jobs provided by job analysis is very essential in this process (De Cieri and Kramer, 2003). Finally, getting the best staff also means keeping them at their best by providing motivation. Good employees in modern organizations are normally flexible and talented; therefore they will not stay in organizations that do not offer stimulating work environments. Job analysis addresses this issue by providing information needed in designing and redesigning interesting jobs that foster team work, responsibility, challenge, and employee empowerment (Dessler et. al., 2004; Brannick and Levine, 2002). For instance, proper combination of positive job characteristics in a job design may lead to positive work outcomes (Dessler et. al., 2004), thereby maintaining the staff at their best performance levels. Modern organizations have indeed moved from a static and bureaucratic system to one that is dynamic, flexible, and boundaryless; resulting to changes on the characteristics of the best staff needed for these organizations. Since jobs keep on changing, employees are no longer chosen on the basis of specific skills or how well they can perform specific tasks. This makes the question of whether job analysis is essential in getting the best staff to work in modern and rapidly changing organization an important point for discussion. There have been arguments regarding the applicability of job analysis in modern and fast changing organizations because it was regarded as providing rigid information that is inconsistent the with the flexible nature of organizations. On the contrary, however, literature on job analysis (Siegel, 1996; Sanchez, 1994) has shown that it is capable of adapting to the requirements of modern organizations and has evolved to incorporate methods that enable companies to get the best staffs that are suitable to its changing needs. Thus, job analysis, as long as up-to-date, is important in getting the best staff because it still serves its primary functions of first, providing relevant information about people and work characteristics needed to get the best staff (Siddique, 2004; Nelson, 1997; Sanchez, 1994); second, strengthening the validity of measurement tools used to identify characteristics of best staff (Kubiszyn and Borich, 1996); and third, providing relevant information for staff edu cation, training (Dessler et. al., 2004; De Cieri and Kramer, 2003), evaluation (Brannick and Levine, 2002; Palmer and Valet, 2001) and design of a motivating work environment to keep the staff at their best (Dessler et. al., 2004). Clearly, so long as job analysis is able to keep abreast with the dynamic needs of organizations, it is essential in getting the best staff to work in modern organizations. This topic, however, still merits more research on the applicability of job analysis in acquiring the best staff for real organizations and the development of more relevant job analysis tools.

Chillingworth as Hero of Nathaniel Hawthornes Scarlet Letter? Essay

Chillingworth as Hero of The Scarlet Letter? The Scarlet Letter is a story about human reaction to circumstances and the justification behind these actions. Each of the central characters in the novel represents a side of an extremely serious situation, adultery. Each of the characters has a certain amount of justification behind their actions and each searches for a way to rise out of his/her condition. Roger Chillingworth himself represents revenge. Some even believe him to be representative of evil or Satan. What is ignored in the cases of interpreting him as Satan or as evil is the fact that he has been cruelly wronged by both Hester and Dimmesdale. Because Hester and Dimmesdale are portrayed as protagonists in the novel, Chillingworth is automatically classified, because of his opposition towards the two, as antagonist. He is not actually this at all when regarded without the negative connotations under which he is crushed within the book. Hester and Chillingworth were married before the beginning of the novel. Chillingworth, previous to his marriage, was a completely introvert man. "I - a man of thought - the bookworm of great libraries - a man already in decay, having given my best years to feed the hungry dream of knowledge... I came out of the vast and dismal forest and entered this settlement of Christian men, the very first object to meet my eyes would be thyself, Hester Prynne...." (52-53) Chillingworth saw Hester, after emerging from a great period of solitude, as a symbol of life. He regarded her as almost a savior. ... ...om doing what is right. Chillingworth is actually attempting to keep his essence. He is ruined without his revenge. Defeated, purposeless, Chillingworth soon dies after Dimmesdale's confession. Chillingworth's source of happiness, Hester, has been taken away along with his chance at reprisal. It is far too easy for a reader of The Scarlet Letter to simply brand Chillingworth as evil. The reader must pay attention to the complexities of the position which Chillingworth is forced into to understand that he is not evil or bad, at least not completely. Chillingworth is only a human put into a terrible position which he reacts to. In fact, it is not beyond reach to say that under his circumstances, Chillingworth was actually the hero, the protagonist; and Hester and Dimmesdale are the true villains.

Child Abuse and Neglect Essay -- Violence Against Children, 2015

Child abuse in America is an ongoing problem and something needs to be done. There are approximately one million children abused annually in the United States. (Table 339) Cases of child abuse and neglect are reported every ten seconds, and researchers believe that there’s three times that amount that goes unnoticed. (Child Abuse: Know the Signs and Stop the Violence Against Children.) Something needs to be done for these children who are too weak and too powerless to help themselves. Children who have been abused are left with more than just physical scars. They have many psychological, emotional, and behavioral problems as well. Their social lives are affected dramatically, and they suffer lifelong effects. (Lambert) Children tend to be emotionally disturbed years after the abuse, many have IQ scores lower than average, and some have even been classified as mentally retarded. Children who have been abused also show signs of personality and neurological changes. (Oates 119) Sexual abuse has been linked to nightmares, bed wetting, sadness, clinging behavior, and anxiety. Children also showed more aggressive and anti-social behaviors. (Oates 127) Adults who were sexually abused are more prone to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and drug or alcohol problems. (Oates 132-133) Studies show overwhelming evidence of the effects abuse can have on a child, and the way the effects continue into their adult lives. (Oates 135) Speech is dramatically affected from abuse and neglect. Over one third of physically abused children have language delays. (Oates 119) All aspects of language are affected. Written and oral language is affected. The area that children tend to exhibit the most difficulties with is pragmatics. They tend to be l... ...g/topics/humanserv/child_abuse/ Layman, Richard. Child Abuse. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics Inc., 1991. Moses MD, Scott . "Child Abuse." Family Practice Notebook. 08 Sept 2007. Web. 18 Oct 2014. . Oates, R. Kim. The Spectrum of Child Abuse. 8. New York: Brunner/Mazel Inc., 1996. Palusci MD, MS, Vincent J.. "Shaken Baby/Shaken Impact Syndrome." Kids Health For Parents. August 2004. Nemours Foundation. Web. 18 Oct 2014. http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/shaken.html Santrock, John W. Educational Phycology. Third. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. Lambert, Regina. Personal interview. Web. 13 Oct 2014. "Table 339. Child Abuse and Neglect Cases Substantiated and Indicated— Victim Characteristics: 2000 to 2008" Census Web. 18 Oct 2014. https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s0339.pdf

Renewable Power Policy and Hydroelectric Dams Essay -- Environment Exp

Renewable Power Policy and Hydroelectric Dams There has been much controversy over changes in the environment due to the placement of hydroelectric dams, and also due to the pollution caused by other power plants which use non-renewable sources of energy. The arguments which come from certain groups against both sides seem rather strange. The purpose of this paper is to explore the environmental and other effects from both energy sources, and the arguments which are presented by different groups who lobby for and against the two sources of power. It appears in many opinions; a group will only access one issue, actually separating two topics which go hand in hand. The focus for examples in this paper with mainly rely on the southwest, and the case presented by the sierra club, which is one of the largest environmentalist lobbying organizations in the United States. A deeper focus will lie in the Grand Canyon, where there are now 11 dams in place. These dams in the Grand Canyon have been placed for a few reasons: the Colorado River Restoration Project, which is made to help maintain the steady flow of water through the canyon, as well as to maintain and built fish and wildlife habitat; a supply of hydroelectric power, which is a renewable energy source to power the southwest; water reservoirs for surrounding communities in the Grand Canyon area; and also for recreation areas on the lakes and reservoirs which have been created by the existence of the dams. The attacks on these programs are focused into three areas: environment, culture and recreation. Supporters of reservoir draining are fighting for what they call a dying ecosystem from the flooding of large areas and the destruction of much fi... ...notes.pdf> Franklin, Chris â€Å"Let the Colorado River run free† Earth Island Journal Spring 97: 23. â€Å"Glen Canyon: Just Drain It!† Earth Island Journal, Autumn 2000: 24. McManus, Reed â€Å"Down Come the Dams† Sierra Mau/June 98: 16. Ostapuk, Paul. Exposing Sierra Club and Glen Canyon Institute Myths. May, 1997. Appreciating Lake Powell. 09 Nov. 2003. Siddall, Scott. Current Controversy: Draining Lake Powell. 26 Mar. 2002. Kenyon College. 09 Nov. 2003. Smith, Dean. â€Å"Homework #4† Economics 284. Fall, 2003 â€Å"Unemployment Rate Drops to 6%.† Arizona Daily Sun 08 Nov. 2003: A1 Wilke, Anne W. â€Å"Should Lake Powell be drained?† E Magazine: The Environmental Magazine Jan/Feb98:19. Zengerle, Jason â€Å"Water over the damn† New Republic 24 Nov. 97: 20.

Understanding Islam

Introduction The literal meaning of Islam is peace. Because of many current world events, Islam is a highly controversial and sensitive issue that has many misconceptions that need to be more fully addressed and understood. It is true that the events of 9/11 have separated the history of American relations with the Muslim world into before and after phases, negatively affecting the patterns of assimilation of immigrant Muslims into American culture and society (Simmons, 2008). This essay will begin to give factual details regarding the Islam faith, compare Islam with other Abrahamic religions and discuss common misconceptions and current events that have changed the way the world looks at Muslims and the Islam faith. Body It will be useful to begin with attempting to scratch the surface and try to understand the teachings of Islam. Islam is a monotheistic religion based on revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century. These revelations were recorded in the faith’s text, the Qur’an. The Islam faith has â€Å"Six Articles of Beliefs†. People of the Muslim faith must have great conviction in these most important six areas. They are: 1. Belief in God. 2. Belief in the Angels. 3. Belief in the Prophets and Messengers. 4. Belief in the Sacred Texts. 5. Belief in Life After Death. 6. Belief in the Divine Decree (Abdulsalam, 2006). The believers worship God directly without the intercession of priests or clergy. They also have five duties that are given as rules to follow. Those are the Five Pillars of Islam; Belief, Worship, Fasting, Almsgiving and Pilgrimage (Grupper, Prentice, & Roughton, 2000). The country with the most Muslims is Indonesia, with 120 million. In addition there are millions more in parts of Eastern and Western Europe and in the Americas. The Islam religion claims nearly 1 billion followers in countries throughout the world. Islam is also the youngest among major world religions but is still one of the largest (Ridenour, 2001). Islam belongs in a group of three religions called the â€Å"Abrahamic† religions. Those three religions are Christianity, Judaism and Islam. They are three sister religions that are monotheistic and that claim the prophet Abraham as their common forefather. To compare Islam and Christianity, in relation to God, Muslims believe there is no God but Allah; Christians believe that God is revealed in scripture as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons who are coeternally God (Ridenour, 2001). This sometimes causes Jews and Muslims to criticize the Christians as polytheistic. In all three religions, there is an ethical orientation. All three religions speak of a choice between good and evil, which is depended upon obedience or disobedience to God (Unkown, 2007). The three also have a linear concept of history with creation as the beginning and that God works through history. The believers of Islam are called Muslims which means â€Å"one who lives his life according to God’s will† (Langley, 1993). It would seem that this particular people and religion would be a people of peace, sincerity and love. Since 9/11, the world of the faithful in Muslim societies has been in turmoil because the living Islam, dominated by its traditional interpreters, the learned ulema, has not been able to guide the community at the most critical period of its existence (Sachedina, 2010). This current critical period of Islam existence has created many misconceptions. Only if it is assumed that the goal of Islam is to establish peace without resorting to aggression can one claim that that militant Islamists have hijacked their religion (van der Krogt, 2010). Islam is practiced all over the world and the way it is practiced is different in different locations. Islam does claim to be brotherhoods of â€Å"one religion†, but the Islam practiced in Indonesia is very different than the Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia, which is also different from that in Kazakhstan, or Iran, or Morocco. In researching for this essay, the author found many different â€Å"types† of Islamic groups all over the world. There are over 73 sub-sects that have emerged within Islam today (Venkatraman, 2007). Some peaceful and some more aggressive. A group called Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami (The Party of Islamic Liberation) began working in Central Asia in the mid-1990s and has developed a committed following inside Uzbekistan, and to a lesser extent in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. Estimates of its strength vary widely, but a rough figure is probably 15-20,000 throughout Central Asia. Its influence should not be exaggerated – it has little public support in a region where there is limited appetite for political Islam – but it has become by far the largest radical Islamist movement in the area (Unkown, Radical Islam in Central Asia: Responding to Hizb ut-Tahrir, 2003). The common misconceptions regarding Muslims did not begin with the terrorist attacks of 9/11, but that seems to be the current event that hits closest to home. Islamic terrorism is a movement in which the violence caused by terrorism is derived from and used to preserve extreme interpretations of the Quran in an Islamic community. Participants of this movement call for an unquestioned devotion and blind obedience or a Quaranic tenet has been broken. A few of the Islamic terrorist groups are Al-jihad, AlQaeda (Afganistan), Hamas (Palestine), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Kashmir), and the Lashkar e-Toiba (Kashmir) (Venkatraman, 2007). The 9/11 terrorist attacks were performed by AlQaeda under the direction of Osama bin Laden, the founder of AlQaeda. The death of Osama bin Laden has also certainly not stopped Islamic violence, but according to the president of the Muslim Public Affairs Counsel, Salam Al-Marayati, the death of Osama bin Laden â€Å"represents the beginning of the end of a dark era in U. S. -Muslim relations. † He goes on to say that â€Å"hopefully this ushers a new era of hope and democracy in dealing with the grievances of Muslim people throughout the world without resorting to political violence. † (Lozano, 2011). The media and these current world events are a definite misconception of all Muslim people. To gratuitously insult law-abiding Muslims by conflating them with terrorists is not only wrong, it is dangerous to U. S. national security (Stern, 2011). An article written in the New York Times in October of 2010, spoke about local New York Islamics having open houses to invite non-Muslims in to attend prayers, discussions and tours of Islamic centers as a way to defuse hostility toward the Muslim population. The idea for the program, â€Å"A Week of Dialogue,† emerged from a summit of Islamic leaders as a response to the furor surrounding a plan to open a Muslim community center and mosque near ground zero (Semple, 2010). Muslims in America and around the world are trying to bring back the truth to the original Islamic meaning of peace. We now must look at how Muslims and non-Muslims communicate and live together in harmony. Historically, in countries where Islam has gained political power, people of all rival religions are either wiped out, or in the interest of â€Å"tolerance† or â€Å"open mindedness†, permitted to exist as second-class citizens. Christians and Jews are looked down upon and may not practice their religion openly or freely without serious consequence. But, Islam in the West is completely different from Islam in Muslim dominated countries. Muslims who live in the Western democratic countries enjoy all the benefits and privileges of freedom and democracy. They have secure civil liberties and may practice their religion freely and openly. The Qur’an specifically states that Islam is a religion of mercy, tolerance and moderation. Moderation being the key to Muslim and non-Muslim communication. It allows Muslims to have a good relationship with non-Muslims, but to a certain limit. One quote from the Qur’an says this: â€Å"Let not the believers (Muslims) take for friends Unbelievers (non-Muslims) rather than believers. And whoever does that has no relation with Allah whatsoever, except by way of precaution that you may guard yourselves from them. † (Surah Ali Imran, V: 28). Conclusion In summation, some of the misconceptions that people around the world have regarding Islam, are backed up by some current and past events. We must first begin to understand the Islamic faith, it’s diversity in people, areas of the world and political stances. This author does not begin to understand the depth of the Islam faith. After researching for this essay, the realization of the diversity of this faith as compared to Christianity or Judaism, is overwhelming. The peaceful people of Islam must not be judged by the terrorists and the acts they commit. We learned that Islam has political side and a religious side as well. The editor of the journal, American Libraries, Leonard Kniffel wrote an editorial about how libraries jumped at the chance to begin educating communities on the Islam faith shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Mr. Kniffel states that, â€Å"Knowing that an anti-Muslim backlash was inevitable, they created programs to help the patrons of their libraries understand the teachings of Islam, the history of American policy related to the conflict we now find ourselves in, and what it means to be Muslim in America† (Kniffel, 2002). The Muslim American Society (www. muslimamericansociety. org) has a campaign called â€Å"The Straight Path Initiative†. It’s goals are to equip and focus on Muslims in America ages 15-30. This initiative has a goal to initiate an honest open ialog about radicalization and extremism in Muslim American communities. They are targeting high schools and college campuses to provide programs and activities to involve young Muslim Americans in a proactive way that limits opportunities for radicalization (Unkown, The Straight Path Initiative, 2011). Much like any religion or people group, Islam has a group of terrorists and non-peaceful people amongst them . The misconceptions are actually very real and have information and current events to back them up. It would also be fair to say, that most religions and people groups have those kinds of people. Understanding one another is the most important thing we can do. By educating each other on beliefs, understandings and ways of life, we can only then begin to have peaceful dialog to bring us together. September 11, 2001 became a day for American’s to see the true colors of the terrorist sect of the Islam religion. As this is a day we will never forget, we must begin to heal by understanding and not judging the entire Islam faith for these terrible acts of terrorism. References Abdulsalam, M. (2006, January 30). The Religion of Islam. Retrieved June 12, 2011, from www. islamreligion. com: http://www. islamreligion. com/articles/6/. Grupper, J. , Prentice, P. , & Roughton, R. (2000). Islam: Empire of Faith. Retrieved June 13, 2011, from www. pbs. org: http://www. pbs. org/empires/islam/film. html. Kniffel, L. (2002, January). Getting to know Islam. American Libraries , 48. Langley, M. (1993). World Religions. Oxford: Lion Publishing. Lozano, C. (2011, May 1). Osama bin Laden Dead: End of a dark era in U. S. Muslim relations'. Retrieved June 15, 2011, from L. A. Times: http://latimesblogs. latimes. com/lanow/2011/05/osama-bin-laden-dead-end-dark-era-us- muslim-relations. html. Ridenour, F. (2001). So What's the Difference? Ventura, CA: Regal Books. Sachedina, A. (2010, September). Religion, Order and Peace: A Muslim Perspective. Cross Currents , 332-338. Semple, K. (2010, October 22). At Mosques, Inviting Non-Muslims Inside to Ease Hostility Toward Islam. Retrieved June 15, 2011, from New York Times: http://www. nytimes. com/2010/10/23/nyregion/23mosques. html? ef=reconstruction. Simmons, G. Z. (2008). From Muslims in America to American Muslims. Journal of Islamic Law and Culture , 10 (3), 254-280. Stern, J. (2011, May/June). Muslims in America. The National Interest (113), pp. 38-46. Unkown. (2007, September 16). Abrahamic Religion. Retrieved June 14, 2011, from New World Encyclopedia: http://www. newworldencyclopedia. org/entry/Abrahamic_religions. References (continued) Unkown. (2003, June 30). Radical Islam in Central Asia: Responding to Hizb ut-Tahrir. Retrieved June 15, 2011, from International Crisis Group: ttp://www. crisisgroup. org/en/regions/asia/central-asia/058-radical-islam-in-central-asia- responding-to-hizb-ut-tahrir. aspx. Unkown. (2011). The Straight Path Initiative. Retrieved June 17, 2011, from Muslim American Society: http://muslimamericansociety. org/main/content/straight-path-initiative. van der Krogt, C. (2010). Jihad without apologetics. Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations , 21 (2), 127-142. Venkatraman, A. (2007). Religious Basis for Islamic Terrorism: The Quran and it's Interpretations. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism , 30 (3), 229-248.

Annualised Risk and Return

FM Assignment Q) Obtain daily, weekly and monthly closing prices of the stock given to you. Get adjusted closing prices. Daily and weekly prices should be for one financial year. Monthly prices should be for 2 years. E. g. FY 2011-2012 and FY 2010-11. Compute annualized return and risk. DATA| ANNUALIZED RETURN| ANNUALIZED RISK| Weekly| -16. 952| 36. 449| Daily| -16. 241| 39. 347| Monthly| -11. 21| 30. 209| Comparing this with a suitable peer company, Company| Annualized return| Annualized risk| JSP| -11. 2154| 30. 209| TATA STEEL| -4. 0020| 47. 202| OBSERVATIONAs can be seen from the observations above, the stock which gives the maximum return also comes with the maximum risk (TATA STEEL). So when it comes to selecting the stock, the following two cases can be considered: a) Maximum return :- If you are a person who values maximum return and is willing to take the risk for the same, go for TATA STEEL b) Minimum Risk :- If you are a risk averse person, go for JSP as the risk associate d with it is less compared to TATA STEEL In either case, whether TATA STEEL or JSP, the annualized return is negative. Q) Construct 10 different portfolios with another company (Correl < 0. 0) and compute return and risk for each portfolio. Identify the best portfolio. Construct the minimum variance portfolio. Company| Correl| JSP AND TATA STEEL| 0. 89| JSP AND CUMMINS| 0. 65| Initially we compared JSP and TATA STEEL. We found the Correl = 0. 89 which was greater than 0. 70. Next we compared JSP and Cummins and found the Correl to be 0. 65. So we will choose Cummins for making the portfolio. Portfolio| Return(%)| Return(%)| | | Percentage ofJSP| | Percentage of CUMMINS| | Portfolio Return| | JSP| CUMMINS| | | | | | | | 1| -11. 21| 14. 83| | | 10%| | 90%| | 12. 2233| 2| -11. 21| 14. 3| | | 20%| | 80%| | 9. 6196| 3| -11. 21| 14. 83| | | 30%| | 70%| | 7. 0159| 4| -11. 21| 14. 83| | | 40%| | 60%| | 4. 4122| 5| -11. 21| 14. 83| | | 45%| | 55%| | 3. 11035| 6| -11. 21| 14. 83| | | 50%| | 5 0%| | 1. 8085| 7| -11. 21| 14. 83| | | 60%| | 40%| | -0. 7952| 8| -11. 21| 14. 83| | | 70%| | 30%| | -3. 3989| 9| -11. 21| 14. 83| | | 80%| | 20%| | -6. 0026| 10| -11. 21| 14. 83| | | 90%| | 10%| | -8. 6063| Min Variance| -11. 21| 14. 83| | | 36%| | 64%| | 5. 45368| Portfolio| Risk(%)| Risk(%)| | Percentage ofJSP| | Percentage of CUMMINS| Covariance| Portfolio Risk| | JSP| CUMMINS| | | | | | | | 30. 21| 27. 36| | 10%| | 90%| 543. 6637905| 6. 99497971| 2| 30. 21| 27. 36| | 20%| | 80%| 543. 6637905| 9. 326639613| 3| 30. 21| 27. 36| | 30%| | 70%| 543. 6637905| 10. 685008| 4| 30. 21| 27. 36| | 40%| | 60%| 543. 6637905| 11. 42275403| 5| 30. 21| 27. 36| | 45%| | 55%| 543. 6637905| 11. 59986156| 6| 30. 21| 27. 36| | 50%| | 50%| 543. 6637905| 11. 65829952| 7| 30. 21| 27. 36| | 60%| | 40%| 543. 6637905| 11. 42275403| 8| 30. 21| 27. 36| | 70%| | 30%| 543. 6637905| 10. 685008| 9| 30. 21| 27. 36| | 80%| | 20%| 543. 6637905| 9. 326639613| 10| 30. 21| 27. 36| | 90%| | 10%| 543. 637905| 6. 9949797 1| Min Variance| 30. 21| 27. 36| | 36%| | 64%| 543. 6637905| 11. 19196754| From the above observation, for decision regarding the best portfolio the following cases can be considered:- a) Maximum Return :- If one wants to maximize the return, one should have a portfolio mix consisting of 10% JSP and 90% Cummins b) Minimize Risk :- A risk averse person should go for a portfolio mix consisting of 10% JSP and 90% Cummins c) Minimum Variance: – Ideally, as per the minimum variance rule, one should have 36% of JSP and 64% of Cummins as their portfolio mix.But in this case, it does not give the maximum return nor the least risk. Since maximum return as well as minimum risk is observed for a portfolio mix of 90% Cummins and 10% JSP, one should opt for that. Learning’s * For studying the valuation of assets or securities, knowledge about the concepts of Risks and Returns are essential * Variance or standard deviation is the measure of the risk of returns * Combination of multi ple securities are called portfolio’s * Portfolio risk is not a weighted average risk as the securities included in the portfolio are associated with each other.Hence, portfolio risk also accounts for the covariance between the returns of securities * Covariance is the product of standard deviation of individual securities and their correlation coefficient * The magnitude of the portfolio risk will depend on the correlation between the securities.The portfolio risk will be equal to the weighted risk of individual securities if the correlation coefficient is +1. 0. If correlation coefficient < 1, the portfolio risk will be less than the weighted average risk. When the correlation coefficient = -1. 0, the portfolio risk becomes 0. Submitted By Group C14 Vaibhav Bhasin 2012182 Vinay Harinarayanan 2012184

The Computer: Humankind’s Greatest Scientific Discovery

Discoveries throughout time have moved mankind forward in many fields, such as medicine, technology, communications and manufacturing. These findings have also contributed to shifting the way humankind operates on a global basis. Defining the greatest discovery should encompass the revelations which have had the most beneficial impact on our societies. For our generation, it is the founding of the computer. The computer has affected virtually every aspect of our lives, from the way people do business to the way we communicate. Since its humble beginnings with the inventions of the first binary computer in 1936 by Konrad Zuse, and the mechanical calculator, the use of computer has become more than just widespread: it has developed into a phenomenon that has altered the lives of every human living on Earth today in some shape or form. In 1939, Hewlett Packard was founded and by 1945, John von Neumann had discovered electronic storage for data. Subsequently, the year 1967 saw the first metal oxide semiconductor built by Fairchild Camera and Seymour Papert, and it created a language on the computer for children that operated a mechanical turtle. Later in 1967, the first storage system for digital photography was invented by IBM, which had the ability to translate a trillion bits of information. In 1994, Windows first browser Netscape 1.0 was released. Additionally, the Internet search engine, Yahoo, was invented. From this point, computer technologies have constantly been improving and have resulted in modern wonders. Computers have made the technological advances we enjoy today possible. These include online purchasing, business and private communication through social networks, selling to global markets, creating personal websites, or talking to people while seeing them on our computer screens while they are thousands of miles away, and many more advances. All of this is done with little cost, except for a wireless connection fee. People tend to store information not in the public archives, libraries, or in other ways that require using physical media, but in a digital format with the help of cloud technologies. Many significant scientific discoveries are made with the help of computers, and even if the findings are made by hand, computers are still used to process and calculate data gathered during these researches. Computers are indispensable for many business and financial operations, exchange trades, freelance jobs, medicine, production quality control and studying – almost all aspects of life today are tied to the use of the computer. Clement Mok, former creative director of Apple, once said, â€Å"Five years ago, we thought of the Web as a new medium, not a new economy.† As civilization races ahead, technology also speeds up, creating new markets and jobs while helping with advances in medicine and agriculture. Computers have evolved from a simple mechanical calculator, which was still revolutionary for its time, into a sophisticated and complicated helpful tool that has become an essential part of humans’ everyday lives. Nowadays, it is difficult to find a part of modern humanity's existence which has not been reshaped by the invention of the computer, and there is no way of knowing where this great discovery will end up leading civilization in the future. ReferencesMok, Clement.   â€Å"Technology Quotes.† IT History Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. .â€Å"Computer History Museum.† Timeline of Computer History. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2013..