Week5 Critical Thinking Reflection Essay - 677 Words

Select one of the following questions and answer it in 200 to 300 words using the principles of critical thinking you learned in this course. How can we reduce poverty in the United States? Will receiving a college degree improve your career opportunities? Has the United States peaked as a world power? Will receiving a college degree improve your career opportunities? Once I choice this question immediately my enculturation barrier surfaced, because as soon as I read the question I said to myself well yes it does, and I believe I said that to myself because that what we have all been taught by our parents, teachers, and media, so that’s what I know to be true. After realizing that I allowed my barrier to surface I stopped and started to†¦show more content†¦Citation Finding the Value in a College Degree. (2014, September). The Student Loan Ranger, (), . Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/student-loan-ranger/2012/09/12/finding-the-value-in-a-college-degree Write, once you have answered the above question, a reflection of the process of critical thinking you used in forming your response. Include the following in your reflection: How does the process of critical thinking you used relate to or differ from the process you used to find content for your answer? How can you use critical thinking in other areas? What steps can you take to ensure that you continue to use critical thinking in the future? Reflection The process of critical thinking that I used to answer my question relates because in critical thinking you have to be willing to think differently and not just go with what you think you already know. You also have to ask yourself question and be able to understand the answers. I believe that I can use critical thinking in other areas by making sure that I am always open minded and be willing to listen and learn form others. The steps that I can take to ensure that I continue to use critical thinking in the future are to be able to acknowledge when I’m letting barriers get in the way, and make sure that I try to avoid them in the future. Other steps that I can take are to make sure that I questionShow MoreRelatedHow Can Storytelling Improve Communication Skills in a 4 Yr Old5438 Words   |  22 Pagesimprove communication skills in four year olds. CHAPTER TWO Literature Review The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which storytelling can improve the communication skills of a four year old child in an early childhood centre. Critical to this examination there would be two main factors contributing to the research. These are storytelling to improve communication skills and developing communication skills. It would demonstrate a clearer understand of the value of intervention at

Essay on Photo-shopped Lies - 1050 Words

Photo-shopped Lies Media plays a huge role in today’s society. Technology associated with media such as the internet has connected the world together, started revolutions, and has achieved many things that have benefitted us for years now. Although all of this rings true for media, some portrayals in media have had devastating effects that continue to increase. Photoshop has become increasingly popular to magazine and brand editors, celebrities, and models. This affects the way teens see themselves resulting in drastic measures such as eating disorders, cosmetic surgery, and bullying one another for being different. The first case of an eating disorder recognized medically was in 1873 (â€Å"Key Events†). The eating disorder was anorexia†¦show more content†¦Havent we learned anything from the research done on female eating disorders...except to extend it across the gender line? asks Kevin Coleary, a doctoral student in education at Harvard University. You woul d think we would have learned to make our culture more accepting of healthy, natural physiques, he says in the New York Times (â€Å"More Boys†). Magazines are brought up for making women look thinner or curvier but everyone seems to forget the alterations to make men look more muscular making teen boys want to bulk up which can cause them to develop an eating disorder or worse, abuse drugs such as steroids. Another way that photo shop portrayed in the media is negatively affecting society is the increase in use of plastic surgery among teens and young adults. Supporters of cosmetic surgery for teens say: A teenagers emotional maturity should not be measured by age, as each individual is different. Rather, a cosmetic surgeon should carefully interview a teenager, and, when practicable, a teens parents, to assess the maturity and emotional stability of the child. Cosmetic surgery is a viable means of helping teenagers with cosmetic flaws improve their self-esteem (â€Å"Teena gers and Cosmetic Surgery†). Although plastic surgery can improve a teenager’s self-esteem, the surgery wouldn’t be needed in the first place if itShow MoreRelatedBulimia and Anorexia: The Truth is Out There800 Words   |  4 Pagesmany of these people diagnosed with these disorders often feel isolated and pitiless to their situation. Many magazines and sites encourage women to starve themselves for perfection. Even though many of the pictures in articles are most likely photo shopped. (Laurance.) Although is it possible that deleting these sites can do more harm? It is possible, the truth is out there and it needs to be known. There are around 500 sites on anorexia and bulimia; these are visited by hundreds and thousands ofRead MoreBuying Into the Media ´s Body Image835 Words   |  4 Pagesin a photo used to re-promote her album 4, She is pictured lying across a leopard print couch, flaunting her unreasonably skinny figure in a revealing bathing suit and appearing much lighter than her normal skin tone. The African American woman, who was named â€Å"Peoples World’s Most Beautiful Woman† in 2012, is edited to look not only thinner, but also whiter, through the magic of computer retouching. This unrealistic body image translates to unhealthy eating habits. Celebrities can be photo-shoppedRead MoreEthics in Advertising Essay1263 Words   |  6 Pages should begin a process that will help eliminate this social issue. A policy should be initiated that all digitally altered photos in U.S. publications contain a warning label to help reduce the current negative effects of the unrealistic bod y image perpetuated by the media. Often times, advertisements illustrate a prototype of a perfect body achieved through over photo shopping. These perfect pictures can negatively influence a woman’s body image of herself, bringing about a greater concern toRead MorePhotography Is A Social Rite, But It Can Be A Defense Against Anxiety And A Tool Of Power1286 Words   |  6 Pages Humanities Greatest Lies (Revision) Sontag claims that â€Å"photography is, a social rite, but it can also be a defense against anxiety and a tool of power (page 130).† She backs claim by stating â€Å"photographs give people an imaginary possession of a past that is unreal, they also help people to take possessions of space in which they are insecure.† (Sontag page 131). In other words, having pictures allows people to tell stories that may not be exactly true. I agree with Sontag because I have witnessedRead MoreA Culture Of Perfection : Media s Influence On Adolescents1362 Words   |  6 Pagesfemales. Young girls are being raised in a society that tells them they are â€Å"not enough†. They are not thin enough, beautiful enough, sexy enough, or feminine enough to deserve the title â€Å"woman†. It is time to put a stop to media’s manipulation and lies. Adolescence is a very transformative period in one’s life. There are many changes that dramatically impact how children view and carry themselves. This is an essential developmental stage as their bodies are changing, they are increasingly more andRead More1984 By George Orwell Literary Analysis1625 Words   |  7 Pagesbelieve there may still be some parity left, â€Å"as a culture moves from orality to writing to printing to televising, its ideas of truth move with it† (28, 24). Considering the newest age of digital media, it becomes harder than ever to distinguish a Photo-shopped, airbrushed face from someone who is actually genuine and transparent. If television completely revolutionizes the way the people receive and communicate knowledge, then of course â€Å"not all forms of discourse can be converted from one medium toRead MoreThe World Where Sex Is Everywhere1711 Words   |  7 Pageswomen with washboard thin abdomens, long flowing blonde hair, and perfec tly round, perky breasts. Every time this happened, I reluctantly forced a smile and pretended to agree with their amusement, although all I saw in these photos were bodies that were obviously photo shopped and unattainable, that were there simply as sexual objects, which I was not interested in. It was in the seventh grade when I started to get the inclination that I might be a lesbian. I wasn’t obsessed with boys, so I assumedRead MoreEssay on Sandy Hook Elementary Massacre1451 Words   |  6 Pagesvictims (â€Å"Comprehensive†). A conspiracy theorist Jay Weidner said, â€Å"they aren’t behaving the way human beings would act† (qtd. in â€Å"Comprehensive† 2). Also, that all the media coverage the day of the massacre was edited to make the viewers believe in the lies being told by the media and government. Another conspiracy that developed is that the tribute websites were made before the shooting. The dates on the memorial websites were off by a couple of days. Alex Seitz-Wald, Salon’s political writer, wroteRead MoreDifferent Definitions of Art and Photography2371 Words   |  10 Pageshis absence.’ (Bazin 1967: 13), one has to first define what is meant by art. This commentary is going to examine this statement using three different definitions of art, Bazin’s, Tolstoy’s and Arnheim’s definitions. Andre Bazin believed realism lies at the heart of art, and that art is the process of reproducing reality. He believed that an artefact should ‘helps us to remember the subject and to preserve him from a second spiritual death’ (Bazin 1967: 10). He saw art as a way of immortalisingRead MoreEating Disorders: The Skinny on Skinny Essay1672 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels† (Moss). Skinny is beautiful. Bones are perfection; collar bones, prominent ribcage, concave stomach, hip bones and legs that do not touch no matter what position. All of this is achievable because happiness lies in the empty stomach. These are the ideas and ideals that bombard the eating disordered mind. These are the ideas that society projects and then questions why eating disorders are on the rise. Eating disorders were first recognized in the 1960’s and

PM Focus on Triple Constrain Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the PM Focus on Triple Constrain. Answer: Introduction In this report, the case study of Denver International Airport Baggage Handling will be discussed to understand the reason behind the failure of the project. The study will analyse, provide information about the importance of Triple Constrain, and discuss the elements of it with example to better understand the concept of using triple constrain. Finally, it will conclude the changes mentioned in the triple constrain that describes the problem and mistakes done in designing and construction of the system. Importance of PM focus on Triple Constrain based on the case study In the case study of Denver International Airport Baggage Handling that have experienced a horrific problem and failure in the system plan (Burge and McCall 2015). According to the opinion of the expert, they were running out of test time due to some changes requested from the airlines, while working and facing problems from other vendors and electrical power supply failure in the airport (Wanza and Susan 2017). This happens because Denver could not implement proper planning strategies to overcome such changes. Denver has even underestimated the project complexity. Due to improper planning and management skill, Denver end up making a decision that has affected the project execution (De Neufville 2016). The main reason for undertaking a project plan is to meet the needs of the business and get a new level of performance through charter organizations (DuBois et al, 2015). Within the environment of the project are competing priorities and demands are conflicting when constrained. The mo dern project is bound by three elements which is also known as the Iron Triangle in a Project Management which is shown as below: Scope, time, budget Scope, schedule, cost Good, fast, cheap Understanding triple constraints in PM with other examples Guardrails are the basic level for a project as it has the entire concept to which everyone agree before beginning any project. When the stakeholders creep the scope, a clear signal is provided by the triple constrain. The forces and the external factors that affect more than one legs of the project managers has measured by empowerment (Serrador, P. and Turner, R., 2015). The figure below gives an idea about how the dashboard helps the project managers to track the project scope, schedule and budget and meet any project needs. The triple constrain is helpful for the supervisors and the project managers as they can raise an alert before the adverse impact in the project. The dashboard regulates and delivers a best quality project that should measure the three factors. It is a fact that cost, time, and scope are inter-related for the starters project manager. Moreover, if any adjustment has done by the triple constraint, it will affect the others too. There are many cases in which the project manager wish to add scope to a project or may accept the change in the budget cut without determining the consequences. The potential repercussions of the project cost, time and scope of Denial may lead to issues and cause failure of the project (Serra and Kunc 2015). The project triple constrain has become codified in the manufacturing industry. Many projects have result in finished products with the use of triple constrain concept. The case of a united airline project that order twenty 707 jets from a Boeing manufactu rer including a total budget, delivery expectation of complete 20 functioning planes and an estimated timeline (Lopez, Mascione and Liu 2017). Later, if the United want to request for more planes then the timeline and budget will be shifted accordingly. Conclusion However, from the above it has concluded that though there is changes in the names of the three elements that has mentioned in the triple constrain but all of them measure the same thing, a fixed schedule or timeline, a set of deliverables or expectations that are fixed and a fixed budget. If anything happens to any one element of the triangle then to accommodate the changes, one or both the other elements need to be adjusted. References Burge, J.E. and McCall, R., 2015. Diagnosing Wicked Problems. In Design Computing and Cognition'14 (pp. 313-326). Springer, Cham. De Neufville, R., 2016. Airport systems planning and design. Air Transport Management: An International Perspective, p.61. DuBois, M., Hanlon, J., Koch, J., Nyatuga, B. and Kerr, N., 2015. Leadership styles of effective project managers: Techniques and traits to lead high performance teams. Journal of Economic Development, Management, IT, Finance, and Marketing, 7(1), p.30. Lopez, R., Mascione, D. and Liu, H.J., 2017. Management of issues in the delivery of airport infrastructure within Western Australia. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Management, Procurement and Law, 170(5), pp.207-217. Serra, C.E.M. and Kunc, M., 2015. Benefits realisation management and its influence on project success and on the execution of business strategies. International Journal of Project Management, 33(1), pp.53-66. Serrador, P. and Turner, R., 2015. The relationship between project success and project efficiency. Project Management Journal, 46(1), pp.30-39. Wanza, M.B. and Susan, W.E.R.E., 2017. Challenges Facing The Implementation Of Clearing System Upgrade Projects In Kenya: A Case Study Of The Direct Debit Automation In Selected Commercial Banks. International Journal of Project Management, 1(7), Pp.119-137.

Unfeasible Beings With Distinction Essay Example For Students

Unfeasible Beings With Distinction Essay All people of this world are different in some way or another. This is a fact. No two people are alike, nor do any beings on this earth contain the same exact physical features, but in this, personality traits are shared. Many desire to succeed, to encounter love and emotion, and feed their cravings of hunger, sex, and dignity. That is why man is man. No matter how demeaning or wounded they may be, man craves to come out as the winner. In the A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, A Days Wait, and In Another Country, the author Ernest Hemingway illustrates his characters with troubles of mental and physical behaviors. In parallel, all these characters share one universal goal; it is to come out of their single situations with dignity and decency. The clean and well-lighted caf in the story, A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, presented the old man with a place to go. Common to all beings, man likes to go out to a clean and well-lit place to share a drink with himself, maybe to soak away lifes unfairn ess or simply to enjoy his successes. The old man in this story showed dignity, The waiter watched him go down the street, a very old man walking unsteadily but with dignity.(31) His deafness was not the wound that this man would let him fail in life, but with this gift, he would succeed. The deafness does not seem to bother the old man but more to let him enjoy what he does without anyone else bothering him. The old man was a regular in the caf, The two waiters inside the caf knew that the old man was a little drunk, and while he was a good client(29), indicating that even with his deafness and annoyance to one of the waiters, I wish he would go home. He has no regard for those who must work.(31) the old man was always invited in. The old man likes the caf, not for its brandy but for the light, the people and the waiters, all which whom he cannot hear. We will write a custom essay on Unfeasible Beings With Distinction specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now A mans destination to go where he must go is sometimes blocked by Mother Nature. In a A Days Wait, Schatz is a boy that is over worried about falling asleep and letting his sickness over take his body and lose his dignity in front of his father. Why dont you try to go to sleep? Ill wake you up for the medicine. (35) Id rather stay awake. You dont have to stay in here with me Papa, if it bothers you.(35) The boy is now indirectly telling his father he does not want him to be here with him at all. No, I mean you dont have to stay if its going to bother you.(35) The boy is worried about the temperature his papa had written down for him. His face was very white and there were dark areas under his eyes. He lay still in the bed and seemed very detached from what was going on.(34) The boy is in a state of mental disorder where as everything in the world means nothing to him and all he wants is to continue to live. At school in France the boys told me you cant live with forty-four degrees. I ve got hundred and two.(36) What was written in the back of the boys room had been haunting him since he found out about his news. Telling his father to leave the room was a way for the boy to let go of his fake dignity and pride and possibly die without losing self-confidence in the eyes of this father. The boy thought that he had a wound that would lead to his death but still showed courage by telling his father to leave the room so the boy could await his death. The protection the boy expresses in the story makes him a man of self-respect and dignity. .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 , .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 .postImageUrl , .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 , .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08:hover , .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08:visited , .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08:active { border:0!important; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08:active , .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08 .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9b69c07dc504178e85baedbec1ce9c08:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Susan B Anthony EssayIn Another Country, poses a major whom is letting his dignity and pride show toward Nicholas Adams who is also wounded. The major and Nicholas Adams seem to have a relationship that his clearly a man to boy rapport. The major is the man,

The Gifted Cant Weigh That Giraffe

The Gifted Cant Weigh That Giraffe Introduction The main purpose of school is to educate individuals in society to school is an essential tool of transformation for students. Education plays a significant role in influencing a student’s overall perspective of life and their ability to perform. The increase in population and cultural change continue to place huge expectation on the school. The school’s responsibility is not only to teach basic arithmetic, reading and writing skills, but also influence the students to have an influence on society in general.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Gifted Cant Weigh That Giraffe specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The role of schools in contemporary society Schools have the mandate to provide educational programs, which are important to develop integrated systems. These should model service delivery where these systems come together; community organizations, judiciary and other social services. In stead of the school system duplicating effort, it would ensure a smooth transition from school to work place and from youth to adulthood. Most importantly, school experience should influence a positive relationship between school and the entire community. Important factors in the education of students There are several significant factors in the education of students; to ensure the acquisition of skills, knowledge and attitude to develop personal meaning relevant to their personal experiences (Case 1). In the formulation of programs and policies that are inclusive, it is important for educators to understand that every student is unique. The curriculum creation should therefore involve creation of an enabling environment and appropriate teaching techniques. These have to respond to changes in society that include cultural and technological advancement. Education should be able to relate to personal growth, attitude, behavior and general awareness of important aspects of life. The re levance of teaching techniques should keep up with the pace of technological advancement. Teaching methods perhaps, have not kept pace with our fast-paced technical society and cultural changes. They should be contextual regarding students ability, education resources and relevance of the curriculum. In the illustration to the gifted students, the teacher attempts to show how birds learn to fly. These open ended questions do not tap into the student’s initiative, to provide innovative ideas, therefore unsuccessful (Case 1). On the contrary, the use of how to weigh a giraffe illustration allows students to be creative. Therefore, it is important for the teacher to switch from a teacher-centered to a student centered classroom. It is important for all stakeholders to get involved. The parents should evaluate their value of expectations on schools to teach their children life lessons. Identify this and play their respective roles without necessarily blaming educators, education polices or funding by the government.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The environment at home has an impact on the student’s achievement at school. Without excessive expectations exacted on them by parents and educators, students tend to move from fear of making mistakes and criticism to the ability of making sound decisions (Case 1). Both gifted and low achievers need not only the text book experience but also problem solving skills which encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. School experience in forming responsible citizens It is common for many people to acknowledge that their school experience has been relevant in making them respectful and responsible citizens. Although, one cannot be entirely dependent on experience to prepare them for life, education plays a key role to this effect. The importance of education should be rooted in relevance, technology and inspirational to further learning (Case 1). The emphases in learning should be based on organizational skills, problem – solving, creativity and decision – making. Appropriate training better equips students to meet both their immediate and future needs. Activities in school prepare students to be better citizens; leadership roles assigned in school, equip students to be responsible future leaders. Hence, classroom experience is relevant to making unique, analytical and informed citizens. Conclusion In essence, school functions as a preparation for the future and success in different aspects of life. The school experience that acknowledges student’s unique abilities, develops individual students to become productive and responsible, as well as professional at their places of work. Roles assigned in school develop students to become responsible citizens. Case 1: â€Å"The Gifted Can’t Weigh That Giraffe†. 2011. Film

Gregorian Calendar - Overview and History

Gregorian Calendar - Overview and History In the year 1572, Ugo Boncompagni became Pope Gregory XIII and there was a crisis of the calendar - one of Christianitys most important dates was falling behind with respect to the seasons. Easter, which is based on the date of the vernal equinox (the first day of Spring), was being celebrated too early in the month of March. The cause of this calendrical confusion was the over 1,600 year-old Julian calendar, established by Julius Caesar in the year 46 BCE. Julius Caesar took control over the chaotic Roman calendar, which was being exploited by politicians and others with the haphazard addition of days or months. It was a calendar horribly out-of-synch with the seasons of the earth, which are the result of the rotation of the earth around the sun. Caesar developed a new calendar of 364 1/4 days, closely approximating the length of the tropical year (the time it takes the earth to go around the sun from the beginning of spring to the beginning of spring). Caesars calendar was normally 365 days long but included an extra day (a leap day) every four years to account for the extra one-quarter of a day. The intercalary (inserted into the calendar) day was added prior to February 25 each year. Unfortunately, while Caesars calendar was almost accurate, it wasnt quite accurate enough because the tropical year is not 365 days and 6 hours (365.25 days), but is approximately 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes, and 46 seconds (365.242199 days). Therefore, the calendar of Julius Caesar was 11 minutes and 14 seconds too slow. This added up to be a full day off every 128 years. While it took from 46 BCE to 8 CE to get Caesars calendar functioning properly (initially leap years were being celebrated every three years instead of every four), by the time of Pope Gregory XIII the one day every 128 years added up to a full ten days of error in the calendar. (Purely by luck did the Julian calendar happen to celebrate leap years on years divisible by four - during Caesars time, the numbered years of today didnt exist). A serious change needed to take place and Pope Gregory XIII decided to repair the calendar. Gregory was aided by astronomers in developing a calendar that would be more accurate than the Julian calendar. The solution they developed was almost perfect. Continue on Page Two. The new Gregorian calendar would continue to be comprised of 365 days with an intercalary added every four years (moved to after February 28 to make things easier) but there would be no leap year in years ending in 00 unless those years were divisible by 400. Therefore, the years 1700, 1800, 1900, and 2100 would not be a leap year but the years 1600 and 2000 would. This change was so accurate that today, scientists need only add leap seconds every few years to the clock in order to keep the calendar matching the tropical year. Pope Gregory XIII issued a papal bull, Inter Gravissimus on February 24, 1582 that established the Gregorian calendar as the new and official calendar of the Catholic world. Since the Julian calendar had fallen ten days behind over the centuries, Pope Gregory XIII designated that October 4, 1582 would be officially followed by October 15, 1582. The news of the calendar change was disseminated across Europe. Not only would the new calendar be utilized but ten days would be lost forever, the new year would now begin on January 1 instead of March 25, and there would be a new method of determining the date of Easter. Only a few countries were ready or willing to change to the new calendar in 1582. It was adopted that year in Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, and France. The Pope was forced to issue a reminder on November 7 to nations that they should change their calendars and many did not heed the call. Had the calendar change been promulgated a century earlier, more countries would have been under Catholic rule and would have heeded the Popes command. By 1582, Protestantism had spread across the continent and politics and religion were in disarray; additionally, the Eastern Orthodox Christian countries would not change for many years. Other countries later joined the fray over the following centuries. Roman Catholic Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands switched by 1584; Hungary changed in 1587; Denmark and Protestant Germany switched by 1704; Great Britain and its colonies changed in 1752; Sweden changed in 1753; Japan changed in 1873 as part of Meijis Westernization; Egypt changed in 1875; Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Turkey all changed between 1912 and 1917; the Soviet Union changed in 1919; Greece switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1928; and finally, China changed to the Gregorian calendar after their revolution of 1949! Change wasnt always easy, however. In Frankfurt as well as London, people rioted over the loss of days in their lives. With each change to the calendar around the world, laws established that people could not be taxed, paid, nor would interest accrue over the missing days. It was decreed that deadlines still had to take place in the correct number of natural days following the transition. In Great Britain, Parliament legislated the change to the Gregorian calendar (by this time simply called the New Style calendar) in 1751 after two unsuccessful attempts at change in 1645 and 1699. They decreed that September 2, 1752 would be followed by September 14, 1752. Britain needed to add eleven days instead of ten because by the time Britain changed, the Julian calendar was eleven days off the Gregorian calendar and tropic year. This 1752 change also applied to the American colonies of Britain so the change was made in the pre-United States and pre-Canada at that time. Alaska didnt change calendars until 1867, when it transferred from a Russian territory to a part of the United States. In the era after the change, dates were written with O.S. (Old Style) or N.S. (New Style) following the day so people examining records could understand whether they were looking at a Julian date or a Gregorian date. While George Washington was born on February 11, 1731 (O.S.), his birthday became February 22, 1732 (N.S.) under the Gregorian calendar. The change in the year of his birth was due to the change of when the change of the new year was acknowledged. Recall that prior to the Gregorian calendar, March 25 was the new year but once the new calendar was implemented, it became January 1. Therefore, since Washington was born between January 1 and March 25, the year of his birth became one year later upon the switch to the Gregorian calendar. (Prior to the 14th century, the new year change took place on December 25.) Today, we rely on the Gregorian calendar to keep us almost perfectly in line with the rotation of the earth around the sun. Imagine the disruption to our daily lives if a new calendar change were required in this most modern era!

Public School Uniforms Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Public School Uniforms - Annotated Bibliography Example Therefore, when doing a research on the use of school uniforms, I would argue against it by citing this article. As they claim, it mightnot be easier to obtain equality. In fact, it might result into a conflict between the two social classes. This article was written by Brunsma, D. & Kerry A. R and published in 1998. Here, these scholars conducted a research on the influences of the use of uniforms on the learners’ behaviors and academic performance. In their analysis, they report that there is no direct relationship between behavior reforms and academic improvement and school uniform. The article can be of a great value when conducting a research on the demerits of school uniforms on the learners. It can help in justifying that school uniforms should not be mandatory since they can only contribute to poor academic performance, increased behavior problems and rampant cases of substance abuse. The above article was authored by DaCosta, K. and published by the Journal of Negro Education in 2006. In this article, DaCosta examines the reactions of the urban learners towards the use of uniforms in school. While conducting a research on the advantages of school uniforms, I would have to incorporate the use of this article. It has a lot of resourceful information on how uniform can be instrumental in creating equality amongst the learners from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. This is a very important component which must be included in the research. This article was written by Draa, V. in 2005. It presents a candid discussion about the significance of school uniforms amongst the urban-based high school learners. As reported in this article, uniform is necessary in the urban set up in which cases of gang violence, peer influence and classism are rampant. When carrying out this research, I would have to use this article. It is quite resourceful and would provide me with

DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES PROJECT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES PROJECT - Essay Example It has been proclaimed that motivating people to pray a prayer is not enough to attain spiritual well-being. Hence, it has been ascertained that the entire humankind should be offered with opportunity to become disciples of Lord Jesus Christ. It has been affirmed in this regard that the first step to become a disciple of Lord Jesus Christ is to know about the Gospel. Discipleship, in its simple meaning, can be defined as serving God through a spiritual life dedicated to the church by taking some additional responsibility of preaching God’s words. Discipleship is not limited to taking people to the savior or just baptize them. However, it is equally important to teach them the God’s word so that they can have a prosperous life. At the same time, the truth learned should be practiced in daily lives in order to serve Jesus. It can be affirmed in this regard that discipleship is must be cultivated from heart and mind and not as a coercion. In Christianity, it is believed th at such practice can make an individual a true disciple of Lord Jesus Christ. The role and responsibility of teacher in discipleship is thus extremely crucial. The teacher should not only put emphasis on teaching the Biblical doctrines, but it is equally important for the educators of discipleship to make the learners or followers aware of Christ’s verses. It is also important that teachers concerning with discipleship not only encourage disciples to attend the Church on Sundays, but they should make sure that disciples are able to depict their gratitude to God whenever possible and maintain peace in their life1. Focusing on these aspects of discipleship, this paper entails to design a comprehensive ministry plan for Church of God in Christ with the purpose of encouraging people to acquire Biblically sound knowledge and insights for attaining spiritual well-being in their life. Scriptural Foundations Church of God in Christ believes that Bible is the ‘word of godâ€℠¢ and it comprises pleasant and satisfactorily comprehensive system of principle. It believes that Bible is the only right in every matter and avow in the life of a human. Church of God in Christ is guided and validated by Thessalonians 2:14 and Pauline Epistles passages. According to Thessalonians 2:14 passage, â€Å"for ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews†2. Church of God in Christ thus teaches that Jesus is the only arbitrator between God and human where no redemption exists. It believes in Holy Spirit who acts as representatives of God that equips, authorizes, leads and directs the church. Church of God in Christ also believes in angels, who are considered as messengers sent by the God and who assisted in the establishment of Old Testament as well as the church. As per the belief, angels exist basically in spiritual monarchy and are structured based on responsibilities and activities in God’s kingdom. Church of God in Christ considers demons as evil or impure spirits. These demons are referred as â€Å"fallen angels† and exist as challengers to the God’s persistence and determination. Church of God i

UNICEF and the Safeguard of Children Rights Essay Example for Free

UNICEF and the Safeguard of Children Rights Essay UNICEF’s mission is to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided in doing this by the provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNICEF, 2008). Built on varied legal systems and cultural traditions, the Convention is a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations (UNICEF, 2006). The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first legally binding international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights (Freeman, 1996). In 1989, world leaders decided that children needed a special convention just for them because people under eighteen years old often need special care and protection that adults do not (Alston, 1992). The leaders also wanted to make sure that the world recognized that children have human rights too. The Convention sets out these rights in 54 articles and two Optional Protocols. It spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere have: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life (UNICEF, 2006). The four core principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child (Jasper, 1994). Every right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and harmonious development of every child. The Convention protects childrens rights by setting standards in health care; education; and legal, civil and social services (Jasper, 1994). By agreeing to undertake the obligations of the Convention, national governments committed themselves to protecting and ensuring childrens rights and they have agreed to hold themselves accountable for this commitment before the international community. States parties to the Convention are obliged to develop and undertake all actions and policies in the light of the best interests of the child (Stein, 1998). Most of the governments have incorporated this issue in their development plan courtesy of UNICEF. UNICEFs work for the overall protection of childhood is guided by the principles and standards established by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Walker, 1999). In advocating to protect childrens rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential, UNICEF helps to change the legal and policy framework of States parties and to improve understanding of the Convention itself at all levels of society (Walker, 1999). Among other activities, UNICEF works in nearly 160 countries to support ratification and implementation of the Convention and the Optional Protocols on the involvement of children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (UNICEF, 2008). UNICEF draws attention to the duties of governments, families, communities and individuals to respect those rights and supports them in doing so. During armed conflict, children are targeted for the worst possible violence and abuse, including abduction, rape and recruitment as child soldiers, and may be forced or coerced to take part in atrocities (Peters, 1997). Because children are among the most affected by conflict they become victims and witnesses of these offences (Brandes, 1999). The lack of accountability for conflict-related crimes against children can leave child victims vulnerable to further violation and abuse. Accountability in post-conflict situations can fulfill a number of important functions (Peters, 1997). It contributes to the process of healing and helps children understand that they are not to blame for what has happened. By investigating and documenting violations committed, accountability processes raise public awareness of the impacts of conflict on children (Dobrish, 1999). Accountability can also help to break the cycle of violence, restore confidence in democracy and the rule of law, and strengthen the legitimacy and authority of the new government (Fox, 1997). In recent years, truth, justice and reconciliation processes have begun to focus specifically on crimes committed against children and have involved children proactively, including through testimony that bears witness to their experiences(Dobrish, 1999). The recent involvement of children and adolescents in providing testimony to international and national courts and truth commissions has demonstrated their unique role as participants and as members of their communities (UNICEF, 2008). But if children are to engage in transitional justice processes their rights must be respected. The review and analysis of emerging good practices on the involvement of children and adolescents in truth, justice and reconciliation processes has brought to light a number of dilemmas. For example, it is recognized that children and adolescents who have been recruited to take part in hostilities are primarily victims of armed conflict. At the same time, many argue that some form of accountability for crimes committed by children is in their best interests and could contribute to processes of reconciliation and reintegration (Teitelbaum, 1999). Mechanisms of accountability for serious violations committed during armed conflict include a wide range of options, such as judicial prosecutions, truth commissions, restorative justice processes and traditional practices (Kurmay, 1996). When children engage in truth, justice and reconciliation processes, new possibilities and new challenges are encountered. In a number of instances, child-friendly procedures have been introduced to safeguard the rights of children who become involved and to support their protection throughout the process (Teitelbaum, 1999). This can help build children’s confidence and restore their sense of justice in the social and political order, while also establishing a mechanism of accountability for crimes committed against them. However, many questions remain as to how best to protect the rights of children involved as victims and witnesses in these contexts. Ideally children’s participation should strengthen and enhance their protection, and protection measures should enable participation (Kurmay, 1996). In the long term, if children are excluded from transitional processes, they may become frustrated and vulnerable to a continuing cycle of violence, impacting future generations. Failure to address their concerns also wastes the capacity and potential of children and adolescents to serve as catalysts for reconciliation and peace-building within their own communities (Dwyer, 1999). The importance of furthering efforts to support children’s involvement in transitional justice processes was identified during an expert discussion on Transitional Justice and Children convened by the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre (IRC) in November 2005. It was proposed that research on children and truth commissions be undertaken, identifying good practices and lessons learned, and recommending strategies to improve and facilitate children’s participation in future truth commissions(UNICEF, 2006). Documentation on the role of children in truth commissions was initiated by UNICEF IRC and the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) (UNICEF, 2006). In the course of research underway on children and truth commissions, a number of issues have emerged requiring further research and analysis in order to better understand the potential and the limits of children’s participation in transitional justice processes (ACF, 2007). As a result it was decided to initiate an Expert Paper Series on Children and Transitional Justice, addressing a broad range of issues, including judicial accountability, truth-seeking, local, traditional and restorative justice processes, and institutional reform. The Series has helped to build a network for sharing information and expertise, generating discussion and debate among key stakeholders (UNICEF, 2006). These include child protection advocates, government agents, legal experts and academics. The objective of the expert paper series is to improve accountability for crimes against children and to protect the rights of children involved in transitional justice processes (ACF, 2007). Specific papers will document and analyze emerging good practices and lessons learned; evaluate the potential role of children; and anticipate and promote strategies for involving children in future transitional processes(ACF, 2007). It is anticipated that studies undertaken in this series will help to guide the involvement of children in truth, justice and reconciliation processes in post-conflict transition. UNICEF works closely with other human rights bodies such as Human Security Network (HSN). This is an organization which has a long-standing commitment to human rights and to the protection of the most vulnerable both in peace and in times of conflict (Marta, 2007). The Human Security Network plays a decisive role in advancing the implementation of the Convention and of its two Optional Protocols, and in reaffirming, in each and every decision the general principles of non discrimination, best interests of the child, survival and development and participation of the child (UNICEF, 2008). The year 2007 was a landmark year for the protection of children’s rights. Indeed, 2007 marked the 18th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Marta, 2007). As the Convention entered a new stage of adulthood there was an opportunity to celebrate the many important achievements and to critically reflect on the best ways of addressing the challenges ahead. The year was also marked by the General Assembly mid decade review of the follow-up to the Special Session on Children. This process was an important opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to children, to advance the Millennium Agenda and further consolidate a world fit for children (Marta, 2007). By 2007, there is a full prohibition of all forms of violence against children in 19 countries (UNICEF, 2008). Legislation was adopted in The Netherlands where law enactment is being supported by a communication plan designed to inform parents and the general public about the legal ban in the lead up to its entry into force. New Zealand has banned the use of reasonable force for parents in the disciplining of their children (ACF, 2008). In a number of other nations draft legislation has been prepared and in others public commitments have been undertaken to ban all forms of violence (ACF, 2008). Once the changes become effective within each of these States, one fifth of the UN Member States would have extended legal protection to prevent violence against children (UNICEF, 2008). UNICEF have recently developed and launched a Handbook on what parliamentarians can do to protect children from violence (UNICEF, 2008). With the participation of parliamentarians and international organizations from more than 100 countries, the launch was an opportunity to anticipate actions parliaments can take to ensure children’s freedom from violence, including through their legislative power, and to encourage and oversee government action and to promote the allocation of resources for relevant programmes and interventions(UNICEF, 2008). The Handbook will be translated in national languages and used as an important tool to support follow-up to the UN Study on Violence (Marta, 2007). The Human Security Network have partnered to promote its wide dissemination and use. Naturally, legislation is only meaningful when it is effectively applied. To make law enforcement a reality it is important to engage children in the process of implementation (Masson, 1999). It is for this reason that UNICEF has joined efforts with a number of partners to produce the child friendly version of the UN Guidelines on justice in matters involving child victims and witnesses of crime. The child friendly version was launched at the recent Crime Prevention Commission, in Vienna (UNICEF, 2008). The previous months show the instrumental role played by Professor Pinheiro as a global advocate and a catalyst for social change. But the task is just beginning and only by moving the implementation forward can we build a world free from violence for every child, wherever he or she may live (Marta, 2007). France hosted a major conference in 2006 where a wide range partners endorsed the Paris Principles to stop the recruitment and use of children in adult wars. The document represents the state of the art knowledge in the prevention, protection and reintegration of children recruited by armed forces and groups. And it has a unique potential to ensure the realization of children’s rights more broadly (UNICEF, 2008). These milestones are mutually complementary and provide a strategic vision for the future. More importantly, they give us a golden occasion to make a real difference in the lives of children (UNICEF, 2008). At the heart of this process are two closely related dimensions; child participation and the prevention of violence and conflict. Together, they both support the protection of children’s rights. A recent study of the Innocenti Research Centre a partner of UNICEF on â€Å"Birth Registration and Armed Conflict† revealed a few truths. Birth Registration is a permanent and official record of a child’s existence (Marta, 2007). It is a fundamental human right and has strong implications for the enjoyment of other human rights it thus stand as a vivid illustration of the indivisibility of children’s rights and a call to always keep a child centered approach. In times of war, birth registration gains a special relevance for child protection, for the prevention of child recruitment, abduction and exploitation, as well as for access to humanitarian assistance (ABA, 2007). Over 25 truth commissions have been convened in various countries over the last decades and several have addressed the experiences of children (ABA, 2007). But the Truth Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for Sierra Leone was the first truth commission to specifically focus on children as victims and witnesses, and to profile children’s role as actors in the reconciliation process. It is also the first case where a children’s version of the Commission’s report was prepared (ACF, 2008 ). The children’s version of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report is one example of how children can contribute to community efforts towards reconciliation and transition, while helping to break the cycle of violence and re-establish confidence in the rule of law. UNICEF has had its fair share of challenges in protecting the rights of children. Civil wars especially in Africa have always targeted the children as recruits and this has always been a hurdle for the organization to overcome. Advocacy for children rights in a civic war infested area has not always been easy for them since the lives of the employees are also threatened. Lack of political will in various countries to support the UNICEF’s initiatives has been another monster in children rights protection. Some government agents like the police may be uncooperative in issues of child trafficking, pornography and other related cases hence the risk of failing to catch non-convicted abusers. Other barriers that have been along UNICEF’s path to success are undeveloped, unimplemented and conflicting policies on children rights and responsibilities in many countries. Lack of adequate funds to support their initiatives especially in less developed countries. Traditional practices and taboos among communities are also a major impediment since some encourage abusive practices against children such as communities’ warriors, early marriages, and local slave trade among others. Children are members of their communities and by taking part in community action they increase awareness and confidence and build their capacity for citizenship (Teitelbaum, 1999). Through their involvement in community reconciliation efforts, children can become advocates and catalysts within their families and communities, energizing reconciliation and nation building efforts (Jackson, 1999). It is by addressing the root causes of conflict and providing realistic opportunities for young people that we can begin to break the inter-generational violence that has resulted in protracted conflicts in many countries today. Finally, as we move forward and support actions to prevent all forms of violence in peace and in war through UNICEF, we must not forget that at the centre of all our efforts are individual children whose lives hang in the balance of our actions. We cannot wait another minute. When Graca Machel prepared her report in 1995, she was asked by a child, â€Å"How long will it take before things get better? A month, a year? † Today that child is an adult and another generation of children is asking the same question (UNICEF, 2008). How long will it take? The life of a child leaves no second chance. That is the urgency that must drive us in our efforts to make a real difference, a lasting difference. References: Alston, Philip, et al. , Children, rights, and the law. Oxford England: Clarendon Press; New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. Alston, Philip. The best interests of the child: reconciling culture and human rights. Oxford: Clarendon Press; New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. Angel, William D. The international law of youth rights : source documents and commentary. Dordrecht ; Boston : M. Nijhoff, 1995. Carey, Jacqueline M. Section of Family Law Home Page. American Bar Association Family Law Section. URL: http://www. abanet. org/family/ Cohen, Cynthia Price. Childrens rights in America : U. N. Convention on the rights of the child compared with United States law. [Chicago, Ill. ] : American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, [in cooperation with] Defense for Children International-USA, c1990. Freeman, Michael. Childrens rights : a comparative perspective. Aldershot, Hants, England ; Brookfield, Vt. : Dartmouth Pub. Co. , c1996. Jasper, Margaret C. Juvenile justice and childrens law. Dobbs Ferry, NY : Oceana Publications, 1994. Masson, J. M. (Judith M. ) Out of hearing : representing children in care proceedings. Chichester ; New York : Wiley, c1999. Mezey, Susan Gluck. Children in court : public policymaking and federal court decisions. Albany : State University of New York Press, c1996.

Presidential Candidate Profiles :: essays research papers

Candidate Profiles I.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Al Gore   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  US Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore, was born on March 31, 1948 in Washington D.C.. His father Albert Gore Sr., a congressman from Tennessee, served in the House of Representatives and his mother Pauline La Fon was one of the first women to graduate from Vanderbilt Law School. Gore, a Baptist, attended Harvard where he received a degree with high honors in government. Even though he was strongly opposed to the war in 1970 Al joined the army where he served his time in Vietnam as an army reporter. After attending Vanderbilt Law School Gore ran for and won Tennessee’s fourth district congressional seat where he served four terms, after which he ran for and won the Tennessee Senatorial Seat. Gore remained in senate until presidential nominee Bill Clinton Chose him as his running mate in 1992, they were elected into office that year and re-elected in 1996. While in office Gore expressed great concern for the envir onment and in 1992 wrote the book Earth in the Balance: Healing the Global Environment. Gore has been married to Tipper Aitcheson since 1969, together they have four children: Karenna, Kristin, Sarah, and Albert III. Al Gore’s running Mate for the 2000 election is Connecticut state Senator Joe Lieberman. As well as being the first Jewish-American ever in the U.S. Senate, Lieberman was the Connecticut state Attorney General and also practiced law in New Haven. II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  George Bush   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Governor of Texas and Republican Presidential Nominee George W. Bush was born July 6, 1946 in New Haven , Connecticut. Bush, often referred to as simply W. is The eldest son of former President George Bush and Barbara Pierce Bush, his siblings include Jeb (Governor of Florida), Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy. Like his father, Bush attended the prestigious Philips Andover Academy in Massachusetts before going to Yale University where he graduated with a bachelors degree. Upon leaving Yale he went to Texas and joined the Air National Guard, Where he learned to fly fighter jets, he eventually became a lieutenant but was never called on to fight in Vietnam. In 1972 Bush entered Harvard Business School, earning his M.B.A. in 1975. In 1977 he married Laura Welch, a former teacher and librarian, and in 1980 she gave birth to their twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna. Shortly after his 40th birthday in July ‘86 Bush reached a turning point in his pers onal and professional life.

History and Geography??“the Foundations of Culture

History helps define a nation's â€Å"mission,† how t perceives Its neighbors, how It sees its place In the world, and how It sees itself. The history of a country is important in understanding many aspects of a culture. One cannot fully understand how businesspeople negotiate, how they conduct business, their attitudes toward foreign investment, the legal system, and other aspects of the market/business system without a historical perspective. A historical perspective helps prepare an International marketer for many of the cultural differences that often cause misunderstandings and In many cases, mistakes.While a racketeer may not be able to change a person's attitude or behavior, if you have an historical perspective of why they react as they do, you can gain insights that can possibly make it easier to adapt your strategies for a successful outcome. To understand, explain, and appreciate a people's image of itself and the attitudes and unconscious fears that reflected In it s view of foreign cultures, it is necessary to study the culture as It Is now as well as to understand the culture as It was-?that is, a country's history.Loyalty to family, to country, to company, and to social groups and he strong drive to cooperate, to work together for a common cause, permeate many facets of Japanese behavior and have historical roots that date back thousands of years. To understand, explain, and appreciate a people's image of itself and the fundamental attitudes and unconscious fears that are often reflected in its view of foreign cultures, it is necessary to study the culture as it is now as well as to understand culture as It was, that Is, a country's history.An awareness of the history of a country Is particularly effective for understanding attitudes about the role of overspent and business, the relations between managers and the managed, the sources of management authority, and attitudes toward foreign Mac's. History is what helps define a nation's â€Å" mission,† how it perceives its neighbors, and how it sees its place in the world. To understand a country's attitudes, prejudices, and fears it is necessary to look beyond the surface or current events to the Inner refinement of the country's entire past for clues.Geography Is a study of the physical characteristics of a particular region of the earth. Involved in this study are climate, topography, and population. The interaction of the physical characteristics is one of the principal determinants of a country's customs, products, industries, needs, and methods of satisfying those needs. Marketing is concerned with satisfying the needs of people. International marketing seeks out the whole world as its marketplace.Therefore, for an International marketer to know how to satisfy the needs of the International factors of the people's needs are. International marketer must know that various climates and topographies do exist and that they are vital in shaping the marketing plans that an international marketer must make. As an example, a producer selling machinery in the tropics would have to realize that special protection is needed to keep a machine running properly in hot and humid climates. Study of geography is important in the evaluation of markets.Marketers need to be knowledgeable about the effects of geographic diversity on the economic profiles of various nations. Climate and topography are examined as facets of the broader and more important elements of geography. Knowledge about geography, the climate and physical terrain when appraising a market influences marketing from product adaptation to ore profound influences on the development of marketing systems. Climatic features affect the uses and functions of products and equipment.Companies looking to build manufacturing plants in countries with more liberal pollution regulations than they have at home are finding that regulations everywhere are becoming stricter. Many Asian governments are drafti ng new regulations and strictly enforcing existing ones. A strong motivator for Asia and the rest of the world is the realization that pollution is on the verge of getting completely out of control. Neither Western Europe nor the rest of the industrialized world are free of environmental mage; rivers are polluted and the atmosphere in many major urban areas is far from clean.The very process of controlling industrial wastes leads to another and perhaps equally critical issue: the disposal of hazardous waste, a by-product of pollution control. Estimates of hazardous wastes collected annually exceed 300 million tons; the critical question is disposal that does not move the problem elsewhere. The business community is responding positively to the notion that the focus must be on the global environment rather than the quality of the air, land, and water in our own backyards.An International Chamber of Commerce Industry Forum on the environment reflected a shift in company attitudes towa rd environmental issues away from a reactive and largely defensive stance to a proactive and constructive approach. Some disbeliever may dismiss such statements as â€Å"window dressing† and they could be, but the beginning of change is awareness. Responsibility for cleaning up the environment does not rest solely with governments, businesses, or activist groups. Each citizen has social and moral responsibility to include environmental protection among his/her highest goals.

Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 16

As I walked into my building after dropping Seth off, I was surprised to see the guy who staffed the front desk still working. He usually went home at dinnertime. A sheaf of papers in his hands indicated some sort of mandatory overtime. He brightened when he saw me. â€Å"Miss Kincaid! I have something for you.† I blanked for a moment, then remembered the daily Post-it reminders on my door. There'd been a total of three now. â€Å"Oh, yeah,† I said. â€Å"Sorry I haven't had a chance to pick it up yet. I keep forgetting.† He was already rustling around for something behind him on the other side of the window. I strolled over, just as he heaved a huge box up onto the counter. The printing on the side was upside down, but I could still make it out: Christmas Tree – Austrian Fir. â€Å"Oh, man,† I grumbled. â€Å"This is somebody's idea of a – â€Å" But the guy was busy hauling another box up to the counter, a smaller one with pictures on the side depicting the ‘pre-decorated fiber optic tree' inside. It was followed by another box, a bit smaller than the Austrian Fir, and a smaller one still that was about two-by-two feet. These last two boxes were wrapped in glittery green paper, with a wrapping job so perfect that only one being on earth could have managed it: Peter. The desk guy surveyed the boxes. â€Å"You must really like Christmas.† â€Å"I thought each of those notes was a reminder for the same package.† â€Å"Nope. New one each day. Want some help?† We hauled the trees up to my apartment and deposited them on the living room floor. I thanked him, and as soon as he left, Aubrey emerged and began stalking the boxes. â€Å"That's a lot of tannenbaum,† a voice behind me suddenly said. I jumped and turned around. Yasmine. â€Å"Don't do that. Carter does exactly the same thing.† â€Å"Sorry,† she said, looking sheepish. â€Å"Wasn't intentional. I just got here.† She walked over to the boxes, tilting her head to read them. She wore jeans and an LSU sweatshirt, her black hair pulled into the trademark ponytail that made her look seventeen. â€Å"What's up with all these?† I took off my coat and flounced onto the couch with a sigh. â€Å"My friend Peter started this whole buzz that I needed a Christmas tree after Carter burned mine down. So I guess everyone made good on it.† â€Å"Wait,† she said. â€Å"Did you say Carter burned down your Christmas tree?† â€Å"Yeah, it's a long story.† â€Å"He must feel bad.† She pointed to the little fiber optic tree, the one that was already decorated. Words were scrawled on the side of the box in spidery, nearly illegible writing: G – Figured you could handle this one. Ready and decorated! – C P.S. – And flame retardant. â€Å"Hmm,† I mused. â€Å"‘C' could be Cody too.† â€Å"Nah. I recognize the poor attempt at penmanship. It's Carter.† â€Å"Okay, so the angel repents. But who are the rest from?† We soon found out. The wrapping job on the two matching boxes had already given Peter away. The larger box contained a very beautiful, very expensive tree with ‘winter moss green' needles that were lightly dusted with silver glitter. The smaller box contained a matched set of lights and ornaments all done in purple and fuchsia. Peter apparently hadn't trusted me to decorate his gift myself. The Austrian Fir turned out to be from the bookstore staff. A card from Maddie read: Surprise! We all pitched in for it. Now you can't be a Scrooge. It was signed by other store workers, as well as Seth. I looked back and forth between the boxes. â€Å"It's a Christmas miracle. I had no tree. Now I have a forest.† â€Å"C'mon,† said Yasmine. â€Å"I'll help you set them up.† I looked at her in surprise. â€Å"Aren't you here to meet up with Vince or something?† She shook her head. â€Å"I'm here to talk to you.† Uh-oh. I didn't really want to set up the Christmas trees, but a being vastly more powerful than me did, so I set to it. Carter's tree was the easiest since all I had to do was plug it in. I placed it in a window sill, one with an outlet right underneath. The tree's fiber optic needles lit up to pale pink, then purple, then teal, then white. â€Å"Good God,† I said. â€Å"It's the Christmas tree equivalent of a lava lamp.† â€Å"I like it,† declared Yasmine. â€Å"It's got moxie.† She looked really excited. She could have been a kid on Christmas morning. You'd think after seeing so many Christmases (and trees) in her existence, they'd get kind of old. She pointed at Peter's tree. â€Å"Let's do the prissy one now.† We were stringing purple lights on the ‘winter moss green' tree when she finally started The Talk. â€Å"So. Vincent told me what happened.† She paused as she looped the lights over a branch. â€Å"I'm glad your guy is okay.† â€Å"Me too. He was lucky†¦if Vincent hadn't been there†¦Ã¢â‚¬  More silence. I didn't entirely know where Yasmine was going with this. My guess was that she was concerned I'd tell someone about Vincent. I felt absolutely certain, however, that she wasn't going to threaten to break my kneecaps or anything to keep me silent. In fact, I realized then that what she wanted was reassurance. It was a crazy and startling idea. She was an angel, after all. A being of hope and peace, a being that others prayed to for comfort. Yet, here she was, seeking it from me – a creature of Hell. â€Å"I meant it,† I told her. â€Å"What I said to him. I'm not going to tell anyone.† â€Å"I believe you,† she said, confusion all over her face. Angels knew when others were telling the truth. â€Å"But I don't understand it. Why? Why wouldn't you? You could get into big trouble if your superiors – if Jerome – found out you knew and weren't telling.† Vincent had said the same thing. It was true. â€Å"Your people tend to get pissed off over stuff like that.† â€Å"What, and yours don't? Would they be forgiving if they found out?† She looked away from me, diverting her attention to hanging a pink glass dove. â€Å"Look,† I said. â€Å"I work for Hell, but I don't, like, delight in others' suffering. Especially since I like both of you. I don't want to see you get into trouble. I don't even think what you're doing is wrong. Dangerous, maybe, but not wrong.† â€Å"Which part? The loving part or the nephilim part?† I shrugged. â€Å"It's all risky.† She smiled at me. â€Å"You talk about nephilim pretty calmly. Most people – in our circles – go running for the hills.† â€Å"I met one once. Dated him.† I hung a bejeweled purple orb on the tree. â€Å"He was scary as hell, yeah. Had this whole homicidal revenge thing going on, which kind of negated his sexiness a little. But at the end of the day†¦I don't know. He wasn't much of a monster. He couldn't help being born what he was.† I was glad to be free of Roman, glad he was somewhere far away from me. He'd posed too much of a threat to both me and those I loved. Still, there had been something in him I found appealing. It was why we'd connected before things literally blew up. I understood his weariness with the games Heaven and Hell played. He'd offered to take me away and free me from it all, and there were days I would still wake up and long for that. â€Å"No,† Yasmine agreed. â€Å"They can't help what they are. And it's not their fault. But their existence is a reminder of our faults†¦of our weaknesses.† She held her hands open in front of her, studying them as though they held answers. â€Å"None of us higher immortals want to be shown that we're weak. That's our hubris, I guess. Especially the angels. No one's perfect, but we like to play that we are.† She sighed and let her hands drop. â€Å"I should walk away from this. I should have a long time ago.† I jerked my head up. â€Å"But you love him.† â€Å"Sometimes loving someone means you have to do what's ultimately good. What you need instead of what you want.† â€Å"I suppose. But ending it seems so extreme. There must be a way to†¦I don't know, have it all.† The door opened, and Vincent walked in. He didn't look surprised to see either of us, but then, he would have sensed our auras. His eyes met Yasmine's, and it was like lightning crackling through the room. Both of them lit up, shining in a way that I doubted my succubus glamour could even begin to compete with. He expressed surprise over my Yuletide Forest but jumped in to help us, appearing just as excited as Yasmine over the activity. The two of them never touched, but I noticed the same thing that I had at breakfast: an intimacy in the way they interacted with each other. They didn't need to touch. Their relationship was obvious, and I wondered how it was possible none of the other angels had ever noticed this. Maybe it was like what Yasmine had mentioned about angels and hubris. Maybe angels always assumed they were perfect and were too blind to see flaws in each other, whereas someone like me – who exploited weakness – knew what to look for. We finished Peter's tree, and then I found my ornaments from last year – the ones that hadn't been destroyed in the fire – and used them on the bookstore's tree. When my woodland paradise was finally complete, Yasmine and Vincent made their farewells and left. I still had no idea what their divine mission in Seattle was, but I assumed it had universal consequences. I felt a little weird that it had been put on hold to decorate my home. As I cleaned up the boxes, I kept thinking about what Yasmine had said about needing versus wanting. In some ways, that was what Seth and I did. We wanted to have sex. We needed to avoid it. I also found myself recalling Andrew again, that annoyingly good priest who'd caused me so many headaches. I hadn't thought much about his story since last week, but as my body mindlessly completed chores, the images began replaying in my mind. Despite my best efforts, he'd remained a bastion of purity and willpower. While frustrating, it nonetheless continued to make the game fun. And although I didn't appreciate it as much back then as I did now, I sort of took pleasure in just hanging around him. He was good company, and he came to mean more to me than just a sexual conquest. It was obvious he cared about me too. It would figure that things went bad between us on a beautiful, sunny day. I remembered it distinctly. I had wandered over to the church he ministered out of and sat with him in the vegetable garden. I stayed clear of the dirt, conscious of the yellow silk dress my bishop had just had made for me. Andrew, less concerned, worked on his knees, unhesitatingly digging in – literally – and cultivating the church's small crop. â€Å"Don't you have other people who could do this for you?† Squinting up at me in the bright light, he smiled. â€Å"Nothing compares to the satisfaction of doing something yourself.† â€Å"If you say so.† He returned to his work, and I continued to sit quietly, watching him and the lazy vista of that golden afternoon. Not far away, the sounds of daily hustle and bustle carried over. I liked this town – it was a nice break from the large, busy cities I'd spent most of my succubus time in. Eventually, though, I knew I'd grow restless and move onto some place with a little more excitement. I turned back to Andrew. â€Å"Thomas Brewer just got back from Cadwell. He says they're all getting sick there.† Andrew nodded. â€Å"People are getting sick everywhere. There have been outbreaks in a lot of the western towns.† â€Å"Are you worried?† He shrugged. â€Å"What comes will come. None of us can change God's will.† I grimaced. I'd heard about this illness, what later generations would call the Black Death. The rapid onset. The blackened skin. The swollen lumps. Even if it couldn't technically hurt me, I didn't want to see it spread here. â€Å"I don't think God can be as merciful as you say in mass if He's inflicting something like that on his people.† â€Å"It's a test, Cecily. God is always testing us. It makes us stronger.† â€Å"Or dead.† He didn't respond. â€Å"What will you do if it comes?† I pushed. â€Å"Geoffrey says he'll leave. Will you go with him?† His dark eyebrows rose in surprise, like I'd asked if the sun would take tomorrow off. â€Å"Of course not. I mean, as bishop, I'm sure Geoffrey must†¦do what is necessary to continue fulfilling his duties, but me? I serve the people. I will continue to serve the people. If they're sick, I'll tend them.† My sarcasm gave way to shock, and I leapt to my feet, striding toward him. â€Å"You can't do that! Haven't you heard about this? People don't come back from it. The only thing to do is get out and let it run its course.† It was true. Call it cruel, but as I'd told Liam on our post-auction date, that was the way the world had dealt with epidemics for a lot of human history. Certainly, some people cared and ministered unto others, but when disease grew really terrible, with no clear answer in sight, ignorance and fear reigned supreme. Most people of that era saw the simplest solution as putting as much distance as possible between them and the illness. Andrew stood up as well, wearing an expression so annoyingly wise and serene as he faced me. â€Å"If that's what you must do, then you must do it. My place is here.† I didn't even have seduction on my mind when I reached out and grabbed his hands. He flinched with surprise but didn't let go. â€Å"It's stupid,† I told him earnestly. â€Å"You can't stop it. You'll die, and I – I can't watch that.† â€Å"Then go. Go with Geoffrey. Or go†¦out to the convent. It's isolated. You'd be safe there.† I scowled. â€Å"Not that again.† â€Å"I just want what's best for you, that's all.† One of his hands reached up and cupped my chin. â€Å"I don't want to see you suffer either.† It occurred to me then how close we stood. The heat building between our bodies rivaled that of the sunshine pounding down on us from above. Andrew, realizing this too, started and tried to pull away. I held on to his hand, anger flaring up in my chest. â€Å"So that's how you'll let it end then? You spend your whole life living in poverty and chastity, only to die in a pile of stinking corpses with oozing sores and rotting skin?† â€Å"If that's what God – â€Å" â€Å"Stop it,† I said, leaning forward. â€Å"Just stop it. Don't you get it? God doesn't care. He's not even paying attention.† â€Å"Cecily – â€Å" I didn't let him finish. Instead, I pressed my mouth against his mouth, molding my body to his. I don't know if he'd ever kissed anyone else before, but if not, he was a quick study. He didn't break from me. In fact I would have sworn there was an eagerness to his lips as they explored mine, willingly letting my tongue stroke and dance with his. And oh, God help me, he was so very good and noble that I tasted a sunburst of energy just from that kiss alone. It poured into me like honey, glorious and sweet. And surprisingly, it was me who finally broke the kiss, though I still stayed pressed against his body, my arms encircling him. â€Å"Don't you see how stupid it is?† I whispered, our lips so close we shared each other's breath. â€Å"Are you going to die without having lived? Without having tasted everything that's out there? Are you really just going to rush into death like that?† His eyes weighed me, his own hands resting on my waist. â€Å"I don't need fleshly pleasures to complete my life.† â€Å"You're lying,† I told him. â€Å"You want to.† â€Å"Wanting and needing are two different things.† He stepped away from me, and I suddenly felt incomplete without his body against mine. I had a fleeting flash of some connection bigger than both of us, and then it was gone. â€Å"A long life means nothing if it's empty and has no purpose. Better to live a short one filled with the things that are important to you.† â€Å"You're a fool,† I snapped. â€Å"I'm not going to stay and watch you die.† â€Å"Then go.† And I did.

Anthithesis in romeo and juliet essays

Anthithesis in romeo and juliet essays Antithesis in Romeo and Juliet Antithesis is used to create maximum contrast. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses antithesis constantly. People can be both caring and cruel, and love is both life and death. Using antithesis can add a lot to a play. Friar Laurences plan for temporarily killing Juliet had antithesis, it was both healing and deadly. It would heal Juliet and Romeos love by making everyone think that Juliet was dead, that way they could run away and be together. But, it was also deadly because it would kill Juliet. Maybe not forever but it would lead to a tragedy. If the potion would actually kill Juliet and not just temporarily, then there would not be antithesis because then Romeo and Juliet would not be able to be together, and there would not be both a happy and sad result. Another thing that had antithesis was Romeo and Juliets love. It was both life death. Being together, was their life, they would have done anything just to be with each other. No matter what people did or said, they would ignore them. Unfortunately, their love would bring them to their death. They were so much in love that they would have given up anything for each other, even if it meant their life. Romeo and Juliet died Not only can things have antithesis but people can also. Romeo was both loving and cruel. Whenever he was with Juliet, he seemed like he could never hurt a fly. He would say poetry to Juliet and would look at her as if she were a precious jewel. But, when Tybalt came around, he was like night and day. Tybalt picked a fight with Romeos cousin, Mercutio. Mercutio was badly wounded and died. This angered Romeo so much that he chased Tybalt and killed him. Even though he was the cousin of his wife ...

What to Do Before Leaving for College

What to Do Before Leaving for College Overwhelmed with everything you need to do before heading to college? Familiarizing yourself with everything on this list can help make the process easier. 1. Contact Your Roommate That first conversation is pivotal for getting to know each other, for building your relationship as roommates, and for figuring out whos going to be bringing what. A great roommate can make all the difference in school. 2. Organize All Your Purchases Knowing what to bring is just as important as knowing what not to bring. Deciding on what kind of computer youll have is also a big decision that will influence several aspects of your college life. (Can you bring it home? Is it powerful enough to run graphics programs or economic models youll need for your major?) 3. Understand Your Financial Aid The last thing you want to have happen is for finances to get in the way of your academic progress (yes, it really does matter if you miss that deadline for submitting your FAFSA). Make sure your finances are in order- and that you understand all you need to do while youre in school. 4. Make a Budget Youll need to know, from your first day on campus, how much money you can spend on certain things, whether or not youll need an on-campus job, and how much money you should have at the end of every month so you dont have to beg your roommate for food come December. 5. Take Care of Your Physical Health Picking the right meal plan and knowing how to make healthy choices in your new environment will greatly aid your time in school. Who wants to miss a midterm because of a stress-induced cold? 6. Familiarize Yourself With College Terminology If your RA tells you that the problem youre having with your TA can best be handled by the dean, will you know what all of that means? What if your cute lab partner is complaining because adjunct professors werent invited to convocation? College life is full of acronyms and new lingo: do what you can to familiarize yourself with it before you arrive. 7. Get the Most out of Orientation Everything from meeting people to making it through your first week takes a lot of courage- but pushing yourself through will make a huge difference during your entire time at school. 8. Plan to Keep in Touch With Friends and Family Its a good idea to know how to manage relationships with your boyfriend or girlfriend, parents, and even siblings. If you talk about how to keep in touch before you leave, everyone will know what to expect. 9. Develop a Time Management System Figuring out how to manage their time is often one of the biggest challenges for college students. Set yourself up early with a system that you know will work for you. 10. Keep Yourself and Your Stuff Safe The last thing you need to be worried about while in school is dealing with something that may have been preventable. Losing your computer, for example, can wreak havoc on your academics- and, if someone breaks into your room while you left the door open, can wreak havoc on your roommate relationship. Its easier to stay safe than to deal with theft. Lastly- an unofficial #11- congratulate yourself on a job well done for getting here in the first place, and have fun!

Lesson 11 - Course Project 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Lesson 11 - Course Project 1 - Essay Example Atkins and Granger make liberal use of this budget-making technique when making sales and expense projections. Budgetary slacks alleviate the effects of deviations if they occur. A more shifty use of the technique is to make it easier for managers to achieve targets, especially where sales performance results in bonuses and appraisals (Stevens 1). Budgetary slacks in sales and expenditure projections can adversely affect the staff the projections relate. In the case of Atkins and Granger, altered projections can result in less motivation to achieve more in their areas of responsibility as they can alter the figures to give the impression that they are performing beyond the projections. On another note, if the two staff can alter the financial figures at will, then there is serious risk of the pair falsifying account figures to serve selfish interests (Stevens 1). The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) requires its members behave ethically, and in ways that are responsible, honest, fair, and objective (IMA 1). IMA categorically opposes the use of confidential information for unethical and illegal motives. Overall, management accountants should cultivate restraint in situations that pose conflicting interests. IMA also requires that management accountants evade activities such as the budgetary slack that may jeopardize efficient execution of some activities. A budgetary slack presents amble opportunities for information asymmetry (Stevens 1). For instance, Granger cannot tell with certainty the actual sales figures because Atkins changes them before handing them over. On credibility, the IMA expects that management accountants disclose all relevant information that may influence the understanding, and use of the information (IMA 2). Modification of sales figures by Atkins adversely affects the ability by Granger to predict closing inventory levels, which is clearly unethical. In addition, Atkins

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World war I - Assignment Example Women have played their role equally in the war as compared to men. In the poetic thought Jessie Pope has shown the woman as brave and gallant and she has dealt with the delicacies of war in a more professional way and she has proved as a star in filling the minds of young men with loyalty and patriotism. She has expressed in her poem â€Å"The Call† that trenches are very horrible place and she is actually provoking the men that it is the duty of men and it’s not the duty of women that they have to face the horrible situations. So there is a concept that women are not too much powerful like men so it’s the duty of men that they must have to face the difficulties of war. Actually in the very poem she is longing that the men must lift their level of bravery and they have to face the war in a braver manner because the military uniform is not for the women rather it more suits to men. It is the duty of men that they look sober in shouting and shooting while women ar e not born for such deeds. So from the very idea of the poem â€Å"The Call† by Jessie Pope it is evident that war is a more suitable topic for poetry because it has a number of aspects which can be expressed in a poem in a more powerful

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Business Management Unfair Product Pricing - Essay Example It is an ethical concerns that becomes particularly urgent in the case of life saving drugs. Trust is closely related to ethical behavior. In fact, the two concepts are inextricably intertwined. Without ethical behavior on the part of a person or entity, it would arguably be impossible to gain the trust of others, who otherwise would have no concrete basis on which to extend that trust. Trust implies a confidence in someone else that they will generally do the right thing and exercise sound judgment when presented with various types of circumstances. Doing the right thing is the essence of what it means to be ethical. In the business context, that means sometimes sacrificing increased profits in order to avoid harm to people or the community. Thus, pharmaceutical companies should consider steeply discounting drugs that can help save lives, particularly for the poor. Such trust can go a long way toward promoting long term goodwill for the business. This can be a key ingredient in establishing long term profitability. Thus, fostering trust by acting ethically is an important long term business strategy for any organization.

Data Storage for Art Gallery

Data Storage for Art Gallery Executive Summary This assignment is based upon an Art Gallery. Being the system analyst and designer the art gallery is hopeful I demonstrate professionalism and propose a computerized cataloging system which they require. Currently the Art Gallery has 8 exhibition rooms where they display art items from around the word. These items dont only belong to the Art Gallery but by other owners, be it other galleries or private collectors. These items are borrowed to enhance the exhibition rooms which change exhibits every 3 months. The gallery is lead by a curator and 6 assistant curators to see about its daily operations. One of the major issues of the art gallery is the paper based form which they use to keep record exhibits in storage or in exhibition, in addition and borrowing and returning of items to their respective owners. There are several technologies available in which these paper forms can be transferred directly into the catalogue system which I am designing for the art gallery. These technologies would be reviewed and the best suited technology would be recommended for the transfer of the paper forms to the computerized system. In building this catalogue it is required that only the curator and assistant curators have read, write, edit and delete functions once the system is properly installed. These functions would be given with discretion to the user according to rank i.e. the curator would be given access to the entire catalogue system granting him permissions to all CRUD functions whereas the 6 assistant curators would have specific access and could only delete certain items in the system. This is required for security issues. In this proposal submitted must be a prototype interface so the users can see how the system would look before the interchange from the current paper based system to the computerized catalogue. The prototype would demonstrate the following functions: Adding a new item Editing item details Searching for the location of an item Listing items due for return This system would make the curator and assistant curators demonstrate efficiency and effectiveness in the art gallery as it is a step into the modern way or storing data which is used by many businesses worldwide. Unified Modelling Language, or UML, is a set of diagrammatic techniques, which are specifically tailored for object-oriented development, and which have become an industry standard for modelling object-oriented systems. In developing this cataloguing system for the art gallery, specialized diagrams would be used to model the system throughout the development process. These diagrams would represent part of the system but not the whole thing. Some of the diagrams that would be shown are: use case diagrams use case specifications activity diagrams class diagrams sequence diagrams state machines communication diagrams Use Case Diagrams Use case diagrams are description of the system from the users point of view. This would entail an actor, use case and system boundary. Three use case diagrams are presented to the art gallery to the show some functional requirements of the system but not the whole system. The art gallery system, maintaining the art list and returning the art item are demonstrated below. This use case describes all the functions carried out in the art gallery system which includes all the actors from the curator, assistant curator, owner and the public. Some of the use cases include maintain art list, maintain owner list, maintain exhibition, manage store rooms, borrow and returning of art. Maintain Art list is a function carried out by the curator. This use case was generated from the Art Gallery System use case in figure 1. It extends to describe the description of what the curator could do in the cataloguing system, which are CRUD functions. Returning of art is a function which the assistant curator performs. This use case was developed from the Art Gallery System in Figure 1 and gives a details listing of the function the assistant curator can perform. Use Case Specification The use case description is a narrative description of the functional requirements from the use case. It describes the use case goal and gives the description of what usually happens and the normal course of events. Following are the use case specifications from the previous use case diagrams. Use Case: Maintain Art List Actors: Curator Goal: Managing the entire art list Description: The curator logs into the system, the user name and password is verified. Access is granted and the curator continues to function. A search is carried out on a particular art ID to ensure it does not exist, once affirmed the curator may create the new record with all the art details required. Other functions granted to the curator are update, delete and print functions which follow along the same line. Once the curator is finished with the particular functions so desired he then logs out the system. Use Case: Maintain Art List Actors: Curator Goal: Managing the entire art list Overview: The curator logs into the system, the user name and password is verified. Access is granted and the curator continues to function. A search is carried out on a particular art ID to ensure it does not exist, once affirmed the curator may create the new record with all the art details required. Other functions granted to the curator are update, delete and print functions which follow along the same line. Once the curator is finished with the particular functions so desired he then logs out the system. Typical course of events: Alternative courses: Step 6 the art information may already exist in the system in the event of adding a new art item and may choose a new art ID. Use Case: Returning Art Actor: Assistant Curator Goal: To return art to respective owner Description: The assistant curator logs into the system, the user name and password is verified. A search is carried to verify all items that are due. The list is obtained and the assistant curator/s may contact the respective owner making them aware the due date is soon. The contract is ended for borrowing the art item, a report is printed and the art is returned. Once successful the assistant curator logs out. Use Case: Returning Art Actor: Assistant Curator Goal: To return art to respective owner Overview: The assistant curator logs into the system, the user name and password is verified. A search is carried to verify all items that are due. The list is obtained and the assistant curator/s may contact the respective owner making them aware the due date is soon. The contract is ended for borrowing the art item, a report is printed and the art is returned. Once successful the assistant curator logs out. Typical course of events: Description: The art gallery system includes the daily operations of the art gallery; this includes the maintaining art list, owners list and exhibition carried out by the curator. The assistant curators also maintain the exhibition rooms, the storage rooms and carry out the functions of borrowing and returning the art items. The owner of the art items are also included in the borrowing and returning of the items and viewing the exhibitions in conjunction with the public. Activity Diagrams Activity diagrams show the internal flow of control in a process. Activity diagrams can be used to represent sequence, selection and iteration and they can also illustrate where all activities can be carried out in parallel. According to IBM.com Activity diagrams are helpful in the following phases of a project: Before starting a project, you can create activity diagrams to model the most important workflows. During the requirements phase, you can create activity diagrams to illustrate the flow of events that the use cases describe. During the analysis and design phases, you can use activity diagrams to help define the behaviour of operations. This diagram shows the activity of events in swim lanes with the assistant curator, art list and the owner. It shows the process of the activity of events taking place in the returning process. Class Diagrams The class diagram is central to object-oriented analysis and design, it defines both the software architecture. It is used to model classes and the relationships between classes, and also to model higher-level structures comprising collections of classes grouped into packages. The class diagram appears through successive iterations at every stage in the development process. Designed are class diagrams illustrating the super class, hierarchy and attributes and operations for the proposed catalogue system for the Art Gallery. Transfer Methods Currently the Art Gallery stores and processes all information on paper based forms which outlines the name, location, owner, value of art, due date, etc. This system could cause problems in finding location of art items and generating due dates because of the frequent change in the exhibitions and in storage. The Art Gallery wishes to fully change this paper based style and produce a catalogue which would improve the efficiency and effectiveness in the work place that would entail the same information from the paper forms. The system would also grant permission to only the Curator and Assistant Curators to have read, write, edit and delete functions. In order to commence this catalogue all the paper forms must be transferred to the computerised system. There are many techniques in which this catalogue could be created, but only the most efficient one would be chosen as it is critical to implement this system. These techniques range from human data entry, document scanning and even voice recognition tools. The mentioned techniques and technologies would be compared and contrasted where only the best option would be chosen to perform the functions needed. Human Data Entry Beginning with the very basic and most popular way of entering information into a system is human data entry. This operation is fully dependant on the data entry clerk or in the Art Gallerys case the assistant curator to read the document and manually key information from the paper forms into the catalogue on the computer system. This process would be strenuous and lengthy as it is a fully manual process. There are only six assistant curators employed at the Art Gallery and this would be highly impossible to implement in a short period. The curators not only have to borrow and return art items, but mange the store rooms and exhibitions so time would be limited in such, to perform data entry. It is assumed that if this technique is chosen at least two of the assistant curators would perform the functions of keying the information into the system. Therefore this option is not best suited for the art gallery due to time constraint and the amount forms that would be re-processed even though a specific number of records wasnt given, it is alleged that there are a profound amount of documents to be entered into the catalogue. Advantages of Human Data Entry Method requires simple software systems and low-end computing hardware Less costly in the sense of hardware and software in addition depending on cost of manpower A large number of PCs would be available for use after census Disadvantages of Human Data Entry Requires more staff Time consuming compared to automated data entry Human errors may consist Standardisation of operations is difficult as performance may be individually dependant Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) According to tiscali.co.uk OMR is a technique that enables marks made in predetermined positions on a computer input form be detected optically and input to a computer. Optical Mark Recognition is used to process data entry form in various institutes and companies. This technology shines a light beam onto the document and is able to detect the marks filled from check boxes and fill-in fields on a printed form, and then the software interprets the output from the scan and translates it to the desired format, bearing in mind the use of a keyboard is nonexistent. OMR is best applicable for processing large number of hand filled forms which are needed to be processed quickly and accurately, which may include survey reply cards, questionnaires and ballots. The speed of OMR is very fast as it could process approximately 85-130 pages per minute and up to 4000 pages per hour depending on the type of machine used. Advantages of Optical Mark Recognition Improved data accuracy Faster than human data entry Capture speeds around 4000 forms per hour Equipment is relatively inexpensive as costs are predictable and defined It is simple to install and run Well established technology that is used by many countries Disadvantages of Optical Mark Recognition There are restrictions as to form design Restrictions on type of paper and ink OMR cannot recognise hand written or machine printed characters Images are not captured by scanners so electronic retrieval is not possible Response boxes should be correctly marked with appropriate pen or pencil The Art Gallery forms are hand written documents and OMR technology doesnt recognise hand written documents therefore this technology is at fault with the requirements of the Art Gallery. Even though this technology has many advantages and of its use worldwide, another type of technology must be considered for transferring the paper based forms to the computerized system. Optical Character Recognition According to wisegeek.com Optical Character recognition is the process of converting printed or hand written materials into text or word processing files that can be easily stored and edited. All OCR systems require hardware and software for analysing the images. A scanners is used to scan the text on a page, then breaks the fonts into a series of dots called bitmap in addition it reads most common font and can determine where lines start and stop. The bitmap is then translated to computer text. This technology fits the requirements of the Art Gallery as it is able to read hand written documents. There have been a lot of advances to this technology over the years as to improve the recognition of handwriting or fonts similar to hand writing. As we observed before in human data entry if we wanted to document one of the forms which is currently used by the Art Gallery someone would have to manually type the document word for word, but with OCR you just scan the document and it could be converted to several formats such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PDF or HTML. OCR would save a lot of time as it is fast in reading documents, just scan a document and it would be ready in seconds. A lot of businesses have chosen this technology as it cuts time in producing a document which would usually take days to complete can now be accomplished in a minute. As stated in the scenario the documents which the Art Gallery has are neatly handwritten characters which are easy to read so the problems with recognising font wouldnt be of a problem to hinder the operations carried out by this technique. Advantages of Optical Character Recognition Quicker processing, up to 60 sheets per minute Savings in costs and efficiencies by not having the paper questionnaires Scanning and recognition allowed efficient management and planning for the rest of the processing workload Reduced long term storage requirements, hard copy documentation could be destroyed after the initial scanning, recognition and repair Quick retrieval for editing and reprocessing Minimizes errors associated with physical handling of the questionnaires Disadvantages of Optical Character Recognition Higher costs of equipment High calibre IT staff required to support the system Handwriting on census forms be as close as possible to the model handwriting to avoid recognition error Possibility for error during character substitution which would affect data quality Tuning of recognition engine to accurately recognize characters is critical with trade-off between quality and cost Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) Intelligent Character Recognition is sometimes compared with Optical Mark Recognition because of their similarities, but the difference with ICR is its advancement in recognition patterns allowing the technology to recognise all fonts and different styles of handwriting. This technology also allows automatic updates to the recognition of new hand writing patterns in its database. This technology is best suited for the transferring of the forms in the Art Gallery because it would recognise the handwriting on the forms without any editing taking place. The process of documenting the forms to the computerised system would entail the form being scanned; the data is captured then analyzed and translated using ICR software that enables pattern-matching and automatic indexing. Just like OCR the data could be transferred into several formats such as Word, Excel, Access, PDF, XML etc. According to managedoutsource.com some features and benefits of using ICR are: Can recognize any text of a form or a check Allows manual key boarding reduction or deletion Maximum process automation of documents Recognize text regardless of its specific typeface, style or size. Batch processing Automated updating, reports display and automated mass spectra interpretation Automatic checking of the information against databases and dictionaries Costs reduction for your business Because of the similarity with ICR and OCR the advantages and disadvantages may be the same. Therefore the following disadvantages are reiterations of OCR disadvantages as described earlier. Recommendation Voice recognition technology is another aspect of converting the paper based forms to the computerized system but due to all the training involved in this technology only the fastest and most reliable techniques were discussed. It is recommended that the museum use the Intelligent Character Recognition method for the transfer of the forms to the computerized system. Even though it is stated that the forms are easy to read and in standard English the Optical Character Recognition would have been the ideal choice, but doesnt know what the future holds while the process is actually being implemented and what errors may occur. One of the major downfalls the company would face with the ICR technology is its cost. This equipment quite costly and the budget of the Art Gallery are unknown. Instead of buying the machine it could be rented at a cheaper cost, because this technology is only being used to transfer the old forms and nothing further. This would result in a more economical status for the museum. Another form is to buy the machine and rent it out to other businesses who demand the use of this technology for the same purpose. The income generated from the ICR machine could be used in the borrowing of the art items from other galleries and private collectors. Prototype User Interface According to agilemodeling.com a prototype user interface is an iterative technique where users are involved in the development of the User Interface for the system. Since the actual system isnt necessary to demonstrate to the users all desired are snapshots of the designed prototype interface. Includes are the searching for the location of an item, editing an items details, adding a new item and listing the due for return to their owners by a selected date. In the searching process there are two options available to the user, by either entering the Art ID or browsing the current collection with the option of choosing the item type or by selecting the item. Once an option of choice is chosen the art details would be listed below. In the art item details there would be the name of the item what type of art it is, and its current location, further information could be granted to either see what exhibition room or store room it is located in. This form is designed to add a new art item into the catalogue. It gives the option of entering all the art details into the form, once completed the curator has the option of going to another record and view all records in the catalogue or add another record in the system, once completed the curator could close the form. This image is similar to adding the art information; the only difference is the editing aspect. The curator and assistant curators have specific functions where editing is concerned. First they search the record by browsing through the forms and choose the edit button to make changes to the art information. Once completed the new information is automatically saved then the user can close the form. Generating due dates is a function which the assistant curator does in the returning of an art item process. The assistant curator has two options of searching for the due dates. Either by entering a desired date and then the catalogue would list all the due art items on that particular day or by entering an art id which would display the due date of the item. When the search is completed the assistant curator could then print out a report of the information gathered or close the form and continue with the returning art item process. Security Issues Security is a continuous process of protecting an object from unauthorized access. It is as a state of being or feeling protected from harm. That object in that state may be a person, an organization or property such as a computer system. Many businesses suffer the loss of their business due to lack of security. Security doesnt only have to be securing the computer system of the Art Gallery but also its physical surroundings. Objects in the art gallery can either be tangible or non-tangible, tangible objects being hardware and paintings, and intangible being information and data in the system that the art gallery depends on for its continuation. There Art Gallery has many art items which are on loan from different galleries and private collectors which may be priceless or one of a kind art work so losing this could cost the art gallery fortunes. Listed below are the possible threats to security to the art gallery system. Physical Security This may vary in different ways, if there is poor security measures such as little or no implementation of swipe cards, biometrics, security guards, surveillance cameras and identification cards, this may result in a negative effect on the company as there may be imposters wishing to harm the operations of the business. Businesses sometimes think if securing your computer with anti-virus and firewalls would help secure your business but the little things like an unauthorized person gaining access to the building and removing the server, stealing hardware or by vandalizing equipment could make businesses suffer continuity. Therefore the Art Gallery should have proper implementation security guards, surveillance cameras, swipe cards and other media to help with securing the exhibition rooms and store rooms in the Art Gallery. Physical Attacks Physical attacks may result in the event of malicious activity, natural disasters or it may be an accident these attacks results from denial of service. Listed are some physical attacks that may be harmful to the Art Gallery: Fire destruction of art and equipment Water flooding or leaks in the art gallery Electrical Power Surges Temperature air condition failure Natural Disasters Hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. Equipment Failure failure in servers, surveillance cameras, swipe readers. Tampering of equipment With respect to the physical attacks once proper planning and prevention of the above mentioned are complied with the art gallery may be protected against any harmful measures. Faulty Software Faulty software may be unintentional mishaps, it doesnt necessary means sabotage in a business but manufacture problems. These could occur if there is a glitch in the Operating System causing it to malfunction; software was misconfigured during installation or database software malfunction or exploitable weakness. Malicious Software Malicious software is software designed to destroy a computer system without the owners informed consent. Malicious software could be developed by hackers or internal employees in the workplace. Some malicious software may include Computer Viruses Worms Trojan Horse Logic Bomb Hackers toolkit Spyware Dishonest adware Crime ware These malicious software can be contracted due to illegal use of the company internet for personal use other than work related or implanted into the system intentionally. Unauthorised Access Unauthorized Access may take form in different forms. A common way of unauthorized access is by leaving a system logged on and walking away from your desk, another co-worker may intentionally spy on your computer and steal information this is also called eavesdropping. Counter authentication is another form of unauthorised access which may include individuals guessing passwords, password interception, password cracking and session replay. Session Hijacking is the exploitation of a valid computer session to gain access to information or services in a computer system. Denial of Service Denial of service is designed to interrupt normal system functions and affect legitimate users to access the system. Hostile users send a flood of fake requests to a server making the connection impossible to establish. This may result in significant server downtime and financial loss for many companies. All these mentioned security issues are threats to the art gallery; even though some attacks are based on a networked system it is assumed that the Art Gallery would implement a network for the computerised system. Consequences to breach of security According to the threats discussed earlier they play serious threats to the Art Gallery. Once the art gallery has a breach in security it could harm the continuity of the business depending on the level of attack. Firstly starting off with physical attacks, a natural disaster can destroy the entire building with all the exhibits and computers which could terminate the continuation of the business continuity. Other physical attacks like flooding and fire may harm the business but it could be prevented or stopped once proper implementation of fire extinguishers and proper storage of computer system and art exhibits a secured. The difference is a natural disaster is sometime unpredictable. The loss of vital information pertaining to the catalogue with the owner details of art, and information could eventually result in physical theft of art items in the gallery. Some items in the art gallery may be priceless and belongs to persons all over the world; therefore loosing these items would endure the gallery into a financial disorder. Art Gallerys integrity and reputation could blemish as it would turn into a public scandal embarrassing they security measures and all private and confidential information exposed. Permissions User accounts are the best way of ensuring only the curator and assistant curators have write, edit and delete permissions in the proposed catalogue. Every user account is associated with a username and password, the users contact information, account restrictions allowing access to the database at only certain hours of the day and account status allowing the administrator to temporarily disable an account. The curator would be the administrator of the database allowing him access to any and everything he desires which may include the maintaining the art list, maintaining owners list, maintaining the location of art items etc. These functions would allow the curator have all CRUD functions in the database. Being the administrator no one can delete the account because the system depends on an administrator to function and administrator status could be granted to any a supervisor of the 6 assistant curators. The assistant curators would be granted general access to the database but granted certain permissions. 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