Internet and Our Social Life Essay

For a few decades now, the internet has been an important gear in the ticking clock we like to call everyday life. Its significance and usage is ever growing, as well as the number of areas in which it has crept in. The phenomenon that is the internet brought power at the click of a mouse, but as it goes with power, consequences are inevitable. The internet is, undoubtedly, the largest source of information today. It is also a practical tool for managing bank accounts, staying in touch with friends and communicating with people all over the world, with technology that enables you to simultaneously talk while looking at the person on screen and even hold video conferences. But practicality and availability of information are not the only things that attract internet users. In online social communities, forums and game rooms people are given the opportunity to be whoever they want to be. The internet gives us virtual clay which we can use to mold our identities in any way we want. Especially in game rooms, people tend to fantasize and invent characters in order to compensate for the lack of their own. That is how a regular John Doe can go to his boring work every morning, but come back home, turn his computer on and become Zyborg, the hero from outer space. The cyber space can be used as a resort when real life is difficult to deal with. For example, people with low self-esteem or people who lack social skills will probably find online chatting much easier than talking to the person face to face. Such use of internet can make one’s life more interesting or less stressful, but too much time and dedication to it can lead to serious social and psychological consequences. If a person spends too much time on the computer, with its virtual character and virtual friends, he develops a virtual life which he may prefer more than the real one. Consequently, even though he might feel satisfied and safe, he does more damage than good by neglecting some important parts of his regular life such as time with his family, health, responsibilities and productivity. Lately, a diagnosis called Internet addiction disorder has been introduced for people who are thought to spend too much time on the internet. This issue is facing its beginning and it i s still disputed whether it is a real disorder. But according to Dr. Maressa Orzack between 5% and 10% of internet users suffer some form of internet dependency and she lists withdrawal, loss of control, and compulsive behavior as some of the effects. Online dating sites, which people visit in order to find a partner for romantic or sexual relationship, have made courtship easier, but, paradoxically, there have been many cases in which the internet was the prime cause of ending a relationship, marriage or even filing lawsuits. With internet becoming more and more integrated into our lifestyles it is only normal that the effects, both positive and negative, be visible in all aspects of our lives, including socializing. It is nice to be able to see your sister who lives miles away smile for you on screen as if she were in the room with you, or exchange e-mails with a person who you normally wouldn’t have the courage to come up to, but it would be a scary thing if cafes would become empty and internet networks overloaded with Zyborgs.

The Chrysalids Essay (How Characters React in Desperate Moments)

Characters Reactions in Moments of Desperation in The Chrysalids People react differently in moments of desperation. There are generally many different kinds of reactions towards moments of desperation in the world. Joseph Strorm and David Strorm (his son) had different reactions in moments of desperation. Joseph and his son had opposite reactions in the novel. Joseph Strorm and his son had opposite reactions in the book.Joseph Strorm reacts to deviants very seriously and without sympathy. He is also portrayed to be very religious. David Strorm on the other hand, is the only son of Joseph Strorm. He possesses a telepathic ability which is unacceptable in his community, Waknuk. David’s reactions towards deviations are quite different from his father. He makes certain decisions wisely. He is very considerate unlike his father. Joseph Storm shows no sympathy towards mutants because he believes that they are sent from the devil. In the Chrysalids, how characters react in moments o f desperation reveals insights into their true nature.Joseph Strorm’s reactions in moments of desperation show his true nature in The Chrysalids. Joseph Strorm’s reaction towards David was very extreme because he was associating with a deviation. David befriends Sophie and discovered that she had six toes on each foot. David promised to keep her secret. However, when Sophie and David were fishing, another boy in the district discovered Sophie’s footprint on a rock and reveals it to everyone. Joseph Strorm becomes very angry with David and he interrogates him. â€Å"Who was this child-this blasphemy-you were with yesterday?†Joseph Strorm also beat David because he despises mutants and he believes that a mutant comes from the devil. Joseph Strorm’s reaction towards David, who wished for a third hand, shows the religious views of Joseph. Joseph was mad at his son because David made a sinful statement. â€Å"You –my own son- were calling upon t he Devil to give you another hand!† Joseph Strorm took this statement very seriously which shows how serious deviants are taken. He is a very strict person and uncompassionate to his son. Joseph Strorm was so distraught with his son because of his despitefulness towards mutants. Joseph Strorm’s reaction towards Aunt Harriet was embarrassing.Aunt Harriet was Joseph’s sister-in-law who bore a blasphemed child. She wanted to switch babies with her sister (Mrs. Strorm) to get a certificate for her baby. Although she  didn’t feel the same way whatsoever about her child as Joseph does. â€Å"She is not ashamed.† He uttered a lot of negative and bitter words to her. â€Å"I don’t understand how you dared to come here, to God-fearing house, with such a suggestion. Worse still, you don’t show an atom of shame or remorse.† In conclusion, Joseph Strorm is very religious and he is the only character in the novel that has the greatest disl iking towards mutants, deviations and blasphemies.David Strorm also had some reactions in moments of desperation in The Chrysalids. David Strorm’s reaction towards Aunt Harriet’s death was very frightening. David is very scared because his aunt died as a result of hiding a deviant baby. He is frightened that he might get killed if he is discovered. Therefore, he prays to God to take away his telepathic gift so he could be like every normal person. â€Å"Oh God†¦please, please let me be like the other people, on’t you make it so that I wake up in the morning, I’ll be just like everyone else, please, God please!†David Strorm’s reaction towards Anne’s marriage was shocking. Anne was part of the telepathic group who decided to get married. David was very shocked that Anne was going to marry a norm. â€Å"For one thing, the man was Alan Ervin†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He is also very frightened because she would reveal to her husband, her secret and the group’s secret. Therefore, David meets his uncle and decides to take a grave decision. He decides to kill Anne but his uncle decides to kill Alan so the group might be free.David Strorm’s reaction towards his father and the Inspector interrogating him about Sophie showed David’s loyalty for Sophie. He promised to keep her secret no matter the circumstances. Joseph Strorm shouted at his son because he knows his son was lying. David knows that his father was going to beat him. â€Å"†¦I knew too that with my father’s present mood, it would happen whether I told or not. David was beaten for hiding Sophie. In conclusion, David is a very considerate boy. He had desperate reactions in The Chrysalids, which he had to take certain decisions wisely.ConclusionIn the Chrysalids by John Wyndham, how characters react in moments of desperation reveals insights into their true nature. John Wyndham stated a lot of characters with their reactions in moments of desperation. Joseph Strorm and David Storm are part of the examples of characters in The Chrysalids that had reactions in moments of desperation. These are the two major characters in the book that had many reactions in desperate moments. Generally, everyone in the world have different reactions either good or bad towards moments of desperation. This occurs in John Wyndham’s novel, The Chrysalids.

How Organized Sports Affect Academics

Most countries in the world have facilitated sports for extra-curricular activities in schools. Sports provide an opportunity for which students can develop their physical fitness, mental stability, leadership qualities and teamwork skills. Sports play an integral part in the development of children. It teaches them how to compete fairly and how to handle pressure. Balancing sports and academics properly also teaches children proper time-management skills and balance of their activities. Organized sports can, however, also have negative effects relating to students’ academic load. Purpose of the research The assignment is a mandatory component of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Caribbean Studies course, in which a research project that addresses social issues must be carried out. This research is intended to explore the effects that organized sports have on students’ academic performance. The results from this research can prove useful in informing students that participating in organized sports can aid in their academic performance. Significance of the research Previous studies have shown that organized sports do indeed affect academic performance in schools. This study differs from others as it intends to outline the positive effects of participation in sports, and to show how they significantly outweigh the drawbacks of such activities. Research questions This research intends to find out: * What percentage of students do involve in sports as an extra-curricular activity? * What sports do students generally participate in? Definition of Technical Terms Cognitive Skills and Attitudes – Attention, concentration, memory, verbal ability. Academic Behaviors – Conduct, attendance, time on task, homework completion. Academic Achievement – Standardized test scores, grades. Literature Review This review will bring further clarity on what is being researched, and show the effectiveness of the sources in providing timely, relevant and reliable information. Some say the impact of the involvement of students in extra-curricular activities of a sporting nature on their academic performance is quite positive, others disagree. This issue has been debated by researchers, students and parents for many years. Extracurricular Activities and Academic Performance Numerous studies have been conducted concerning the relationship between extracurricular activities and academic performance. Total extracurricular activity participation (TEAP), or participation in extracurricular activities in general, is associated with an improved grade point average, higher educational aspirations, increased college attendance, and reduced absenteeism† (Broh, 2002). Many extracurricular activities have proven to be beneficial in building and strengthening academic achievement, even if the activities are not obviously related to academic subjects. Guest and Schneider (2003), in looking at the previous research on this subject said, â€Å"Researchers have found positive associations between extracurricular participation and academic achievement†. Although researchers agree that extracurricular activities do, in fact, influence academic performance, the specific effect that various activities produce is debated. One study, conducted by the National Educational Longitudinal Study, found that â€Å"participation in some activities improves achievement, while participation in others diminishes achievement† (Broh, 2002). Formal versus Informal Extracurricular Activities Some researchers have divided extracurricular activities into informal and formal activities. The formal activities include activities which are relatively structured, such as participating in athletics or learning to play a musical instrument. Informal activities, on the other hand, also known as leisure activities, include less structured activities, such as watching television. The Relationship between Athletics and Academic Performance Some research indicates that physical activity not only improves academic performance, but has an actual physical benefit for the mind. Shepard, a world renowned neurologist said, â€Å"Regular physical activity might influence cognitive development by increasing cerebral blood flow, altering arousal and associate neruohormonal balance, changing nutritional status, or promoting the growth of interneuronal connections†. * U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division of Adolescent and School Health www. cdc. gov/HealthyYouth Revised Version — July 2010 (Replaces April 2010 Early Release) Results: Nineteen studies (reported in 14 articles) focused specifically on the relationship between academic performance and activities organized through school that occur outside of the regular school day. These activities included participation in school sports (interscholastic sports and other team or individual sports) as well as other after-school physical activity programs. All 19 studies examining the relationships between participation in extracurricular physical activities and academic performance found one or more positive associations. The evidence suggests that superintendents, principals, and athletic directors can develop or continue school-based sports programs without concern that these activities have a detrimental impact on students’ academic performance. School administrators and teachers also can encourage after-school organizations, clubs, student groups, and parent groups to incorporate physical activities into their programs and events. Children and adolescents engage in different types of physical activity, depending on age and access to programs and equipment in their schools and communities. Elementary school-aged children typically engage in free play, running and chasing games, jumping rope, and age-appropriate activities that are aligned with the development of fundamental motor skills. The development of complex motor skills enables adolescents to engage in active recreation (e. g. , canoeing, skiing, rollerblading), resistance exercises with weights or weight machines, individual sports (e. g. , running, cycling), and team sports (e. g. , basketball, baseball). Most youth, however, do not engage in the recommended level of physical activity. For example, only 17. 1% of U. S. igh school students meet current recommendations for physical activity (CDC, unpublished data, 2009). In addition to school-day opportunities, youth also have opportunities to participate in physical activity through extracurricular physical activities (e. g. , school sports, organized sports, recreation, other teams), which may be available through schools, communities, and/or after-school programs. Seventy-six percent of 6- to 12-year-olds reported participating in some sports in 1997, and in 2007, 56% of high school students reported playing on one or more sports teams organized by their school or community in the previous 12 months.

Comparison of the Odyssey and O Brother, Where Art Thou?>

Platt Pre AP English 9 5/9/2012 O Brother, This is Not Even Close To the Odyssey Everyone loves to immerse themselves into a dramatic and extraordinary story with evil monsters, brave hero's, and the desperate will to survive. It allows you to escape your troubles and take you to a new and exiting please with each and every second. However, there are some stories that simply do not capture the essence of breathtaking adventure. The movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? created by the comedic team of Ethan and Joel Coen, simply does not capture the perplexing classic story.O Brother, Where Art Thou? Is the big screen remake of Homer's epic poem, â€Å"The Odyssey†. This original story is about the adventure of Odysseus as he escapes his seven year imprisonment from the goddess Calypso. This Epic hero battles numerous monsters on his desperate attempt to return home to his wife Penelope, whom he meets again in a heartfelt reuniting. However, in the re-make film, a man named Ulysseus is a prison escapee that is desperate to keep his wife, Penny, from marrying another man, lying and cheating his way to reach his goal.The Coen brothers have created such a disappointing excuse for capturing a real hero and his adventures to be reunited with his true love. It is near idiotic. The story is so foggy and distracted by the unneeded details, and it abandons the true meaning of the heartwarming story. When a person imagines the heartfelt reuniting of a husband and wife after being separated for seven painstakingly long years, you dream of the relief and joy of the meeting. The story of â€Å"Penelope† in â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer reflects this idea exquisitely. The Coen brother's O Brother, Where Art Thou?Has a somewhat similar take on the story of Penelope. No matter the specific and thoroughly shown facts that the epic poem is much greater than the comedic film. The wife of Odysseus in the epic poem is named Penelope, and extremely similar to the name of Ulysseus's wife, Penny. In the movie, they were separated by the federal imprisonment of Everett Ulysseus, and the time it took to return back home. Also similar, the original hero Odysseus was kept from his wife Penelope by his imprisoner Calypso for many years, and the additional years of fighting for his life to return home to her.Also, in the poem, Odysseus was in his hometown while he saw his wife for the first time after all of those years. So was the place that Ulysseus was reunited with Penny in the film. There are few similarities between the film and the epic poem, but it is still believable that the similarities can not be compared to the shining differences. The poem is such an inspirational and heartfelt spectacle, it makes the film appear unimportant and no deep emotion involved with it. There are extremely few similarities, but there are certainly no shortage of differences between these two stories.Penelope is such a heartwarming, in depth part of the poem where ody sseus meets his wife once again. That is how it takes place in the epic poem anyway. In the film, it is the short, awkward moment of Ulysseus and his wife meeting again, to find out that Penny has completely and totally moved on. Also, Odysseus, in the poem, was disguised as a beggar, and his wife Penelope, had no idea who he really was. She tells him of the whole in her heart ever since her love disappeared, and he knowingly reassured her that her love would return.However, in the film, Ulysseus angrily approached Penny and demanded why she would ever lie to their children about his death. Penny went on to describe about how she had not missed him one bit. A complete and utter opposite of how the poem's Penelope had felt. In â€Å"The Odyssey† Penelope had many, many suitors that she would never accept for marriage. They ate her out of house and home, practically destroyed her life, only making her want Odysseus even more. All too differently, in the film, Penny had but one suitor, who she was set to marry that weekend, with no remorse.Ulysseus didn’t even disguise himself to her. This entire reenactment was both rude and uncaring. It showed no relief in the fact the hero of the story survived and was so heroic that he beat the odds. Indeed, it was very disappointing of a story. Most movies have a change to a story to emphasize or make it clearer to the viewers. However, it is clearly disappointing when the changes to the story are unnecessary. Everyone has heard of the saying â€Å"the book was better than the movie. † This is the case for the film translation of â€Å"The Odyssey†.The scene of Penelope is once of those specific scenes where it would be more reasonable to make it more similar to the original. However, it did work for a more comedic plot line. It exemplified crude humor and a lack of true deep emotions. It is exactly what the Coen brothers think when it comes to movie creating. Even though the changes are completel y pointless, it adds a somewhat depth to the all-around immature story. But it also creates this unloving relationship between the hero and his love.This relationship is full of jealousy and unneeded feuding. It may do something for the movie, yet it is simply not enough to make it enjoyable. When a person sits down with a good book or a bowl of popcorn waiting for a movie, it is assumed that there will be a thrilling, capturing story. Unfortunately, the film, O Brother, Where Art Thou? , directed by the team of brothers, Ethan and Joel Coen, is not one such story as determined by the disappointing and idiotic differences to the original epic poem â€Å"The Odyssey†.The differences in the two were blaringly overwhelming in comparison to the similarities. In this case, the differences did not help in rewriting this incredible tale of â€Å"The Odyssey†. Even in the most deep, beautiful scenes such as Penelope, there was a distinct failure by the creators of the film. Pe nelope called for such romance and heart-lifting emotion, the crude joke of it was almost criminal. Even if the film was taken in a more serious direction, it would have only scraped the surface of such a beautiful epic poem.

Economic Order Quantity and Its Implementation on Business

ECONOMIC ORDER QUANTITY AND IT’S IMPLMENTATION IN BUSINESS Any business man, executive, and entrepreneur should know the basic tools for a company to develop in the market, regardless how big the business is, there are many factors involve. It is very important in every business to handle well developed financial and logistics processes. In order for a company to handle a correct logistic, without matter if it is a goods or services company, it is necessary to identify many factors.Some of the factors to be taken into account are many strategic and financial matters, such as the supply chain management, warehouses, distribution centers, inventory management, packaging and material handling, transportation, among others. A commonly faced problem in companies is that managers of manufacturing or distribution organizations, doesn’t know which will be the adequate quantity of inventory to have in stock. Many people would think that the more stock a company has is the best.I t is true that having a large amount of inventory will help customers to make faster and immediate purchases, shipments will be done quicker, and will prevent the company of being out of stock of certain product and causing some opportunity cost with the customers; it is important to notice that the stocking of products is very expensive. Some companies, such as Wal-Mart or Dell Computers, handle an efficient managing of inventory that has developed their competitive advantage. Wal-Mart helps it suppliers by having the right quantity of their products in the shelves, so that will minimize the inventory accumulation of the merchandise.In the case of Dell, instead of having lots of computers stored in warehouses, waiting to be sold, the company minimizes this cost by building a computer right after an order is placed. [1] They keep at hand many computer components to make this possible, as they have a policy of five-day delivery. In order for every business to succeed as Wal-Mart and Dell Computers have done, it is important first to understand the decision – making techniques that many companies used to have and effective and efficient inventory management and production control.The three main techniques are: Just – in – time system (JIT), Economic Order Quantity method, and a comparison between LIFO and FIFO. In this occasion I will focus precisely in a method for a well handling of the inventory, called Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) which has been used since the rise of the modern manufacturing processes in the early 20th century. The Economic Order Quantity is a calculating method used in small and large businesses in order to determine which will be the best level of inventory for production or purchasing while being the most cost effective.EOQ is a tool mainly used in Operations Management that helps to minimize the purchasing costs as well as the inventory handling costs. The first model of this method was designed by F. W. Harris bac k in 1913. [2] The Economic Order Quantity is use to know how much inventory should be order by a company at a particular time. The EOQ method is used as a part of a periodically review inventory system that helps monitor the level of inventory that a company has at the moment and a fixed quantity of product can be order at any time that the inventory has reached a specific reorder point.There is a model, or equation, that helps calculate the appropriate reorder point (ROP) and which will be the optimal reorder quantity for a successful replenishment cycle and inventory that will avoid a shortage, which may provoke the company to face some stockout costs. It helps determine the best point where the company can have the lowest inventory, holding, and ordering costs, by a mathematical formula that will show the number of units that the company should order. 3] It is very important to notice that not every business, company or industry uses the Economic Order Quantity method. It is a v ery useful tool in small businesses where the owners have to make the decisions regarding the amount of inventory they should be having on stock, which will be the quantity of a certain product that they will purchase or manufacture each time, and when will be the appropriate time to do it without having high costs.Mainly because when we refer to small business, most of the time are new business that have to learn slowly how the market is developing and how to handle it, that’s why the economic order quantity method is an important tool to know the correct logistic for inventory to have, as long as the business grow. Also it is very common to be used in manufacturing facilities, where they have a constant and repetitive ordering of stock and production, they should know what will be the most cost effective quantity to manufacture in order to not face a shortage or have more inventories that needed.Another example of types of business which find very useful the Economic Order Quantity method are the ones that handle several inventory activities such as maintenance, repair, and operation. Finally, another example will be all the companies that handle a large amount of stock and it is mainly used when goods and materials are purchased periodically. As we have already defined what the Economic Order Quantity method is, and which types of business used it, we have to determine which the main components of this model are.The EOQ is mathematical equation, as I said before, that will throw the appropriate number that a company or small business should purchase, in order to minimize as best as possible all the cost involved in the process. But for make it possible for this method to work, we need to know the main variables – such as demand, purchasing costs, production, etc – to be taken into account at the moment of calculating this EOQ. When a company will take a purchasing decision, it is important and very necessary take into consideration the costs involved in the purchase or placing of the order, as well as the inventory holding or carrying costs.In a mathematical way, the economic order quantity can be determined in two different ways. The first option is to present the answer in units. But before talking about every variable that is required for this method to be useful, we will define which is the equation used in this model. The Economic Order Quantity is the square root of [two times the annual usage, or demand of product, in units times the cost per order] divided by the annual carrying cost per unit. It is expressed as follows:

The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia Research Paper

The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia - Research Paper Example Bolsheviks, who used their power in the Petrograd Soviets to gain support from the armed forces, successfully propagated the Bolshevik Revolution. Referred to as the Red Guards, Bolsheviks armies, led by the Military Revolutionary Committee took part in the revolution that shaped the course of Russian political arena. The Bolshevik Revolution came at a time when Russia was at the brick of collapsing under its numerous problems occasioned by its leadership (Litvin 2001, 49). Reasons for the Bolsheviks revolution The Revolution emerged, as the people of Russia grew weary of the rule of Czar Nicholas II, who had compelled over ten million Russians to join the First World War The Soviets were disillusioned by the death and suffering they underwent during the war and considered Czar Nicholas II an unworthy leader. In addition, the Soviets were angered by the move by the Russian Provisional Government to launch an offensive against the German and Hungarian armies. The Russian Provisional G overnment emerged after overthrowing the regime led by Czar Nicholas II, the former consisted primarily of bankers, industrialist and lawyers, who had promised to end Russia’s involvement in the World War, a promised they did not fulfill. The people of Russia protested the insurgence against these armies, but the government paid little attention to them. In addition, the Provisional Government officials who continued to amass wealth through corruption and massive taxes imposed on the Russian working class disillusioned the Soviets. The political elite were impervious to the suffering of the common folk in the nation as they continued in the footsteps of Czar Nicholas II. The Bolshevik Party sort to establish a government led by the workers and peasants able to make decisions that favored the Russian proletariat and bring to an immediate end the tyranny witnessed at the hands of the Provisional Government. Demonstrations against the government on the grounds of its support for the war led to crises in the Provisional Government and the emergence of the slogan, â€Å"all power to the soviets.† Another reason for the Bolshevik Revolution was the Provisional Government’s refusal to distribute land to the Russian masses and soldiers, who had requested land ownership over long periods of time. The peasants and workers took part in several revolts against landowners and tried to forcefully acquired their land, but were defeated by the Provisional Government, which also imprisoned the Bolsheviks Party’s leader. This apprehension of the leader resulted in Lenin going into exile for fear of being captured by the government. This served to further ignite the workers’ passion for a change in governance (Service 2005, p. 88). Moreover, we note that life in Russia in 1917 had become intolerable to the peasants and workers; disarray had ensued in sectors such as transportation, political and industrial relations. Massive declines in industr ial production resulted in closure of a majority of businesses in the nation’s industrial centers. Plunging production and closure of enterprises resulted in massive unemployment and loss of

Employment Law Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Employment Law - Coursework Example Under the Pregnant Workers Directive, a woman who has worked for 26 weeks is entitled to maternity leave and pay. The Maternity and Parental leave Regulations (MPLR) 1999 grants to the woman a compulsory leave of for 2 weeks after which she is entitled to 6 weeks paid leave at 90% ordinary salary. The 6 weeks are followed by 20 weeks leave paid at a rate of  £123.06 per week which is similar to sick pay. In total, she is entitled to 26 weeks maternity leave with pay after which she can apply for additional unpaid leave provided she informs the employer in writing 15 weeks before the date of the expected birth. The line manager has, therefore, no right to refuse Nadia to attend antenatal appointments during working hours and 26 weeks maternity leave. On return, she should go back to her job and if she is dismissed then that amounts to unfair dismissal. Though the company is experiencing reduced profits, the proper procedures for declaring workers redundant should be followed otherwise it would be considered as discrimination on the basis of gender which is prohibited under the Equality Act 2010. The case of Simpson v Endsleigh Insurance Services Ltd, although not ruled in favor of Simpson, shows that under regulation 10 of MPLR 1999, a woman who becomes redundant during maternity leave is entitled to be offered alternative vacancy in the organization or with an associated employer. Endsleigh closed down branches and Simpson was invited to apply for a vacancy in a new place while she was on leave but she declined. EAT held that she was not dismissed unfairly. What is more, Nadia has the righ t to request for flexible working time under section 80f of the Employment Act 1996.10 This is to enable her to take care of the child. One can be declared redundant if the employer ceases to operate the business or the skills required to carry out duties are obsolete thus no longer required for the business. If Gemma cannot provide justification for declaring Nadia redundant when she returns, then it is unwarranted and discriminatory. There should also have been consultations with trade unions and worker councils before decisions for redundancies are achieved and the right procedures followed to select those to go but not based on personal reasons such as pregnancy.11 If redundancy is genuine, she is entitled to redundancy pay since she has worked for the company for three years. This also depends on her age. For age 21-40 redundancy pay is calculated as 1 week’s pay for each year worked and those above 40yrs get 11/2 week pay for each complete year.12 However, she

Medicaid in Texas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Medicaid in Texas - Essay Example While some states spend as much as 75 percent of every new tax dollar on Medicaid, in Texas the amount is just over 25 percent, still a substantial amount (Recap of 80th Texas Legislature). Budgetary concerns and federal mandates have forced the Texas legislature to successfully implement significant Medicaid reform in the last ten years. The overriding problem for Texas, and Medicaid's biggest impact, has been the escalating costs during the last ten years. Since 1998, the total Medicaid budget in Texas has nearly doubled, and the 80th legislature session in 2007 budgeted almost $20 billion dollars for the program for 2008 of which over $8 billion was from Texas state taxes (State & Federal Medicaid Spending in Texas; Recap of 80th Texas Legislature). Texas's biennial process, and their low level of per capita state taxes has presented Texas with significant financial challenges as they are forced to budget well in advance during uncertain economic times (Kaiser Commission 1). Affected by this uncertainty are the citizens in Texas where Medicaid, "provides health coverage for one out of every three children in Texas, pays for more than half of all births and covers two-thirds of all nursing home care" (State & Federal Medicaid Spending in Texas). The once simple program has expanded to become a complex institution w ith complicated eligibility requirements and federal guidelines. ... In an effort to bring more children under the Medicaid umbrella, the federal government enacted the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in 1997 to cover children who lived in families that earned too much money to qualify for Medicaid assistance. By 2005, 72 percent of the non-elderly participants in Medicaid were children who were eligible for "a full range of health services including regular checkups, immunizations, prescription drugs, lab tests, X-rays, hospital visits and more" (State & Federal Medicaid Spending in Texas). In 2001, the 77th legislature further expanded access to the children's program by eliminating the "face-to-face interview requirements for application and recertification of children's Medicaid benefits in an effort to ensure that Texas Medicaid eligibility verification procedures will be no more difficult than those of the Children Health Insurance Program" (Stout 31). Today, children comprise the largest portion of aid recipients, but the majo rity of the costs are incurred by the elderly and nursing home care. This has prompted Texas to fully implement the SCHIP program and fundamentally change the way Texas finances their health care. Medicaid, and the SCHIP program, have helped move Texas from a system of public hospitals and county health support systems to a system of expanded public coverage (Kaiser Commission). In Texas more than 25 percent of the population is uninsured and their reliance on emergency room care and safety net providers has led to poorer health, higher cost of care, and an increase in insurance premiums in an effort to shift the cost of health care to insurance premium holders (Texas Health and Human Services Commission (1) 3). To alleviate these pressures, Texas has

Dreamers versus Workers and Their Humanity Essay

Dreamers versus Workers and Their Humanity - Essay Example The Cherry Orchard illustrates Chekhov's time, when feudalism shifted to capitalism and how it differentiated the dreamers from the workers, although Chekhov did not press judgment on these people, since he also believes that humanity is humanity because they are fraught with weaknesses. Chekhov's time represented the transition from feudalism to capitalism in Russia, which drastically altered the social class structure and contributed to the â€Å"defeat of the cultured elite†. He shows Madame Ranevskaya’s household as the â€Å"passing of the semifeudal existence of Russian landowners on their country estates†. Madame Ranevskaya composes the aging and fading Russian aristocracy, who slips into economic decline after centuries of upholding luxurious lifestyles. Another class emerges, nevertheless, the â€Å"semiliterate, ambitious middle class† that Lopakhin belongs to. Lopakhin has become wealthy because of his hard work, which the aristocrats lacked. He is part of the â€Å"workers† in the play. Lopakhin feels short of being part of the true, new upper class, however. He realises that he can never replace the upper class: â€Å"...you'll find I'm still a peasant down to the marrow of my bones† (Chekhov Act 1). This viewpoint may also be part of Chekhov's belief that the bourgeoisie is a class of its own that cannot fully usurp the ancient charm and sophistication of the former aristocracy. The characters depict Chekhov's idea that dreams are nothing without action. Madame Ranevskaya lives in the same dream that she is still wealthy. She sells her villa to have her daughter Anya go to Paris. Once there, they act as if they remain rich. Anya tells Varya: â€Å"We had dinner at a station; she asked for all the expensive things, and tipped the waiters one rouble each† (Chekhov 1). Instead of living within their means, Madame Ranevskaya continues her former wealthy lifestyle, which economically ruins her. Madame Ra nevskaya also wants to save the orchard from being sold and divided. She is emotionally attached to the orchard, which is why she cannot bear selling it. The cherry trees stood for their aristocrat â€Å"happiness,† a happiness which Chekhov felt when he tended to his own orchard (Vorob'eva 82). Madame Ranevskaya knows that they cannot rely on Gaev, because he is also a dreamer who does act to save the orchard. He wants to save the orchard though, because it stands for their erstwhile affluence. He mentions to Lopakhin that their cherry orchard was once mentioned in the Encyclopaedic Dictionary. The dictionary represents the extinction of aristocracy, who will only be remembered in the pages of history. Varya also dreams of Lopakhin's proposal, but the latter does not feel he deserves Varya. Varya expresses her bitterness to Anya: â€Å"But everybody talks about our marriage, everybody congratulates me, and there's nothing in it at all, it's all like a dream† (Chekhov 1). Indeed, these characters have various dreams that they never act on. Gaev illustrates the futility of dreaming:â€Å"I keep thinking and racking my brains; I have many schemes, a great many, and that really means none.† The play draws the difference between dreaming and realising those dreams. But dreaming is better than having no dreams at all. Chekhov shows that people with no aspirations are more deplorable than those who dream. Yephodov, who earned the nickname of two-and-twenty misfortunes because of his

Arguement-memo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Arguement-memo - Essay Example You will note from my discussion that after intensive research on this debate I arrived at the conclusion that much, if not most opposition stems from a few who in a sense are praying on vulnerable consumers by appealing to their sense of ethics and frightening them using science, when in reality they are attacking the multinational companies involved in the production of GM crops. I recommend that multinationals take stock of Monsanto’s pledge which proposes advocating five commitments: respect, transparency, dialogue, sharing, and benefits. By doing so they will be better equipped to curb opposing assumptions and hearsay and at the same time better equip consumers to make their own judgments and make up their own minds as to the safety and whether they consume GM food. GM food has incited intense open debate, extensive scientific dialogue and widespread media coverage. This memo will summarize the pros and cons of the issue, address the main strengths and weaknesses of both sides and wrap up with three or four recommendations. Although there has been an enormous amount of information on the possible benefits of GM food supplied by scientists and other specialists, and authorities, there is fervent consumer opinion that genetically modified (GM) food yields, could lead to unfavorable results in a variety of areas. Arguments have focused on the â€Å"health implications and environmental impact of cultivating GM crops and have raised disputes over national interests, global policy, and corporate agendas.† (Hsin, 2002, para.1) Although there are a number of facets to this dispute, it should be kept in the perspective of scientific evidence, together with a vigilant consideration of agricultural potential now and in the future. Proponents of GM food claim they are more nutritious and aesthetically pleasing as well as possessing a longer shelf life allowing more time for administration and transportation. They purport that GM crops undergo

Management Information and Communication Systems (MICS) Assignment

Management Information and Communication Systems (MICS) - Assignment Example This is because it helps in the management of resources that is at the disposal of the organisation in such as way that a little resource can be used to achieve several constitute components of the organisational processes. By extension, any organisation that is implementing MICS must be in a position to do things right and in the best approach to achieve needed results. There are times that organisations may be found to be in very good positions to execute IT and e-commerce for themselves. There are other times that doing this for themselves simply do not seem the best way out. In such instance where going about IT and e-commerce does not seem the best way out for an organisation, it tends to resort to the outsourcing of IT and e-commerce. Given the important role that MICS plays in organisation and the fact that it is not always that organisations will be in a position to undertake such IT processes for themselves, the paper seeks to critically discuss reason why organisations outsource IT and e-commerce. IT and e-commerce outsourcing will thus be treated as constitute components of the larger concept of MICS in this paper. To this better, the nature of MICS as a collective concept in organisational management shall be reviewed. This will lead up to an understanding of how MICS helps organisations to improve their management decision making, noting that the outcome of the organisation’s processes is largely dependent on its management decision making (quote). After noting the nature of MICS and how it improves management decision making, the various strategies of MICS in different organisations shall be examined. More particularly, the researcher will be looking into the case of small and medium scale enterpri ses (SMEs) and large multinational companies (MNC). As these different organisations engage in MICS strategies, the factors they consider to yield innovation and some of the key limitations

Concrete mix design and compression tests Assignment

Concrete mix design and compression tests - Assignment Example The results for the two materials were compared with special attention to the behaviors of each of them during loading. Testing of the two specimen metals preceded until fracture was realized. During the laboratory experimentation of the specimen metals, aluminum and steel were subjected to tensile tests in order to measure the tensile strengths. It was necessary to conduct the tests for Tensile strength for aluminum and steel, taking into consideration the fact that steel and aluminum are the most used materials during constructions and Engineering works. Ductility enables these two metal specimens to give extra tensile strengths. The tensile test helped in the determination of the elastic properties available in the specimen materials. The performances of the materials were measured by the behaviors that were observed on the materials and the conditions that support their performance. During this time, the challenges and failures of the experiment were observed. After the observation, emphasis shifted to the analysis of the information. The tests are expected to provide the framework on which Engineers can draw their conclusion and recommendation for reinforcing the bui lding materials and constructions in progress. The project is involves fundamental elasticity tests such as static tension test whereby the specimens of the two distinct materials are passed prepared and placed under weight which increasing becomes heavy. This is observed until the specimen attains the failure position. The measure of elasticity as one of the physical characteristics of the material determines whether the material will regain its original shape or will experience permanent deformation. The observation is meant to establish the proportional limit. This is the highest limit of stress, which the specimen material can produce and withstand while maintaining its position in the

Forum 5 and providing with suggestions for their papers to your peers Assignment

Forum 5 and providing with suggestions for their papers to your peers - Assignment Example The Capitol, who steered the game, thought that Katniss is a poor child just like the rest. The poverty of Katniss proves to be strength and a weakness to her. Due to lack of privilege, she learned various skills that were important in the arena. Some of the outright skills were gathering and hunting capabilities. She also commented on how to manage hunger compared to those that lived in luxurious suburbs. Based on the thesis statement, I would say that money do not give power, rather it gives the power idea. This is because the author has stated this fact in the entire book and offered the reader to think. Katniss started rebelling against the capitol when she said, â€Å"â€Å"`Trust me, ` I whisper. He holds my gaze for a long moment then lets me go. I loosen the top of the pouch and pour a few spoonful of berries into his palm. Then I fill my own. `On the count of three? `† (Collins,

Teen Moms Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Teen Moms - Term Paper Example It is quite evident from the available literature that the incidents of adolescents giving birth have been increasing. The biological and economic consequences of teenage pregnancy and parenthood have been largely studied. However, these conclusions confirming its negative impacts have to a large extent influenced the social perception on teenage mothers. It has been established that both the mothers and children in the discussed population are underprivileged due to various reasons. As motherhood limits their scope of further education, resultantly hindering their access to good employment, the chances of these mothers remaining underprivileged is large. Thus the inherent consequences of teen motherhood remain to be same across generations. Wiemann, Rickert, Berenson, & Volk (2005) confirms this argument as they observe that despite the increased visibility of teen mothers and unmarried teen pregnancy, the social stigma around ten mother are significant. Interestingly, there are opi nions which connect to the reciprocal effect of this stigmatization. This school of thought suggests that stigmatization would ultimately result in the positive consequence of reduced teen pregnancies. However, the implications that this futuristic philosophy can have on the present generation of the target population is overseen. In other words, the teen mothers will be socially marginalized. This in no sense is justified in a civilized society. There are several researches which suggest that this stigmatization add to the challenges which they are going through due to their underprivileged social context. A very important factor that has to be considered while understanding the larger social effects posed upon teen mothers is their perception of the societal attitude towards them. The aspect of stigmatization has to be considered in this respect. It has been

Health communication theory application paper Essay

Health communication theory application paper - Essay Example As suggested by estimates, billions of dollars are wasted due to the unnecessary medical procedures every year. Nine major groups of physicians have identified 45 medical procedures and tests that are recommended by doctors regularly but they have been proved to have no benefit for the majority of the patients, and at times such medical procedures can also prove to be detrimental for the medical condition of the patients. The article refers to an article by Dr. Howard Brody that sheds light upon the ethical issues in health care. Such articles help bring awareness among the patients which is one of the aspects of the article titled ‘Technology as the Representative Anecdote in Popular Discourse of Health and Medicine’ by Lynn M. Harter and Phyllis M. Japp. Technology, specifically mass media, plays an important role in making the patients aware regarding the medical procedures. According to Dr. Brody, one of the reasons behind the rising health care costs is that medical groups are not actively trying to bring the health care costs down and they are more concerned about keeping the incomes of the doctors too high. The article further suggests that medical groups should develop lists of medical procedures and treatments that have not proven to be beneficial in the process of diagnosis. The elimination of such tests and treatments will help in cutting down the health care costs without causing any deprivation of the medical benefits to the patient. Some of the specialty groups that were included in the list of the groups that used unnecessary medical procedures were; oncology, cardiology, radiology and primary care. Some of the tests and treatments that were proposed to be eliminated were; brain imaging scans after fainting, antibiotics for uncomplicated sinus infections, cardiac stress tests for annual checkups in patients who do not show any symptoms regar ding any cardiac problem, bone scans for early breast and prostate cancer patients who have low

Smoking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Smoking - Assignment Example risks of strokes by 2 to 4 time; coronary heart complication by 2 to 4 times; risks of cancer in women by 13 times, risk of cancer in men by 23 times and death from chronic, lung obstructive diseases by 12 to 13 times. To this end, it is pertinent for both smokers and non smokers to be enlightened on the risks factor of smoking, the benefits of not smoking as well as the intervention mechanisms for quitting smoking. It is a lifestyle habit whereby individuals engage in the inhaling of tobacco cigarettes. Evidently, smoking is a pertinent social and health problem due to a host of reasons. Foremost, tobacco smoking is a leading cause of preventable disease and death. Second, the longer an individual smokes during his or her lifetime; there is an increased level of damage to the health. Third, all tobacco smoke does not contain any risk-free level. Consequently, there is an immediate damage from tobacco smoking. Fourth, all cigarettes are pose critical health risks. To this end, there are no safe cigarettes. Evidently, smoking is a problem that affects the health of both smokers and non-smokers. This is due to the secondhand and thirdhand smoke which can be detrimental to the health of both smokers and non-smokers in society. Evidently, secondhand smokes emanates from two forms. These are sidestream smoke and mainstream smoke. In this regard, sidestream smokes emanates from the scorching end of a cigarette. On the other hand, mainstream smoke refers to the exhaled smoke by the smoker. To this end, both mainstream and sidestream smokes reside in the air as small particles for longer periods of time stretching into hours and days. Consequently, exposure to such particles for even such brief periods is enough to trigger health complications such as chest pains and heart pains. In this regard, there is concoction of chemicals present in tobacco smoke which are harmful to the non smokers and smokers. Evidently, there are at 69 chemical components of tobacco smoke

Transcendentalism in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter Research Paper

Transcendentalism in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter - Research Paper Example This paper shall seek to closely examine these nuanced facets of the novel. The concepts of free-enquiry and liberal questioning are central to the theory of Transcendentalism. Though Hester is seen to quietly accept her persecution, she is also seen to question and rebel against the rules of the Puritanical society in which she lives. This can be seen in the uncharacteristic vehemence with which she opposes the decision of the clergy to take away her child from her. Hester’s rebellion is also seen in her desire to start her life afresh with Dimmesdale and their illegitimate daughter. It is however Hester’s daughter Pearl, who is an embodiment of this spirit of free-enquiry. Her seemingly naà ¯ve, childish questions about the workings of the Puritanical society of Boston are in fact quite radical. The concepts of self-reliance and compensation are central to the theories of Transcendentalism. The idea of compensation dictates that man’s actions shall result in i nevitable, inescapable consequences. It thus rejects the notion of the society or the state penalizing an individual for his transgression. Hester Prynne is an intensely individualistic woman and the her ability to transform the harshly critical letter ‘A’ into a thing of beauty with her needlework is symbolic of her ability to transcend the cloistered moralities of her times (Bell). It is perhaps also significant that Hester, by the virtue of her pious living and virtuous

Uses of statistical information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Uses of statistical information - Essay Example Statistics is widely used in most of the companies. In workplaces, statistics plays a major role in helping the organization to manage data. San Francisco General Hospital is one of the famous hospitals in the city.The hospital provides world class facilities and includes state of the art medical equipments. The daily reports and patient report information is stored in a unique manner. Information collection, storage and retrieval are considered as one of the important aspects of hospital maintenance. Apart from all this, information representation and data representation is also equally important. Data representation is generally carried out with the help of statistics. Statistical methods are used to represent the given data in the specified format. Hospital is one of the few places where continuous monitoring is required. Due to this reason, statistics is used in a wide manner. Statistics is used in hospitals to analyze and describe the number of patients who are treated in a part icular year. This enables the management to represent the patients according to the type of treatment. This helps them to decide on the type of treatment and also to improve their services. The statistical data enables the hospital authorities to educate people on the severance of a particular health problem or a disease, so that people implement the preventive measures. Statistical classifiers help them to analyze the patient’s information. The statistical information is often used to get an idea about the treatments provided by the hospital. (Metcalfe, 2003). The number of patients who underwent a particular treatment is represented using the statistical methods. As this seems to be an easy option, hospitals tend to follow these methods. Our hospital includes separate treatment units for inpatients and outpatients. Based on the numbers of patients who get admitted in the hospital, a statistical measure is selected. With the use of this measure, the data pertaining to the de partment is collected, calculated and represented. Categories of Statistics The major categories of statistics include descriptive and inferential statistics. Among the other types, descriptive and inferential statistics are widely used in our hospital. Descriptive statistics is used to ascertain the basis of particular information. While conducting a statistical analysis, the samples are generally summarized using any of the statistical methods. The major use of descriptive statistics is to describe the collected information in a brief manner. (Wilcox, 2010). The patient’s information is collected and the description of the samples is produced. Out of the various methods like mean, median and mode, our hospital uses the mode method. Mode is used to represent the number of patients who are affected by a particular disease. It is also used to represent the patients who frequently visit the hospital. The details about the patients are collected and represented using the mode me thod. The next statistical method is inferential statistics and it is used to derive a conclusion out of the given statistical data. The samples pertaining to a particular concept or a disease is collected and using these samples an inference is obtained. The inference is not obtained only with the available sample, instead these samples are considered as an example of the original result. The main aim of inferential statistics is to arrive at a conclusion based on the similar samples that are collected using the statistical method. Though our hospital follows the descriptive statistical method, inferential statistics is also implemented to represent the data. Random selection method is used to analyze the number of people affected by a particular disease. Based on the limited data, the hospital decides on the type of treatment, so that the patients can be treated immediately. Levels of Measurement Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics are used in our hospi

Sculpture and Late Assyrian Palace Essay Example for Free

Sculpture and Late Assyrian Palace Essay Since the beginning of human imagination, we have fabricated the idea of power through imaginative creatures for protection. The origin of this idea dates back before the death of Christ with bas relief animals attached to gate walls. During the Assyrian Era, Lamassu guarded the gates of Sargon II in Bet-Nahrain. Lamassu is a Neo-Assyrian and/or Akkadian term used to designate a creature, combined of a winged lion or bull figure with a human head. As protective deities, it was a larger than life statue block that was placed on either side of a late Assyrian palace. It was usually depicted as a double-aspect figure, apparently possessing five separate legs when viewed from an oblique angle. This allowed for two simultaneous depictions. It appeared to be standing guard when viewed from the front. When viewed from the side, Lamassu appeared to be striding forward. The high relief creature was situated at adjacent sides of the gate at Khorsabad and served as a guardian to the King from all evil. Erected in 720 BC, its size is ten times as massive as humans. Each colossus was carved in the round from a single block of stone, measuring up to 5.50 m2 in size. Initially carved roughly in the quarry, each statue-block was transported to its final location, where it would be set in place and be subjected to fine carving. Lamassu was a characteristic of this late phase in the development of Assyrian art when sculpture was otherwise rare. Lamassu were powerfully evocative of strength, speed, and intelligence. It was considered by the Assyrians as a protective guardian of their houses, palaces, gateways, and cities. It also symbolized as a sign of Assyrian power which was displayed to foreign dignitaries and ambassadors. There is no historical evidence showing that Lamassu was worshipped as a god. Indeed, most of the sculptures were placed at gateways, palaces, underneath the houses, and not in the temples. Most of todays Assyrians have a sculpture of Lamassu in their house. Also many Assyrian organizations, magazines, TV programs, and Web sites use an image of Lamassu. However, present-day use of Lamassu is not for purpose of what their Assyrian ancestors used it; it is used as a sign of linkage to and identification to their ancestors. Indeed, most Assyrians do not use the name of Lamassu; they use Assyrian Guardian. However, the  name of Lamassu does appear in Assyrian poems, especially poems written by Assyrian poets from the homeland and as a name for businesses. In the past two hundred years, there have been numerous archeological discoveries in Bet-Nahrain. One result of these discoveries has been to acquire some knowledge about the cradle of civilization which was formed in Bet-Nahrain. This area of the world was dominated by different nations. Assyria was one of the most powerful and ambitious nations that dominated Bet-Nahrain for approximately 1200 years. The Assyrians also believed in many protective supernatural beings; one of them is the human-headed winged bull which the Assyrians called it Lamassu.

Indian Influence Essay Example for Free

Indian Influence Essay This paper aims to discuss the question of to what extent the Indians have influenced place names and the vocabulary of American English. Considering that Native American Indians are the oldest people in America, it is natural that their language and culture have had some influence upon the development of American English, as well as upon place names in America. It is believed that the first Native Americans arrived during the last ice-age, approximately 20,000 30,000 years ago . There are a great number of American place names, including those of large cities and states, which have been named after Indian words – it’s estimated that at least half of the states get their names from Indian words. These include Arizona, which comes from the Indian word Arizonac, which means little spring or young spring. Arizona has a history rich in legends of pertaining to the West. Here Indian chiefs Geronimo and Cochise led the fight against the frontiersmen. Tombstone, Arizona, was the site of the most famous shootout in the West, this being the gunfight at the O. K. Corral. Names of other states influenced by the Indians include Arkansas which comes from the Quapaw Indians, Iowa, which probably comes from an Indian name meaning â€Å"this is the place† or â€Å"the Beautiful Land†, Oklahoma, which is from two Choctaw Indian words meaning red people, and Wyoming, which is from the Delaware Indian word meaning â€Å"mountains and valleys alternating†, just like the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. It can therefore be seen that the influence of American Indians has had quite a large impact on the naming of places in America. The vocabulary of American English has also been quite profoundly impacted. In a similar way that thousands of place names have been impacted by Indian words, so have many US English words have their roots in American Indian. These help in making the language the rich, cultural affair that it is today, and include not only words such as tomahawk from the Virginia Algonquian tamahaac, totem from the Ojibwa nindoodem, my totem, wampum from the Massachusetts wampumpeag , wigwam from the Eastern Abenaki wikwom but also moccasin from the Virginia Algonquian moose from the Eastern Abenaki mos, papoose from the Narragansett papoos, child, pecan from the Illinois pakani which are used with relevance to everyday American things. The word Podunk, meant to describe an insignificant town out in the middle of nowhere, comes from a Natick Indian word meaning swampy place. Many of these words borrowed from American Indians are nouns from the Algonquian languages that used to be common and widely spoken along the Atlantic coast. English colonists, who came across iar plants and animals which were strange to them at the time named them based on Indian terms. Naturally enough pronunciation changed and words were shortened in order to make them easier for the English tongue. But the fact remains that their roots are in American Indian words. Conclusion This paper shows that the Indians have influenced both place names and the vocabulary of American English to a large degree. REFERENCES Infoplease, 2005 American Indian Loan Words, retrieved 8 May 2006 from the website http://www. infoplease. com/spot/aihmwords1. html Native Americans, 2005, The Bravest of the Brave, retrieved 8 May 2006 from the website http://www. nativeamericans. com/ Fact Monster, 2005, American Indian Place Names retrieved 8 May 2006 from the website http://www. factmonster. com/spot/aihmnames1. html

Threats Of The Film Industry

Threats Of The Film Industry The main threat for the film industry now-a-days is PIRACY. Where hackers sell the duplicate CDs and DVDs. Online piracy has also come into action and every illegal download cost to the film industry is huge. It is obvious that people get attracted to the internet as it is free. Online piracy is could impact the film industry losing up to $460m (275 million pounds) annually according to leading motion picture studios and distributors report. Technology is playing a key role where things became more easy and simple. A recent report estimated around 144,000 films is downloaded every day across the world. The main piracy is done with the help of camcorders in the theatres. The recent box office hit AVATAR was the most grossing film in the cinema industry as well as the most pirated film. AVATAR was downloaded 500,000 times in its first two days in theatres and almost 1 million times in first week of release. (www.torrentfreak.com ) To prevent this threat for film industry government is taking necessary steps with the FEDERATION AGAINST COPYRIGHT THEFT (FACT) . It was established in 1983. The primary purpose of FACT is to prevent the UKs film and broadcasting industry from being infringed. FACT closely works with UK police, HM Revenue Customs, UK border agency, Serious and organised crime agency and the other agencies. FACT assess, analyse and report the threats. It plays a key role in ensuring that the awareness is created among people about the growing piracy. FACT works in three key areas: Online Piracy This focuses on distribution of illegal films. Prevention of recordings in theatres Over 90% of piracy is originated from copy recorded in theatres. Hard goods piracy http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2003/oct/21/film.filmnews http://www.fact-uk.org.uk/site/about/index.htm Question 2: SWOT ANALYSIS: SWOT is a tool which is used to evaluate Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of an organisation. Strengths and Weaknesses are considered to be internal factors of the organisation and Opportunities and Threats are considered to be external factors. This method identifies internal and external factors which are favourable or unfavourable in achieving an objective. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysis INTRODUCTION OF IKEA: IKEA (Ingvar Kampard Elmtard Agunnaryd) was founded in 1943 by a 17 year old Ingvar Kampard in Sweden. He grew up in a farm called Elmtaryd in a village called Agunnaryd. IKEA comprises of initials of the founders name and the place where he grew up. In 1920s Kampard started selling match boxes to his neighbours by buying them in bulk at Stockholm and reselling them at very low cost. It later expanded by selling flower seeds, Christmas tree decorations, pencils and pens. In 1940s he discovered furniture designs with self assembling concept and now IKEA is the worlds largest furniture company which is famous for its flat-pack designs at low prices. It is sells Accessories, bathroom and kitchen items. IKEA has also actively participated and has partnerships with social and environmental projects. http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/about_ikea/the_ikea_way/history/2000.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikea SWOT OF IKEA OF IKEA HELPING TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABILITY: IKEAs business strategy is based on sustainability and environmental design. To attain its goal of sustainability IKEA has launched a new business plan which combine social, economic and environmental issues. SWOT analysis will help IKEA to reach its objectives by identifying and evaluating Strengths and Weaknesses which are within the control of IKEA like production, marketing, finance, human resources areas of the organisation. Opportunities and Threats which are out of control of IKEA like social, economical, political, technological, environmental issues outside the industry. If IKEA is able to create opportunities by countering the threats and by addressing its weaknesses with the help of its strengths then it will achieve the goal of sustainability. http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/DisplayPage?layout=memberOffersstoreId=7langId=-20catalogId=10103localStore=12003 http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-studyswot-analysis-sustainable-business-planning110-368-3.php STRENGTHS OF IKEA: Any aspect which adds value to product is considered to be a strength of the business. IKEAs Strengths are as follows, Its vision to provide better life for its customers and employees. Its promising global brand value and range worldwide. Its strong concept of providing wide range of products at low prices. IKEA has strong customer confidence level to buy IKEA products from any store. IKEA extracts chemicals and substances which are harmful to the environment and people. IKEA is completely against child labour and also keep an eye on its suppliers to avoid child labour by doing frequent visits without information. IKEA is working together with UNICEF to save the children and provide them with education and better future. IKEA has introduced an IKEA FAMILY CARD which benefits its customers with which they get discounts on the products like furniture, mobile phones and also reductions in restaurants. As a member of FAMILY CARD customers can save up to 60% on mobile phones purchase and get offers in restaurants like free Tea and coffee. This range of offers and products in IKEA makes customers visit them again and again. WEAKNESSES OF IKEA: http://www.clik2complaints.co.uk/Ori-others/ikea3.htm http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-studyswot-analysis-sustainable-business-planning110-368-5.php Any organisation should identify and acknowledge its weaknesses will improve the product or service of the company. This also helps the organisation to set objectives and create new strategies. IKEAs Weaknesses includes, IKEAs concept of offering low price products should be balanced with its quality. It should constantly concentrate on quality in every step of production. It should always differentiate its products from its competitors. Its global business makes it difficult to control quality and standards worldwide. It should always try to keep good relation with its stakeholders and consumers which again is a difficult task because of its size and scale. There are complaints from the customers that their orders include items which are not necessary for them. Items of wrong material, size and fabric are delivered to the customers. A poor customer services and improper staff coordination. The complaints from customers are spoil the reputation of the company. IKEA has to concentrate on improving its services by appointing right staff in right place. Orders need to be taken with all the specifications and confirmed by the customer before delivering the order. OPPORTUNITIES OF IKEA: Opportunities arise with the strengths of the company. IKEA focuses on environmental based business. IKEA educates its customers to support recycling and reusing of the products and also aims that recycled products are not used in developing a new product. IKEA wants to give its customer a sustainable life. Advantages of Opportunities of IKEA through its sustainability, The demand for greener products which do not harm the environment is growing. Demand for products with low price is growing because of the current financial conditions. Customers prefer trading in cheaper price. Being sustainable is IKEAs image which helps to keep good relationship with stakeholders, consumers and press. IKEA sources the products from countries like China, India and Pakistan which enables IKEA to offer products at competitive prices. IKEA plays a major role in supporting for charities like world wildlife fund and UNICEF. IKEAs aim to reduce energy use and carbon footprints and use more renewable energy has a growing demand. THREATS OF IKEA: For any organisation, competitors and new entrants to the market are the main threats. Threats are always external like political changes, environmental and economical. IKEA can use a particular strength and overcome the threat. There are many other companies in the same market and IKEA should try to attract the customers with special offers and reduced prices when compared to others. IKEA should make better use of technology and resources to gain economies of scale which gives them competitive edge and also enables to offer products at lower prices and puts barriers for new entrants entering the market. IKEAs biggest strength is offering products at cheaper prices which create strong customer base in tough financial times and depressed retail market. Its products are also famous in the market for its good quality among the higher budget markets. CONCLUSION: IKEAs strengths offering products at low prices, impressive designs and use of technology and resources can counteract any weakness or threat and create opportunities in the market. IKEA belief in doing good business makes it a sustainable business in creating better everyday life for its customers and employees. Question 3: IKEA TO FULFILL SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IKEA took part in several projects for development of society. Most of the projects were related to children welfare. In association with UNICEF, IKEA initiated child rights program in India. The aim of this project was to prevent child labour by addressing root causes like poverty and illiteracy. IKEA also supported UNICEF in emergency programmes like earthquake in Pakistan and 2004 Tsunami affected countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. IKEA supported UNICEF in providing immediate needs like food, bowls, sleeping bags, towels and bed sheets. It also took initiative for earthquake affected children in providing quality education and safe drinking water. Nearly 10,000 earthquake-affected boys and girls between 6-11 ages were benefited with education and hygienic facilities. These are some social activities of IKEA as a global brand and have good command on social responsibilities. In addition, IKEA also actively participates in addressing environmental issues as a responsibility. It believes in creating healthy society. As part of this it encourages its customers to support them for recycling or reusing the used products. It pays attention on less usage of water and carbon footprints. IKEA can continue its partnership with UNICEF and try to help whenever needed. It can show its concern in every possible and fulfil its social responsibility http://www.unicef.org/corporate_partners/index_25092.html TASK 2: Question 1: INTRODUCTION: Charles Lazarus is the founder of ToysRUs. In 1948, he turned his dream of creating children oriented business into reality. He started a baby furniture store, Childrens bargain town in Washington. On public demand he started selling toys. The first toy that he started selling was cradle gym. Later he expanded to tricycles, books and other toys. After 10 years, Charles opened his own store in a supermarket model which helped the customers to pick products of there own choice. In 1980, he opened his second store and named it as ToysRUs which attracted parents and kids. In 1984, the company began to expand internationally. It started opening the stores in countries like Singapore and Canada. Later more than 700 stores were opened in 33 countries outside United States. The company branched out into childrens clothing business and opened the first store in Paramus, New Jersey and Brooklyn, New York named KidsRUs. Although it closed its branches in 2003, it still remained committed to app arel business and continues selling designer and private label boys and girls clothing through BabiesRUs stores. http://www2.toysrus.com/about/ourHistory.cfm

Evaluating Theories of Motivation in Project Management

Evaluating Theories of Motivation in Project Management Introduction Banking sector continues to be one of the most important economic sectors and one of the most rapid growing businesses in Albania in the last 10 year (Bank of Albania, 2010, www.bankofalbania.org ). Societe Generale Albania (SGAL), previously named Banka Popullore, started its activity on 1st of March 2004. In April 2007, Societe Generale Group acquired 75.01% of the shares of this bank. SGAL has its head office in Tirana and is present allover Albania with 41 operation branches. At the end of 2009, the bank had 379 employees, both Albanian and French nationality (Annual Report 2009, 2010, www.societegenerale.al ). The case study Being one of the most important economic sectors has created enough space for operation of 17 Banks in a relatively small market like Albania. With such a high competition it is very important that banks stay always in line with economic developments and react fast toward customer needs for new products or adaptation. Societe Genereale Albania Bank is quite small and there are frequently high pressures for sharing resources in order to complete in time and with budget different operational or business initiatives. These needs has made mandatory for bank management to apply a matrix organizational layout. Matrix organizational structures are quite complicated when it comes to management and control of staff performance. They bring the employee in front of two managers, the usual department manager and the temporary project manager. There a lot of researches and studies for motivation in standard organizational structure, but the topic is considered as less explored when it comes to project management (Dwivedula and Bredillet, 2009). Theories of motivations Motivation is the driving force within individuals that compels them physiologically and psychologically to pursue one or more goals to fulfill their needs or expectations, (Lam and Tang, 2003). There are currently a lot of theories to explain the nature of motivation and help mangers on addressing it according to their needs. These theories do not conflict between them, which means the manager can use any of them or even combine them (Birnberg, Luft and Shields, 2007). This assignment will be focused in two theories; The hierarchy of needs as one of the first ones and most well known by all kind of managers and the dual-structure theory since it was developed based on a research on engineers and accounts, which is about the same environment and employee nature as in SGAL Bank. Another reason for selecting these theories is the fact that both of them have as a starting point the fulfillment of basic human needs and in the development countries we meet a high demand of these needs. The Hierarchy of Needs The theory is well known and was developed by Abraham Maslow in 1940. According to this theory the needs are organized in five main groups of needs that stay together in the form of a pyramid (Maslow, 1943): Physiological Needs; they stay in the bottom of the pyramid and include the basic needs of every human being such as: the need for food, drink, education, medical care, etc. Every organization can provide these needs by providing good working condition and a salary to their employees. Security Needs; includes the need for feeling safe and secure, having a secure job, having a home and a future. The organization can satisfy these needs by offering job continuity, health insurance and retirement plans. Belongingness Needs; includes the needs of humans to love and be loved, to be accepted by others, to take and give friendship. Most of this needs get satisfied by the family ties, but this is not enough since we spend a considerable time of our life in our works. Managers and direct supervisors can play a significant role to satisfy these needs by encouraging the work in group, enhance their communication with employees and provided basis for social interaction between employees. Esteem Needs; the needs of this group can be divided into two major needs, the need for self respect and the need for being respected by others. Both department managers and project managers can satisfy this by giving the staff a job title, awards, recognition of merits, benefits etc. Self-Actualization Needs; is the highest level of the hierarchy and includes the need we have to be the one we want to be in order to be self fulfilled. If all the other levels of the hierarchy are fully satisfied, it does not remain a lot for the managers to do to satisfy this need. All they need to take care is to make sure the individual has a challenging job and that other needs of lower level do not become deficient. According to the theory the needs of each level should be satisfied before going to the next level until we reach the self-actualization needs, however if during our road to the top of hierarchy, a lower level of need become deficient again, the individual returns to that level (Moorhead and Griffin, 1995). Despite the fact that the theory is well recognized among many organization and managers due to the intuitive logic and easy understanding, the theory is not fully validated either by Maslow or any other research, in contrary many deficiencies have been identified (Wahba and Bridwell, 1976) The most common criticism is the limited number of people used in his research and coming out with conclusions which applies to everybody (Boeree, 2006, http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/maslow.html). Such a conclusion of course does not look very scientific. Another important one are the constrains that Maslow put on the self-actualization. He pointed out that the self actualization is in the top of his hierarchy and can be reached only when all the other needs are satisfy. In opposite to this there are many examples where people show outputs of self-actualization by being fare from fulfillment of their basic or belongingness needs (examples of artists and scientist). It is important to mention that if we carefully evaluate the hierarchy we see that the most basic needs, up to the third level, are usually satisfied by the government and/or organization rules and regulation. If we go up in the hierarchy of needs, we see that there are direct supervisors and team members who help to satisfy the needs and turn them in motivators for improving job performance. The Dual-Structure Theory The theory was developed by Herzberg on late 1950s based on a research with a couple of hundred engineers and accounts (Herzberg, 1968). The finding of this research proved that different set of factors were connected with different feelings about work. The motivation of an employee goes in a two step process, first satisfying the employee (eliminate any factor which may bring dissatisfaction, fulfill the hygiene factors) and second go with motivation factors. The motivation factors would result at the end with satisfied and motivated employees who can have a long term and positive job performance. The hygiene factors (salary, company policies, competence, interpersonal relations, working conditions, etc) when they exist, they are in placed by the company strategy and/or governments rules and they are not directly related to the performance and ability of the employee. In opposite with them, the employee can get the motivation factors (recognition, achievement, work itself, advancement, and responsibility) by his involvement and his work but also by the ability of his manager to give them (McCrimmon, 2008). The combination of these factors can set employee in four situations (Herzberg, 1987): Satisfied and motivated employee. It is a target situation for having the best performance, there is not a lot to be done if you have employee being in this status. Satisfied but not motivated. If the employees are in this status, it means the hygiene factors are all accomplished and the managers should find the way to apply motivation factors and change the status; otherwise the de-motivated employee will bring low productivity and bad quality. Not satisfied but motivated. In this case it is the company who should change its policies and rules and try to change the situation. An employee is not expected to stay longer in this status. Not satisfied and not motivated. The worst situation, both company and managers have a lot to do. These employees will bring to the business apart from the low productivity and bad quality a lot of complains, strikes and no communication. The theory has been analyzed more than any other theory in the field of organizational behavior (Pinder, 1998) and the results are quite contradictory. Studies and researchers which use the same method support the theory, other ones criticize it for the research population used, which is limited only to accountants and engineers. The theory does not take into account the individual differences, since a motivation factor can depend on individual age and/or organizational model (House and Wigdor, 1967). Herzbergs theory states that money does not motivate employees but only satisfies them (Herzberg, 1968), due to this statement the theory is widely discussed and analyzed in studies and researches about the rewarding and motivation (Beel, 2007).The rewords supporters are totally against it and they say it does not have evidences to prove that money is not a motivation. Another aspect of critics is the fact that the theory does not take in consideration the circumstances, what does motivate an employee today, not necessary satisfy and motivate another one tomorrow (Robbins, 2005). Visual presentation of the dual structure theory (http://www.tutor2u.net/business/people/motivation_theory_herzberg.asp, Nov 2010) As displayed in this graphic the theory goes though two major phases, first eliminate the dissatisfaction by providing all the hygiene factors and then start applying motivation factors and have motivated employee and high performance. Motivation in Project management PRINCE2 manual defines a project as: a management environment that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to a specified business case. Another definition is: a temporary organization that is needed to produce a unique and pre-define outcome or result at a pre-specified time using pre-determined resources. Being a temporary organization and with specific targets, the project organization is a different structure than a normal organization unit and different rules and practices are applied in every aspect of organizational behavior, including motivation. Description of case study In 2008, Societe Generale Albania started a fifteen months project for migration of existing core banking system. The project team was composed by more than twenty high qualified employees coming from different departments and sectors, different education and different professional background. Many different positions were defined as part of the project such as; translators, business analysts, IT developers, organization and even a public relationship specialist. The bank knew since the beginning that such a challenging and multidimensional project could not succeed within the specified time and budget without a motivated team. To achieve a motivated team, SGAL manly considered the assumption that people are motivated by money. This assuming was coming from their experience with the sales force in the branch network and missing of experience on running projects. They provided project staff with a simple bonus schema based on their performance with a maximum of one monthly salary. The bonus was delivered once in the middle of the project and once in the end of it. In addition to this bank has tried to provide good working condition, apply policy on compensation and benefit, apply payment of social and health insurances, apply Global Employee Share Ownership program, so staff has not only the status of employee but also have a shareholder status (BHFM/SGO/REF, 2007), and also apply some flexibility working hours. Analysis It is important to highlight since the beginning that motivation in project is different from motivation in standard organization infrastructure. There are 2 major differences (Schmid Adams, 2008), the first one is related to the fact that in projects, tasks and leaders are temporary. Considering that projects are a temporary organization, than can a project manager do something to motivate its employee, even if the organization motivation is not in the required level? The second difference is that each project goes through some main phases; planning, executing, monitoring and closing, so different factors should be used to motivate the team in different project statuses. If we get back and see, company has already addressed most of the hygiene factors, but because of the no experience on the field the bank has totally under evaluated the job security factor. A few months before the end of the project, two key persons, data migration manager and accounting business analyst resign from the project. The main reasons for that were the missing of a clear view for their position in the bank at the end of the project and continues overload. According to the Herzberg theory, if job security factor is not addressed the result is to have dissatisfied employee, and a dissatisfied employee can not stay with the company for a long period and either have a good performance. There are two issues coming from this: the management of the bank failed to provide the security for the job continuity and the project manager failed to plan a proper work-life balance and properly manage the overload. Failing in providing these factors had become precedent for staff leaving the project and the company just before the closing phase of the project and causing delays and increase lack of self-confidence among other members. As a result of this, high qualified staff found themselves de-motivated. If we go up in the hierarchy of needs we dont see evidences for fulfill the social needs of the project team. SGAL management did not organize any social activities during the project. Only at the end of the project, when the success was evident, the company organized a party. The project management from the other side attempted to do some socialization between team members, but that was on a limited number of people and not on regular basis. According to Dwivedula and Bredillet (2010) a positive work climate of the group is achieved when all members have task interdependence, one common objective to achieve and of course a good relationship and constant communication with each other. Social activities are important to have a positive work environment, but the project manager has to be very careful and evaluate each situation so, if one person intrinsic motivation is alienated then it may bring the spillover effect and de-motivated the entire team (Schmid and Admas, 2008). From Herzberg dual-structure theory we know that satisfied employee is not enough to have motivated employee. Project and organization management had addressed the recognitions and achievements factors by establishing an internal magazine distributed monthly to all bank staff and fully dedicated to the project team and their achievements. We indicated above that SGAL management allowed some of the project team members to have flexible working hours, this was a very positive thing, which properly addresses the status factor by making them fill different and appreciated. How where the staff selected to be part of the project? Where they volunteering or just appointed without their will? Most of the team was appointed to the project. According to a research made by Aller, Lyth and Mallak (2008) the creation of project team using co-mingling method (volunteering to the project positions) gives an interest and motivated team. By selecting this method there are also chances that the project staff has the appropriate skills and abilities to make the job. Despite the fact that this research is addressed to the setup of teams in university projects, it can be useful and applicable in creation of every project team. When used and combined with other methods this would help on achieving of a high job satisfaction level of the team members. Conclusion Employee performance is determined by three main components: ability to do the job; work environment; and motivation (Griffin, 1990, p.437) The first two ones can be better addressed by the permanent organization of the bank as most probably they need time and investments. Staff not being able to perform an activity may need to be trained to do so, good working environment also need investments and time to be in placed. Motivation from the other side is something which can immediately improve the performance if managed properly. Projects by definition are a temporary organization; this automatically excludes or reduces them from addressing ability and work environment and totally focus on the motivation. To motivate staff means to provide them with a motive to do the tasks. A successful project manager is somebody who is able to find the motives which apply to each employee and turn them from common worker to extraordinary ones. Maslows hierarchy of needs and Herzbergs dual-structure theory are valid models of motivation in project management and in development countries. These models should not be seen as frozen theories; they should be properly evaluated, used and interpreted by each project manager to stimulate team members, growth their individual development, reach projects goals and increase productivity in organization. However we should always keep in mind that some people may have exceptions form this hierarchy. The bank can help its project leader by performing surveys which would tell what the employees preferences for job motivation are. Often the strongest motivators for employee are the things they miss more in their job.

japanese interment camps :: essays research papers

Japanese Interment Camps How would you like it if you had suddenly had 24 hours to pack, and in that short allotted time? That is exactly what happened to the Japanese-Americans in the year of 1942, directly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The reason form the U.S. government is that they didn’t want to have an inside accomplice that was aiding the enemy. They order was given by Theodore Roosevelt, and his word caused many â€Å"Relocation† or â€Å"Isolation† camps to spring up throughout the U.S. , including Canada.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The location of these camps varied – they each had their own region. A region normally consisted of 2-3 states. All the people with any type of Japanese heritage would be sent here and watched over closely so they could try any â€Å"Funny Business†. The United States didn’t want them to escalate the war situation and aid the Japanese in any way. This is similar to what we did recently – after 9/11-- with the whole situation in the Middle East when Muslims would try to board a plane and since they look suspicious they were kicked off the plane. This caused much aggravation in the U.S. with all the people with Muslim heritage; they thought it could be a repeat of what happened in 1942.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The camps or these â€Å"Relocation† centers were not any Ritz Carleton, they were poorly put together. They were made in such a hurry that the doors would fall off and there were gaps in the walls. This was because there was no sign of war pre-hand and they had no clue that they were going to have to take extreme measures. The camps were all made into cabin form, and were tightly packed together so they didn’t waste room.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the people were placed in these camps they were forced to do work. Some of the jobs that they endured in were; Gardening, Planting, Landscaping, Cleaning, Cooking, Digging Irrigation Ditches, and many other things that involve hard labor. If they didn’t do and complete their work, they were punished and confined to smaller and less luxurious quarters, sometimes pictures of loved ones would be taken away.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What many people don’t know is that there were numerous â€Å"Relocation† camps in Canada.

The Berlin Wall :: European History Cold War

The Berlin Wall Throughout the history of the World, there are many great facts, and things to learn. There is an abundance of information out there not only about our country but about the rest of the world also. After researching the Berlin Wall, I was quite interested, and did not realize what I was missing out on about the past history of our world. I am going to share all that I learned about the Berlin Wall, and how it made a difference in our past and future times.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Berlin Wall was built on the night between 12th and 13th August 1961. Everyone always asks why the Berlin Wall was built and what did it stand for. In 1945, following World War II, Germany was divided into two countries - East Germany and West Germany. East Germany was controlled by the communist regime of the Soviet Union while West Germany became a democracy supported by the United States. Berlin, the former capital city, although entirely within East German borders, was also split into two. On August 13, 1961, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) decided to block off East Berlin and West Berlin by means of a barbed wire. Streets were torn up, and barricades erected. Rail lines and the subway between East and West Berlin was torn up. People of East Berlin and the GDR were no longer allowed to enter West Berlin disrupting 60,000 commuters who were employed in West Berlin. Within the year, construction work began to build a solid wall separating the two cities. The German Democratic Republic along with 60,000 commuters, under the leadership of Erich Honecker. The Berlin Wall fell down on November 9th, 1989. In my opinion, the Berlin Wall was built simply because; Germany was controlled by Communist Regime, and by the Soviet Union. Those two groups are not going to get along, and that is why I believe they were split up.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since I learned to read music, and play it well, it has been a large part of my life. I learned that just playing the note on the page perfect is not music. To play music well, you have to feel it in your body, spirit, mind, and soul. The music that has been picked out this year, in my opinion, is the best music I have ever played. My favorite is 2nd Dawning, and not just because I have to write about it, but it really is.