Food And Drug Administration On Tobacco Essay

Due to the remarkable number of premature deaths caused by smoking during the period of 1995-1999[1], the government agencies of America, especially the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made several attempts in regulating tobacco and tobacco products. Lots of laws have been made in order to solve this problem. There was an attempt in issuing additional tax on each stick of the cigarette. However, people who smoke ranging from ‘minor’ smokers to heavy smokers would still continue to buy cigarettes regardless of its price. Some rules recommended the limitation of people’s access to tobacco products, as well as restrictions on the marketing of these products to minors. Do there need to be changes in existing laws? Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act were introduced in 2007[2].   This Act though abundant of ‘good laws’ is not strong. Some amendments should be made on the laws involved. How should those changes be approached and effected? Lots of amendments have been made on the laws. Some attempts were on the regulation of tobacco products through disclosure, annual registration, inspection, record keeping, and user fee requirements. Others approaches involve (1)limiting product sales on licensed drugstores; (2)prohibiting product sales through face-to-face transactions in retail outlets; (3) establishing a minimum age greater than 18 years of age for product purchases; (4) warning label and advertising requirements. These attempts would be well effected through thorough and consistent public dissemination.[3] Is there an impact on other government agencies? Identify the agencies impacted.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The impact of this change is not only on the government agencies. It would also affect other organizations such as in the world of business, advertisement, etc. The government agencies are the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission, National Institute of Health, Peace Corps and as well as The White House. How should it be resolved?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Agreements should be made among affected agencies in order to resolve the impact of regularizing the circulation of tobacco. Others should give sacrifices for the sake of the health of the majority.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The best suggestion to solve this conflict is to develop a product that would totally replace tobacco products or at least replace nicotine-free ingredients for cigarettes. References: Bonnie, Richard J., Kathleen R. Stratton, Robert B. Wallace. (2007). Ending the Tobacco   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation. Washington: The National Academy Press. Hickmann, Meredith A. (2003).The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). New York: Nova   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Publishers. Kessler, David A. MD. (2000). A Question of Intent: A Great American Battle with a Deadly   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Industry. Food and Drug Administration:Public Affairs. Redhead, Stephen and Jody Feder. (December 3, 2004). FDA Regulation of Tobacco   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Products: A Policy and Legal Analysis. Retrieved   from http://digital.library.unt.edu/   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   govdocs/crs/permalink/meta-crs-8198:1 on 13 April 2008. Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People. Washington: Diane Publishing ,[1997]. Taking Action to Reduce Tobacco Use. Washington: [1]  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Statement on H.R. 1108, Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, (October 3, 2007),   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.fda.gov/oc/oms/ofm/budget/2002/cj2002/HTML/Tobacco.htm, Accessed April 13, 2008. [2]  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Richard J. Bonnie, Kathleen R. Stratton, Robert B. Wallace, Ending the Tobacco Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation, Washington: The   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   National Academy Press, 126. [3]  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   C. Stephen Redhead and Jody Feder, â€Å"FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products: A Policy and Legal Analysis,† (December 3, 2004),   http://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs/permalink/meta-crs-8198:1, Accessed 13 April 2008.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People (Washington: Diane Publishing ,[1997]), 278 – 282.

Career Planning and Development

| CAREER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT| | | | ASHWINI RENGASWAMYINDEX NO – L0267KDKD0611JUN MSc 1 Hospitality & Tourism A| INDEX Introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Page 2 Career †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Page 3 Career Planning †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Page 4 Career Development †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Page 5 Dual Career Couples †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Page 8 Dual Career Couples Large Companies †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Page 10 Dual Career Couples Small Companies †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Page 14 Ways of Small Companies Retaing Employees †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Page 15 Conclusion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Page 16 References †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Page 17 INTRODUCTION Human resource is the nerve center of any organization which helps to achieve its objectives & goals. When analyzing globally managing human resource is a dynamic and challenging task of an organization. Although human r esource is a popular term there is no definition defined worldwide.Watson (2002:3) says â€Å"In its broader sense Human resource management can be used as a generic term to describe any approach to managing people. † Boxall & Purcell (2003:1) say â€Å"All those activities associating with the management of the employment relationship in the organization. † A philosophy based on managing people on the belief that human resources utmost necessary to retain the business success. An establishment obtains advantage by utilizing its people effectively. Drawing on their competence and adroitness to meet distinct objectives.Human resource management is focused at recruiting confident, adjustable and dedicated people, managing and honoring their performance and advancing competencies. Human resource development is a strategic advent to analyzing in human capital. It has an impact on other human resource formations, including resourcing and executes assessment to recognize act ual and conceivable apatite. Human resource development delivers a frame work for self-establishment training programs and professional progression to meet an establishment’s future aptitude necessity.Goal of Human resource management is to optimize the effectiveness of the employee by gradually up grading the career life of the workers and interacting them as the most precious resource to increase the productivity of the organization There is one successful way for an establishment’s human resource problems â€Å"enlightened, advanced, people first, more performance or more commitment, labor tactics to be practiced in companies. Best practices of Human Resource Management * Managers must pay more attention towards Human resource issues. The consideration of human resourcing are parts of strategic level deliberations. * More encouragement being given to the employees helps more productivity which results to the establishment’s constant improvement. * Employees show a liking towards improving their own skills to come through self-advancement and flexibility. CAREER Wilensky (1961) says; â€Å"Let us define career in structural terms. A career is a succession of related jobs arranged in a monarchy of prestige, through which persons move in an ordered sequence† (p. 23) This tells us that career has a particular way in which a person should proceed in order to achieve his vision and goals. Career is the journey towards an ultimate destination. There is a view amongst the people that career has changed from olden days organizational structure to the modern way which is based on the skills, knowledge and integration of people. Baruch (2002) presents a list of career management practices in order of the level of implementation which an earlier survey found out.There are advertising international career opportunities, professional education as a part of career advancement, performance appraisals as an important tool for career planning, ca reer conselling by your immediate manager or Human resource management department, recruitment programs, succession planning, mentoring, common career path, dual ladder, books on career problems, written personal career, assessment centers, 360 degree appraisals, career workshops, introduction, special programs, example: for high flyers, creating psychological contracts and secondment.Effective career management should adhere to a number of principles. Consistency and coherency within organizations in messages about what career and career management is, proactively collaboration between employer and employee and dynamism. Goals of career management process must be explicit and that this will be most easily achieved if there is a limited number of compliable interventions. CAREER DECISION POINT International Assignment Predeparture Training Reassignment Recruiting & Selecting Exit Organization Predeparture Training Deselecting Parent Repatriation CAREER PLANNINGCareer planning which is for an individual life time, a decision that has to be made life long, which includes choosing of occupation, seeking a job, progress in the job, career transition and eventual recruitment. It’s also for an individual to set goals for himself and achieve them. This helps a person to evaluate their abilities and interests. The outcome of this should be one of the following; * Developing talent effectively and efficiently. * Giving opportunities to employees for self-appraisal Career planning is built out of three components self-assessment, choosing the work of your choice and recognizing the suitable career.CAREER DEVELOPMENT As individuals everyone is interested in their own career, it’s very unlikely that a person will spend more years with a single employer, especially when their work life begins. Due to this career development is the responsibility of the employer. Most people like to move to new areas of work due to better opportunities, chances of working with particular people and commuting time. As a result of this employers must analysis what is offered by the other employers and ensuring that employees appreciate what they are been given.A method used to retain and establish a large group of employees with international experience is through giving them short term development assignments which will be for a few months and there onwards to a few years. (Example 1) Swedish – Swiss conglomerate ABB A multinational company have carried on the practices of developing a small carder of international employees rather than internationalizing everyone. (Example 2) Aitken Spence Hotels & Resorts (A reputed chain hotel in Sri Lanka which has its own hotel in Maldives, India & Oman)In this organization the Assistant Vice president Mr. Sarriff o’deen conducts a meeting once in three months for the entire Management of each hotel individually to explain the company’s strategies & the Employee benefits, the last meeting was hel d on the 12 June at heritance Ahungalle (Example 3) Mas Holdings Pvt. Ltd. (South Asia’s biggest apparel manufacturer) The company sends a limited number of staff to a University in India to educate them in the clothing technology and in order to implement the knowledge in their local company. Example 4) Mas Holdings Pvt. Ltd. Mas Career Development center in Sri Lanka at Ambepussa, a center for staff working for Sri Lanka Mas Holdings to train and develop themselves. (Example 5) Mas Holdings Pvt. Ltd. Mr. Vithanaarachchi, who joined as a weaving supervisor rose through up to the position of Manager. As recognition of his work the company sponsored him to study Narrow Fabric technology in University of Derbyshire This reviews your work history and the key factors psychological, sociological and economical which influence the career choice.Creating an improved approach to employee development by recognizing individual’s needs and responding for a satisfactory and reward ed career is the goal of career service. Career development is guiding people in order for them to reach where they want to be and where the organization wants them to be. Providing career development helps the organization increase the chances of their work force being willing and ready to serve the organization for the betterment of both parties. Career development creates opportunities for employees meet current as well as future business needs through professional interest and capability. Example 6) Kellogg’s Non-productive staff are requested to fill are form which gives details of employee’s career, biographical information, work experience, and development plans. This is filed in the employee’s profile which gives an overview of the employee’s current accountability development and future opportunities. People Managers have a performance management plan which is concern about the employee development. The role of Peoples manager in employee develop ment * Update employee profile on a periodic basis. * Fill the Managers page in the Employee profile. Considering any possible development actions in the future. * Understanding the requirement of making development more successful. * Check weather employees are pursuing towards development. * Provide adequate resource, opportunities and support to employees for development. * Provide caching and obtain feedback. (Example 7) Nivea Graduate programs are conducted in different stages as follows; â€Å"Beyond borders† an 18 month program where the candidate will be trained for 5 to 6 months overseas in another company or at the headquarters in Hamburg, Germany. â€Å"Gateway to the top† a program for university graduates who want to rofessionalize on sales, marketing, human resource, supply chain management or finance. â€Å"360 degree program† a program to gain experience beyond the professionalized area. â€Å"Focusing on you† a program in order to develop professional and personal skills. (Example 8) Tesco Management programs are conducted for 7000 staff at one time on development programs to gain knowledge and skills to move to the next step of the Tesco Challenge. Each year over 10,000 prove that by changing jobs in the organisation, as a result of programs that are flexible and sought your personal needs 80% of the administration role is filled by existing team mates.. Example 9) Harrods The managers are expected to complete a monthly review with workers to follow up with consistent 1-2-1s to review objectives and career objectives. The diverse number of divisions provides a exceptional prospect for workers to develop new abilities and experience without having to alteration companies. (Example 10) Nokia, India Company conducts Management trainee programs from the year 20006 and recruiting young talents and investing in their future leadership role. The program is an in house on the job training mechanism that encourages and allo ws the trainees to learn and develop theme selves for future roles.In order to make the program a better success the company has built a relationship with institutes IIM – Ahamadabad, IIM – Calcuta, IIM – Lucknow, XLRI – Jamshedpur and TISS – Mumbai The role of Employee’s in employee development * Be responsible for own career. * Successful performance in present role of job. * Achieve realistic career goals. * Discuss with the Manager about developing the career. * Pay more attention towards areas to be more professional. (Example 11) Nivea (The largest women and men beauty care product manufacture)The company offers future support in the form of career path which focuses international and cross functional activities and development programs planned to achieve both professional and personal talents. DUAL CAREER COUPLE In 1960’s the term Dual career couples was introduced by a team of Sociologists who were husband-and-wife. Two profes sionals engaging in a significant relationship where both pursue a career that reflects commitment, personal growth, responsibility. In this both partners are highly skilled and committed towards career advancement and obtain financial remuneration for their career advancement.From the recent past woman too are focusing on professional career. The couple both who are managers, professional or technicians has doubled up in the past two decades. The worry amongst Dual career couples was balancing career, personal relationship and family responsibilities. Dual career couple men experience psychological stress, since they would be judged by their capacity to support the family and gain work status. They feel their status is undermined by their wife working, who will lead to loss of control, they fear helping at home under estimates manhood.Family problems where one partner has to be flexible enough to choose what’s best for the family. In order to this the career development shou ld be recognized for dual couples at early stages. At all times it is wise to involve both partners in planning to enhance the success of efforts. The other problem is job transfers, these transfers in the other partner’s career due to the mobility and also a commuting relationship between each other. When relocating dual career couple the Human resource can assist in finding a suitable job for the candidates partner as well.Also Dual career couple marriages are quite complex than other marriages where there is opportunities for mutual growth and development and in the meantime opportunities for failure. Both individuals work towards these as they find it difficult to meet these expectations as both work to develop their interpersonal relationship with one another. WIFES CAREER Job demand Organizational demand Social demand Dealing with subordinates Dealing with clients (20 – 50 hours) HOME DUTIES Home maintenance Neighborhood relationship Children activity Social plan ning ShoppingSelf-maintenance Assisting the spouse (30 – 50 hours) HUSBANDS CAREER Job demand Career advancement Social demand Dealing with subordinates Dealing with clients (40 – 50 hours) LEISURE TIME Rest Hobbies Personal activities Religious / Social activities (48 – 78 hours) The above figure shows the amount of time spent by Dual career couples per week. The wife takes responsibility of home and work whereas the husband takes responsibility only with career. DUAL CAREER COUPLES IN LARGE COMPANIES The Human Resource should turn the â€Å"Two body problems† in to â€Å"Two body opportunities†.Many researchers found that than men its women in dual career couples subordinate their career development with their partner. Some companies use the arrangement as the cost share arrangement for hiring spouses, some companies do provide job opportunities in different departments where as some do offer a job in another company of the same group. The overal l review of this is to facilitate dual career couples with job search for partners when relocating and hiring. The reason for companies to have dual career couple policies are to be competitive, increase faculty of colour, attract â€Å"stars†, increase women and to compensate for location.Some companies do offer temporary jobs than part time jobs for senior trailing spouses. (Example 12) Oregon State University The university has a scheme as â€Å"family employment program† where a fixed regular sum is paid as remuneration to spouses of facilities. In order to retain the employees the company gives greater responsibilities to employees which adds more value towards their career. Chain companies promote the talented employees in the same organization or to another branch. Vacant positions arising within the company is first notified to the internal employees to give them priority. Example 13) The gas and oil industry was facing problems of retaining employees in their companies. The company’s goal was to develop the engineer’s talent by giving difficult types of assignments to increase the responsibility level of the employee during his career in the company. (Example 14) John Keells Hotels (A reputed Hotel chain in Sri Lanka, which not only owns hotels but supermarkets, shipping, cargo etc. ) The company has a policy of recruiting bottom line staff, which gradually develops themselves in becoming managers of that company.Also the company believes in promoting the staff inside to high positions rather than hiring staff from out of the company as motivation and recognition for the employees. (Example 15) Nokia, India A global concert management system which is â€Å"Invest in people† â€Å"Internal job market† is for the border, which enables movement of Nokia employees. Any vacancies arise in the company is first posted to the interior employees and thereafter to the exterior applicants. Large companies are rich in res ources and have a large turnover from the business.Due to this factor the company has the ability of paying the employees a stable salary which they would be contented with. Also the profits gained are being given as bonuses since the company has limited liabilities to cover. There companies have a fixed policy which is applicable to all of their branches where ever located in the world. There is a mind perception of employees who do consider working for large reputed companies to be of prestige. (Example 16) Harrods Hannah, Retail Managers says, â€Å"The career opportunities at Harrods are definitely unique to Harrods.For example at the moment I'm on the Harrods management programme, which is an eight month programme that gives you the necessary training to become a manager. So by the end of the eight months you'll become a retail manager in the store. † (Example 17) Sony As a Communications Manager, Rosemary says it best: â€Å"Outside of the brand, it's easy to be proud of Sony. You tell people you work for Sony, and you don't get a glazed look – its instantaneous respect. † It's a sense of respect that starts from within. â€Å"Everybody works very hard. There's a high level of expectation, but we all focus on that challenge to deliver the best quality work.The people are the heart and soul of this place. It's a real commitment, and it goes both ways — the company to its employees, and the people are just as committed to the company. † Companies offer benefits not only for the employee but also for the entire family, which helps them experience the same as their partners do. (Example 18) Serendib leisures (A chain hotel and resort company in Sri Lanka with a range of three and four star hotel properties) A medical scheme is in practice where the employees and their families benefit. The scheme gives life insurance to the family along with yearly free medical checkup. (Example 19)Aitken Spence Hotels ; resorts The company offers a weekend package for all executive employees in order to spend a weekend with their family at another Aitken Spence hotel where the entire cost is barred by the company. This is offered twice a year for each employee (Example 20) Harrods They offer staff a very high salary of ? 15,000+ and upwards, apart for this staff receive many other rewards such as; Harrod staff reward cards 50% discount on business dresses Season ticket loan Discount brochures at restaurants, fitness clubs, and holiday companies. Opportunities to join the company’s pension and health planHoliday payments Dual career couples ; parents working in companies are offered flexible working hours, which helps them balance family and work. Apart from the day off extra leave with pay, non pay leave for a long period policies are in existence. Advice and financial support is offered for the well being of the employees. A pension schemes are introduced for future benefits. (Example 21) Wal-Mart (The larges t retail stores in the word, first introduced in the USA, found in many other countries) A policy is introduced for employees who are not USA citizens, the company many post-employment beneficial plans. Example 22) Mark ; Spencer A policy is in existence for adoptive parents, comparable adoption leave and pay within a policy exclusively planned for adoptive parents by providing extra provision leading up to adoption. (Example 23) Mark ; Spencer For employees who face problems with regard to work or family, the business uses an independent 24hour confidential helpline staffed by advisors who provide assistance in giving advice on debts or financial problems, legal problems, abuse, relationship difficulties, state benefits and even general counseling. They can be contacted on 07659145671 Example 24) Mark ; Spencer There is a policy for dads / parents, where 1 week paid paternity leave is being given when the baby arrives. Also parents have the benefits of taking unpaid leave for 13 we eks for every child till the age of 5 years. (Example 25) Mark ; Spencer For married female employee’s time off is being given for midwife, fitness visitor and parent craft lessons. Maternity pay and leave. The company professional health tem is accessible to carryout fitness checks at any time prior and after the birth including risk assessments where suitable. Example 26) Mark ; Spencer Flexible working hours are part-time, job sharing or term- working. For staffs who wishes to study or take a complete break of work nine months unpaid leave is given under the companies â€Å"Career Break† policy (Example 27) Mark ; Spencer Company offers dependency leave of 4 weeks paid leave which may be followed by 3 to 9 months unpaid leave or furthermore a longer break where the employee can take a dependency break for up to 5 years.Companies that have succeeded in generating opportunities for dual career couples follow four strategies, they are as follows; * A dual career office with a person who would address the problems of dual career couples. * The top management who are willing to give solutions for creative and flexible in hiring. * Amongst the department the cross-discipline cooperation that exists due to administrative support. * Issuing financial incentives to departments apart from the department resources that are willing to hire partners. DUAL CAREER COUPLES IN SMALL COMPANIESSmall businesses are mostly independent owners. Most small companies are at the infantry stage, which face a lot of financial crisis. There are companies with barriers for dual career couple policies such as, lack of communication, coordination, administration, more attention only over departmental work and lack of resources. The employees are mostly recruits on contract basis where job security is limited and salaries are of a standard rate. The company is focused towards the profits than on employee growth due to high cost involence new technology is not introduced which demotivate employee. Example 28) Tendon Lanak Pvt. Ltd. (A small scale electrical manufacturing company in Sri Lankan) Old fashioned electronical technology with no development as the industry was growing, due to this situation the company employees were demotivated doing the same job over and over again which lead them to leave the company. As an end result of this the company had to close down on June 2009. (Example 29) Earl’s Regency – Sumiko Lanka Hotels Pvt. Ltd. (A 5 star resort property in the Central Province of Sri Lanka owned by Sumiko Lanka Hotels Pvt. Ltd. )The executive Chef of this hotel resigned, and at that point the hotel had to recruit a new candidate for that position since the second in line were not capable enough to cope up with the work and be promoted to a higher position. The route cause for this was lack of training been provided for the management level staff. In the meantime some of these companies have a policy where dual career couples ar e not allowed to work in the same organization, due to the fear that when the first partner leaves the second also tends to leave, very few exceptional cases in which one does remain.The reason for companies to not have a policy is due to less competitive, ad hoc accommodation can lead to resentment. (Example 30) Sumiko Lanka Hotels Pvt. Ltd, The company has a policy, as an employee’s spouse cannot work in the same company, which goes to the extent of not allowing any blood relations of employees also to work in the same company. Small companies don’t have the facility of providing employment to both couples since the establishment is small and not many branches available. WAYS OF SMALL COMPANIES RETAINING EMPLOYEES MOVING TOWARDS LARGE COMPANIESSmall companies need to find ways of being innovative and creative to retain employees. Loosing an experienced worker is a great productivity loss for t he company therefore constant support must be given towards work. Effectiv e management practices and leadership skills, positive corporate culture and pleasurable work environment encourage employees retain. The employers must have a clear understanding about the expectation of the employees. The company can focus on recruiting staff from the same location, in order to retain staff due to travelling conveniences. On the job training should be rovided introducing new technology. For job security they should be provided each employee a job description which gives a clear picture of what is expected from them. Rewards and recognition is the best way for staff motivation. Health care benefits, new-hire orientation programs, open communication strategy, defined involvement programs, onsite parking, compensation for training cost ; casual dress programs such programs not only help retain employees, increase loyalty and productivity. The employers should take time in celebration staff birthdays and anniversaries to make them feel special.Te best employees of the month can be nominated in order to recognize the hard working employees and to motivate the rest. (Example 31) Nesto Pvt. Ltd. (A chocolate and biscuit factory in Sri lanka) The company recruits employees from its location and an introduction program is carried out for the employees during the first week with regardsto the entire company profile and the operation taking place. CONCLUSION When analyzing the theoretical part and the practical situations faced by Dual career couples in companies, the large companies are much more efficient in handling these types of situations as they are enriched with many resources.Most large companies have great financial resources with many sub companies of its own. This helps employee’s benefit in ways of wages, additional allowances, bonuses, paid leave and transfers on request. Many employees expect this in return of their service to the company. But in term of small companies, they have a very limited amount of resource which is mostly utilized for the benefit and growth of the company. Their main concern is about gaining profits for the company rather than focusing on employee growth. To overcome this situation small companies must engage staff welfare activities.The company must make the employee feel they are special and wanted. REFERENCES BOOKS PRINT Beardwell J. ; Claydon T. (2007) Human Resource Management, Pearson Education Limited. Fifth Edition (page 358 – 398) Becker B. E. et. al (2001) The Human Resource Scorecard, Pearson Education Limited. Chrish et. al (2010) International Human Resource Management, charted Institute of Personnel ; Development (IPD House) Second Edition Dowling P. J et. al (1999) International Human Resource Management, Southwest College Publishing. Third Edition Foot M. ; Hook C. (2008) Introducing Human Resource Management, Pearson Education Limited.Fifth Edition Hall B. W. PhD (2008) The Human capital Strategy, Library of Congress Cataloging. Loopold J. et. al (2005) The St rategic Managing of Human Resource, Pearson Education Limited. Mathis R. L. ; Jackson J. H (2008) Human Resource Management, Thomson South West. Twelfth Edition Price A. (2007) Human resource Management, Cengage Learning EMEA. Third Edition Redman T. ; Wilkinson A. (2009) Contemporary Human Resource Management, Pearson Education Limited. Third Edition Torrington D, Hall L. ; Taylor S. (2008) human Resource Management, Pearson education Limited.Seventh Edition (page 465 – 476) BOOKS ELECTRONIC Bruce W. M ; Reed M. C. (1991) Dual Career Couples in the Public Sector, library of Congress Cataloging. (Page 2 to 4) Available from http://books. google. co. uk/books? id=unBG-ablVW0C;printsec=frontcover;dq=dual+career+couples+in+the+public+sector;hl=en;ei=zbQ_TvWVJpTC8QPOqNSPAw;sa=X;oi=book_result;ct=result;resnum=1;ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage;q;f=false (Accessed on 15th July 2011) David Russo (2010) 17 Rules, Successful Companies Use to Attract ; Keep top Talents, Pearson Education Lim ited.Available from http://books. google. com/books? id=kVsnbZ23uYcC;pg=PA147;dq=how+do+companies+retain+employees;hl=en;ei=yKlDTqzkDcyq8APz673sBQ;sa=X;oi=book_result;ct=result;resnum=1 p;ved=0CDgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage;q=how%20do%20companies%20retain%20employees;f=false (Accessed on 10th August 2011) Fielden S. L. et. al (2005) International Handbook of Women ; Small Business Entrepreneurship, Edward Elgar Publishing limited. (Page 3 to 13) Available from http://books. google. co. k/books? id=myRC5ngQffoC;printsec=frontcover;dq=International+Handbook+of+Women+%26+Small+Business+Entrepreneurship;hl=en;ei=lLY_TsbpJoah8QO004mTCA;sa=X;oi=book_result;ct=result;resnum=1;ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage;q=International%20Handbook%20of%20Women%20%26%20Small%20Business%20Entrepreneurship;f=false (Accessed on 15th July 2011) Ferber M. A. ; Loeb J. E. (1997) Academic Couples Problems ; Promises, Library of Congress Cataloging. Available from http://books. google. o. uk/books? id=7GXk7upc6DAC;pg=PA270;dq=d ual+career+couples+in+the+public+sector;hl=en;ei=zbQ_TvWVJpTC8QPOqNSPAw;sa=X;oi=book_result;ct=result;resnum=10;ved=0CF4Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage;q=dual%20career%20couples%20in%20the%20public%20sector;f=false (Accessed on 15th June 2011) WEB PAGES AND WEB SITES http://www. acadamices. com/science/focus_on_research_dual_career_couples_36593. html http://advance. ei. colombia. edu/sitefiles/file/dual_career_reading_30105. pdf http://www. beiersdorf. om/career/working_at_beiersdorf/working_at_beiersdorf http://corporate. marksandspencer. com/mscareers/rewards_benefits/lifestyle_options/supporting_working_parents http://www. essaypride. com/essays. php? free_essay=4788576;title=Retaining-Employees-In-Small-Business http://hr. blr. com/HR-news/Staffing-Training/Leadership/Growing-Leaders-Retaining-Employees-in-Small-and-M/ http://www. harrodscareers. co. uk/page/career_development http://www. masholdings. com http://www. nokia. co. in/careers http://www. oppapers. com/essays/Retaining-Employees- Small-Business/62126

Analysis And Strategies Of The Company Ikea Marketing Essay

Analysis And Strategies Of The Company Ikea Marketing Essay Ikea’s mission is simple, ‘keep making furniture less expensive without making it cheap† (www.Ikea.com) .Because IKEA concentrated on standardizing their products and operations throughout the world, their operating costs were reduced. However, they learnt quickly enough that if they wanted to penetrate the United States (US} market they had to change their operations and adapt to meet the needs of the local market. This resulted in increased cost but it was necessary in order to encourage sales. Today the US Market is ranked in the top five (5) sales countries in the sales area. Sustainability report 2010 STRATEGIES Ikea’s four additional countries to move to thirty- eight. Their stores are strategically located and conducive for family outing with places available for children to be pre-occupied. For a holistic shopping experience their outlets are equipped with reasonable price restaurants and cafes. Promotion – The IKEA Catalogue is a vital part of its existence with a wide reach. It assists consumers find the right product at the right time. In 2010 the catalogue was printed in 198 million copies in 27 languages and 56 editions .A new more resource efficient format was introduced in 2009? (Sustainability report 2009). The second feature of IKEA’s promotion is the standardized theme. Their logo can be spotted at a distance. The following are examples of some of the strategic analysis that may have been considered by Ikea: SWOT ANALYSIS In order compete effectively as they have been doing. Ikea would have had to perform a (SWOT) analysis to assist in obtaining their objectives. This analysis is a strategic planning tool that looks at the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of any business undertaking. Strengths Looking at the table above it is clear to surmise that Ikea has ridden the waves fairly well and is a profitable company, earning 23.8(Eur. billion) in sales in 2010. Ikea has brand appeal. Because of their modern style and attractive furnishings they are able to attracts consumers of different origins and cultures with their same range of functional and well-designed products and quality across borders which can play a vital part in Ikea being able to keep its’ customers The company has a strong international presence. Ikea’s store was visited 699,000,000 compared to 404,000,000 in 2004 worldwide (ikea .com). They are unique in that customers are allowed to be part of the value chain by playing a direct role in the selection, assembly and transportation of their furniture. It’s also all inclusive to allow families to come in and sit and enjoy with their playgrounds and food courts. Weakness One of Ikea’s weaknesses could be the location areas of their stores which are located outside of city centres and may not be accessible to pedestrians. The ‘do it yourself’ motto may not appeal to everyone and some may even feel intimidated by the wide range and lack of assistance. Opportunities Sourcing from China is seen as an opportunity to lower cost and by extension increase market share. Today Ikea has over 120 suppliers in 54 countries (Ikea sustainability report 2009)They have taken advantage of technology by introducing its online catalogue as a means of generating more sales, because of e-commerce, a lot more people shop online an. Statistic shows that more people are viewing the catalogues because circulation have increased from 131,500,00 in 2003 to 198,000,000 in 2010.

Baroque Art Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Baroque Art - Assignment Example There was great religious turmoil during this time period. This tumultuous force was the Reformation. After Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses, it took relatively little time for northern Europe’s nations to become primarily Protestant, while the southern countries retained and strengthened their Catholic identities during the Counter-Reformation. There was the intense us vs. them battle of religion, and art was in the middle. Once the Reformation began, Protestant leaders such as John Calvin and Huldreich Zwingli encouraged iconoclastic movements, which denounced Catholic imagery as idolatrous and called for its destruction. However, the Protestants did not condemn all art—they chiefly opposed the Catholic religious art, to which Catholics of the time gave reverence. The chief argument between Catholic and Protestant was that the Protestants believed the Catholics held their relics and imagery sacred, instead of revering Christ. In contrast, the Roman Catholic Church had embarked in the 1550s on a program of renewal known as the Counter - Reformation. As part of the program, the Catholic Church used art of the magnificent display for the campaign. It was intended to be both doctrinally correct and visually and emotionally appealing so that it could influence the largest possible audience. Their paintings glorified Catholic traditions, the sacraments, and the saints. Clearly, the content of their work contrasted strongly with that of the northern Protestants’ work.

Health Care Public Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Health Care Public Policy - Essay Example In the United States (US), the concept of public policy encompasses the process of decision making and analysis of governmental decision. Health care on the other hand refers to the constant monitory, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, illness or other physical body problems and the preservation of the physical wellbeing of human beings (Proctor & Smith 89). Health care public policy therefore basically refers to a settled opinion by members of the public concerning the manner in which issues of public health are handled across a country or state. Introduction States, countries and jurisdictions have different policies regarding to public health. Actually the configuration of the health care machinery varies from country to country, state to state but according to the World Health Organization (WHO), a well functional health care system should rest on adequate financing mechanisms, adequately trained and paid staff, decision making and policy formulation based on reliable informati on, well maintained facilities and advanced technologies in delivering health care. According to Charles Frame, an expert in market research and customer satisfaction at the Emory School of Medicine, it makes sense to have very basic level of healthcare for everybody. Members of the public are very influential in the process of policy formulation and therefore it is important for them to hold thorough knowledge of what policies, precisely health care policy entails and their rights and responsibilities in its formulation. State of health care system in the United States United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the history of the world yet its health care system can be described as unsatisfactory. To start with, the spending in the health care sector is rather high representing around 17% of the country’s GDP. Despite the high spending, the outcomes of the health care sector are not any better as compared to other countries that spend lower per capita such as Switze rland and Netherland. The cost of health care has actually risen over the recent years as observed by Allan Hubbard, Chairman, E & A Industries. He noted that the cost of a family insurance 19 years ago was $3000 but has currently risen to $12000 (as at 2008). The major problem according to Professor Herzlinger (20) is not to achieve a universal coverage but rather to get the value for money spent on health care. She therefore suggested three common theories that can improve the quality of services. These are; Managed competition. She suggested that the insurance system should be made private and consumers given the right to shop for their insurance. This would create a competitive environment among the insurers and consequently, quality would be achieved. Single payer. In this theory, she suggested that the government, as the single payer would control all resources, would have massive scale and could squeeze inefficiency and waste out of the system. Finally, she suggested the theo ry of Consumer-driven health care. This is an approach where the consumers are given their money and the opportunity to seek insurance and health care services by themselves. Although effective policies may be formulated and implemented, one of the most effective approach in addressing the issue of health care is through prevention not cure. It has been noted that majority of the health problems among the citizens of United States are life style

Marketing Planning Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Marketing Planning - Research Proposal Example Animeinternational.com (2006) is an online retailer of anime related products: Dvds and Music; Manga and Books; Toys and Figures; Art Work; Cards and Games; and other merchandise such as accessories, jewelry, and even kitchenware. The company sells over 10,000 diverse products in the anime genre. Animeinternational.com also caters to the multimedia consumer, offering specialized downloads such as wallpapers and avatars (used in Internet forums, emails and online gaming). This diversity in product, design and orientation allows animeinternational.com to offer consumers a wide variety of the most popular anime titles through E-commerce and telephone purchases. Animeinternational.com (2006) slogan is "Your Online Anime Mega Store for all your Anime Needs" and advertises that "Unlike our competitors our focus is not only the North American market, rather we cater to the needs of customers in all countries worldwide." Claiming "price leadership and unparalleled customer service" (animeinternational.com 2006) the company exhibits a strong focus on total quality management in the domains of business to customer and business to business transactions. There are multiple products and services available. ... th American market, rather we cater to the needs of customers in all countries worldwide." Claiming "price leadership and unparalleled customer service" (animeinternational.com 2006) the company exhibits a strong focus on total quality management in the domains of business to customer and business to business transactions. There are multiple products and services available. This marketing proposal paper will focus on expanding the services to include tailored customer relationship management service using use-case scenario technology and focus on expansion service lines in opening markets, particularly the female age 15-24 market that is highly undeserved in the anime industry. Marketing Environment Animeinternational.com has a strong market orientation towards customer relationship management (CRM). CRM is "identifying prospective buyers, understanding them intimately, and developing favourable long-term perceptions of the organisation and its offerings so that buyers will choose them in the marketplace" (Kerin p 21 2002). Animeinternational utilises several online techniques with the purpose of concentrating towards CRM. Some of these methods include blogging, online community, and 'fan fiction.' This type of 'free service' allows animeinternational.com to communicate with, understand and respond to the average consumer base, which has been identified as the young adult male in the Internet and gaming community (animeinterantioal.com 2006). Animeinternational.com also offers online 'chat' customer service, telephone service and specialised anime resources, such as an encyclopaedia. By continuously interacting with the customer base through communication, animeinterational.com exhibits strong consumer relationship management. Company Animeinternational.com (2006)

Human Resource Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Human Resource Management - Case Study Example This paper has a recommendation on the best strategy that the business organization needs to employ in China, for purposes of achieving success. In trying to analyze the market performance of Dairy Queen, this paper looks at three management theories; namely contingency, systems and chaos theories. This paper analyzes the marketing department of Dairy Queen, for it is the one which is responsible for the sales that occur in China. Dairy Queen is a chain of fast food restaurants that are under the ownership of International Dairy Queen Inclusive (Douglas, 2012). The company began its operations in 1940 in the state of Illinois. By 1947, the company had over 100 stores, and as of 2010, Dairy Queen has more than 5700 stores all over the world. The largest store of the company is found in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while the store that records the highest sales is found in Canada. The company is a pioneer of fast food franchising, and it believes in the exploitation of the emerging markets (B enner and Nelson, 2012). China is an example of such an emerging market. On this basis therefore, this paper tries to explore its marketing strategies in China, and examine the reasons as to why they failed. The Story: On 10th of February 2012, Dairy Queen opened its 500th store in Hu Dong, the financial capital of Shanghai. Dairy Queen first joined the Chinese market in 1991 by opening a branch in Beijing. Ever since entering the Chinese market, the company has experienced growth in terms of its profitability, and market share. China presents the largest market for its ice cream products. The company charged with the responsibility of operating Dairy Queen Franchise products is referred to as Shanghai Shida Catering and Management Company (Benner and Nelson, 2012). On this basis therefore, Dairy Queen operates in China as a franchise. In regard to this therefore, in order to penetrate the Chinese market, Dairy Queen resorted to building strategic alliances with local company. An ex ample is the Shanghai Catering Company. John Gainor, the President of Dairy Queen international agrees with this position, and denotes that it is the major contributor of its successes in the Chinese market (Douglas, 2012). However, it is important to denote that despite the successes of Dairy Queen in capturing a segment of the Chinese market, it is not the number one ice cream consumption company in China. Dairy Queen faces stiff competition from companies such as Nestle, Walls, Haagen Daz, and Baskin Robbins. It is important to denote that Haagen Daz is one of the biggest ice cream consuming companies in China (Lewis and Packard, 2012). Dairy Queen also fails to compete effectively with the Chinese domestic companies in the low end market areas. The Ice Cream consumption habits of the Chinese are dependent on their ability to afford consuming them at luxurious cafes (Aoki, 2012). Majority of the Chinese cannot afford to buy these products at such luxurious cafes, and hence their desire for ice cream products from their local companies. This is because they are affordable, and tailored to meet their needs. On this basis, if Dairy Queen needs to capture this market, which is the largest, then it has to revise its marketing strategies (Kotler and Keller, 2012). It has to develop products that satisfy the needs of both the high end, and the low end consumers. The Three Theories: There are three main theories that will

British Postwar Cinema 1960-1990 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

British Postwar Cinema 1960-1990 - Essay Example of the time envisaging these movies to be heralding a ‘renaissance in British cinema.’ [Aldgate, 2006] While British New Wave and the social realism of the post-war years effectively disappeared from the big screen by the mid 60s, realism of the New Wave continues to influence filmmakers as Mark Herman, Ken Loach and Mike Leigh, evident in their respective movies Brassed Off (1996) All Or Nothing (2002), Sweet Sixteen (2002). The New Wave was essentially the British response to French contemporary equivalent—the auteur cinema of Nouvelle Vogue by Truffaut, Godard and others, which focussed on innovative narrative and cinematic techniques, vitally making cinema a personal expression of the director. Even as the British New Wave drew significantly from auteurism of the Nouvelle Vogue, adapting literary and theatrical source material and focusing on realism, the ‘tell-it-like-it-is New Wave movies distinctly differed from its French counterpart in form and style. Perceivably influenced by documentary-style realism, New Wave artistically combined the vision of the novelists or the playwright, and cinematic creativity of the director. The paper attempts to analyse the creative aspirations and the artistic influences of the New Wave filmmakers with a view to understanding and categorising the essential genre of British New Wave, as a cinema of the auteur or as a cinema of the writer. Yet, central to the analysis is the idea that while essentially following the historic tradition of British Cinema of adapting successful dramas and novels and persevering the spirit of documentary-style realism of Free Cinema, the British New Wave adapted and altered the auteur theory of contemporary French cinema, combining the art and craft of the writer and director in distinctly remarkable ways. Crucial to the analysis may be an understanding of the historical development of the movement, and the motives and motivations of the New Wave filmmakers. The mid-1950s, a period of

Ontology and Epistemology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ontology and Epistemology - Essay Example We will talk about ontology and its direct, objective approach to studying an entity, and epistemology, with its more intrinsic approach concerning knowledge, truth, belief, and justification. Ontology Ontology is the study of kinds of things that exist and its nature of being (â€Å"Ontology†). It is said that everything that has a name exists. Every noun points to an actual entity. Ontology is the study about that entity. Whether the concept is concrete such as a microorganism, or abstract such as resilience, the study of that entity as something that exists is the ontological approach. It is generally a descriptive and categorical way of thinking that examines the nuts and bolts of an existing entity, categorizing and differentiating it from other entities. I am holding a flower. The flower I am holding is a rose. The thorns are pointy and can pierce my skin. These are all ontological notions. It is the recognition and classification of an entity that exists and its constit uent parts. Epistemology Epistemology on the other hand is the study of knowledge. It questions what a person knows, how he knows what he knows, and how much a person can know about something. Some philosophers believe that knowledge is a True Belief that has Justification. So the three components of knowledge are that it should be true, the person with the knowledge must believe it is true, and there should be proof or justification that it is true (Sahakian and Sahakian). If epistemology is about knowledge, this is how they look at the situation: I KNOW it is a flower because all flowers have a stem, a stalk, leaves and a bunch of petals on the tip. This is true because it is consistent with other flowers who also have the same characteristics. I KNOW it is in my hand because I can feel it and see it in my hand. This is true under the correspondence theory of truth and Naive Realism. I KNOW it is a rose because I was taught by my teacher that this is what a rose looks like. This i s true under the criteria of authority. I KNOW that the thorns can pierce my skin because pointy objects can pierce my skin. This is true under Consensus gentium. All these things are considered knowledge because I believe that they are as they are, and my beliefs are proven to be true because the justification satisfies the criteria of truth. Satisfying the criteria of truth is needed to justify a proposition. There are many criteria for truth, some of which are valid, and others are not. These criteria are all valid or invalid to certain extents. Truth The criteria for truth consist of Authority which states that a proposal is true as long as a qualified individual says it is. This criterion is not very reliable since different qualified individuals can have opposing views toward a single topic. Coherence is the criterion in which a proposal is true as long as the facts are well explained and are reconciled to support that proposal. This criterion could be the most effective test of truth but is limited by the person’s ability to gather all the relevant facts. Consensus gentium is a general truth accepted by all of mankind. An example is the existence of gravity; consistency can be either mere or strict. Mere consistency makes a proposition true as long as two correct statements don’t contradict. Strict consistency needs a prior true statement to validate the proposed true statement; correspondence makes a propositi

Leda and the Swan on the painting photos Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leda and the Swan on the painting photos - Essay Example The essay "Leda and the Swan on the painting photos" explores he symbols of Leda and the Swan in the context of Painting Photos. Conversely, in a work of art or sculpture, we do not encounter impressionable representations for different senses, but with a real visual illustration. The artist that from the experience of Swan and Leda would depict the view of wings that are spread out will not depict at all: He would hide from view what we wanted to see with all our heart. The traditional explanation comprises in staging the bodies immediately before their entwining. However, such is not an attractive solution in the example of Leda and the swan: we exactly had the aim of witnessing the dealings after the incident. Moreover, to paint an image that would be the basis of troubles. First, there is the nervousness between the imposing form of Zeus and the modest figure of the swan in which in he is distorted. Predominantly, because the miniature bird has also to mount the enormous feminine body. Prior to the mind’s eye, we unobtrusively acclimatize the form of the swan, as according to previously Ovid cited verses. Nevertheless, when the view is graphically portrayed there in front of our very eyes, the inconsistency sandwiched between the forceful Zeus and the modest form of the swan is captured by the eyes vision. The depiction of loving couples has constantly been a setback in the plastic arts. In the apparent motive, those of a pair linking the most attractive fronts are concealed from sight.

The Personal Analytical Paper Essay Example for Free

The Personal Analytical Paper Essay Often times, I find myself sitting alone, reading a book or enjoying a cup of coffee. Sometimes I could sit for hours in a coffee shop just by myself. I contemplate on the things that are going on in my life. I think of the issues and problems that are bothering me. I try to sort out the many things that trouble me.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I cannot help but question myself, why do I prefer to keep my problems to myself? Why do I choose not to open up to other people? My best friend has asked me this question several times. Why can’t I let others in?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As I try to figure out the answer to my question, I begin to analyze the other facets of myself. Am I anti-social? Am I a loner? Can I not mingle with other people? If I answer yes to any of these questions then I need not explore any further for they would explain why I prefer to keep things to myself. However, I cannot say that I am completely anti-social. I cannot say that I am a loner nor can I say that I do not mingle with other s for I do. I go out; I socialize and have fun but when it comes to personal matters, particularly personal struggles and problems, I tend not to open up to anyone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Other people would call their closest friends at times of trouble. Others would seek help or simply look for a comforting shoulder or an ear willing to listen. I myself have friends who would call me and tell me their issues no matter how big or small. They would open up about the simplest problems to the most complicated ones. I listen and offer my shoulder so why do I not seek out the same things when I have the same problems? It is not that I do not have anyone to turn to for I believe I have sincere and true friends around. It is not that I think my friends would not understand for I know that they are more than capable of helping me analyze the situation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   So why can’t I open up to them? Why do I prefer to sit with a book or a cup of coffee to sort out my problems? As I figure out the answers to these questions over a cup of dark roast coffee, as I usually do, I realize that it is just my nature to handle things on my own.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Since I was young, my parents have raised me to become independent. They tried to instill in me the value of knowing what I can do and doing it. They taught me that if I can do something on my own then I should just do it on my own. As I look back on my past, I realized that even though help has been offered so many times in so many different situations I have always preferred to do things on my own.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I realized that my coffee shop sessions were merely my planning and organizing phase. It is at these times when I try to figure out if there’s anything I can do to resolve the problems I face. The coffee sessions alone are my version of private space. As I look around in the coffee shop I feel connected to the world yet at the same time I feel that I have my own space and time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Having coffee alone, in my case, is not a sign of being a loner. Rather it is a sign of every individual belonging to the same world yet at the same time having his own little world to explore and contemplate on.

Risk & Return Essay Example for Free

Risk Return Essay What are investment returns? What is the return on an investment that costs $1,000 and is sold after 1 year for $1,100? Investment returns is the expectation of earning money in the future on the amount of money invested. The return is the financial performance of the investment. The return is the difference between the amount invested and the amount you are returned after said investment. There are two ways to show return on investment. 1. By dollar return. Amount to be received – Amount invested = $1,100 $1,000 = $100 in return The problems with expressing returns in dollars, you don’t know the size of the investment for that dollar return and you don’t know the timing of the return. 2. Rate of Return or percentage returns Amount received – Amount invested / Amount invested = $100 / $1000 = . 10 = 10% The rate of return â€Å"standardizes† the dollar return by considering the timing b. (1) Why is the T-bill’s return independent of the state of the economy? Do T-bill’s promise a completely risk-free return? Beta coefficients are the weighted average of its individual securities’ betas. You will add each securities beta to find the portfolio’s beta. i. Suppose you have the following historical returns for the stock market and for the company P. Q. Unlimited. Explain how to calculate beta, and use the historical stock returns to calculate the beta for PQU. Interpret your results. See attached. Calculate betas using historical data. A regression line is fitted through the points of the market returns (x-axis) and company’s returns (y-axis) and the slope of that line provides an estimate of the stock’s beta.

History of Furniture Design

History of Furniture Design How did furniture develop through the centuries? Furniture (probably from the French fournir — to provide) is the mass noun for the movable objects (mobile in Latin languages) intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things. The question above is not an easy one to answer. Going through the ages of the past it can easily be seen that people invented loads of different types and shapes of furniture. To try to answer this question we would have to go all the way back to the medieval times. This period in time would have to be the starting point in this matter and the Fourteenth-Centurys Great Hall would have to be our point A. Moving forward in the pursuit of evolution of the furniture we would come across the Fifteenth-Centurys Solar (room) and following that road the typical Tudor Interior from the Sixteenth-Century in which the Elizabethan trend was the strongest one to point out. Another development going forward was presented in the Seventeenth-Century in the age of Stuarts quickly followed up by the Georgian Times with its changes in the furniture art and craft. Late Eighteen-Century was known as the golden age for furniture also names as â€Å"age of mahogany†. Moving forward into the Victori an times and drastic increase in furniture demand and finally put an end to the journey through the development of furniture and settle in the Twentieth-Century and its long history. The pursuit of the answer to the above question will not be straight forward and it will involve getting into details of different fashion and behaviour of people who lived in the periods presented above. The time frames would have to be examined carefully and the conclusion have to be made after comparing and reviewing examples from each period of time. The plan would be to keep the research chronically and go over the terms of years in historical order. That is the best possible way to point out the differences and potential development of the furniture along the ages. The fact that people are the creators of the furniture supports the positive answer to the question as all human beings are unique and persons mind is infinite. Therefore the furniture build by the hand of men can and will vary among the time. MEDIEVAL: The quest through the ages in the aim of furniture development will start in the medieval time. Furniture in that period was created purely to help people with day to day tasks table was used only to eat or draw on it. It was not designed to be a piece of art, it was more of a tool. There was a very little furniture in a medieval home and the piece were all of basic, utilitarian design. One of the most valued items was the wooden bed on which lay the feather mattress, supported on boards or rope mesh. After the bed the chest was the most important article of furniture, the craftsmen were outrunning themselves in the decorative piercing of them. There were also cupboards for storage of food and plate. Benches and long oak solid and trestle tables were popular as well in that time, the families were big and the longer the table the more people could eat at the same time. Practicality was the main purpose of the medieval age furniture. Great Hall was the main room where peopl e used to dine and festive together. Most furniture was made of oak, boarded for the most part and decorated by carving and painting. Medieval Trestle table Medieval Chest ELIZABETHAN / JACOBEAN: The introduction of joined furniture towards the end of the Fifteenth-Century made possible stronger and lighter articles. In the time of the Tudor dynasty furniture was slowly becoming more varied in design and greater in quantity. Oak was still the wood most in use and decoration was by carving and inlay. In the first half of the Sixteenth-Century linenfold panelling was extensively carved to decorate panels for chests and cupboards. The reign of Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 24 March 1603) is a good starting point for the study of furniture. Elizabethan furniture is characterised by the bulbous leg, carved with acanthus leaf decoration (seen in beds, tables, court cupboards and buffets). The four-poster bed made its appearance in this century. The framework of tester, posts and headboard was richly carved over the entire surface. Through still not common, chairs were more numerous than in the previous times. Elizabethan bedroom Elizabethan table STUART: Furniture, as elsewhere in the house had become more adequate and convenient. Additionally to the kitchen table there was always a settle, a dresser, and chairs. In the second half of the Seventeenth-Century the carving of woodwork reached exceptionally high standard of craftsmanship. Classical ornaments were used in carving. Most common ones were egg and dart, bead and reel and acanthus foliage. After the Restoration of the Monarchy (1660) furniture become more decorative but at the same time they were more useful at home. Charles II after his return to England from France brought different methods of making the furniture. Also, use of the other types of wood and the meaning of ornamentation strongly evolved at that time. Craftsmen from France were permanently moving to England and they were improving and implementing their way of creating the furniture to the local ones. The period between 1660 and 1750s was known in the history as the â€Å"age of walnut†. This wood was generally used purely due to the low cost and the colour of it. The construction of the furniture became more delicate and the design of it varied. Legs were turned in bobbin vase or columnar form or as the quality of lathe design improved, in the spiral twist. The day bed appeared along with the usage of more chairs and settees. Solid dining tables were pushed out by the gate-leg design, card and small side tables. Upholstery was in common use for seating furniture, it was covered with turkeywork, velvet or embroidery and edged with fringe and tassels. The appearance of new decorative techniques (veneering, japanning, gesso, marquetry) raised the art of furniture to the next level. Stuart chair Gate-leg table GEORGIAN: The form of classicism followed by architects during this long period changed markedly. Palladianism appeared and developed in the early years of this period (1714 1760). Typical English style restrained and almost austere on the exterior, correct in its classical design and detail, richer, warmer and bold within. The country houses of this type were set in carefully selected exteriors, ideal positioned in laid out parklands. The Eighteenth-Century was the golden age of the English house. The quality of design and craftsmanship in architecture and the decorative arts had been steadily improving since Elizabethan times and this reached its zenith in the years 1760 1790. There was a trend in furnishing design to follow a rapidly changing variety of different source material. The standard of workmanship suffered due to mass production of decorative parts based on the cost and time saving background. In total, the time and patience required to train a craftsman and the money to pay him to produce a superb piece of furniture were running out and the decay of taste was imminent. The general quality of the furniture was dropping down rapidly. Due to quick increase of population classy and stylish furniture were pushed out by simpler quicker to made designs, more efficient and less effective mass products. The golden age was also called the mahogany age in the furniture history. Although walnut was continued in use until mid-century, other woods were also employed. After the abolition in 1721 of the import duties of West Indian timers, mahogany began to enter the country in numbers. It was a perfect wood for a furniture making industry. Strong, suitable for delicate carving (ribband or lyre back chairs and cabriole legs terminating in claw and ball feet), also available in greater widths than walnut what made it ideal for veneered surfaces of larger area and for table tops. It had a beautiful patina and resistance to woodworm. In this period many new designs appeared at a glance, such as tables, chair, stools, settees, bureaux. China and corner cabinets were also popular, along with dumb waiters, mirrors, candle stands desks and commodes. The designs of the first half of the century were larger scale, nicely carved in classic manner and superbly veneered surfaces. 1750s was the time of the Rococo motif in furnishing, followed by Chinese and Gothic forms. 1760s was a more delicate period characteristic with carved mahogany but also painted and gilded beech, harewood and satinwood veneers, ormolu mounts and marquetry and brass inlay. In this period more delicate furniture pushed out the heavier designs from previous years i.e. the cabriole leg was pushed out by the tapering square leg. New items started appearing in the 70s and 80s of Eighteen-Century and Pembroke table was one of the examples. At the end of the century came the Sheraton era, displaying simultaneously strength, function and delicacy in the furnishing designs. Decoration was restrained in painting, inlay and veneer, often with metal inlay and mounting. The design was plain and mostly copied from antique originals Greece. The sofa table evolved from the Pembroke form. Chairs were characterized with by horizontal backs rather than vertical splats, and legs which often curved in sabre design (Egyptian or Etruscan samples). Typical of mirror design was the circular convex type. The long dining table was revived, standing on curved legs and pillared supports. 1740 1750s room 1760s room (Adams Room) Pembroke table Lattice-back chair Rococo set Regency furniture (late 18th cent.) VICTORIAN: Nineteenth-Century period. The interiors of Victorian houses were in marked contrast to the previous century. One of the major reasons for this was the urbanization process and the migration of people from country to the cities. Also, the major growth of population forced the change in the design of the houses and its interiors. Mass-production methods of supplying the needs led to a greater similarity in their designs, which overall resulted in a poorer level of design and workmanship. The early part of this period saw machines beginning to replace hand labour, the beginning of the industrial age.This period created a large gap between the designer and the craftsmen. The factories had changed, the designers no longer had direct contact with the customer. The new machines were introduced to take away from man the back braking jobs and speed up manufacture. They soon began to take over most of the work and the furniture started to be designed around what the machine could m ake, therefore the quality of design declined. The demand for furniture was high, the factories were manufacturing at a fast pace, and a frantic rush for the designers to keep ahead of each other created poor quality design. Interior decorative schemes were in great contrast to the Regency ones. White or light painted wood work had been replaced by dark brown tones. Furnishing fabrics were all darker and richer in hue and most often strongly patterned. There was a strong tendency to drape materials over everything, tasselled velvet covers to tables and chimneypieces, antimacassars on the chair and sofa backs. Upholstery was heavy, button designs were very fashionable. The whole interior was over furnished and over decorated, a profusion of stuffed birds, framed photographs, lace mats and wax fruit. Designers rather used and modified many styles taken from various time periods in history like Gothic, Tudor, Elizabethan, English Rococo, Neoclassical and others. The clean Grecian lines of the Regency period were out of favour by 1835 and everyone wanted furniture that was showier with plenty of curves. This showier furniture after 1850 led to low prices and poor construction and workmanship that was often h idden by veneer and applied ornament. The Gothic and Rococo revival style were the most common styles to be seen in furniture during this time in history. In the last 20 years of the century colours became lighter again, patterns less vivid, and fewer pieces of furniture were placed in a room. Mass production was still at its height therefore the quality and individualism of the furniture started to extinct. Because of the technical progress in the industry the interior became more casual and was supposed to be functional more than elegant. Furniture was less attractive, it was heavier in design and often over elaborately decorated. In the late century the whole 18th century and the earlier style designs were copied and reproduced for a mass market. It was very hard to establish which the differences between the originals and the reproductions. One of the characteristic Victorian features was the extensive use of the papier mache and to a lesser degree, Tunbridge ware. The balloon back chair and the introduction of brass and iron in the construction of the bedsteads were crucial in the Victorian furniture history. Rocking chairs were v ery popular along with tent beds. Plainer, more traditional furniture was made by a number of designers at the end of the century. William Morris started a rebellion against this trend, founding a company to demonstrate the superiority of quality handmade furniture. Honesty of the handmade joints was his feature of construction. This lead to the Arts and Crafts Movement on the 1880s leading on to Art Nouveau. This drew attention to the merits of 18th Century furniture and led to the practice of purchasing second hand furniture and the antique shop began. Victorian chairs Victorian hall Victorian rocking chair Balloon back chair Tunbridge ware box Papier mache table THE TWENTIETH-CENTURY: Throughout history there has been great change in furniture design, but by far the most rapid and revolutionary period of furniture history was the 20th Century. The two world wars of this century were not themselves responsible for the changes in society. The wars did however act as catalysts speeding up the processes of change. They have created specific barriers before and after the years of struggle with no chance of returning back to the previous existence. All of the above has changed peoples attitude towards change drastically. After each war the position of women and their functionality had altered fundamentally. Middle and upper class housewives found themselves without sufficient labour to run their homes as before needed to arrange labour save equipment and finishes without outer help. Interiors quickly became plain and far lesser furniture was used inside. The history of furniture design in the 20th century reflects the changing tastes and trends within the design community. The early years of 20th century design were dominated by the slow reaction from the mid-Victorian over furnished interior, were the excess of decoration taken place once again. International Arts and Crafts Movement which was quickly followed by Art Nouveau (circa 1910-1920) and Art Deco (circa 1920-1930) became more of a trend than periods in the early 20th century furnishing history. There was a great furniture demand to supply all new build houses after the wars. Machine production had to be established to cope with the needs, however this has greatly impacted the quality of the furniture. Some excellent modern designs were manufactured in Scandinavia and in the 30s were gradually influencing the English product for the better. This flat packed furniture revolutionised the market in the whole Western Europe. By mid century Modern and Post Modern styles accounted for the changing tastes of post-war consumers. Convenience and time-saving became more important to the whole family in the decades after 1945. After World War II, the public as a whole looked to warmer and softer furniture, organic forms, warmer products like timber and upholstered chairs. They wanted to be cared for by their furniture, feel comfortable and most of all have some luxury that had long been missing. Central heating replaced the heating of the individual rooms. These two factors, together with a rising standard of living and a desire for greater privacy for the individual members of the family led to general rearrangement and the new decor of the rooms. The recognition that with a central heating there was no need for a fireplace led to the fact that in most homes the TV receiver became now the focal centre. Smaller, more individual bedrooms appeared in the households. One of the most popular developments of that period was the usage of plastic textiles. In the field of plastic an extensive range of materials has become available to produce colourful, attractive, and easy to care surfaces at home. The plastic materials together with development of synthetic textile fibres, have revolutionised the decoration processes in the furniture industry. Plastics were like the tubular steel of old, it opened up doorways for new furniture design, lightweight and versatile, designers like Joe Colombo, Vernon Panton and Anna Castelli-Ferreri stormed ahead concepting and manufacturing plastic stacking chairs, beautiful and versatile. The industrial style or Hi Tech movement developed in the 70s. The greatest advances were in office furniture and equipment with Olivetti of Italy leading the way. The 80s period of furniture design continued to focus on the industrial sector. Designs were predominately commissioned for retail shopping, hospitals, restaurants, school s and hotels. The favoured materials were metal, perforated metal became popular along with steel reinforcing mesh. Designers of this period searched to find greater meaning and purpose for their furniture design. Some strange and unusual forms were explored like the W.W. Stool by Phillipe Starck a fantasy style piece of furniture that makes you question if you can indeed dare to sit on it! The Soft Heart chair by Ron Arad showed how by using polyurethane foam that the choice of shapes and form was limitless! Clever materials, technology and production methods meant that the only limits were the designers imagination. Going through the period of time and examining all different trends in the history of furniture few interesting conclusions appeared. Bibliography: 1. â€Å"English Interiors a pictorial guide and glossary†, Doreen Yarwood 1983 2. â€Å"The Encyclopedia of Furniture third edition†, Joseph Aronson 1965 3. â€Å"A Century Of Interior Design 1900 2000†, Stanley Abercrombie 2003 4. 20th Century furniture history http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr559f/04-05-st1/portfolios/G_Bahnemann/Furniture_Design.pdf 5. Victorian Furniture history http://www.interiordezine.com/index.cfm/Furniture_History/Victorian_Furniture

Plato has Stronger Reasoning than Aristotle Essay examples -- Philosop

Plato and Aristotle Nearly all humans have the goal to live a virtuous and happy life. Two of the world most acknowledged philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, had their own views on this central issue. Plato supported the understanding view; he believed understanding is the key to living a virtuous life. Aristotle supported the habit and action view; he believed that individuals become virtuous by continuous moral actions. By and large both philosophers have a good standpoint; but in my judgment one has a stronger line of reasoning. Plato supports the view of understanding over custom and tradition. He believes that individuals should acquire the knowledge to understand something and then start performing the action. Plato says that once someone understands the good then he or she will do it; he says â€Å"...what we desire is always something that is good† (pg.5). We can understand from this that Plato is saying individuals want to do good for themselves; we perform immoral deeds, because we don’t have the understanding of the good. The lack of knowledge and understanding w...

Computer Crimes versus Traditional Crimes :: Crime Hacker Internet Theft Fraud

Computer Crimes versus Traditional Crimes A computer hacker can steal more with a computer than a weapon. For example, internet auction fraud (i.e., EBay) was by far the most reported offense, comprising 44.9% complaints as opposed to check fraud which made up 4.9% complaints.1 It is my opinion that many crimes involving computers are the same as crimes committed without one and that the computer is just a tool to help aide the criminal in committing the offense. Stealing is a crime and should not be considered different just because a computer is involved. Computer crimes are no different from other crimes, and computer criminals should be held responsible for the damage they cause. In order to determine if computer crimes are the same as non-computer crimes, we must first define what crime is. The broad definition of crime is an offense against public law and the intentional commission of an act usually deemed socially harmful or dangerous,2 but there are several types of crime. For instance, robbery is the taking of another’s property either by force or fear with the intent to deprive the owner of the property. Crimes, such as fraud, theft (including identity theft), forgery, and embezzlement, can occur in both the traditional sense (without a computer) or in a more contemporary sense in which computers are used to facilitate the illegal activity. Computer crime, or cyber crime, has been defined as a crime in which a computer plays an essential part. This type of crime is the illegal exploitation of computer technologies most often involving the Internet. In a relatively short period of time, we as a society have witnessed an explosion of technological computer advancements. For instance, today there are over 5 million computers permanently attached to the Internet and at least that many which are only sporadically online compared to only 200 in 1983.3 Based on this wide spread use of the internet, the United States government is desperately attempting to define what constitutes cyber crime and the appropriate punishment associated with the crime. It is very tough to apply the consequences of many of the computer crimes that are being done each day because it is such a recent problem in society. In time I believe it will be much easier to determine who and how people are going about doing illegal activities online, but as of now we don’t have the technology or time to catch all those hackers out there.

Much Ado About Nothing :: essays research papers

I wasn’t able to attend the play in Spring Green, WI, so I will be giving an explanation of one of the characters of the play. I have chosen to talk about Beatrice, and I hope I can make it two whole pages.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beatrice is the niece of Leonato, who is am influential figure in Messina, where the story, Much Ado About Nothing, takes place. He is also a good friend with Don Pedro who leads an army, which has just come back from battle.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  She is a very pretty young woman, with a very outgoing attitude. She tells it like it is, and doesn’t care what people think about her. Everyone loves her, and she is quite the entertainer. Beatrice makes everyone laugh, with her witty remarks. She’s a very intelligent person, and she knows it. So does everyone else for that matter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beatrice always says, throughout almost the entire play that she could never get married, because she would never be able to find a man that could make her happy, in fact she is almost sure that the perfect man for her doesn’t exist. She doesn’t need a man in her life, and she’s perfectly happy being without a husband. Now don’t get me wrong, she isn’t a mean person, she’s just really independent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Well that was until Benedick, a very handsome military man with an attitude equal to Beatrice’s, came along. They bickered back and forth and spoke constantly about how much they hated each other, and butted heads whenever possible. So, it was obvious to everyone around them that they were perfect for eachother. There was a little trickery and they ended up falling head over heals in love with one another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  So, even though she wasn’t looking for a man and never planned to, she got him.

Executive Branch Essay

The executive branch is the most powerful branch of government. The executive branch makes the president commander in chief. It also gives the president the role of economic leader. And he/she can also make executive orders that have the force of law. These are just some of the many roles that make the executive branch the most powerful branch of government. When the president has the role of commander in chief he/she is given the power to use force to back up our foreign policy. They are in charge of the army, navy, air force, marines, and the coast guard. The top commanders of all of these branches of service are subordinate to the president. The president is also our economic leader. He/She deals with unemployment, rising prices, high taxes and more. When voted into office the president is expected to care of these issues. One key task the president must accomplish each year is to plan the federal government’s budget too. Last but not least, the president has the role of chief executive. He can make an executive order, which has the force of law. During his presidency, Harry S. Truman had to use an executive order in 1948 to integrate armed forces. The president also has the power to grant pardons. A pardon is a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment. The president has many roles to help keep our country in order. From commander in chief, economic leader, and chief executive he/she helps everything run as smoothly as possible. The executive branch is by far the most powerful branch of government, because it helps keep our country out of trouble and copasetic.

Bringing Adam Home Essay

Bringing Adam Home review examines the story of the decades-long investigation into the abduction and murder of 6-year-old Adam Walsh. The police investigation took 27 years to prove guilt of the serial killer, Ottis Toole, who made multiple confessions to the murder. The book is written by the experienced detective writer Les Standiford with the help of the retired detective Joe Matthews, who finally found evidence of Toole’s committing the murder 27 years afterwards. The case of Adam Walsh has influenced the American society in the way that legislatures were made protecting children, and practices were adopted helping find missing and potentially abducted children. Key words: abduction, evidence, investigation, kidnapping, murder. Bringing Adam Home Book Review Standiford, L., & Matthews, J. (2011).Bringing Adam home: The abduction that changed America. New York, NY: Harper Collins. ISBN:9780061983900. Bringing Adam Home is the story of the decades-long investigation into the abduction and murder of 6-year-old Adam Walsh who missed from a local Sears in Hollywood, Florida, on July 27, 1981. The police investigation took 27 years to prove guilt of the serial killer, Ottis Toole, who made multiple confessions to the murder – yet the Hollywood, FL, police department did not believe him and failed to use any of evidences that had been found. The abduction of Adam Walshblew people’s minds and undermined their sense of protection. The American society has never been the same ever since – parents did not let their kids play alone outside, nor did their ever say ‘Be home by dark’; a child could be left nowhere unsupervised. It was Adam’s family bad luck that at that time, there were no Amber Alerts and no national data base for crimes against children. Adam’s parents, John and  Revà © Walsh, bent backwards to change the situation. They became renowned crime fighters, propelled the passage of the 1982 Missing Children Act, and John Walsh became a host of the television program America’s Most Wanted (Standiford2011). Adam Walsh’s kidnapping was not only the most important casein American history of missing children that changed the corresponding legislature but also the most famous one. Many people still remember themselves being kids and watching it on the news (Martin, 2011). However, the details of the case are not as well-known as they should be; given the coverage in the media.The more emotional side of the story, through the eyes of the Walsh family, is rendered in Tears of Ragewritten by John Walsh (Scott, 2011). The puzzle of the botched investigation that ran over almost three decades was solved by the retired Miami detective Joe Matthews and written down by the acclaimed writer Les Standiford, the au thor of 9 fiction novels and 6 non-fiction books (Standiford, 2001). The authors open their cards in the very beginning of the book and introduce the killer, Ottis Toole, right in the second chapter. Toole was a low IQ drifter who set fires and assaulted people to relieve his psychological pressure. From chapter 2 to 4, the authorsgive a detailed recount of the work of Hollywood detective Hoffman who could not organize his work so not to lose important clues and evidence and who was not very keen on the idea that Toole was the killer. According toMatthews, Hoffman is portrayed as a moody and self-contained investigator who â€Å"looked like a guy who disapproved of most things on general principle† (Standiford, 2001). Apart from disregarded leads and lost evidences, Hoffman also treated Adam’s parents carelessly not bothering to inform them that their friend Jimmy Campbell, who was prime suspect, had been cleared. For many years John and Revà ©Walsh received no information from the police as for the investigation of their son’s murder. Matthews felt that it was extremely insensitive on the part of Hoffman. Together with undeveloped enough forensic methods, the case of Adam Walsh advanced by imperceptible pace. As Reve Walsh put it: â€Å"It was a sad thing for this country that the fight had to be led by two broken-down parents of a murdered child†(Standiford, 2001). The authors underscore that it could not be said that the Hollywood department was incompetent. Rather that the case was too difficult, and Detective Hoffman turned out to be too snobbish not only to ask for help but also to accept help from Joe Matthews when he  offered it not once. Hoffman was â€Å"too unstructured and ill-equipped† for such mind-bogging case (Standiford, 2001).Det. Serg. Matthews was a lie detector expert and an experiences homicide detective and, being hired by the Hollywood, Fl, Polic e Department, he was very interested by the case and was ready to use his knowledge to solve the case. Among other things, the difference in approaches of two detectives was that Hoffman was obsessed with finding physical evidences linking Toole to the Adam’s murder; while Matthews believed that circumstantial evidence could make do in some cases. That meticulous recount of all glaring mistakes of the Hollywood, Fl, police department and the detailed description of their daily working life had its aim in showing that detectives’ work is far from the glamorized TV series. Doing on a daily basis such boring chores as searching for a person who moved and did not leave the new address, or surveilling a suspect for many days, exhaust detectives, and the not very dedicated ones â€Å"let things slide† (Standiford, 2011).Standiford and Matthews seem to mention every lead that was not followed, and every report that was incomplete or even falsified. Matthews blames the manner of interrogation when the suspect was let speak without asking necessary questions, and he found the witness who was consistently ignored by Hoffman. The most shocking omission, the reader may consider, was the neglect of the repeated confessions by Toole with a graphic description of the whole process of abduction, murdering, sodomizing, and decapitating of Adam Walsh and the subsequent dismembering and setting ablaze his body. Toole even gave a sensational interview to Jacksonville Times Union where he repeated his confession to the murder of Adam Walsh (Standiford, 2011). Chapters 5 to 6 focus on Matthews’s account of how he proceeded with the investigation. It became possible only after Hoffman was transferred to the Patrol Division in 1994 (Standiford, 2011). Matthews spent two years and nine months reviewing the case and adding new materials. In the end,Matthews had multiple eyewitness identification of Toole taking Adam from Sears, twenty-five independent confessions to the crime made by Ottis Toole, and most important of all – missed by previous investigators – luminal images of machete and luminal outline of a child’s face on the carpet of Toole’s Cadillac. It finally proved Ottis Toole to be the man who committed the crime. The first part of the book does not make an easy reading. When Toole gives his numerous confessions to various  detectives all the same details of the murder, rape, and dismembering are repeated ad nauseam, without adding anything new. Because of it, for those readers who like genuine crime stories, the book may seem quite slow. Standiford and Matthews were extremely repetitive in details of the crime itself, its prolonged investigation, the history behind the suspects, and descriptions of Toole’s perversions. However, the authors rather had in mind to show how the process of investigation can be dragged for years due to the inability of the police to find hard evidence for the already confessed crime. Standiford, who is an experienced detective writer with a number of narrative non-fiction stories under his belt, narrates dryly and matter-of-factly, which contributes to the authentic feel of the blood-chil ling story. Despite waving their incompetence, Matthews provides a scrupulous evidence of the Hollywood, Fla., police department’s negligence, thus making it difficult to believe that behind such an undisciplined behavior may be anything other than a conspiracy to cover up its incompetence. The authors’aim seems to lay in proving two points. Firstly, the case could have been solved within two years, when Ottis Toole was arrested for arson and confessed repeatedly to the murder of Adam Walsh saying that he was â€Å"very, very sorry that he did it† (Standiford, 2011). Secondly, the police department of Hollywood, FL, had a chance to solve the case quickly, had they let do it to Det. Serg. Matthews. Bringing Adam Home is a gruesome story of justice finally served two decades too late. By that time, though, Ottis Toole had died in prison. And our society has changed. Now kids are warned about strangers. No one leaves their kids in the toy area and goes shopping anymore. Lawenforcement has transformed its practices to better protect children. Public places have adopted Code Adam, a powerful search tool for lost and potentially kidnapped children (Code Adam, n.d.). Code Adam is a predecessor to Amber Alert, a network of notifications to the public through urgent bulletins on television and radio. References Code Adam.(n.d.). The National center for missing &exploited children. Retrieved from http://www.missingkids.com/CodeAdam Martin, C. (2011, February 09). Book Review – Bringing Adam home by Les Standiford[Web log post].Retrieved fromhttp://www.chaoticcompendiums.com/2011/02/book-review-bringing-adam-home-by-les.html Scott, M. (2011, February 26). ‘Bringing Adam home’ offers strong proof in the 1981 murder of Adam Walsh. Cleveland.com. Retrieved fromhttp://www.cleveland.com/books/index.ssf/2011/02/bringing_adam_home_offers_stro.html Standiford, L. (2001). Biography[Web log post].Retrieved from http://www.les-standiford.com/Pages/Biography.html Standiford, L., & Matthews, J. (2011).Bringing Adam home: The abduction that changed America. New York, NY: Harper Collins. E-book