Monday, September 30, 2019

Cost sheet basic

18th Century Swimwear During the 18th century, spas where men and women engaged in public bathing began appearing in France and England. Men and women still bathed infrequently for recreation and it was considered as therapy. Modesty was of prime importance with style not much of a consideration in those days. The first suits were far from practical or comfortable; ladies went as far as to sewing lead weights into the hem of the bathing gown to prevent the dress from floating up and exposing their legs.With the introduction of railroads, ocean-side beaches became popular for sunny ecreations and a need to wear bathing suits was felt to protect the skin from the harsh sun and being modest and strongly against any skin show. This 1797 Gallery of Fashion print shows two ladies protected by face-shading bonnets, shawls and gloves as they 1858 Bathing Suit typically worn by the French and English. Early 19th Century Swimwear Even though the 19th century Swimwear was not very high fashion and stylish for the masses a strong need was felt for a fashionable outfit for swimming or Sea Bathing.This is because Sea Bathing was considered as a recreational activity which was only taken up by the wealthy. The Activity itself was considered fashionable. Along with this new outdoor pastime came the need for a stylish garment for the privileged lady of fashion. Here we will follow the path of the fashionable bathing suit, which began long before the modern day bikini. Bathing Machines In The Early 19th Century Bathing machines were roofed and walled wooden carts rolled into the sea Some had solid wooden walls others had canvas walls over a wooden frame.The Bathing Machine was a popular etiquette followed by women of the 19th century The use of bathing machines indicated swimming still being an activity where a lot of attention as paid to modesty and revealing one's body in public was considered to be Inappropriate. As it was an activity taken up only by the wealthy, That Class was very particular about keeping up appearances and not being inappropriate in public.Mid 19th Century Swimwear In the Mid nineteenth Century Bathing dresses continued to cover most of the female figure However the era of bathing suits was over, and then came the heavy flannel â€Å"Turkish† pants and â€Å"Paletot â€Å"Dresses The Main reason behind the use ot tlannel fabric was its quality of high opacity as compared to other Fabrics even when it was et This is another Indicator that skin show was still looked down upon. Late 19th Century Swimwear The swimsuits consisted of bloomers and black stockings.By 1855, drawers were added to prevent the problem of exposure. Women still refrained from swimming too much; the prevailing attitude of the day was that it was mainly a male prerogative. The â€Å"Princess† cut was introduced, consisting of a blouse and trousers in one piece. The skirts were replaced with cotton-like trousers. There was also a separate skirt that fell below the knee and buttoned at the waist to conceal the fgure. A ruffed cap or a straw hat completed the ensemble.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Truman Show Media Essay

Trumann life is built and controlled, and revolved around media without his knowledge. Trumann â€Å"perfect world† Is a direct metaphor for our lives. Our lives are warped by the media's ideals similarly how the protagonist unknowingly lives in a life that is being controlled. In both circumstances, the media's main objective seems to be evident; a subtle way to convey a message. The media depicted in the motion picture has a significantly high Influential role to our modern day society, which Is unavoidable.This is strongly portrayed throughout, â€Å"the Truman show† solely based on three points which are commercialism, manipulation, and emotions created when engaged into media. Manipulation is a recurring theme in â€Å"the Truman show' as the media creates unrealistic societal expectations for the viewers. These expectations are created to achieve the ideal life that is demonstrated in Trumann life, as each situation he encounters Is Immaculately set up. Shaven Is a prime example of how the film shows the audience what a perfect world Is pertaining to.In the utopian world, everybody is content with his or her lives, but realistically it's embellished. The society is manipulated in thinking to believe a flawless world exists and the way people live In media Is the way humanity should live as well. The film displays Trauma's life In a nutshell, having an adequate Job and having a significant other, which are things, any typical male would request for. â€Å"The Truman Show† implemented an imaginary world to capture the viewer's attention and to give of a positive vibe, further Influencing the viewers that media can help us attain the Ideal world _In the scene, where Truman tells the teacher his dream occupation is to be an explorer, she blatantly lies to him down by telling him the whole world Is already been discovered and explored. Truman now believes he can never become an explorer, destroying all his ambitions and aspirations. The t eacher manipulated Truman so he thinks that he can't be what he wants so he doesn't disrupt what the media wants. This is similar to how civilization Is manipulated as younger kids to believe that we can't pursue what we truly desire such as being a female astronaut because it's not supported by society.Modern day society is heavily manipulated and influenced by external factors such as media and the powers of authority. Truman is not the only victim exposed to media, we all are as well. Ideals of our society are established by the messages of the media In turn to shape our expectations and attitude towards life Itself. The media often demonstrates how it plays an impact with our emotions whether it is an advertisement or television show. These emotions can either have a positive or a negative repercussion to our mood. Media Is so powerful; Its capable to take over an individual's composure.A prominent example would be when the bathtub man goes to the extent by incorporating a telev ision in his bathroom so he can watch Truman would do such a peculiar thing for the purpose of watching a reality show. The bathtub striver to emulate Truman, fixating to every move he made, felt like he was Truman or wanted to be like him. At the same time as Truman was sleeping, he was too. During the thunderstorm, where Truman was desperately holding onto his life, the bathtub man pretended he was in enduring the thunderstorm and held on to the shower curtains as followed.The media is able to toy with our emotions, which is apparent when Sylvia, Trauma's first legitimate love knelt down in front of the television in desperation when watching â€Å"The Truman Show. † This signifies that Sylvia had built up emotions and felt an intimate connection with the character. She was frantically hoping Truman realizes he is living in a constructed staged world. Sylvia felt infuriated and appalled that Christofis has the power to control one's life, physically and mentally. Due to Chr istofis repugnant actions, Sylvia took initiative to notify the director of how unacceptable it is to confine a human in sense of morality.By the behavior and emotions people generated by media indicates that media can easily influence peoples mental state. Since, Trauma's life is broadcasted 2417 to an extensive audience, it's only right to include commercialism, for profitable purposes. The labels and brands are explicitly shown as well advertised all through the movie whether it is Maroon holding his beer a or posters saying â€Å"Free Range Kaiser Chicken. † By endorsing the products, it promotes and emphasizes positive connections with the brand.Product placement is an advantageous tool to sell merchandise and is shown during the entire movie. One moment that highlighted this point is when Merely excessively describes how marvelous the cocoa is. Her method to endorse the cocoa wasn't genuine however, when someone is constantly bombarding you with information of how great this product is, people will start to believe it's true. Merely also talks about how fancy and functional this kitchen utensil is, because it's peeler, dicer, and grater integrated into a single appliance.Product placement can either be subtle or exaggerated nevertheless it's objective is to leave the audience a long lasting impression, thus unconsciously leading them to purchase the product. Media is critical factor of how society is influenced because how media is perceived whether it'd be deception, endorsements, or feelings developed when looking at media. The â€Å"Truman Show' is a fictional film created to educate the audience that everything on the media isn't authentic or accurate. We should value our own beliefs and not the interpretation the media is portraying.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Bhagavad Gita is the Ultimate Science of Yoga

The meaning of yoga is very common in that it links the word yoga to body posture and meditation system. However, the primitive form of yoga has deep spiritual significance and has been lost in today's body-centered world. Sanskrit language yoga has automatic roots Yuj. This means links and connections. When we talk about links and connections, there are obvious questions: what is linked to what? The term connected means that there must be two different entities separated from one another, and they need to be connected. Bhagavad-gita's yoga is the ultimate reality and absolute combination of skills. In his comments, Zaehner stated that the basic meaning of yoga is å”  Ã¥  ¨ or preparation and advocates the basic meaning of psychomotorism expressing various subtle nuances . Sivananda 's comment suggests that the 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita have a phased order, and Krishna uses this chapter to bring Arjuna from step to yoga ladder. An influential commentator, Madhusudana Sarasvati , divided the 18 chapters of Gita into three chapters, each with six chapters. Swami Gambhirananda explained the system of Madhusudana Sarasvati as a continuous way that Karma Yoga led to Bhakti Yoga and led it to Gyaana Yoga. What is Bhagavad Gita? Bhagavad Gita is a scripture which is a story of the event that Lord Krishna revealed the ultimate science of the universe to Arjuna. Sir Krishna made it clear to him about the science of self-actualization. In this incident, Arjuna achieved self-fulfillment. Even today, after thousands of years of history, many people have read Bhagavad - gita to understand the last truth. I understand that Bhagavad Gita has reached a certain point of time, but is it possible to understand the exact meaning Shree Krishna tells Arjuna? What are the advantages of reading Sanskrit in this era? Reading Gita will help us achieve self-fulfillment? No! You need live enlightenment to achieve self-fulfillment, as you need to shine the candle to illuminate anothe r candle. Even today, it is possible to achieve self-fulfillment through the current spiritual master Pujya Deepakbhai who is blessed with Gnani Purush Dada Bhagwan.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Veteran Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Veteran Rights - Essay Example Investigations in concern with the civil rights provided to veterans and military service members can appear to be intricate for the reason that there are a number of considerable constraints to take in to account prior an efficient response. The most significant rights are granted to the veteran members who meet the valid statutory descriptions of a veteran. An eligible employee is the one who performs service in the uniformed services and has not been sued by a disrespectful or bad conduct demeanor release. Moreover, an eligible employee is separated under all conditions but the honorable, and is terminated by a sentence of a general court martial or by transition of sentence to confinement (Fact Sheet [3], 2003). The federal Legislation seeks for employees to endow reemployment rights to the employees who have served in the military dating back to the World War II. As a consequence, the security as well as coverage for veterans and reservists has branched out substantially. The veterans obtain their rights from several federal as well as New York State authorities which are inclusive of municipal civil service regulations (Report, 2008). Furthermore, a veteran can appear to be an eligible present or former work-person, and not all veterans or military service members are given the right to avail alike benefits. Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 or USERRA is a federal law which intends to make sure that the members who have served in the Armed Forces, Resources, National Guard or other associated services are not drawn back in their civilian vocations because of their services. Moreover, the act also ensure that they are punctually reemployed in their civilian careers upon their resume from duty, and are not told apart against in the vocation which is based on past, present as well as future military service (Article, 2009). USERRA secures the job rights of civilians and advantages for veterans as well as members of Reserve constituents. It also generates key improvisations in the defense of the service member rights as well as advantages by means of elucidation of the law, perk up enforcement apparatus, and augments Federal Government personnel to those work-persons who are already entitled to take delivery of the Department of Labor assistance in dispens ation assertions (Fact Sheet [1], 2009). Moreover, USERRA develops the increasing length of the period which an individual may tend to be not present from the job for some military obligation and keep hold of the reemployment rights to five years (Fact Sheet [1], 2009). There are quite significant exemptions to the five-year constraint which is inclusive of the early-on recruitments

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Blue Cross Mistake Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Blue Cross Mistake - Case Study Example lans, pre-existing conditions plan and other services that include case management, health lifestyle programs and medical coverage policies (BCBSRI, n.d). In April 2010 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Company were faced with a crisis in which personal information that belongs to approximately twelve thousand BlueCHiP for Medicare members of the company was accidentally contained in a filing cabinet that was donated to a local non- profit organization. The filing cabinet was among other office furniture that was donated to this local organization. This information was sensitive as it contained Medicare Health surveys that included names, contact information, social security data, Medicare identification numbers and other medical information which is not supposed to be in the public domain. The local non-profit organization reported the presence of the information in the office equipment that was donated to them. This prompted a quick investigation into the problem. The company notified the appropriate authorities of the problem including the Medicare members. This was not just enough to handle the above incident. In ensuring that the information was not misused by any other party that got access to it, the company is offering free credit monitoring, assistance in identity theft protection and an Identity protection guarantee for a year. On the other hand to ensure that there is no repeat of such an incident the company was forced to take disciplinary action for all the employees who failed to adhere to the company’s guidelines on information handling (BCBSRI, n.d). The company took the necessary steps in ensuring that the information was not compromised as a result of the breach. In my opinion the steps that the company took were swift and effective in handling the incident. The company made a good choice by informing the relevant authorities and the affected members of the data breach. This is a good sign as they took responsibility of their mess. By offering the

Social Ecology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Social Ecology - Essay Example The arguments of Holmes favor natural ecosystems. However, the author of this passage holds that human and non-human populations are equally crucial. Attfield points out that people should create an environment that embraces nonhuman and human coexistence (296). Robin asserts that sustainable development does not conflict with efforts to protect ecosystem. Robin Attfield agrees with Holmes on the aspects of preserving the wild species. He contends that people should preserve the current wildlife and natural habitats. However, Robin differs with Holmes on the best ways to preserve the natural ecosystem. Attfield asserts that human population should not move from their residential areas where there is peaceful coexistence with wildlife (297). The argument of the author contradicts the stand of Holmes that requires people reside away from natural reserves (296). Holmes argues that increasing human population poses a danger to the ecosystem. He argues that parents should have two children and should do away with extra ones. However, Robin asserts that every child there is an intrinsic value of life. The author argues that there are natural measures that control human population such as death. Robin points out that overcrowding can have indirect effects to natural resources (Attfield

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

FINAL PROJECT Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

FINAL PROJECT - Term Paper Example He goes to the court three to four days a week. Now seven years have passed since the start of practice. The interviewee has only one partner in his firm, and he himself fundamentally assumes the responsibility of the firm’s management. He chose this occupation because the work in it is enough to ensure an uninterrupted income. The following text discusses the crux of my discussion with the interviewee. I asked him about 19 questions. What he said in reply to those questions is mentioned in the text below: To possess the basic skills as an associate in a firm, one needs to have basic understanding of legal precedents, the ability to manage a heavy caseload, and the ability to behave professionally in court.  The firm assigns responsibilities to the personnel according to the volume of work and the individualistic capabilities of individuals. Time management is compulsory for success of an insurance litigation lawyer. The interviewee said that he has developed interest in his field over the course of time. He was not very optimistic about it in the start, through with time, the routinely issues grabbed his attention. The interviewee said that in order to maintain a good clientele in this field, the employees must have good rapport with the customers.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Career Action Plan PartB Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Career Action Plan PartB - Assignment Example A marketability analysis is also included in this particular study for outlining my marketable skills. These identified skills would be compared with wide array of attributes in context of professional industry. There are appropriate analytical techniques incorporated to judge current position of an individual and what others skills are essential so as to secure a strong position in career path. In this study two kinds of attributes are majorly highlighted, one that is already being possessed and other is what is needed to be improved. Ideal situation will be well analyzed by implementing an effective tool known as SWOT analysis. This form of analysis shall encompass both current and ideal situation which is required for designing the best career action plan. Apart from identifying internal strengths and weaknesses and outlining external threats and opportunities, focus will also be on goal setting. In the entire process two forms of goals will be determined like long term and short term goals. At the end of this study, some steps would be discussed for achieving success in career path. Career goals can be explored only when desirable qualities are present within an individual. Career Action Plan is an important tool by which an individual is able to set and develop the steps for fulfilling its goal and objectives in his professional life. He is only responsible to build his own career. But there are certain things involves in career development which requires professional guidance for making decisions and planning of career more effective. It will help the individual to achieve its career goals in an efficient way. A person should start to build his career actions plans from a very early stage. This will help him to develop his employable skills. Various options arise while forming career actions plan. An individual explores each and every option very

Monday, September 23, 2019

Vitamin C face lotion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Vitamin C face lotion - Essay Example Additionally, its density of 1.102 g/cm3 and corresponding melting point of 11 to 13 Â °C, and boiling point of 247 Â °C respectively enables the compund’s existence at room temperature thus to as its wide usage as a preservative. In other cases it is used as an anesthetic where substantial doses can make an individual lose sensation. Majorly, its usage in personal care products to fight bacteria, for instance, in the Vitamin C Face Lotion, the cosmetic product have up to only 1% of the compound, since an exposure above that can prove fatal of human health. There are a number of claims and rumors surrounding this compound ingredient, for example, according to the Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, the phenoxyethanol compound affected brain and nervous system in animals when given at modest doses. In the year of 1990, the Periodical of the American College of Toxicology stated that the phenoxyethanol compound can also cause endocrine disruption which subsequently causes harm to acute pulmonary edema and bladder in animals. Additionally, phenoxyethanol is a scientifically proven skin irritant to the human eyes or

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Federal Government of the United States and Real Estate Essay Example for Free

Federal Government of the United States and Real Estate Essay She is the editor and publisher of the widely respected computer newsletter Release 1. 0. She served as a reporter for Forbes Magazine for four years and is a chairperson for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. She is on the board of the Sante Fe Institute and the Global Business network and the Institute for East/West Studies. Dysons view on cyberspace regulations is that government regulations are counter productive and virtually impossible. I agree with her in that cyberspace is a new frontier of learning that cannot single handedly be controlled by the U. S. government. Our society needs to implement our own powers of individual responsibility in this wonderful, enlightening, yet sometimes detrimental intellectual frontier. Dyson compares how cyberspace is virtually the same as real estate. She states that â€Å" you could think of cyberspace as a giant and unbounded world of virtual real estate†(420). The key words in her observation are the words that Americans have a deep love for in their genes and psyche: an unbounded world. Thats what cyberspace is. It is even bigger than that; it is an unbounded new frontier! And we can explore this unbounded new frontier from any comfort that suits us. Cyberspace is like any really great book one can go any where he or she wants to go, be whomever he or she wants to be, learn whatever he or she cares to learn about, and be fascinated beyond ones limits of imagination, all from the comfort of an old, beloved, beat-up, Lazy Boy recliner! One can explore every interest, curiosity, desire to learn about unknown people, places, things, with the touch of his or her fingers. However, with all new frontiers there are dangers and drawbacks. Referencing Dysons analogy to cyberspace and real estate, some places, such as parks, are made for everyones enjoyment. Some real estate areas are made for home residences. Some for business enterprises that everyone can enjoy. And then there are some real estate areas that are not appropriate for children. Cyberspace is no different in this way than real estate , books, pictures, magazines, or people and the things they say and do. Some web-sites are set up for children and are wonderful educational tools to help them expand their minds, imaginations, hearts and souls. Some web-sites help educate people and improve their lives in ways that they could never afford the money or the travel time otherwise. Some web-sites allow us to learn ways that we can help others through donated dollars, kind words, material possessions, etc. Then there are places in cyberspace that represent the darker side of humanity just as in the places, books, people, deeds, in the terrestrial world. This dark side of humanity is what we all want to protect our children from. But how? The use of censorship in the United States of America is unconstitutional and the government censoring of cyberspace should never happen. Cyberspace is a place where a person has the freedom to choose where they want to go and what information they want to access. In America, it is unconstitutional to ban books because of offensive content. Our citizens will just choose not to read the book. However there are those who want to censor cyberspace because of some of the offensive sites. There have been many reform bills proposed by lawmakers in the U. S. Senate and House that have tried to protect children from cyberspace. Cyberspace is a new frontier for every being on our earth. Some countries will censor the cyber world just as they censor their own citizens and their choices. However, people in America do not tolerate censorship. They understand the concept of personal responsibility. Where a person chooses to go in cyberspace is his/her own destination. Ultimately in all aspects of life, we are free to choose our destinations; with the books we choose to read, the lessons we choose to grasp, and the cyber sites we choose to visit. Dyson states that â€Å"Cyberspace isnt a frontier where wicked people can grab unsuspecting children, nor is it a giant television system that can beam offensive messages at unwilling viewers†(420). We must protect cyberspace from censorship just as fervently as we protect free speech. Cyberspace will ultimately rule itself just as any free enterprise system must do in order to be successful. Some sites offer free information that is available to anyone. If the information is interesting to an individual and is valid, then the site will probably be successful and attract many viewers. However, if a site is full of offensive material that is inappropriate to children, it is up to the server to restrict the viewers. There are moderators in the cyberspace world who monitor web-sites, as well as the information presented. Cyber communities exist just as actual communities do. There are communities of family and children oriented web-sites, of young singles oriented web-sites, and there are communities of porn oriented web-sites. The success of each site depends on how it conducts itself: self-rule. â€Å"In the near future, explorers in cyberspace will need to get better at defining and identifying their communities. They will need to put in place-and accept-their own local government, just as the owners of expensive real estate often prefer to have their own security guards rather than call in the police†(422). In conclusion, I agree with Dyson that cyberspace must be controlled, but not by government. Ultimately parents, cyberspace servers, sites, communities, and individuals must regulate this new universe of information. Just as with any successful business in our free enterprise system, supply and demand will dictate whether a cyber site will be a success. Individuals must have total freedom in cyberspace to choose where they want to go and with that freedom comes personal responsibility. Americans value freedom; it is the value that built our great country.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Benefits of DuPont Analysis

Benefits of DuPont Analysis The dynamic environment of the world today suggests that one should be apt enough to apply his skills immanent to a system and also external with respect to credit management function. These functions include financial planning, plausibility of a defined business strategy or whether a particular merger or acquisition is feasible or not. This has to be done in a rapid yet meaningful way so as to be of immediate need to a particular firm or investor. There are basically four major reasons for an effective financial statement analysis. These have been mentioned as follows: It is useful for long-run business viability so as to determine whether a firm would be able to provide adequate business return when compared to the amount of risks taken. This is essential for outside investors. It is also used by creditors so as to find out whether a potential buyer has the capability to service the loans that are being made or not. Also, the analysts concerned about the internal development of a firm, require financial statement analysis so as to monitor the outcome as a result of applying the policy decisions, to make future predictions with regard to the performance targets, and also make an assessment of the capital needs of a company. The function of DuPont analysis in this is that it is used as a tool to provide an overview of financial statement analysis for the purposes as stated and also provide a focus for such analysis. In order to assess the financial health of a firm from the perspective of an insider or an outsider, there are four major areas that are covered. These have been stated as follows: Liquidity Leverage Operational Efficiency Profitability In this process, the DuPont analysis can be used as a compass so as to help the analysts find out the areas that are of significant strength and weakness (as applicable) from the financial statements. DuPont analysis stands as an appropriate place to commence the financial statement analysis as it measures the Return on Equity (ROE). As this indicates the rate of growth of the ownersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ wealth, it becomes one of the most important ratios. So, DuPont analysis might not be able to provide a detailed description just like a proper financial statement analysis, but it certainly stands places in providing an excellent snapshot an impeccable starting point of financial analysis. It covers the major areas of profitability, operating efficiency and also leverage. It can be seen in the form of equations as follows: ROE = (Net Income/Sales) X (Sales/Average Assets) X (Average Assets/Average Equity) Net Income/ Sales: Profitability Sales/Average Assets: Total Asset Turnover Average Assets/Average Equity: Leverage Multiplier Further, as the requirement of the company stands, one can also calculate the Return on Assets (ROA) by making a DuPont Chart. This can be done in the following manner: ROA = (Profit before Income and Tax/ Total Assets) = (PBIT/Sales) X (Sales/ Total Assets) DuPont Calculations and Analysis (Note: In this case we are making a comparison of two years) Profitability: Net Income/Sales 2008 6,536,358,000/ 17,868,672,000 = 36.5% 2009 3,080,531,000/ 16,015,133,000 = 19% This ratio indicates the rate at which a company uses the sales to generate profits for the company. One can see that it has decreased tremendously over a year. This suggests that the company has been trying to lure the customers with better benefits so as to decrease its profits. As the total sales have increased only marginally, it indicates that the market is in a risky position with companies cutting on profits to maintain previous customers and generate new ones. Total Assets Turnover: Sales/Average Assets: Total Asset Turnover 2008 17,868,672,000/ 54,790,875,000 = 0.32 2009 16,015,133,000/ 60,690,798,000 = 0.27 Return on Total Assets indicates how well a company has been using its assets to generate sales. It is significant as a company might be generating a huge amount of profit out of sales involved, but then it doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t check the efficiency with which it is using the assets for generating the amount of sales involved. In this, case the operating efficiency has decreased which means that the company has either made long-term installations which have not been used to implement sales in the best possible manner or there is a deficiency in the company functioning. Leverage Multiplier: Average Assets/Average Equity 2008 54,790,875,000/ 36,536,040,000 = 1.5 2009 60,690,798,000/ 36,000,753,000 = 1.68 The leverage multiplier is used for determining the debt financing as compared to the equity financing of a company. Generally, if a company increases the debts over equity for financing its requirements, it does it as the cost of debt is less because of tax-deductible interests but then there is a larger risks involved here. A company would have to pay a certain amount for sure before they can make use of the net income. Here, the ratio has increased indicating the fact that Emaar has taken more debt than a year before which means that it requires immediate funding to carry out its operations. Return on Equity The above results can be combined to calculate the DuPont ratio which in this case is ROE. ROE for 2008: 18% ROE for 2009: 8.5% Now, we know that ROE determines the profit as compared to the shareholdersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ equity. This has decreased over a span of one year which signifies the fact that the company would find it difficult to arrange for internal cash as it seems less attractive for shareholders. This is also evident from the fact that leverage multiplier had increased significantly. Gross Profit Margin: EBIT/ Sales 2008 7,053,765,000/ 17,868,672,000 = 0.394 2009 6,811,358,000/ 16,015,133,000 = 0.425 The gross profit margin of the company has increased which is again indicative of the fact that the company is paying too much of interests which decreases the net income. Return on Assets 2008 12.0% 2009 5% The net return on assets of the company has also decreased indicating the fact that the company has so far not made the type of income it has been looking to make with the assets that it has. This shows that the company looks to make long-term benefits out of the assets that it has generated.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Protestant challenge to Catholicisms Hegemony in Northern Europe :: essays research papers

Protestant challenge to Catholicism’s hegemony in Northern Europe   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Protestants and Catholics have been fighting for centuries. Most of us, even some of them, have no clue as to what they are fighting about. In the 1520s a religious stirring began, where people were starting to get frustrated and angered by how the church was conducting itself. Northern European weather can be very cold and harsh at times, because of this, it made it very difficult for people to leave their homes to get to church. What these people saw were their church priests dressed in very ornate, warm, robes and living in nice warm homes eating very good meals. Half the time these people couldn’t understand what the priest was preaching because he spoke in Latin and they could only speak German or English. On top of all of this the people had to pay if they wanted to be forgiven for their sins, indulgences they were called, which basically provided absolutely no hope for people who didn’t have much. These were not the only things stirring feelin gs in northern Europe, the fact that the church was based in Rome, such a long way from their home, contributed to the restlessness of the people. People were starting to think that the church had no clue about their lives up in the north and how difficult it could be, they felt removed and unconnected with the church. The two major focal points for the reformation were Martin Luther and his ninety-five theses and also King Henry the eighth. Neither of these two men began the movements in their respective countries, they simply gave the people a focal point and a way to get organized.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Martin Luther was a monk who taught at a Wittenberg University in the 1500s. Martin Luther had questioned the practice of selling indulgences and the fact that the church said that you could only speak to God through a priest for sometime in his mind. In 1517, when an archbishop had a sale on these indulgencies to raise money, Martin Luther decided to write a question and argument paper about the church’s questionable practices, to get some debate going at the University. The paper was called the ninety-five theses and it sparked many people’s interests in Germany and other parts of northern Europe and made Martin Luther a focal point for people who felt the same, and an enemy of the church.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

A Students View Of Paulo Freires Pedagogy Of The Oppressed Essay

A Student’s View of Paulo Freire’s "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" Freire was one of the most radical insistent educational thinkers of his time. He proposed his own educational theory for society. His argument was for an educational system that focused on creative learning and freedom. Freire’s method was known as "the problem posing" concept. It would allow students and teachers to communicate through dialogue while both are equally responsible in the learning process. Freire’s assessment of education did not support a system that mechanically deposited and reproduced pre-selected information with no communication or dialogue from the student. He feared this would manage and oppress society. This method was known as the "banking" concept. I am of two minds about Freire’s claim that the problem posing concept is most effective. On the one hand, I do agree that the problem posing concept is often effective in the freedom of creativity in certain subjects such as art and creative writing. On the other hand, the banking concept is a necessary evil because it sets down the foundation of education in subjects such as English, science, and mathematics. In the problem posing concept the teacher and the students work together through communication. The teacher no longer just teaches and the students no longer just listen. They both are in dialogue and are able to teach and learn from each other. With this method the students are allowed to share their own ideas and freedom of expressions. When a student expresses his/her thoughts with others he/she is challenged and becomes more aware of his/her own reality, allowing transformation into the world of freedom and not domination. Jone Lewis cites Freire who says, "Education either functions... ...ed to being shaped. The student must be able to be creative and see the world freely as a reality in progress. Freire also claims that this concept may be resisted by the oppressing classes to any changes in class. He insists that the banking concept of education is a ready- to- wear approach. A student is an object to be filled with pre-selected information. This approach he believed minimized a student’s creativity thus making him/her adaptable and more manageable in society. My feelings on these issues are truly mixed. I do believe that a student should be able to do more than reproduce pre-selected information while learning. On the other hand, I feel that it is important to learn the basic facts first. I do agree that the problem posing concept is effective in some subjects, however I think other subjects of education are better served with the banking concept.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Private Development and Corporate Funding to Fight Shoreline Erosion Es

Private Development and Corporate Funding to Fight Shoreline Erosion At its simplest, shoreline erosion is the result of the combination of processes, both natural and manmade, by which shoreline and beaches are damaged or lost. For this discussion, wetlands are also included. There is an ongoing debate over the best way by which to preserve beaches, shorelines, and wetlands. Conservation extremists argue that limiting or restricting land use, and restoring damaged property with tax money represents the most prudent answer to shoreline erosion. Included in this position is the inherent role of government intervention to preserve America’s shoreline. There are many problems with the conservation position, and many advantages to the alternate solution --- private development and corporate funding. The most damaging factor to America’s shoreline is that of poorly planned development in environmentally fragile coastal areas that lead to erosion and various forms of pollution. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimated in 1971 that 40% of the total shoreline of the lower 48 states was experiencing significant erosion. Wind and wave action associated with high tides are the cause of natural erosion. Damming rivers restricts the flow of eroded rock, which is the source of much sand (Rhinehart, 1997). These factors are best addressed by infusions of venture capital applied with sound business principles and sensitivity for environmental concerns. Sound planning by the private sector is essential. The number of people living within 50 miles of the U.S. coastline rose from 61 million to 130 million between 1940 and 1988. More than 50% of Americans currently live within 50 miles of the shoreline, but the figure is pr... ...ions Must Be Repealed.† www.mcaffre_se@leg.wa.gov (2001). Spencer, H. (2000). â€Å"Seawalls Bring on Raging Debate in Washington State.† www.beachbrowser.com â€Å"Development-Protecting Seawalls Debated.† www.hosey-chehalis river council index.html Rhinehart, J. and J. Pompe (1997). â€Å"Entrepreneurship and Coastal Resource Management.† The Independent Review, vol. 1, No. 4. pp.543-559. Skousen, Mark (1999). â€Å"The Battle for Diamond Head: A Case for Market Failure?† The Freeman. Works Cited â€Å"Coping With Shoreline Erosion in the Caribbean.† http://www.unesco.org/csi/act/cosalc/shore-ero.htm. Online. Available. 23 March 2002. Nepf, Heidi. â€Å"Longshore Drift.† Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000. â€Å"Streambank and Shoreline Erosion Management Measure.† http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/MMGI/Chapter 6/ch6-4.html. Online. Available. 23 March 2002.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Modern Life Has Improved Since the 1950’s Essay

Modern life has improved since the 1950’s. This period is quite memorable for a lot of things, the more famous of which being the flared trousers Elvis Presley, the icon of rock and roll and pop music, brought into style. There were many positives and negatives of living in the 1950’s, but it is clear that modern life has been a great step forward from those times. Firstly, the general aspects of life such as money, crime, racism and drugs, were viewed very differently in the past. Secondly life today may not be as simple as the 1950’s, but huge leaps have been made in technology, medicine and education. Finally, the word ‘community’ has developed a very different definition to the past, as we have overcome the racial, religious and gender inequalities that separated us as people; modern life has improved in leaps and bounds since the 1950’s. In the 1950’s certain aspects of life including money, crime, racism and drugs, were viewed very differently compared to the modern day. Petrol prices could be found on the McDonald’s loose change menu, and a kid could go down to the corner store, empty his pockets and buy the groceries before walking the way home safely. Drugs and smoking were regarded the same way we would a morning jog today: harmless and good for the system. Racism was just a part of life: the blacks sat at the back of the bus, the whites at the front, and that was that. Nowadays, if petrol was that cheap, the earth would be run dry and pollution levels would greatly increase due to mining and car exhaust. Crime rates may be much higher than the innocent 1950’s but along with with the higher stats the modern police force is further advanced and more successful than the past. Racism is still a part of our lives, but there is a general understanding that no matter the colour of our skin, we are equals, and opportunities for ‘blacks’ have been improved far beyond better seating positions on buses. Thank goodness times have changed – while we may not be living as simply as before, the modern day is aware of saving the planet, good health and human rights; other areas of living have also been greatly improved during the last half century, especially education, medicine and technology. The frontiers of science and technology have taken education and medicine far beyond what the 1950’s could have dreamed of. Without internet and mobile phones, the 1950’s must have been a quiet life: but consider the fact that technology today is enabling our world to communicate faster and better than ever before. Most schools have access to computers, such as Friends, with each individual person owning a laptop that is vital for their education. Education can now be more efficient and fun with the new technology spreading world-wide. A leap in technology is supporting a huge economy and has opened up many job opportunities as well as developing frontiers such as science and medicine. Polio scares rocked the 1950’s with over 257,455 related deaths, but thanks to medicine advances nowadays polio is just a term many people confuse with a pool game (Marco Polo! ). In the 1950’s the life expectancy was much, much lower than it is today – is that a wonder with the many cigarette adverts that declared the health benefits of smoking? Medicine has been advanced to the point of bringing people back to life after death, and is often one step ahead of what nature throws at us. This is evidence that modern life has improved greatly since the 1950’s; but our culture has also developed to be stronger, more equal and empathic than the 50’s. The definition of community has greatly evolved since the 1950’s: community in the 1950’s went by the motto love thy neighbour, except the neighbours who don’t believe in your religion or those of different race; the term community in the 21st century is referring to equals who share their culture with one another. Children stayed children for longer in the 1950’s, neighbours new everything about each other, a hello was said to every passer by on the street and it is said there was never a greater time of peace than in those years. However, amongst the idealistic community life, it was black and white: literally. Blacks were discriminated far beyond what is accepted in Australian communities today, with over 50% of families living below the poverty line as a result of racism. Without the many new laws and rights other races are now entitled to (that have developed since the 50’s), many people would still suffer unjustly, and blacks would still sit at the back of the bus. Religion could lower your worth just as quickly as the colour of your skin: schools only taught by the Bible, and ‘good’ people believed in the Christian faith. Discrimination against women was also still in practice. An obedient wife was not to be unished, but the occasional wife-beating was completely in-line with the law. The phrase ‘kitchen bitch’ may have originated in the 1950’s, where the women were expected to work around the house, doing the everyday chores such as cooking for their husbands. Many women did not begin to demand recognition for their rights to work until much later, and in modern times, women are regarded as equals in Australia. The 1950’s were the calm ‘after’ the storm, the storm being World War II. Peace may be a word which is almost lost to the entire world, with conflict present at all times in many countries, such as Iran and Afghanistan. This may be the only aspect of life that has worsened since the good ol’ 50’s, but even so, the countless improvements to our beliefs, everyday life and sense of community balances this issue. In conclusion, though the 1950’s are remembered as a peaceful, simple and straight-forward period of time to live in, behind the scenes racism, lack of knowledge and inequality ruled. Modern times have greatly improved on these factors and many others since the 1950’s, with gender equality, medicinal knowledge, and new technology being just a few of the more major developments. Nevertheless, the past was vital in shaping our daily lives and culture today, and it’s impossible to brand the 1950’s as a wasted part of our history; our modern world evolved out of the 20th century. It is clear to see that life today has greatly changed since the 1950’s, for the better.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Causes of Air Accidents

Air Accident An Air accident is the worst nightmare of every pilot or passenger that has ever ridden in an aircraft. Although air travel is one of the safest forms of transportations, accidents do happen with dramatic and terrifying results. The circumstance of Air accidents takes place by four causes: takeoff and landing, mechanical failures, pilot error, and bad weather. One cause of Air accidents take place is during takeoff and landing. Approximately 80 percent of all aviation accidents occur shortly before, after, or during takeoff or landing, and are often described as resulting from â€Å"human error. The causes of Air accident is vary greatly depending on problems that may develop during the flight possess. In many situations these accidents can be completely avoided through careful preparation and effective safety techniques. Taxi and Takeoff is one of the most important parts of a flight. The preflight and planning stages of the operation must be carefully done to prevent accidents and save many lives. Landing Accidents during Descent account for 36 percent of all general Air mishaps and are the most common type of accident.When combined, taxi and takeoff accidents account for about 22percent jet airplane accidents, and about 22percent of all fatalities. Another cause of Air accidents is mechanical failures. No form of transportation is completely safe, and no machine is completely foolproof. Mechanical failure is responsible for 13percent of all commercial airplane accidents. An airplane can crash if engine failure can come in form of simple stalling. It could be as worse as a complete detachment of the motor itself.Many Modern planes have more than one engine and this allows the plane to continue to fly when one is shut down. However, these other cases where all shut at one, or one after the other, and accident occur. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Tragically, this sometimes applies to Air accidents when mechanical failures occur. A some what different cause for Air accidents is a pilot error. When most people make mistakes at their jobs, their employment can be terminated.In contrast, when pilots are negligent or make errors while on their jobs, there is potential for hundreds of lives to be terminated. The pilots receive extensive training designed to prepare them to handle a wide variety of situations, but there are times when fatal mistakes are made. When flight crew and pilots do their jobs correctly, Air accidents are much less likely to occur. Another important cause of Air accidents is bad weather. For example, flying at peak thunderstorm times should be avoided.In addition, flying at night is no safer than flying in the day. The weather caused 4percent of Air accidents. However, other problems made up the remaining 4percent. Most plane crashes happen in the months of September and December. However, no one from any investigation knows almost Air accidents happened in these two months. In conclusion, the cir cumstance of Air accidents takes place by four causes: takeoff and landing, mechanical failures, pilot errors, and bad weather. Yet many airplane accidents still have unknown causes.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Opportunity Network Application Essay

The best-selling author and motivational speaker Roger Crawford once said, â€Å"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.† I have encountered numerous obstacles in my life, but none were as difficult as learning my second language, English. When I moved to the United States in 2009, I knew no English. Thus, my dad enrolled me into a bilingual school, hoping that I would learn English quickly with the help of Chinese-speaking teachers. Instead, all of my classmates spoke in Chinese and so I learned English much more slowly. By the time I entered high school, my relatively poorer English skills prevented me from doing homework efficiently and making friends. After half a year, my teachers noticed how depressed I was. They helped boost my self-esteem by complimenting my academic achievement. That was when I realized I had strengths, too. I began striving for excellence, because I realized that my dedication and hard work would ultimately be recognized and rewarded. Gradually, more classmates talked to me and I began to feel like I belonged in my community. I am grateful for this challenge as it opened my heart and taught me to be determined. Not only do I like making new friends, I also like challenges. Even though some challenges seem beyond my reach, I demand myself to do the best I can. I don’t always succeed, but I see each challenge as a learning experience. I know that, as a Chinese proverb says, an intense storm is always followed by a beautiful rainbow.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Feast of the dead by Cevdet Kudret Essay

It was January when the world seemed grimmer, streets empty, people went out only for work. A boy who had been to the fountain told to the man he saw that Dursun Agha is dead. Dursun Agha is the one who calls at the street asking if someone needs water, one trip, two trips, three trips and someone would call back, one trip means two cans of water that costs three Kurush. Dursun is asturdy man with a round black beard, has 2 children and a wife named Gulnaz, she help Dursan when someone would call her to wash clothes that only happens twice or thrice a week and earn few more three kurush. The caused of Dursun’s death was he had hit his head on the stone bowl under the tap when he slipped. No one ever thought that a tough and durable man could die just like that all of a sudden. Gulnaz heard the news and didn’t know what to do with her children, she didn’t know how she can feed two mouths by washing clothes. It wasn’t enough. No one eat for 36-48 hours until someone feel the hunger inside their stomach. As a Moslem tradition, when someone died the neighbor will give food to the family who’s in grief for a day or two. The first who gave food was from a wealthy man who lived in the white house the tray of food was brought by the maid it was covered in a cloth. No one actually thought of eating that day but when they saw the food it gives them relaxation of feelings. The foods came and it lasted for three of four days. The food stopped coming but they were still hoping until suppertime and they realize that no one will give them food anymore. They cook food and they found it hard to readjust because they get used to the foods that was given by the neighbors until the day came that they have nothing to eat at all.The children and Gulnaz slept with empty stomach. The next day the young boy told to Gulnaz that it hurts inside, but she can’t do anything, they all felt dizzy and hungry. Days passed by until a horse full of bread on its side. Instead of asking for a loaf of bread, Gulnaz froze and didn’t say anything, she just let God’s blessing pass by. She went back to her room empty handed. When her son told her that she can’t stand anymore, he ask his eldest son to go to the grocery store and asked if he could asked some food to the grocery store and tell them they would pay it in a few days. But the trick didn’t work to Bodos so the child left the with empty handed.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Questions - Essay Example Figure: Ethical principles involved in stakeholder decisions Source: Freeman et al., 2007, Pp. 88 The management thus, need to ensure that their corporate social responsibilities are well charted out since such practices can have serious consequences on the brand name and credibility of the company, thus limiting its ability to create value for the stakeholders. 2. The term Corporate culture can be defined as â€Å"a set of values, beliefs, goals, norms and ways of solving problems shared by members (employees) of an organization† (Ferrell et al., 2009). It reflects the shared vision, values as well as expectations of the founder of the organization as well as that of the management. The manner in which the employees behave; the policies adopted by the management, and the decisions made reflect the corporate culture of the organization. It plays a crucial role in influencing ethical decision making, for instance, if the corporate culture of the firm vehemently supports unethic al behavior the decision making is bound to support and encourage similar practices. The persistent application of such negative / unethical practices is hence, directly associated with the corporate culture of such organizations. ... The company came under a lot of flak for its unethical practices of hiring illegal immigrants and violation of human rights (Greenhouse, 2003). The corporate culture of the company entailed provision of low priced products for its customers, the pursuit of which lead to such unethical decision making by the management. The firm hired, illegal migrants working on meager remunerations, to lower the cost and hence maximize profits. Although the core values of the company did not endorse similar views, the corporate culture however, did encourage the implementation of unethical means to achieve their desired goals. While McDonalds on the other hand, reflected a corporate culture which endorsed ethically right practices, which is reflected in its decision making. This is mainly the reason why, the organization was acknowledged as one of the World's most ethical companies during the year 2008 (McDonalds, 2008). The accolades received by the food giant, reflects its corporate culture, which encourages provision of good quality products and services, cleanliness and good values; thus ultimately resulting in better decision making on the part of the management. 3. The availability of term papers and other research materials online is a fact, and can be regarded as a direct outcome of the rapidly rising use and reach of technology. Websites offering term papers in exchange for money has become a highly lucrative commercial activity in recent times. However, such a practice cannot be termed as unethical per se, reason being, it does not in any way, violate the laws of any nation or harm the society in general and hence does not fall under the category of â€Å"unethical business practice†. According to Painter-Morland & Werhane (2008)

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness Essay - 1

Strategic Management and Strategic Competitiveness - Essay Example Because of the enhanced level of connectivity brought forward by the evolution of the internet, the world has transformed into a single connected entity. This technology powered transformation has automatically helped in the process of speedy diffusion of various trends of globalization, which continues to arise from various corners of the world. The trends of globalization bring into effect a significant amount of change in regards to consumer behavior of the masses of various locations. It is highly interesting to cite that the changing consumer behavior of the various markets around the world automatically creates the need for various new kinds of products and services, which in turn paves the way for evolution of significant business opportunities. Hence, it can be said that the factor of technology has largely integrated itself with the factor of globalization for the purpose of development of strong business opportunities in various global markets. It is to be noted that the or ganization that has been chosen in this case is Apple Inc., which is a highly popular global brand in the electronics gadget segment. The organization has a highly diversified global product portfolio which manufactures portable music players, computers as well as latest technology mobile phones. Talking from the perspective of globalization, it can be said that the organization has achieved a tremendous amount of growth through successful capitalization of the business prospects. Because of the impact of globalization the awareness for the products of the company has been widely spread across various global markets. This increased awareness of the products got transformed into a huge demand in the multiple markets around the world. Also the diversified product range which includes iPods, iPads and iPhones has proved to be successful in drawing the attention of the young generation. This ultimately resulted in the high sales of the products of the Apple in the domestic as well as th e international markets. While weighing the aspect of technological change, it has to be considered that the faster evolution and high penetration of the internet has brought a positive impact for the products of the organization. While the products of the company are high on innovation as well as new edge technology, yet a large amount of the product features are tremendously dependent on the connectivity provided by the internet. Also, it has to be highlighted that the advancement in technology by the rival product manufacturing companies has also contributed in developing products with new features and up graded versions by the globally popular company (US Sec, 2012, p. 6). 2. Application of  the industrial-organization model and the resource-based model. The industrial organization model takes into account the variables of complexity and strategic importance. Matching the two variables in a two by two matrix, four kinds of scenarios can be chalked out. Under high complexity an d low strategic importance, the outsourcing option seems most viable. Under situations of high complexity and high strategic importance, the option of business process reengineering looks more valid. Under circumstances of low complexity and varying level of strategic importa

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Article and Episode Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Article and Episode Review - Essay Example Even after trying to shake the concept by engaging in comedy films, they still could not avoid seeming morally weak. With the advent of technology and other similar developments, the Asians have had changes in their lifestyles and this has led to the creation of movies that do not generally describe the poor Asian culture. One of the movies that have characterized this according to the article is Second Generation. The movie is one that was acted and directed by Asians in their own terrain. It is seen as a big step forward as it does not focus on vices but rather describes the Asian movie world in another perception. The movie generally talks about the music industry, touches a little on religion and the concept of romance rather than an extended focus on rituals. The article further talks about the movie and describes the actions of the characters. On the romance part of the film, it describes the manner through which a lady, Heere, is free of family oppression and lives with the lo ver, Jack. The religious part of the movie is where there is the description of the mosque to which she goes and the fact that there is the worship of a supreme being. As for the music industry, Heere is said to have run to her ex boyfriend. ... The article claims that the concept of family is again portrayed in the film but not in the best manner possible. This got at the point where Heere’s father gets ill and is put in a coma. It is at this point where it is understood that the family was not running all that well. This is because the sisters call Heere and ask her to get back home and face her past. The past relationship between her and her family was poor as her father was against the idea of her dating Jack. Heere who had acted in rebellion had taken off from home and gone to live with Jack. Her sisters had got mad at the idea and had decided to lose contact with her. The article states that the story is however turned around when she gets back home and re unites with her family for the sake of the deep embedded love that she bore for her father. This is a move against ancient Asian movies that the family relations were not fully settled but rather ended with a negative aspect. Second Generation constantly shows problems associated with families and the manner through which they get resolved. Minority media is described as a notion that the conventional media either lacks the ability or the willingness of airing the problems being faced by the minority population. It is described to be one of the causes of homogeneity when dealing with the population due to the fact that it does not represent all communities fairly. In Second Generation, several scenes clearly describe the concept of minority media. One of the scenes is at the point where Heere’s father gets ill and there is no much focus on her health by the media through Heere’s ex lover, Sam. Heere is portrayed to be of a less developed community as

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Project Manegement, Final Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Project Manegement, Final - Assignment Example Risk Event Graph Risk cost High probability of cost to fix risk Risk occurring Low Beginning Project life cycle End Project is an undertaking that has a start and completion time (Kendrick, 2011). Therefore, generally risk is greater at the initial stage of the project implementation and tends to decline as the time progresses. The risk event graph enables project managers to estimate the chances of occurrence of risk at different times and decide on the resources they require for reducing the chances of risk (Dinsmore and, Cabanis-Brewin, 2011). This is usually essential at the initial stage of project implementation so that managers can mitigate the perceived risks and where possible eliminate it. The risk is usually high at the early phase of project implementation as a few expenses are sustained in mitigating the perceived risk (Wallace and Webber, 2011). However, as time progresses, the owner of the project injects more resources in mitigating consequences of the project hence r eduction in risk. Therefore, as more resources are injected in the project, the anticipated risk declines proportionately. This is because the perceived risk is due to the chances that the result of the project activities may yield undesired results (Dinsmore and, Cabanis-Brewin, 2011). Therefore, as the project is being implemented practically, the events become realistic without the anticipation of risk. This tends to lower the anticipated risk progressively towards the completion of the project (Kendrick, 2011). Risk event graph provides the project managers with a chance to estimate the risk associated with the project at the starting period so that they can take appropriate measure to reduce the anticipated risk before Types of risks Environmental risks: There is a probability of experiencing delays as a result of vagaries of weather hence casing unexpected delays in the completion of the project (Wallace and Webber, 2011). The workers are exposed to numerous dangers associated with injuries hence this may add cost to the general contractor (Dinsmore and, Cabanis-Brewin, 2011). This may result to inability to meet the client need at the agreed value of the houses. Personnel risk: The contractor is dealing with part time bookkeeper hence the bookkeeper may not be available during the project period (Kendrick, 2011). Since the contractor depends on hired subcontractors, there is a risk that during the contract period there may be some shortage of subcontractors hence the work may not b completed within the planned duration Construction risk: The suppliers of materials required for construction activities may fail to deliver the materials and equipment hence causing the contractor to delay in completing the work (Wallace and Webber, 2011). Market risk: The price of the construction materials and equipment may hike hence increasing the expenses of completing the project (Wallace and Webber, 2011). Political risk: The approval of the project may be delayed by the authority hence causing delay in commence and ending period of the project to fail to adhere to the set schedule (Kendrick, 2011). This may result to an imposition of penalty to the contractor as a result of breach of agreement. Design risk: The designers of the project may

Monday, September 9, 2019

Organisational Analysis - The impact of leadership styles on Assignment

Organisational Analysis - The impact of leadership styles on organizational effectiveness - Assignment Example Transactional leadership and transformational leadership are closely related units of leadership; however, they are distinct dimensions. Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, had traits that made him an effective leader and he combined transformational and transactional leadership styles, which helped him, turn GE into a success story. Leadership is the ability to impact a group towards the attainment of goals (Kiger 2010, 25). General Electric is a corporation, whose main objective is to generate profits, which will be pleasing to the shareholders (Brady 2010, 26). Jack Welch influenced his team to achieve this goal, which was evident in the increased market share, profits and revenues. In 1981, the company had a market value of 13 billion USD when Welch became the CEO. However, this grew to more than 400 billion USD when Welch retired. Welch possessed some traits that ensured his success as a leader. According to the Trait Theory, there are six traits, which are frequently associated with leadership. These traits are: desire to lead; energy and ambition; integrity and honesty; intelligence; self-confidence and job-relevant knowledge. Welch is a competitor; hence, full of ambitions. These ambitions are translated into ideas, and then decisions, which are eventually, implemented that saw the turnaround of GE. Jack Welch believed in energizing his followers in working hard to increase the performance of the company. Being full of energy, he seldom ran out of the excitated energy that was necessary to push his employees to reach their potential. The self-confidence of Welch enabled him to take risks, which even meant the falling of the company. He restructured the hierarchical systems, regrouping the business units and introducing an informal system of carrying out business in the company. Furthermore, Welch had an extraordinary passion, which he used to motivate and empower his employees to attain the goals of the company (Slater 2004, 19). Bass and Riggio (2006, 10) acknowledge that transformational leadership is made up of four fundamental elements, which they called the â€Å"4 I’s.† A transformatio nal leader has the capability to achieve superior performance through: inspirational motivation; idealized influence; individualized consideration and intellectual stimulation (Judge & Piccolo, 2004, 755). In order to effectively turn around General Electric, transformational leadership had to be an important element in Jack Welch’s leadership style. One of the critical decisions that Welch had to make as the Chief Executive Officer was to create and implement a strategy and a vision, which suited all the businesses in the company. The intention of this decision was to unify all the businesses under a similar and distinct banner (Abetti 2006, 78). Jack Welch developed a three circle model, whose function was to ensure that all the businesses within the company fitted in one of the categories. These categories were: the main business, which the Power Generation production was part of, differentiated by restrained investments and returns was carefully selected; the high-tech bu sinesses, which had a high growth, comprising of Medical Systems or Plastics, more often than not had negative cash flows and demanded heavy investments; services, which incorporated General Electric Capital and other businesses, which were typified by high returns for

PROGRAM EVALUATION Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

PROGRAM EVALUATION - Research Paper Example The study found its advantages when highlighting procedures of the evaluation using different data instruments like questionnaires, interviews with the insurance members, other data –statistical where obtained from the survey conducted using open ended questions and other sources like newspapers-company newspapers and journals were used. The assessment study was to be done using comparison of the different variable through analysis. I. Evaluation of the benefits of the Insurance Cards to the local and non-local residents; this would be done through conducting of interviews directly to the general public. The interview questions were designed to obtain data like; the number of participants involved, the demographic data of the participants-age, gender, sex, and religion. II. The customer satisfaction was with the health care provided in statistical data is a very essential factor in this paper. This was analyzed using correlation test. The positivity of the test can be helpful to the government since it can help on the campaign of encouraging establishment of more insurance companies that offer medical covers to the general public. This could be achieved through public awareness and encouragement by media or through rallies. The regression trend was also important to be used in the study to determine or forecast the future of UAE in terms of health up keep. III. The standard or quality of health service; this data was collected using survey method. The survey targeted the customers or the people of UAE. Data from 500 participants mainly the general public were reflected to measure the quality of service offered. After an analysis of the results the importance of quality service will increase the establishment of more health Insurance companies. IV. To determine the benefits of the health insurance to the general public; this would be determined using interviews to both the people of UAE and the members of the Insurance companies. A sample of 300 members o f staff were used to conduct this test this number was a 1/3 of the population of members of the company hence it a valid result. Results and interpretations 1. Evaluation of the benefits of the Insurance Cards to the local and non-local residents Method: the data and information was obtained from the general public using interviews- open ended questions were used. The application for the insurance cards has increased since the introduction of health insurance companies in UAE. The number has been increasing rapidly as seen from the bar charts presented above. The number of participants applying has increased by more than 46% from 2005 to 2006. The rapid in the increase of people engaging in health insurance is an indication that the people of UAE are finding an importance of the programs. As indicated from the interviews conducted many people are holding the positive aspects of the insurance cards. The insurance cards have made even the low income and the destitute in the society t o afford medical care at the least cost. Health insurance was distributed evenly according to the information obtained from the participants. At first, health insurance was offered to the individuals between the age of 35-and above. This age group indicated that dependants to these eldest members of the family setting meant that the young benefited from the insurance program since the offers extended to

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Why did a world capitalist civilization emerge when it did Essay

Why did a world capitalist civilization emerge when it did - Essay Example 165) One word often used in connection with world capitalism in the twenty first century is â€Å"globalization† (Amin, 1997) Other ideologies like socialism or feudalism do exist in areas of the contemporary world but they find themselves surrounded by a network of other nations, states and large commercial organizations which largely dictates how resources are transferred from place to place, and ultimately steers the growth, decline or stability of large areas of the planet. There are local differences, of course, since each country develops out of one of a number of previous older and separate civilizations, but there is a sense in which they also join a coherent, single world-wide capitalist civilisation. Wallerstein describes this as capitalist civilisation as â€Å"universalism through particularism and particularism through universalism† (Wallerstein, 1984, p. 167). He sees its main characteristic as a continuous search for more and more profit to drive more and more growth. This paper traces the origins of modern capitalism civilisation back to its origins in the past. The question to be answered is when and where it originally emerged. One needs only to think of the hand-to-mouth existence of small, isolated and largely rural societies in the Middle Ages to realise what a significant change global capitalism has brought to the world: â€Å"Matters would change dramatically, however, with the violent remaking of the globe that commenced c. 1500 as the Spanish, Dutch, English, and French began seeking their fortunes far beyond their own national domains.† (Bryant: 2006, p. 407). The discovery of new lands full of untapped resources set off a chain reaction that led some two hundred and fifty years later to the industrial revolution. It is clear that capitalist civilisation must have begun after medieval times. Looking back through history it is generally agreed that origins of capitalism as a world civilisation are to be sought in W estern Europe in the period around the middle of the eighteenth century that has come to be called â€Å"The Enlightenment†. Other parts of the world, notably the Ottoman Empire, Persia and Japan were taking steps in the same direction, and some historians such as Pomeranz (2000) and Goody (2004) have argued that there were parallel moves in the direction of capitalism going on in non-European regions. The fact remains, however, that the scale and speed of European industrial expansion and commercial activity dwarfs anything that historians have been able to prove elsewhere. Vast quantities of goods were shipped to and from the colonies that Western Powers set up, specifically for the purpose of supplying industrial needs back home. Even more significant than that was the extent of the stimulus that occurred with the Enlightenment’s focus on science and technology: â€Å"And as economic historians have extensively documented, it was not the comparative cheapness of co lonial resources that provided Europeans with their decisive advantage, but the astounding productivity gains that came with mechanization and the factory organization of labour.† (Bryant: 2006, p. 434) An important first step was the invention of labour saving devices which increased food production in the small farms and fields. This in turn released labour to work in newly constructed factories who processed raw materials for local or European markets. By the middle of the eighteenth century the economies of scale that emerged were able to produce surpluses which were then reinvested to drive forward ever greater productivity. This cycle of development contains the germ of a capitalist culture and so we can conclude that the first stirrings of capitalist civilisation emerged in the mid eighteenth century

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Platos Republic Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Platos Republic - Article Example The sun symbolizes an intelligent realm, and once its existence is acknowledged, then people can seek the paths to their upper states of mind (Para. 3).   The requirements to pass each stage are preset and definite. I feel that this educates readers to learn and think like the guardians, something that bars them from investigating Plato’s ideas with their personal different theories and experiences. Therefore, Republic education primarily teaches readers to become enlightened philosophers. In my opinion, I feel that Republic education should also allow readers to investigate and comprehend Plato’s system from their personal philosophical thoughts and experiences, and develop new philosophy system to become agents of socio-political change.  Plato’s Republic educates readers to become enlightened philosophers, but not agents of socio-political change. Plato’s ideal city suggests that guardians, who are talented people, should use their skills and knowle dge to enlighten people who are still held in the cave.           

Friday, September 6, 2019

Ethical issues Essay Example for Free

Ethical issues Essay Code of ethics for education defines the professional behavior of educator and serves as a guide to ensure there is ethical conduct. Professional standards commission came up with standards that give guidance as far as conducts that are general accepted in education profession. For this case, there is assurance of protection of safety, health and general welfare of teachers and students to ensure some degree of accountability within the education profession and defines unethical conduct justifying disciplinary action. Educators ought to uphold ethics such as moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral motivation and moral character among others wile working. Ethical standards are set such as criminal acts, abuse of students, alcohol or drugs, misinterpretation, public fund and property mismanagement and improper remunerative conduct among others (Code of ethics for Educators, 1999) How is it then possible for a teacher, who has been trusted with the welfare of children, dare think, for a moment to have a sexual relationship with a student? Well, here is a case study in Leewicks High School in America. English teacher charged with having affair with student, February 1998 English teacher, Mary (not real name), 35 years old was charged with criminal sexual exploitation and having a sexual and romantic affair with a minor 16 year old boy. She admitted having sex with the boy. Suspicions were raised about the affaire when people saw them together cuddling and holding hands away from the school. Another teacher, Mrs.  Shael (not real name) also found a hand written note with the student’s initials on Mary’s desk. There was also a piece of paper with a list of things she wanted to do which included dinner out and â€Å"great sex! † Police said they seized letters in which Mary wrote. She was upset that the boy wanted to breakup the relationship. The boy told the police that the relationship started when he was 15 years old while baby sitting Mary’s son and taking care of her dogs and cats. They also exchanged gifts and letters, including wedding rings, police said. Mary was arrested at school and initially denied the allegations, saying the boy was fantasizing. Police said that she later confessed. Prosecutors noted that Mary initially made up a cancer story to save her marriage from breaking, and later on continued to use the same lie in order to be absent in her place of work and in an effort to keep the lover boy from terminating the relationship Mary was ordered on bail and could be sentenced to more than eight years. She was suspended with pay. She has separated with the husband; they had a 9 year old son. Mark (not real name), the principal of the school said the whole school felt betrayed. This became the topic of discussion among students and teachers in the school. Some students found it hard to believe the story as they described her as a very nice teacher who is always positive. † She was a very dear teacher to us† student commented. Some felt the act was disguising. The disciplinary action taken might lead Mary to be fired by the education managers. She is likely not to serve the eight years in jail because she can easily be released on bonds. Mary could alternatively have been asked to compensate the teen for sexually using him. The ministry of education could monitor the educator’s conduct and performance after an investigation is held. This action is to ensure that the prosecuted educator is abiding by laws and regulations of the sector. Professional certificate or license could be suspend or revocation. The action is usually taken the way it is outlined in educator’s code of ethics. Another alternative way of dealing with the case is not to allow the educator to be engaged in to play the role of volunteers. Or substitute teachers or any position during the time of her revocation, suspension or denial for the violation of the code of ethics. These solutions though acceptable, may complicate the situation because the students will loose the teacher and the education performance be affected. The sector will also have lost a human resource.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Neuropsychopharmacology Concepts: Overview and Analysis

Neuropsychopharmacology Concepts: Overview and Analysis Cole Garcia Introduction This research paper was written explore and demonstrate my personal interests in my field of study, neuropsychopharmacology. The research papers discussed were selected to provide a diverse range of topics within the field, and to convey findings that I’ve deemed to be particularly unique or useful in real-life application. Neuropsychopharmacology: a Brief, Multidimensional View Although frequently demonstrated to be neurotoxic in humans, amphetamines have been therapeutically prescribed and abused recreationally since their discovery over a century ago. One form of amphetamine, infamous for its high rates of addiction and toxicity in users, is methamphetamine (METH). The researchers of this study posed the question of whether the traditional animal models demonstrating that METH use decreases caudate-putamen dopamine levels (DA) can be applied to human patterns of abuse and resulting neurotoxicity. Substantial research has indicated that tolerance to METH reduces many of the toxic effects associated with binge use of the drug. To demonstrate this, the researchers aimed to find if the neural death in rats associated with an acute METH binge following an escalation-dose (ED) pretreatment would be less severe than the damages stereotypically observed after high dose â€Å"binge† exposure without prior ED treatment. The researchers hypothesized that curr ent research overstates the neurotoxicity associated with METH abuse, since animal model studies fail to account for the ED pattern typically observed before binge-use in most human users of METH. To test their hypothesis, the researchers selected groups of healthy male rats for experimentation. The living conditions of the rats were kept stable and relatively natural. Following a normalization period of at least a week, the rats were administered three separate, increasing doses of d-METH each day for two weeks. The period began with a dosage of 0.1mg/kg and finished with a dosage of 4.0mg/kg, a dose considered extraordinarily high for human users. Following the last day of ED pretreatment, the rats were administered a â€Å"binge† regimen, consistent with those traditionally used in similar studies, of four injections of 6mg/kg at two hour intervals. Throughout the experiment, a variety of data regarding behavioral responses to the drug, physiological responses like hyperthermia, and other immediately observable variables were gathered. Three days after the last METH administration, the rats were killed and their brains were analyzed to measure DA content and the leve ls of DAT transporter binding that is typically reduced as a result of METH binge use. Analysis of the data showed that the acute METH binge administration produced lower than average neurotoxicity in rats that were subject to ED pretreatment. All but one of the post-mortem neural tissue measurements displayed a reduction in damages in the pretreated rats while non-pretreated rats displayed normal levels of neural death following the acute binge. In vitro data showed similar results; rats administered the binge regiment without pretreatment displayed stereotypic movement associated with acute an METH binge. Most significantly, the data showed that the reduction in DA levels typically resulting from METH binge administration was considerably less severe in the rats that underwent ED pretreatment. All p values for this data were less than 0.01 or 0.001. The researchers concluded that a significant portion of the neurotoxic effects of METH binge use observed in rats can be attenuated by a prior escalation dose regimen. Since past studies on METH’s neurotoxicity fail to examine the drug’s neurotoxicity in subjects that followed â€Å"regular† human patterns prior to administration of toxic doses, the researchers argued that future research on stimulant abuse should follow an escalation dose pretreatment in order to produce data that is actually applicable to the majority of human subjects. For psychopharmacology researchers concerned with reducing drug related harm, this is extremely important information and future studies should explore further by finding a rodent ED pretreatment that is most comparable to actual human behavior patterns. The effects of hallucinogenic drugs like psilocybin and LSD have been documented to profoundly alter visual perceptions of the world. For thousands of years, psilocybin and similar substance have been used for spiritual and religious rituals in many different cultures. Until recently, the neurological causes for the visual distortions have been largely unknown. Past research has found that the serotonin receptors, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, 5-HT2C, are likely highly involved in visual processing as well as hallucinations associated with Schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. Past animal studies indicate that activation of the 5-HT2A receptors increases the excitability of the visual cortex. This research paper, published by the Journal of Neuroscience, investigates the possibility that the activation of 5-HT2A receptors through psilocybin causes modulation of parietal-occipital ÃŽ ± oscillations, resulting this noted increase in excitability of visual processors. The researchers further hypothesized that the hallucinations could be caused by the 5-HT2A receptor modulation of the visual cortex’s visual recognition â€Å"potentials.† Specifically, the researchers questioned whether or not the P1 and N170 (visual recognition and mid-level processing potentials) are modulated by psilocybin’s activations of the 5-HT2A receptors. The researchers attempted to answer these questions by administering across multiple doses a combination of psilocybin, a placebo, and ketanserin (a 5-HT2A antagonist to cancel the effects of psilocybin in certain trials) to seventeen healthy individuals on four different experimental days. After administration of each drug(s), visual stimulus and response tests were carried out with continuous EEG monitoring during each trial. ÃŽ ± waves were measured for a short duration before and after the administration of the visual stimulus, and the resulting strengths were compared. Six hours after the administration of the drugs, the subjects were required to fill out a standardized questionnaire addressing their subjective visual alterations and changes in perception as a result of the drugs administered on that day. A variety of corrections and comparisons were performed on the data to analyze it with respect to the hypotheses, and results were constructed from the implicated correlations. The first finding was that all subjects administered psilocybin subjectively experienced hallucinogenic effects or visual distortions. It was also found that the all subjects administered the placebo or ketanserin reported no hallucinations or visual distortions. P and r values for these data suggested very strong replicability and correlation. From the ÃŽ ± oscillation data, the researchers found that, under normal conditions, the ÃŽ ± oscillations were stronger during the prestimulus phase than the poststimulus phase. From the psilocybin administered subject trials, the researchers found that the ÃŽ ± oscillations were weaker than usual in the prestimulus phase and the subsequent reduction of strength was not observed in the poststimulus phase. In the placebo and ketanserin tests, no attenuation of ÃŽ ± oscillations were observed. Similarly, in trials where ketanserin was administered 1 hour following psilocybin administration, the decrease in ÃŽ ± oscillations was not observed, in dicating that the 5-HT activation following psilocybin administration is likely a cause for the observed ÃŽ ± oscillation modulation. Since ÃŽ ± oscillations have been shown to be involved in the brain’s construction of vision, the researchers concluded that the hallucinogenic effects of psilocybin are, at least partially, caused by modulation of ÃŽ ± oscillations by activation of 5-HT2A. Along with the modulation of ÃŽ ± oscillations through psilocybin’s activation of 5-HT2A, the researchers also monitored modulation of the P1 and N170 potentials. Activation of 5-HT2A was found to decrease the P1 potentials while increasing the N170 potentials during stimulus. Differences between the psilocybin and non-psilocybin trials showed trends and replicability similar to the observed ÃŽ ± oscillation data. Since these potentials have been shown to be important neurological processes associated with the brain’s recognition and construction of visual input, the researchers concluded that modulation of these important visual potentials is likely somewhat responsible for the perceived changes in visual perception. These data are among the first to show a potential neurological mechanism of action for the changes in visual perception caused by psilocybin, and future research could seek to understand how the modulation of these systems directly relates to specific vis ual changes. Alcoholism is an affliction facing millions of people worldwide and its consequences stretch far beyond the individual. Despite the mounting medical and social costs of alcohol addiction, little progress has been made towards developing effective medication as treatment. Ibogaine, a hallucinogen found in a plant native to Africa, has been anecdotally observed to reverse or undue addiction to many drugs of abuse, including alcohol. Due to its safety profile and nature of the drug’s effects, ibogaine has not yet been considered a potential medication. In this study, the researchers posed the question of whether ibogaine reduces behaviors of addiction; and, if so, how and where it produces these effects in the brain. Digging deeper, the researchers aimed to refute or confirm evidence indicating that ibogaine causes neurotoxicity at doses associated with the addiction reducing action of the drug. To answer these questions, the researchers used both behavior studies and in vivo `brain analysis. The behavior studies, testing the anti-addiction potential of ibogaine, were carried out by habituating rats to ethanol (self-administered or systematically) and then recording preferences following treatment with ibogaine. One study allowed the rats continuous access to both water and ethanol for a period of two months before administration of alcohol. In another study, rats were placed in a cage with two levers, one delivering water and the other delivering ethanol. After a period of three days without the water lever being active, ibogaine was administered and the responses were recorded. A variety of similar experiments were carried out, each of them aiming to eliminate one area of uncertainty regarding the nonspecific activities of the drug. To test for the mechanisms involved in ibogaines addiction reversal, the researchers carried out a series of ibogaine microinjections into the brains of ethanol self-administering rats. In order to clarify which area of the brain is mediates ibogaines effects, each injection was localized at a different brain structure associated with addiction and the resulting behaviors were observed. In vivo, the researchers further isolated ibogaines mechanism of action by examining the drug’s effects on cells in the rodent’s midbrain. To test for neurotoxicity, the brains of non-ibogaine treated mice were analyzed against the brains of ibogaine treated mice. After analyzing the data, the researchers found that all trials indicated attenuation of alcoholism in rats treated with ibogaine. With continuous access to alcohol before and after treatment, ibogaine treated subjects showed a reduction in preference for alcohol (when given a choice) as well as a reduction of intake when no choice was offered. Further clarifying the findings, the data showed that rats treated with ibogaine showed very little change in preference for water or sucrose control solutions. P values for these data was less than 0.02 consistently. The findings confirm that ibogaine, when administered to alcohol preferring animals, reduces the animals consumption of alcohol. Among the secondary findings, the researchers also determined the specific area mediating ibogaine’s action to be the ventral tegmental area (VTA). In trials where ibogaine micoinjections were performed in the VTA, rats decreased their consumption of alcohol considerably. In trials where the same microinjections were made in neighboring substantia nigra, no reduction in alcohol was observed. Another important result was the lack of cell death observed in mice treated with the same therapeutic doses administered to the rat subjects. This was found by observing comparing brain sections of mice exposed to known neurotoxins, ibogaine, or nothing. Similarly, no coordination impairment or bodily harm was found to occur after ibogaine administration at therapeutic doses. The researchers also found that the expression of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is directly affected by the drug ibogaine. This leads to what is probably the most important discovery of the data: when GDNF neutralizing antibodies are injected into the VTA of ibogaine administered alcoholic rats, the reduction of alcohol intake was negated. These findings confirm previous studies that show GDNF negate some of the effects of psychoactive drugs. The results of the experiment indicate that ibogaine is not only a potential treatment for alcoholism and addiction, but that this effect is likely carried out through increase in GDNF expression after administration of ibogaine. In the research field seeking to find treatment for drug abuse, these results are potentially revolutionary. To develop an effective treatment, future studies could seek to develop a molecule that induces the upregulation of the GDNF pathway. Alternatively, further research could be done on ibogaine in order to develop a treatment that excludes the hallucinogenic effects of the drug. Mertons theory of Anomie: Girl gangs Mertons theory of Anomie: Girl gangs Topic: Read the report A study on girls in gangs by Hong Kong Federation of Youth and evaluate the possible explanations offered by Merton’s strains towards anomie theory. After reading the report A Study on Girls in Gang by Hong Kong Federation of Youth , to a large extent I disagree to Merton’s strain towards anomie theory. Lets begin with the definition of Girls in Gang. Firstly, Girls in Gang means those girls are not contribute in any triad or serious criminal cases like murder, but they mainly committed in physical violence, stealing from shop or strangers, dishonesty to use their phone or bullying some people that they do it for fun. Secondly, they aged from 10 to 17 years old. Thirdly, gang members are or above 3 people.(Chu Yiu Kong, An Analysis of Youth Gangs in Tin Shui Wai in Hong Kong) Moreover, there are 5 types of structure in gangs. They are autonomous which is girl-dominant, auxiliary which is also girl-dominant but also rely on boy gangs, mixed which included girls and boys, independent group which is not control by anyone, satellite group which is girl-dominant, rely on boy gangs but independent. But what we know is, auxiliary and satellite are the main structures which were more common in Hong Kong society, and the decision-making are mainly from the boys. According to the theory of Structural Functionalism, the society is co-related. The social relationship extending over time and form stable patterns of interaction, then these structures in turn constituted social institutions when times gone. Therefore the social problem happens when function of an institution is not being performed properly, results from the malfunctioning. Also, from Mertons theory, deviant behavior and social disorganization were separate and distinct; tended to see each as causing the other. (Merton, 1938) In the case of Girls in Gangs, there is malfunction in the social relationship of their family, which cannot achieve prerequisite of socialization in order to inherit values, social norms, customs or ideologies by the society. That means their relationship cannot engage those girls in such a way that we find appropriate and acceptable. At the same time, their family cannot give out as the role of the family does such as give them love and belonging, financial support. Thus, girls may easily accept the deviant behaviors such as join gang to satisfy their needs. Refer to Mertons theory of strains towards anomie society, separate deviance into cultural structure and social structure. First, anomie means the low level of moral regulation which regard as normlessness, on the one hand, it is about when we are free to act and not constrained by social norms. Second, cultural structures means a hierarchy of shared values that govern our behaviors and provide us with cultural goal like achievement on education or career, material comfort of wealth. On the other hand, social structure means institutional norms which define and regulate the acceptable mode of reaching these goals.'(Merton, 1938) In other words, is to provide legitimate means by which members can pursue their goals. From his theory, there are five types of adaptations to achieve either cultural goals or social means. To a large extent, I agree to the conformity adaptations, but small extent agree to the ritualism adaptations, the innovation adaptation, the rebellion adaptations and th e retreatism adaptation did applicable to the case of girls join gangs in Hong Kong. The reasons are as of the following. The report of A study on Girls in Gangs have shown that the several reasons of the girls join gangs because of emotional attachment and protection. As most of the interviewees responded that they were lack of affiliation, which they do not have a good or even lack of relationship with their family, school or working place. In order to fulfill their mental needs or emotional attachment, they joined gangs to achieve the conformity with other people in order to lower the loneliness. Besides, girls in gangs will be named as ah-so, English means either sister-in-law or girlfriend, or ka -mui, in English means little sister, both names did not have a direct relationship, but somehow they can get protection from the gangs because of what their fake relationship is simply as same as the real family. This structure represents that the girl participating in gangs is trying to achieve their cultural goal and they do have social means which is join gangs . Thus, the girls participate in gangs d oes regard as an conformity adaptations since they have their cultural goals and social means. According to the report, A study on Girls in Gangs, the two interviewees told that they were pleasant and happy because of they can enjoy free entertainment when they join gangs. (18 years old, student) They will go to sing karaoke, dancing or go to mainland sometimes, depend on where the gangs go, and the girls in gangs do not need to pay any money, which for boys to show their gentleness and power. (16 years old, employee). From the research, it presents the girls do have cultural goal which is free entertainment regard as use the social means, but they use the same means which do not have any new goals or new means. In addition, the society was also assume the goal as materialism or material comfort, when they did not achieve their goals in legitimacy means, so they will reject the mean. Therefore, the ritualism adaptation which refers as no goals but with means cannot apply in this case. Nonetheless, the report A study on Girls in Gangs, One of the interviewees said that she joins gang because of her boyfriend is one of the members in gangs.(16, student)Furthermore, from what she has said, girls join gangs may seem to have a new goal which is find a boyfriend and maintain a stable love relationship with their partner, but it is also talk about they need emotional attachment, love and belonging by the mean. Thus, rebellion adaptation which have new goals and new means, and innovation adaptation which have goals and new means are not applicable in girls join gangs in Hong Kong, because they do not have the new goals and new means. The above report datas also presented some of the girls know that when they need to leave the gang. The report shown that girls join gangs which they think they were smart enough to protect themselves, and they know what they are doing, they always did something for aim.(18, employee) This shows that they are not as what retreatlism adaptation means have no goals and no means to do some deviant behavior, and what Merton regards as true deviant. Therefore, retreatlism adaptation cannot apply in this case, as the girls join gangs for goals. In our life, different countries or places may bring a different social structure. Compare to America, Hong Kong is rarely have serious criminal cases, and the girls in gangs which were totally different. Mertons theory can explain why rates of deviant behavior are higher in some sectors of the society than in others. American culture is characterized by great emphasis on the accumulation of wealth as a success symbol without a corresponding emphasis on using legitimate means to match toward their goal.'(Marshall B. Clinard, 1964) Refer to the theory, it told that in America society, if the one who want to achieve goals of being wealthy, they can use any means leaned success, even illegal or criminal should be accepted by the theory. Thus, American are more focus on wealth, and do not care all other things such as relationship, love, caring, academic, and they may not facing the same problems of Hong Kong girls in gangs which was lack of affiliation or facing failure. Then, compare t o the case of Hong Kong girls in gangs, mainly concerned about the emotional attachment and conformity, join gangs seek as an instruments to achieve their conformity, they may have goals but they do not have any new means. So in this way, Mertons theory may not be appropriate to apply on the girls join gangs in Hong Kong society which is more applicable on American society. Last but not least, Hong Kong girls join gangs should be regarding something they want like affiliation to achieve with means, which is Hong Kong girls join gangs were trying to gain conformity by satisfy their emotional attachment, love and belonging. So conformity adaptation of the Mertons theory is the only one can apply and suit on the girls join gangs in Hong Kong. On the other hand, girls in gang of Hong Kong society need to fulfill their need with means, but not with new goals or new means, so other adaptation of the Mertons theory may not be the best to apply in Girls in Gangs of Hong Kong society. Therefore, to a large extent I disagree to Merton’s strain towards anomie theory. Reference Readings Chu, Yiu Kong (2005)An analysis of Youth Gangs in Tin Shui Wai in Hong Kong in Hong Kong Journal of Social Sciences NO.29 Spring/Summer 2005. Clinard, Marshall B.(1995) Robert Merton: Anomie and Social Structure in Earl Eubington and Martin S. Weinberg ed. The study of Social Problems Seven Perspectives, London : Oxford University Press. Haralambos, Michael and Holborn, Martin (2000) Sociology Themes and Perspectives ,London Collins. Mok, James and Chan Shui-ching(2008) A study on Girls in Gangs, Hong Kong : Research Centre, Hong Kong Federation of Youth Group.