National Education Essay

National education is a subject that aims to increase the national identity of students and citizens in Hong Kong. There are several steps to help fulfill this subject’s aims. As it is believed to have benefits to the students in studying as well as helping critical thinking. There are some, however, some people see the content of this subject is brain-washing which hinders students to learn the real history of China, so that this subject still remains as the non-core subject in the primary schools or secondary schools. In this essay, both the advantages and disadvantages of national education in Hong Kong will be examined before drawing a conclusion based on the giving evidence. Moral and national education (MNE) is a school curriculum proposed by the Education Bureau of Hong Kong in 2012. Hong Kong government wanted to promote national education in both primary schools and secondary schools. There are several advantages while promoting national education for students. One of the benefits is helping students to increase the national identity. Consultation on Moral and National Education Curriculum (2011) has reported that one of the curriculums aims is to facilitate identity-building through developing affection for the country, this can help increase the national identity to students. Since the promotion of nation to Hong Kong students were not enough in their studying stages in the government thought, therefore the government propose this subject to students as well as the citizens to help them have a more accurate and clear mind of the nation which can help recognize the identity as well as raising students’ recognition and sense of belonging towards their family, society, nation and the world and help them to become responsible family members, citizens and nationals (Moral and National Education Curriculum Guide Primary 1 to Secondary 6 , 2011). As well as increase the national identity, helping students to develop moral qualities and a positive attitude is also the other advantages of promoting national education. In the curriculum of the national education, students could have more time for critical thinking. According to Moral and National Education Curriculum Guide Primary 1 to Secondary 6 (2011)†The curriculum aims cover values and attitudes, knowledge and skills, and focus on:  development of moral qualities, leading a meaning life, growth in knowledge, judging reasonably and being responsible and rational.† This can help students strengthen their moral qualities in preserving Chinese virtues, develop an affection for the country and help students develop positive values and attitudes. What is more, when students having their lesson of this subject, they may learn how to develop a positive and optimistic attitude (Education Bureau of Hong Kong [EBHK], 2002).This can help students having a better manage of their study and help the students to relieve their study pressure. Apart from the above advantages, there are also some disadvantages in promoting national education. According to the curriculum of this subject, some history of China had been cancelled or changed. The â€Å"China Model National Conditions Teaching Manual† which is the model textbook of the National Education was found to be biased towards the Communist of China and the so-called â€Å"China Model† (Oriental Daily, [13 July, 2012]).The teaching manual called the Communist Party an â€Å"advanced, selfless and united ruling group, while denouncing Democratic and Republican Parties of the United States as a â€Å"fierce inter-party rivalry that makes the people suffer†. Mok (2012) points out that the members of Scholar and Civil Alliance against the National Education against the brainwashing national education curriculum before school commences as most of the content were pretended to be brainwashing to both primary and secondary schools students. Parents thought that this may hinder students to learn the truth of their nation and change their minds when they learned. Thus, some of the parents were afraid their children would learn the wrong history and bad manner in this course without gaining any benefits. What is worse, adding one more subject in the core-subjects to the primary and secondary schools students may increase the workload of the students and may increase their study pressures. There are different focuses in this subject for different forms of students. Education Bureau of Hong Kong (EBHK, 2002) mentions the moral and national education covers four Key Stages from P1 to S6 across primary and secondary levels. Each Key Stage comprises five domains including personal, family, social, national and  global, with a view to promote the development of positive values and attitudes as well as identity-building in students. This reveals that students need to learn one more subject in their primary and secondary school lives. This will increase their workload and more study pressure will be released. It is clear that there are both advantages and disadvantages in proposing National Education. Proposing National Education can increase the nation identity to students as well as citizens which help them to be responsible national in nations. Furthermore, this can help students to develop moral qualities and a positive attitude. Nevertheless, there are several disadvantages while proposing this subject. The content of this subject has not cover all the truth of China to students and this may brain washing the students and this may increase the workload of the students. Thus, national education still remain the non-core subject in schools. Taking these arguments into consideration, National Education can increase the nation identity to the citizens and help students foster the positive attitude. However, these benefits can only be realized through proper teaching materials, ensuring that the teacher, students and subject are focus on the direct content and not just brainwashing the students. Students today are often have high study pressures they can release their stress when they having appropriate courses in National Education. No matter this subject would be proposed or not, there are both pros and cons to the students. More details of this subject should be consulted and examined by both Hong Kong government and citizens.

The Advantages of Starting Your Own Business

The advantages of starting your own business Many people dream of owning a business and see it as a way to control their own destiny. Starting a business is an exciting thing that offers many benefits. However, you should also analyze what it takes to run a successful business or how much it costs to start up. Although, having your own business is still more beneficial since you can do what you enjoy doing, you can manage your work schedule and last of all you can earn a higher salary from your own business.Owning a business gives you the opportunity to work in a field you enjoy. Workings in an area you are passionate about helps you better handle responsibilities in your business. Owning your own business allows you to create and contribute, which gives your personal satisfaction. Most entrepreneurs working in a field they enjoy also bring in their expertise, which allows them to offer innovative products and services to customers. The second aspect is independence. Entrepreneurship gives you the control over your own business.If you operate a project, you can make the final management decisions regarding your company. Owning a business gives you the power to control whole business. You can participate in every step of the decision-making process. Moreover you can manage your time and adjust your work schedule. For instance, if you have to do something else during the work hours, you can leave and re-schedule your obligations for some other day or after 5 pm. When you work for an employer, you know your annual salary and little opportunity is available to earn more money on your job.Starting your own business gives you the potential to earn a high salary. Productivity, pricing and marketing plans are all in your hand, and the income you earn relates to those activities. Although earning a high salary is not a guarantee forever. However, if it becomes successful, the rewards will be much greater than work for a company. However, there are also disadvantages whe n you have your own business. One is having the risk of losing not just your money, but also the time and energy you put up if the business does not work out.Another is the overwhelming feeling, in the beginning, of learning several things to start and run the business. And since the business is yours, you are the one take responsible for everything about it. In consequently, starting a business can be scary. But great rewards await entrepreneurs who are lucky enough to create successful businesses not only you can earn earn more salary and become self-independent but also you reward your own life. Although only you can decide if you are ready to create something, here are some of the rewards of going out on your own.

DQ1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

DQ1 - Essay Example The court system in the United States is dual comprising of the state courts and the federal courts. Unlike the traditional system of organization where power is central, these systems work side by side with exclusive jurisdiction. There are several courts each having its own structure and procedure. The court system is very open. Any person can present a dispute in court at any time. Contrary to traditional organizations where all the decisions concerning the organization are made at the helm, the court system resolves disputes within its jurisdiction without consulting with the Supreme Court. In addition, the court system is a defender of human rights. They are important in protecting basic rights such as freedom of speech and equality to all. The courts encourage right to speech that is inhibited in the traditional organizations systems. Furthermore, the court is different from traditional organizations because they ensure that the system of governance is federal. A federal system limits the power of government by sharing and dividing power between other states. This distribution of power is important as it prevents tyranny (Howard,

Any topic you think is good for my paper Assignment - 1

Any topic you think is good for my paper - Assignment Example The perception of the society on comic book is based on abstract description given by the images depicted in articles and books. In brief, the definition is provided by the work of art (Faigley and Selzer). Ideally, Scott argues that the comic art should not be presented in the way it has been. The art should be simple and depict natural art. The creation of new approach to learning is vital, but the creation of conclusive understanding of terms of reference is essential in the education process. The definition argument by Scott highlights the difference in understanding of terms created by media and other related depiction (Faigley and Selzer). Additionally, the influence of traditional educational practices is evident in the creation of terms such as the traditional understanding words. The new definition of comic is based on comparison of other arts with the comic art depicted by work Scott is change of ideas on the comic articles, which have been perceived in a different way. In conclusion, the article by Scott redefines the term

Strategic Human Resources Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Human Resources Management - Essay Example The case study of South African Breweries (SAB) is an ideal model of organizational development through focus on human resources development to achieve the company's vision. (Johnson, 2000). The alignment of the company's vision with performance enhancement and innovation led to overall development of the organization. Planning and structuring of programme of human resources development formed the focal point to achieve growth globally in an environment which was in a state of flux in South Africa. This change was achieved by strategic human resources management thinking by the Human Resources Department of the company. High performance working and planned organizational development through the human resources perspective are thus seen to form a link in strategic human resources management The growth of the information, knowledge and service economy brought about the need to adapt a more flexible model of working wherein work is a dynamic rather than a cyclical process exemplified by the assembly line in the concept popularized by Taylor. (HPW, 2006). The Taylorian model is seen to be quite inefficient and ineffective in delivering services in the modern economy focused on the need to design solutions for individual customers. High performance working on the other hand places emphasis on policies in organizations that are people centric thereby enhancing the focus on delivering the best to the customer down the chain. This has necessitated a large cultural shift in many organizations which may or may not be wholly accepted by many people. HPW has been defined as evolving a decentralized, non hierarchical flat organizational structure with limited management control, high level of autonomous working based on trust and commitment and team working. (HPW, 2006). As culture involves both strategy and people, there is an innate link between HPW and strategic human resources management. The implementation of HPW is a powerful strategic shift to ensure personnel development is a change which is implemented organizationally. The need to adopt a wholly new and dynamic culture is essential. The key focus of this strategy is on the human resources staff that has to ensure implementation of the concept in an internal environment which may or may not be supportive of the same. For HPW to succeed the vision of the company has to shift to providing value to the customer and aligning the product to the needs of the customer. This will have to be a vision based, top down process which can be implemented through out the organization in a systematic manner. Holbeche (2002) has provided a check list for high performance organizations which have adopted HPW. The key components of HPW have been designated as development of people through structured training programmes to manage the self, build team capabilities and capacities to implement projects simultaneously with improvement of performance and fulfilling the goals of the organization. The aim should be to create an evolved, committed employee down the chain to enable delivery of core service to the customer. The process of HPW is thus a change from the traditional model and there is as much emphasis on team building, trust and commitm

Critique the Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Critique the Plan - Assignment Example seminars are held for young people on how they can identify good and quality food and select these as compared to unwholesome food (Tones and Green, 2004). There has also been advocacy among stakeholders within the educational sector to invest in physical fitness facility construction. The initiative has recorded a number of successes since its implementation. For example statistics available to the Philadelphia Urban Food and Fitness alliance indicates that there has been a drastic reduction in the number of food related illnesses and health issues in Philadelphia (Wahl OF, 2009). What is more, people have developed personalized interest in doing away with the purchase of chunk food and rather take up to physical body exercise. Indeed, the effectiveness of the program can be deepened if its present scope of stakeholder base was widened. For example even though the program is sponsored by the W.K Kellogg Foundation, which is a recognized non-governmental institution, there could be better results if efforts were made to involve government as a direct stakeholder. In between time, the program has strength of identifying the need for healthy nutrition at a very early age among the youth. This would lead to a preventive health initiative rather than a curative one (Vygotsk,

Can the Government Stabilize the Economy (3 sections) Research Proposal

Can the Government Stabilize the Economy (3 sections) - Research Proposal Example . Such scarcity, whether natural or man-made, makes it necessary for everyone to stretch whatever limited resources he has. Resources can be financial or physical. Practically every one has to make hard choices, to make trade-offs as between one good or service and another. A decision to have one or more of one thing means that one will have less of something else. The relevant cost of any decision is its opportunity cost- the value of the next best alternative one has to give up. Economists stress that one must always calculate the opportunity cost of any specific choice. It would be an ideal situation if a policy maker had all the resources with which to grow the national economy. Scarcity is not the basic premise of growing an economy but rather the availability and the optimal utilization of resources. A country such as the United States has considerable amount and diversity of resources such that it can become self-sufficient; however, less naturally endowed countries would have to grapple with dire scarcity to some degree and will have to procure resources other countries. In a particular case where a country has to consider only what resources it has within its national borders, it will have to make choices about how to use them to maximize or optimize production. In a simplified production possibility frontier (PPF) model where a country has limited resources and a given technology and has only two outputs from a fixed supply of inputs, the decision maker has to make decision about the various combinations of the two outputs, such as wheat and soybeans, or foodstuff and computers. The production of food alone and none of computers will likely not use the resources available in an optimal way. The ideal combination might lie between the two extremes where a certain proportion of resources are employed for the production of food and computers jointly. The concept of the production possibilities frontier comes to our mind – it shows the

Ethical Integrity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ethical Integrity - Essay Example There are people who have been subjected to situations of life and death but they ended up not betraying their ethical and moral convictions. Such are the people who have what is termed as ethical integrity. Having said this, this paper aims to prove the fact hat there is no excuse or/and reason for going against or betraying morals, ethics, convictions or ethical integrity. Ethical and moral standards hold this world together in peace. Imagine if there were no standards of demeanor; then people would behave anyway anyhow. There will be chaos everywhere. But now thanks to the ethical and moral standards, as yardsticks to measure and rate behavior and conduct, peace and order is possible. Imagine a world where everyone subscribed to highest possible ethical integrity; it would be basically a paradise where there is no hypocrisy and problems are honestly and objectively handled without reservation. Indeed there will only be the truth and this truth will set the mortals free. Truthfulness and honesty are the core pillars that describe integrity and without these in every thought, word and deed, then there is no integrity at all except for hypocrisy. At some points, integrity has been described as doing the right things more especially when no one is watching you and that is exactly what it is (Carter, 1996). Integrity is defined as the strict devotion to the ethical principles. It may as well be termed as the unassailability of moral character or simply as honesty. Honesty is equal to integrity only when there is consistency and this kind of honesty is reminiscent in every level of being: thoughts, words and deeds. The synonyms of integrity are words like probity, goodness, decency, virtue, honor, godliness etc. The opposite of integrity is simply dishonesty, deceit, corruption, hypocrisy and fraudulence among others. All these are used to enable a deeper understanding and appreciation of the concept of integrity and more especially ethical integrity. More often than not, integrity and ethics are tied. When one talks about integrity, ethics is implied and vice versa. Ethics, according to the American Heritage Dictionary (2000), is construed to refer to the set of principles that govern behavior or simply the regulations or principles that govern the demeanor of a person or the membership of a profession such as law or medicine. This explains why we have things like medical ethics, law ethics etc. The code of conduct that guides people in their professions is often referred to as professional ethics. Such ethics are often based on carefully considered principles of truthfulness, accuracy and respect for human rights and dignity. Morality also guides the enactment of these ethics. Ethics as already mentioned is everywhere. Think of any profession or situation, ethics will still apply. We have ethics in medicine, in church, in school, in law, in business etc. Ethics is everywhere. The fact that these ethics do exist doesn't necessari ly mean that they are all the time adhered to. They are most of the time contravened more than they can be adhered to and this is what differentiates people in every profession or situation. There are those who will adhere and those who will dare not to. Such people or their behaviors which do not agree

Pre-Colombian America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pre-Colombian America - Essay Example England captured the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland in the year in 1814 and they adopted an offensive strategy there. The factors in the land were favorable for the expansion of Britain in the region and it experienced British incursions which soon resulted in the conquest of the land. The bayside region was very favorable condition to the British expansion and the region was crucial in order to create a diversion in the East so that the American troops would be on the defensive. The confusion among the troops which were poorly trained helped the British troops to conquer the lands. Among the events of historical importance, colonial New England possesses a considerable position in American history as well as the history of British colonial expansion. "In a continuing quest for understanding of the nature of meaning of the New England experience and of its relationship to the larger themes of American development, scholars in previous generations have focused upon three main problems: the character and evolution of New England Puritanism, the nature of the New England town, and the contribution of the region to the American Revolution" (Greene 1974, 171-194). There have been great inconsistency between the various unsophisticated societies of the British North America in the seventeenth century. However, this variation gradually declined by the next century as the societies there began to be multifaceted in nature. The differences and other varying factors did not hinder the sharing of general cultural order. The various efforts toward independence helped the Am erican societies of diverse localities including Chesapeake and New England to unite among them and to experience the common American feeling in their... Among the events of historical importance, colonial New England possesses a considerable position in American history as well as the history of British colonial expansion. â€Å"In a continuing quest for understanding of the nature of meaning of the New England experience and of its relationship to the larger themes of American development, scholars in previous generations have focused upon three main problems: the character and evolution of New England Puritanism, the nature of the New England town, and the contribution of the region to the American Revolution† (Greene 1974, 171-194). There has been a great inconsistency between the various unsophisticated societies of the British North America in the seventeenth century. However, this variation gradually declined by the next century as the societies there began to be multifaceted in nature. The differences and other varying factors did not hinder the sharing of general cultural order. The various efforts toward independence helped the American societies of diverse localities including Chesapeake and New England to unite them and to experience the common American feeling in their nature. That is to say, they became more American in nature and feeling. To make the distinction between the two regions, â€Å"the early Chesapeake, not New England, is the true exemplar of colonial social development† (Main 1989, 764-766). Whereas the Chesapeake is noted for its unrelenting â€Å"Englishness,† the New England is condemned of its petty narrow-mindedness.

“Self-Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay Example for Free

â€Å"Self-Reliance† by Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay In the essay entitled â€Å"Self-Reliance† written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, a clear and detailed account of how the author sees and defines self-reliance is presented in a classical manner of writing. The author has argued, through the different ideas he presented in his essay that non-conformity is important nowadays and the development of independent beliefs should be given attention by people. Likewise, the author has presented a view of how society is today using his own lenses, which means it came from his perspective. In defining what a genius is, Emerson mentioned that â€Å"to believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men† are characteristics that make a person a genius (p. 17). He has so much emphasis on the ability of men to create ideas of their own and reinforce this by believing in it is a source of one’s ingenuity. Related to this is the idea of self-reliance where one person maintains a persona perspective and abides by it. Where this warrants non-conformity, the author argues that it is permissible and is likewise considered as the most acceptable behavior to achieve self-reliance. Whatever the response of men may be towards a diversion away from the norm, then it is to be treated without malice or second thought for a person should believe more on himself/herself. This also directs the person away from relying on the thoughts of others. In addition to this, the author mentioned that great philosophers and influential people from the past has earned their positions in the society because they have expressed their ideas, believed in it, and reinforced it through their arguments. From the author’s point of view, the society of today has lost the ability to make use of knowledge and gain it through definite means. From his words, The civilized man has built a coach, but has lost the use of his feet. He is supported on crutches, but lacks so much support of muscle. He has a fine Geneva watch, but he fails of the skill to tell the hour by the sun. (Emerson 29). In this sense, the men of today has been given the right tools for their needs but has lost the traditional means of acquiring knowledge. More so, information for them has been based so much on what they have built for themselves and less on relying on their own abilities to answer and solve daily problems. Apparently today, the availability of automatic technologies has paved the way for the society’s failure in developing people to rely on their own faculties and knowledge to respond to situations. From a personal point of view, the definition of self-reliance should take on the present circumstances which the societies are made to face. Today, people could be self-reliant through developing their own faculties and progressing through their careers using their own abilities and their own efforts. The hard-work of the people is an important aspect of self-reliance in today’s world because of the competition from each and every individual for the scarcity of resources and opportunities. Reliance on one’s own self in achieving heights would have to be developed through education, which has within its purpose the honing of faculties throughout the lifetime of individuals. Nonetheless, education would also have to be based on the own efforts of the individual as he/she climbs through the educational ladder. As one progresses and educates the self, one has to take into consideration the need to generate ideas and be critical of the facts presented. The academe actually serves as the training ground where the student hones the skills required in order to present self-generated ideas and facts and stand by these. More so, people should become self-reliant in terms of their relationship with other people. While it is good to listen to criticisms and ideas of other people, one should dare to stand up for their own opinion whether this may be in opposition to what the status quo wants. It could be remembered that change is among the constant things in this world and as people dare to make a change, they also wanted to stand up and be different from what the majority wants. Definitely, there are criticisms that are to be met and arguments from different groups and individuals. This is inevitable for they have their own judgment and perception of the world as they see it that leads to a clash of ideas. Moreover, there are social controls in the society that sometimes inhibit people from becoming self-reliant. These social controls tend to keep people in groups and rely on one another and when one wishes to be self-reliant, an individual should be prepared for the consequences attached to these social controls. Thus, people are able to become self-reliant because of the belief they have in the things they could do and in the knowledge they have. From experience, there is no harm in trying the beliefs enclosed in becoming self-reliant because of the experience it brings and the possible outcome of the action. It will further nourish the character of the person and encourages the people to make their own personal contributions from their own faculties. Thus, in becoming self-reliant, people have to be able to generate ideas of their own through education, stand by these and make good use, and be able to accept the consequences for their actions. Being self-reliant would make an individual capable of living in today’s society with the several challenges posed on being individualistic and relying on one’s own self. Work Cited Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Essays: First and Second Series. Stilwell, KS: Digireads. com Publishing, 2007.

Analysis of Strategic Management at Hotel

Analysis of Strategic Management at Hotel INTRODUCTION Why are some companies successful, while so many other businesses fail? Some organizations may just be lucky. They may have the right mix of products and/or services at the right time. But even if luck leads to success, it probably will not last. Most companies that are highly successful over the long term effectively acquire, develop, and manage resources and capabilities that provide competitive advantages. For example, McDonalds enjoys outstanding brand recognition and a world class operating system. Marriott enjoys these same benefits in the lodging industry. Successful companies have also learned how to develop and manage relationships with a wide range of organizations, groups, and people that have a stake in their firms. The emergence of a fiercely competitive global economy means that firms have to expand their networks of relationships and cooperate with each other to remain competitive. McDonalds investment in Chipotle was a cooperative venture. As Steve Ells, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Chipotle noted, Weve enjoyed our relationship with McDonalds since the beginning and appreciate the support theyve shown in funding Chipotles growth over the last seven years. Still, weve always operated independently, and that wont change as McDonalds Continues to reduce its investment in Chipotle and focuses on its core business. Strategic management is a process through which organizations analyze and learn from their internal and external environments, establish strategic direction, create strategies that are intended to move the organization in that direction, and implement those strategies, all in an effort to satisfy key stakeholders. Stakeholders are groups or individuals who can significantly affect or are significantly affected by an organizations activities. An organization defines who its key stakeholders are, but they typically include customers, employees, and shareholders or owners, among others. Although larger companies tend to use the strategic management process, this process is also a vital part of decision making in smaller companies. Firms practicing strategic planning processes tend to outperform their counterparts that do not. In fact, executives have reported higher levels of satisfaction with strategic management tools and ideas than with most other management tools. Furthermore, 81 percent of companies worldwide reported doing strategic planning. In North America, the figure was even higher (89 percent). Hospitality firms also benefit from strategic planning, as suggested by a recent study of hotels in the United Kingdom, which found that business performance was positively associated with the thoroughness, sophistication, participation, and formality of strategic planning processes. An example of how strategic analysis can help guide business strategy is shown in Starwood Hotels Resorts efforts to launch a new product. This book also recognizes that there is a difference between the strategic planning process and strategic thinking, and that both are a part of effective strategic management. The strategic planning process tends to be a rather rigid and unimaginative process in many organizations. Strategic thinking, however, leads to creative solutions and new ideas like Starwood Hotels launch of the Heavenly Bed. As illustrated in the Heavenly Bed example, a firm that injects strategic thinking into the strategic planning process has the best of both worlds. THE ORIGIN OF STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT The increasing importance of strategic management may be a result of several trends. Increasing competition in most industries has made it difficult for some companies to compete. Modern and cheaper transportation and communication have led to increasing global trade and awareness. Technological development has led to accelerated changes in the global economy. Regardless of the reasons, the past two decades have seen a surge in interest in strategic management. STRATEGIC THINKING AT STARWOOD The Heavenly Bed, first launched by the Westin brand of Starwood Hotels Resorts, has transformed the bed, a basic feature of any hotel room, into a luxurious object of desire, enhancing the revenues of the chain and leaving many hotel operators to follow suit with copycat linens and custom bedding of their own. The strategic process at Starwood began with consumer analysis and product testing. First, Westin commissioned a study involving 600 business executives who travel frequently. The results showed that 84 percent said a luxurious bed would make a hotel room more attractive to them. What is more, 63 percent said a good night s sleep is the most important service a hotel can provide. Half of those surveyed said they sleep worse in hotels than at home. After testing 50 beds from 35 lodging chains, Westin developed its prototype all white Heavenly Bed with a custom designed pillow top mattress, goose down comforters, five pillows, and three crisp sheets ranging in thread count from 180 to 250. Once the product was designed and tested, the fi rm introduced the bed with a carefully planned marketing strategy. USA Today ran a story on the front page of its business section. The same day, 20 pristine white Heavenly Beds lined Wall Street up to the New York Stock Exchange in New York City. Inside the Stock Exchange, Barry Sternlicht, the then Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels Resorts rang the opening bell and threw out hats proclaiming, Work like the devil. Sleep like an angel. Meanwhile, at New York s Grand Central Station, 20 more beds graced one of the rotundas there, and commuters disembarking the trains were invited to try them out. Similar events were staged the same day at 38 locations across the United States, tailored to each city. Savannahs event featured a bed floating on a barge down the river with a landing skydiver. Seattles event took place atop the Space Needle. STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT Traditional Perspective As the field of strategic management began to emerge in the latter part of the 20th century, scholars borrowed heavily from the field of economics. For some time, economists had been actively studying topics associated with the competitiveness of industries. Industry concentration, diversification, product differentiation, and market power. However, much of the economics research at that time focused on industries as a whole, and some of it even assumed that individual firm differences did not matter. Other fields also influenced early strategic management thought, including marketing, finance, psychology, and management. Academic progress was slow in the beginning, and the large consulting firms began to develop their own models and theories to meet their clients needs. Scholars readily adopted many of these models into their own articles and books. Eventually, a consensus began to build regarding what is included in the strategic management process. The traditional process for developing strategy consists of analyzing the internal and external environments of the company to arrive at organizational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). The results from this situation analysis, as this process is sometimes called, are the basis for developing missions, goals, and strategies. In general, a company should select strategies that (1) take advantage of organizational strengths and environmental opportunities or (2) neutralize or overcome organizational weaknesses and environmental threats. 10 After strategies are formulated, plans for implementing them are established and carried out. Figure 1.1 presents the natural  flow of these activities. The first of these ideas was that the environment is the primary determinant of the best strategy. This is called environmental determinism. According to the deterministic view, good management is associated with determining which strategy will best fit environmental, technical, and human forces at a particular point in time, and then working to carry it out. The most successful organization best adapts to existing forces. Some evidence suggests that the ability to align the skills and other resources of the organization with the needs and demands of the environment can be a source of competitive advantage. 12 However, after a critical review of environmental determinism, a well known researcher once argued: There is a more fundamental conclusion to be drawn from the foregoing analysis: the strategy of a firm cannot be predicted, nor is it predestined; the strategic decisions made by managers cannot be assumed to be the product of deterministic forces in their environments. On the contrary, the very nature of the concept of strategy assumes a human agent who is able to take actions that attempt to distinguish one firm from the competitors. Basically, a large firm may decide not to compete in a given environment. Or, as an alternative, the firm may attempt to influence the environment to make it less hostile and more conducive to organizational success. This process is called enactment, which means that a firm can influence its environment. THE PRINCIPLE OF ENACTMENT The principle of enactment assumes that organizations do not have to submit to existing forces in the environment; they can, in part, create their environments through strategic alliances with stakeholders, investments in leading technologies, advertising, political lobbying, and a variety of other activities. 14 Of course, smaller organizations are somewhat limited in their ability to influence some components of their environments on their own. For example, a small restaurant firm may have a difficult time influencing national government agencies and administrators. However, smaller organizations often band together into trade groups, such as the National Restaurant Association, to influence government policy on pressing issues like minimum wage, immigration policy, and health care costs. Also, they may form alliances with other entities. The Global Hotel Alliance is one example, in which Omni Hotels, Kempinski Hotels Resorts, Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts, Rydges Hotels Resorts, Marco Polo Group, Dusit Hotels Resorts and Landis Hotels Resorts have joined forces to compete against the mega chains. In addition, even a small firm may be able to exert a powerful influence on its local operating environment. The key to enactment is understanding that a firm does not necessarily have to adapt completely to the forces that exist in its operating environment. It can at least partly influence certain aspects of the environment in which it competes. DELIBERATE STRATEGY VERSUS EMERGENT STRATEGY The traditional school of thought concerning strategy formulation also supported the view that managers respond to the forces discussed thus far by making decisions that are consistent with a preconceived strategy. In other words, strategy is deliberate. Deliberate strategy implies that managers plan to pursue an intended strategic course. In some cases, however, strategy simply emerges from a stream of decisions. Managers learn as they go. An emergent strategy is one that was not planned or intended. According to this perspective, managers learn what will work through a process of trial and error. 16 Supporters of this view argue that organizations that limit themselves to acting on the basis of what is already known or understood will not be sufficiently innovative to create a sustainable competitive advantage. In the first week of launching the Westin Heavenly Bed, 32 guests called to ask where they could buy the bed. A light bulb went on. Westin executives put order cards with a toll free number in every room. Then they started placing catalogs by bedsides and desks and set up a web site. By June of 2004, Westin had sold 20,000 pillows $ 75 for the king sized version and 3,500 bed/bedding combos, at $ 2,965 each, enough to spread the idea throughout Starwood, with the Sheraton, St. Regis, and W lines all turning into retailers. The unanticipated success of the Heavenly Bed has spawned a new business companies that help hotels run their retail arms. Boxport, a spin off of San Francisco based hotel procurer Higgins Purchasing Group, operates web sites and catalogs for several chains that now sell Bedding of this example of emergent strategy, it is not a good idea to reject deliberate strategy either. One of the strongest advocates of learning and emergent strategy recently confessed, We shall get nowhere without emergent learning alongside deliberate planning.Both processes are necessary if an organization is to succeed. When Starwood first launched the concept of the Heavenly Bed in 1999, the strategy was a deliberate effort, but the opportunity to provide retail sales was an unintended outcome, and this unforeseen opportunity led to an emergent and highly successful retail strategy, as the above example shows. EFFECTIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING In summary, scholars have determined that both adaptation and enactment are important to organizations. They should adapt to environmental forces when the costs of enacting (influencing) the environment exceed the benefits. However, they should be proactive in creating their own opportunities. In addition, organizations should engage in deliberate strategic planning processes, but they should also be willing to make mistakes and learn from them as they chart a strategic course. In other words, strategy should be both deliberate and emergent, and firms should both adapt to and enact their environments, with the situation determining which option to choose. Westin learned these lessons by paying attention to their customers. The Organization as a Bundle of Resources: The Resource Based View In recent years, another perspective on strategy development has gained wide acceptance. The resource based view of the firm has its roots in the work of the earliest strategic management theorists. 20 It grew out of the question, Why do some firms persistently outperform other firms? One of the first competencies identified was general management capability. This led to the proposition that firms with high quality general managers will outperform their rivals. Much research has examined this issue. Clearly, effective leadership is important to organizational performance, but it is diffi cult to specify what makes an effective leader. Also, although leaders are an important source of competence for an organization, they are not the only important resource that makes a difference. Economic thought also influenced development of the resource based view. Nearly two centuries ago, an economist named David Ricardo investigated the advantages of possessing superior resources, especially land. 22 One of Ricardos central propositions was that the farmer with the most fertile land had a sustained performance advantage over other farmers. More recently, another economist, Edith Penrose, expanded on Ricardo s view by noting that various skills and abilities possessed by firms could lead to superior performance. She viewed firms as an administrative framework that coordinated the activities of numerous groups and individuals, and also as a bundle of productive resources. 23 She studied the effects of various skills and abilities possessed by organizations, concluding that a wide range of skills and resources could influence competitive performance. A common thread of reasoning in the distinctive competency literature and the arguments of Ricardo and Penrose is that organizational success can be explained in terms of the resources and capabilities possessed by an organization. Many modern scholars have contributed to this perspective of the firm. According to this view, an organization is a bundle of resources, which fall into the general categories of: Financial resources, including all of the monetary resources from which a firm can draw. Physical resources, such as land, buildings, equipment, locations, and access  to raw materials. Human resources, which pertains to the skills, background, and training of managers and employees, as well as the way they are organized. Organizational knowledge and learning General organizational resources, including the firm s reputation, brand names, patents, contracts, and relationships with external stakeholders. Envisioning the firm as a bundle of resources has broad implications. For example, the most important role of a manager becomes that of acquiring, developing, managing, and discarding resources. Also, much of the research on the resource based perspective has demonstrated that firms can gain competitive advantage through possessing superior resources. Superior resources are those that have value in the market, are possessed by only a small number of firms, and are not easy to substitute. If a particular resource is also costly or impossible to imitate, then  the competitive advantage may be sustainable. A sustainable competitive advantage may lead to higher than average organizational performance over a long period.

Muhammad Ali :: Essays Papers

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali, whose birth name was Cassius Marcellus Clay, was born in Louisville, Kentucky January 17, 1942. He was named for a white, Kentucky abolitionist, Cassius M. Clay, and received the name Marcellus from his father’s name. Ali’s father, Marcellus Clay was a mural painter who did a lot of work for many churches in the community and his mother Odessa (Grady) Clay was a domestic worker. As a young boy, Cassius Clay was full of energy and carried a loud mouth wherever he went. One day when Ali discovered that someone stole his bicycle, he became enraged and made loud threatening comments by exclaiming that he would â€Å"whup whoever stole it.† Upon hearing these threats, Louisville police officer Joe Martin persuaded Ali to take out his frustration in the boxing ring rather than on the dangerous streets of Louisville. At age 12, Ali’s boxing career had officially begun. Martin started Ali working out in Louisville’s Columbia Gym, and Ali became passionately devoted to the sport. With the help of a black trainer named Fred Stoner, who taught Ali the techniques of boxing and to move with the grace of a dancer, Ali became a very skilled and deadly competitor. Between 1955 and 1960, Ali had participated in 108 bouts, in which he won six Kentucky Golden Glove titles, two National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championships, two National Golden Glove crowns, and received the Gold Medal in the light heavyweight division in the 1960 Summer Olympics held in Rome, Italy. Ali was only 18 years old when he won the Olympic Gold Medal by defeating Zbigniew Pietrzykowski, a tough fighter from Poland. Shortly after winning the Gold Medal, Ali started looking for better opportunities by saying, â€Å"that was my last amateur fight, I’m turning pro, but I don’t know exactly how. I want a good contract with a good manager.† Ali felt that he was on top of the world after winning in the Olympics and felt confident that people of the U.S. would be proud of his accomplishment as he brought home the â€Å"Gold†. What Ali would return to find wasn’t anything like he had expected. Once returning to his segregated hometown in Louisville, Ali showed off his Gold Medal to everyone whether they wanted to see it or not. Ali then decided to wear his Medal to downtown Louisville looking for respect and praise as a U.

Soliloquies Essay - The Meaning of Hamlet’s Soliloquy -- GCSE English

The Meaning of Hamlet's Soliloquy  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   "To be or not to be that is the question"   (III.i l 56)  Ã‚   This is one of the most often recited lines in all the works of Shakespeare. However, very few people have any idea of its the true meaning. While the phrase sounds simply intelligent, and philosophical, it is important to explore the meaning it holds in the play. The speech in its entirety reveals that Hamlet is considering his suicide. It is a pondering which is reflective of all the troubles Hamlet has encountered thus far in the play, and what he should do about it. He ponders ending his life, and the nobility of that decision.    "Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer    The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune"    (Shakespeare, III.i l 56)    The slings and arrows Hamlet has encountered have driven him to contemplate suicide. He feels that what is happening is simply too much to endure, so suicide may be a better way of overcoming his troubles than to end them by taking action.    "Or to take arms against a sea of troubles    and by opposing end them."    (III.i l 58)    One of these forces which is driving Hamlet to the edge is the activity of his mother. Just a few days after the funeral of her former husband of supposed one true love, She marries his brother and successor to the throne.    "Thrift, thrift, Horatio. The funeral baked meats    Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables."    (I.ii l 180)    This is considered by Hamlet to be a dishonor to his father, and by Hamlet and the audience of the time to be contemptible, incestuous behavior. He loves his mother a great deal, and wants to protect her from the King. She may be "quick to ... ...Shakespeare. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974. Mack, Maynard. "The World of Hamlet." Yale Review. vol. 41 (1952) p. 502-23. Rpt. in Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Maher, Mary Z.. "An Actor Works at Connecting with His Audience." Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from Modern Hamlets and Their Soliloquies. Iowa City: University of Iowa P., 1992. p.71-72. Rosenberg, Marvin. "Laertes: An Impulsive but Earnest Young Aristocrat." Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Masks of Hamlet. Newark, NJ: Univ. of Delaware P., 1992. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html       Soliloquies Essay - The Meaning of Hamlet’s Soliloquy -- GCSE English The Meaning of Hamlet's Soliloquy  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   "To be or not to be that is the question"   (III.i l 56)  Ã‚   This is one of the most often recited lines in all the works of Shakespeare. However, very few people have any idea of its the true meaning. While the phrase sounds simply intelligent, and philosophical, it is important to explore the meaning it holds in the play. The speech in its entirety reveals that Hamlet is considering his suicide. It is a pondering which is reflective of all the troubles Hamlet has encountered thus far in the play, and what he should do about it. He ponders ending his life, and the nobility of that decision.    "Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer    The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune"    (Shakespeare, III.i l 56)    The slings and arrows Hamlet has encountered have driven him to contemplate suicide. He feels that what is happening is simply too much to endure, so suicide may be a better way of overcoming his troubles than to end them by taking action.    "Or to take arms against a sea of troubles    and by opposing end them."    (III.i l 58)    One of these forces which is driving Hamlet to the edge is the activity of his mother. Just a few days after the funeral of her former husband of supposed one true love, She marries his brother and successor to the throne.    "Thrift, thrift, Horatio. The funeral baked meats    Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables."    (I.ii l 180)    This is considered by Hamlet to be a dishonor to his father, and by Hamlet and the audience of the time to be contemptible, incestuous behavior. He loves his mother a great deal, and wants to protect her from the King. She may be "quick to ... ...Shakespeare. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974. Mack, Maynard. "The World of Hamlet." Yale Review. vol. 41 (1952) p. 502-23. Rpt. in Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Maher, Mary Z.. "An Actor Works at Connecting with His Audience." Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from Modern Hamlets and Their Soliloquies. Iowa City: University of Iowa P., 1992. p.71-72. Rosenberg, Marvin. "Laertes: An Impulsive but Earnest Young Aristocrat." Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Masks of Hamlet. Newark, NJ: Univ. of Delaware P., 1992. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html      

Electronica Essay -- Music Musical History Essays

Electronica Electronica is a term coined to describe a relatively new genre of music. This type of music generally revolves around maniplating music in a digital and analog sense. Over time, as technology has improved, the growth of computers and other electronic musical instruments, such as synthesizers, and drum machines has greatly increased the capabilities of electronica. The very first instances of "electronica" were created by the ancient Greeks, who with their intrinsic ingenuity created machines for this very purpose. In the 2nd century, B.C., the Hydraulis was invented a Greek who was fascinated by pneumatics. He was an expert on the use of hydraulic systems for powering mechanical devices, and his most famous invention, the Hydraulis, used water to regulate the air pressure inside an organ. In this device , a set of pumps forced air into the organ, that was channeled to create sound. Later, mechanical instruments evolved, such as the Greek Aeolian harp, the hurdy-gurdy, and fully mechanical organs. Also by this time, Pythagoras, the famous Greek mathematician, also discovered numerical ratios which corresponded to intervals on the musical scale, or as we know them today, octaves. The modern age of electronica finally started, as great American inventors Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell invent new devices that could transmit and record sounds. In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. To record, an indentation on a moving strip of paraffin coated paper tape was made by means of a diaphragm with an attached needle. This mechanism eventually lead to a continuously grooved, revolving metal cylinder wrapped in tin foil. Then, In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell devised and patented several means for tra... ... made them a target of more conservative groups who believe they have lost the original vision of techno. I cannot disagree more with these groups, since the music that they enjoy is in my opinion, some of the worst NOISE ever created in human history, along with teen angst Punk, and of course, American "Patriotic" Country. The basic premise of electronica was to add a danceable element to music. It has been wildly successful as can be observed by listening to almost any pop artist. In recent times, these kinds of "sugar" pop groups became so popular that eventually there is a negative reaction to all such dance music. But sooner or later a "fun" element will come back into vogue. Bibliography http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Meadow/8887/elect/ http://www.jam2dis.com/j2delectronicadef.htm http://gaga.essortment.com/historyofelect_rdmu.htm

Coldest Winter Ever Summary

Set in the projects of Brooklyn, New York, The Coldest Winter Ever is the story of Winter Santiaga (aptly named because she was born during one of New York's worst snowstorms), the rebellious, pampered teenage daughter of a notorious drug dealer. Ricky Santiaga, Winter's father, has attained substantial wealth through his illegal drug empire and lavishes his wife, Winter, and Winter's three younger sisters, Porsche, Lexus, and Mercedes, with the best things money can (and cannot) buy. Unknown to her father, Winter uses her hustling tricks to get whatever she wants. Winter's world is turned upside down on her 16th birthday, when her father suddenly decides to relocate his family and his growing business to Long Island, but she is determined not to sever ties with the old neighborhood. Her life spirals downward when her mother is shot in the face by foes of her father. Shortly afterward, the FBI arrives at the Santiaga mansion while Winter is at a party, seizes the family's possessions, and sends the drug lord to prison. At this juncture, Winter's sisters are placed in child custody, rather than in their unemployed mother's custody. Winter escapes by pretending to not be her parents’ daughter. Winter stays with a man just for his money for a while, but when his girlfriend comes back, Winter goes to live with an aunt. While with the Aunt, Winter's location is revealed, and she is turned over to the Bureau of Child Welfare. Winter's location was probably divulged by Natalie, a former friend of Winter's, who suspected that Winter was trying to date her boyfriend. While visiting her father in jail, she finds out that he had an infant son and was cheating on her mother, which tears her apart. Also, her father murdered someone while in jail. After being taken out of her aunt’s home, Winter starts living at the House of Success, a group home for teenage girls. Her new surroundings do not stop her from hustling: she makes money by selling clothes and cigarettes to her housemates, and she does their hair. Winter obtains the goods she sells from her friend Simone, who is a booster who steals designer clothes for her. Winter continues making money this way until Simone is arrested. Winter does not bail out now-pregnant Simone, but Simone gets out another way. Upon her release, Simone gathers some friends to wait so that they can beat up Winter. Winter escapes the beating by running and never returns. Then Simone falls and has a miscarriage. Rashida, one of Winter's House of Success housemates, thinks that Winter needs help and persuades her to go to a friend's house. Winter doesn't know that the friend is Sister Souljah, whom Winter boldly stated she never liked in the book's introduction. Under Souljah's tutelage, Winter volunteers at a benefit for people with HIV/AIDS, but Winter still does whatever she can to get money. Winter steals money from the AIDS benefit and rushes home to pack. Suspicious of Winter leaving, Lauren, Souljah's sister, switches the bag into which Winter has put her prized belongings. Winter takes a cab to a New Jersey hotel, and realizes that she has no money, no jewels, and no protection. Winter hooks up with an old boyfriend named Bullet, who has money. She finds out that she is pregnant with the baby of a man who tricked her into believing he was hip-hop MC GS. Months later, Winter's world crashes again when she is attacked in a car by Simone. A crowd gathers to watch the fight, and Winter loses focus when she sees Bullet cause the crowd to disperse by waving a gun in the air. Once Winter looks away, Simone slashes her across the face with a broken bottle. Winter is led back to the car by Bullet and, shortly afterward, the police arrive. Bullet leaves Winter, who gets a mandatory 15-year prison sentence for transporting drugs in his rental car. Soon, her old friends Natalie and Simone join her in prison, and her younger sister eventually becomes just like her. The ending surprises: after her father was jailed, Winter talked about being let out of prison to attend her mother’s funeral.

Analysis of variance

The green moss bio-insecticide was extracted by means of pounding and squeezing. The insecticide was tested by the researcher by applying it to 10 eremites in three trials with three different concentration. The first setup was applied with the 100% moss extract, the second setup with the 50%, the third setup with the 25% concentration gradient of the moss extract. The last setup was applied with commercialese insecticide.With the given results that were computed from the gathered data, the researcher conclude that the alternative hypothesis, which states that the green moss extract would be an effective bio-insecticide on dry wood termites versus the commercialese insecticide by means of their mortality, is accepted the reason given that the F value is higher than the degrees of freedom. If the green moss extract, compared to commercialese insecticide, would be an effective insecticide against drowsy termites.Termite, common name for numerous species of social insects that can damag e wooden structures, such as furniture or houses, or other materials containing cellulose while other species obtain a special fluid secreted by beetles. Control is obtained also by using wood treated with creosote or some other poisonous chemical. Because most worker termites cannot vive without moisture, the territories should be exposed to dry air.Insecticides induced to termites are of the following: The soil where a structure is standing would be treated with an insecticide to discourage termite incursions; wooden parts of a structure would be treated with creosote or some other poisonous chemical for control thus making the termites live outside the wood but the workers cannot live without moisture, thus being exposed to dry air. Commercialese insecticides are very harmful not only for the common health of the insects but also for humans and the environment.Unstable chemicals that kill other lives will most potentially kill others. In conclusion, commercialese insecticides whi ch contains harmful chemicals are widely ranged in the country but must not be thus having the study. Moss is used in this study as an insecticide to drowsy termites due to the Bryophytes isolated location; moist, wet, and out of reach. Green moss is not contacted by termites, thus the idea of making idea of making the Bryophyte to be an insecticide.General Statement of the Problem The problems of the research are the following: The possibility of the green moss extract to be a potential insecticide to drowsy termites; the comparison of the green moss extract as an insecticide and the commercialese insecticide to its effectiveness over drowsy termites. Specific Questions 1 . L's there a significant difference between the different proportions of the green moss extract and commercialese insecticide in terms of killing termites? . Will there be a high mortality rate on the termites when the green moss extract is used. Statement of the Hypotheses The null hypothesis of this study is th at the Green moss extract would not be an effective insecticide over drowsy termites versus the commercialese insecticide by means of mortality while its alternative hypothesis is that the Green moss extract would be an effective insecticide on droopy termites versus the commercialese insecticide by means of mortality.Significance of the Study The aim of the study is to use the abundance of green moss extract in the research's location for use as a alternative for a insecticide over commercialese products due to its chemical value. And also, to find what substance does the green moss extract notation which has insecticidal properties over the termites, if ever. Most Filipino families will benefit from the study due to its abundance in any place which is damp; virtually, everywhere. It may also be mass produced and may be a source of income to the Philippines; export to other countries.Scope and Limitation The study will be dealing with the production of the bio-insecticide made out of the pure extract gathered from the green moss given the reason of the countless chemicals found in the commercialese insecticide and that the bio-insecticide is to Essen the usage of it by proving that the product has better mortality rate over pests, in this case, drowsy termites. The study will be limited on what type of tests shall the green moss extract bio-insecticide undergo. The study is also limited on using just the green moss as the resource for the study.Definition of Terms Bryophyte – a botanical division (phylum) of small, soft plants. Drowsy termites – creates colonies in wood, with no connection to the ground necessary. Green moss – A plant which may grow in all types of climate and grow on a variety of substrates. Insecticide- a chemical used against insects. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE The potentiality of Nonage bark extract as an insecticide was conducted by Sheer Ann Alarming, Erectile Guessers, and Shannon Mayo through Photochemical Analy sis and Screen-House Experiment.For the Screen-House Experiment, four nonsectarian were constructed with them applied Treatment A (pure extract), B (extract with essential oil), C (Bacon), and D (Raid). Mortality rate and effectiveness of the extract were observed for two minutes y the researchers and the results were subjected to One-way Analysis of Variance (NOVA). As a result, in terms of the treatments effectively on mosquitoes, the pure extract is the most effective. On the other hand, Treatments A, C and D were effective against termites' and cockroaches.The researchers had bought to a conclusion that Nonage Bark Extract is effective and could be tapped as an alternative bio-insecticide in eliminating insects. In another research, by Amman Bengal, tackling on the Insecticidal effect of Thebe on common house mosquitoes, he stated that developers have had discovered that thebe oil contains insecticidal qualities as well although no toxicity as been reported present. He then made an experiment by introducing the concoction to twenty(20) common house mosquitoes to test the effectively of it and was then observed for twenty(20) minutes.The results brought the researcher to the conclusion that thebe contains an insecticidal effect on mosquitoes. Lastly, the researchers Gaylord and Clement had pondered over the effectiveness of cassava extract insecticide against termites and how it could be a substitute for the commercialese insecticides. The extract was then gathered and applied to twenty(20) termites inside a beaker; sprayed twice. After several trials and times measured, they used T-test to tabulate the data of the Cassava extract against the commercialese insecticide.They then concluded that the two have no significant difference and that the Cassava extract is effective and may be a substitute for the commercialese insecticide. METHODOLOGY Location of the Study The study was conducted inside the vicinity of the researcher's school, Calm City Science High School. The moss was gathered from Callahan, Laguna. Data Gathering Process The data was gathered after the application of the 100%, 50%, and 25% gradient incineration of the green moss extract, and the commercialese insecticide to the drowsy termites.The researcher had observed if there was a significant difference between the four (4) substances to the mortality rate of the drowsy termites. Statistical Analysis The data gathering technique to be used in the study by the researcher is the One-way analysis of variance that it may be used to two or more samples, by using the F-test, and must be numerical data. Since the samples are independent, they have equal variances, and that the insecticides are virtually distributed by the same assure, the study is applicable for a One-way NOVA.Instruments The researcher used the following materials to make the bio-insecticide made out of green moss extract. The raw materials that were used to create the product was green moss and water (for th e concentration of the extract). The other instruments used were mortar and pestle, to pulverize the moss and get the extract easier; beaker, as both a container and measurement tool for both the extract and commercialese insecticide; filter paper, in order not to get impurities to the extract; terrorized containers as where the drowsy termites would be put to; and sprayer for the distribution of the extract.A stopwatch will be used to measure the duration of the mortality of the drowsy termites. Procedure The researcher would first collect the materials for the experiment going with: 500 grams of moss; a beaker; a stirring rod; mortar and pestle; filter paper; patisseries; commercialese insecticide. The researcher would then be extracting the moss using the mortar and pestle and then be contained on a beaker through filter paper and funnel. After a short hill, the extract and the commercialese insecticide will then be applied to 3 set- ups each and having the extract decreased from 100% concentration to 50% and then to 25%.The results will then be gathered and tabulated after twenty(20) minutes using the â€Å"One-way analysis of variance† or the â€Å"One-way NOVA†. Summary and Conclusion This study was conducted to develop a bio-insecticide made out of green moss extract that may kill drowsy termites. The data was gathered by applying the different concentration of the green moss extract which was 100%, 50%, and 25%, including the commercialese insecticide to three (3) trials each containing ten (10) drowsy termites.With the given results that were computed from the gathered data, the researcher conclude that the alternative hypothesis, which states that the green moss extract would be an effective bio-insecticide on dry wood termites versus the commercialese insecticide by means of their mortality, is accepted the reason given that the F value is higher than the degrees of freedom thus stating that the alternative hypothesis is accepted. In a ddition, the researcher has tested and concluded that the extraneous arable of the moss extract to be acidic and that may have affected the termites' mortality is faulty.The green moss extract has a level of 8 pH which concludes that it is a basic substance and not an acidic substance. Recommendation The researcher recommends finding what exact content that the green moss extract has that had killed the drowsy termites. He recommends that when the specific content of the green moss extract that has a pesticides effect is found, use another type of moss. The researcher also recommends using the same type of moss but in another location having the reason of different nutrition of the moss. Analysis of variance The green moss bio-insecticide was extracted by means of pounding and squeezing. The insecticide was tested by the researcher by applying it to 10 eremites in three trials with three different concentration. The first setup was applied with the 100% moss extract, the second setup with the 50%, the third setup with the 25% concentration gradient of the moss extract. The last setup was applied with commercialese insecticide.With the given results that were computed from the gathered data, the researcher conclude that the alternative hypothesis, which states that the green moss extract would be an effective bio-insecticide on dry wood termites versus the commercialese insecticide by means of their mortality, is accepted the reason given that the F value is higher than the degrees of freedom. If the green moss extract, compared to commercialese insecticide, would be an effective insecticide against drowsy termites.Termite, common name for numerous species of social insects that can damag e wooden structures, such as furniture or houses, or other materials containing cellulose while other species obtain a special fluid secreted by beetles. Control is obtained also by using wood treated with creosote or some other poisonous chemical. Because most worker termites cannot vive without moisture, the territories should be exposed to dry air.Insecticides induced to termites are of the following: The soil where a structure is standing would be treated with an insecticide to discourage termite incursions; wooden parts of a structure would be treated with creosote or some other poisonous chemical for control thus making the termites live outside the wood but the workers cannot live without moisture, thus being exposed to dry air. Commercialese insecticides are very harmful not only for the common health of the insects but also for humans and the environment.Unstable chemicals that kill other lives will most potentially kill others. In conclusion, commercialese insecticides whi ch contains harmful chemicals are widely ranged in the country but must not be thus having the study. Moss is used in this study as an insecticide to drowsy termites due to the Bryophytes isolated location; moist, wet, and out of reach. Green moss is not contacted by termites, thus the idea of making idea of making the Bryophyte to be an insecticide.General Statement of the Problem The problems of the research are the following: The possibility of the green moss extract to be a potential insecticide to drowsy termites; the comparison of the green moss extract as an insecticide and the commercialese insecticide to its effectiveness over drowsy termites. Specific Questions 1 . L's there a significant difference between the different proportions of the green moss extract and commercialese insecticide in terms of killing termites? . Will there be a high mortality rate on the termites when the green moss extract is used. Statement of the Hypotheses The null hypothesis of this study is th at the Green moss extract would not be an effective insecticide over drowsy termites versus the commercialese insecticide by means of mortality while its alternative hypothesis is that the Green moss extract would be an effective insecticide on droopy termites versus the commercialese insecticide by means of mortality.Significance of the Study The aim of the study is to use the abundance of green moss extract in the research's location for use as a alternative for a insecticide over commercialese products due to its chemical value. And also, to find what substance does the green moss extract notation which has insecticidal properties over the termites, if ever. Most Filipino families will benefit from the study due to its abundance in any place which is damp; virtually, everywhere. It may also be mass produced and may be a source of income to the Philippines; export to other countries.Scope and Limitation The study will be dealing with the production of the bio-insecticide made out of the pure extract gathered from the green moss given the reason of the countless chemicals found in the commercialese insecticide and that the bio-insecticide is to Essen the usage of it by proving that the product has better mortality rate over pests, in this case, drowsy termites. The study will be limited on what type of tests shall the green moss extract bio-insecticide undergo. The study is also limited on using just the green moss as the resource for the study.Definition of Terms Bryophyte – a botanical division (phylum) of small, soft plants. Drowsy termites – creates colonies in wood, with no connection to the ground necessary. Green moss – A plant which may grow in all types of climate and grow on a variety of substrates. Insecticide- a chemical used against insects. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE The potentiality of Nonage bark extract as an insecticide was conducted by Sheer Ann Alarming, Erectile Guessers, and Shannon Mayo through Photochemical Analy sis and Screen-House Experiment.For the Screen-House Experiment, four nonsectarian were constructed with them applied Treatment A (pure extract), B (extract with essential oil), C (Bacon), and D (Raid). Mortality rate and effectiveness of the extract were observed for two minutes y the researchers and the results were subjected to One-way Analysis of Variance (NOVA). As a result, in terms of the treatments effectively on mosquitoes, the pure extract is the most effective. On the other hand, Treatments A, C and D were effective against termites' and cockroaches.The researchers had bought to a conclusion that Nonage Bark Extract is effective and could be tapped as an alternative bio-insecticide in eliminating insects. In another research, by Amman Bengal, tackling on the Insecticidal effect of Thebe on common house mosquitoes, he stated that developers have had discovered that thebe oil contains insecticidal qualities as well although no toxicity as been reported present. He then made an experiment by introducing the concoction to twenty(20) common house mosquitoes to test the effectively of it and was then observed for twenty(20) minutes.The results brought the researcher to the conclusion that thebe contains an insecticidal effect on mosquitoes. Lastly, the researchers Gaylord and Clement had pondered over the effectiveness of cassava extract insecticide against termites and how it could be a substitute for the commercialese insecticides. The extract was then gathered and applied to twenty(20) termites inside a beaker; sprayed twice. After several trials and times measured, they used T-test to tabulate the data of the Cassava extract against the commercialese insecticide.They then concluded that the two have no significant difference and that the Cassava extract is effective and may be a substitute for the commercialese insecticide. METHODOLOGY Location of the Study The study was conducted inside the vicinity of the researcher's school, Calm City Science High School. The moss was gathered from Callahan, Laguna. Data Gathering Process The data was gathered after the application of the 100%, 50%, and 25% gradient incineration of the green moss extract, and the commercialese insecticide to the drowsy termites.The researcher had observed if there was a significant difference between the four (4) substances to the mortality rate of the drowsy termites. Statistical Analysis The data gathering technique to be used in the study by the researcher is the One-way analysis of variance that it may be used to two or more samples, by using the F-test, and must be numerical data. Since the samples are independent, they have equal variances, and that the insecticides are virtually distributed by the same assure, the study is applicable for a One-way NOVA.Instruments The researcher used the following materials to make the bio-insecticide made out of green moss extract. The raw materials that were used to create the product was green moss and water (for th e concentration of the extract). The other instruments used were mortar and pestle, to pulverize the moss and get the extract easier; beaker, as both a container and measurement tool for both the extract and commercialese insecticide; filter paper, in order not to get impurities to the extract; terrorized containers as where the drowsy termites would be put to; and sprayer for the distribution of the extract.A stopwatch will be used to measure the duration of the mortality of the drowsy termites. Procedure The researcher would first collect the materials for the experiment going with: 500 grams of moss; a beaker; a stirring rod; mortar and pestle; filter paper; patisseries; commercialese insecticide. The researcher would then be extracting the moss using the mortar and pestle and then be contained on a beaker through filter paper and funnel. After a short hill, the extract and the commercialese insecticide will then be applied to 3 set- ups each and having the extract decreased from 100% concentration to 50% and then to 25%.The results will then be gathered and tabulated after twenty(20) minutes using the â€Å"One-way analysis of variance† or the â€Å"One-way NOVA†. Summary and Conclusion This study was conducted to develop a bio-insecticide made out of green moss extract that may kill drowsy termites. The data was gathered by applying the different concentration of the green moss extract which was 100%, 50%, and 25%, including the commercialese insecticide to three (3) trials each containing ten (10) drowsy termites.With the given results that were computed from the gathered data, the researcher conclude that the alternative hypothesis, which states that the green moss extract would be an effective bio-insecticide on dry wood termites versus the commercialese insecticide by means of their mortality, is accepted the reason given that the F value is higher than the degrees of freedom thus stating that the alternative hypothesis is accepted. In a ddition, the researcher has tested and concluded that the extraneous arable of the moss extract to be acidic and that may have affected the termites' mortality is faulty.The green moss extract has a level of 8 pH which concludes that it is a basic substance and not an acidic substance. Recommendation The researcher recommends finding what exact content that the green moss extract has that had killed the drowsy termites. He recommends that when the specific content of the green moss extract that has a pesticides effect is found, use another type of moss. The researcher also recommends using the same type of moss but in another location having the reason of different nutrition of the moss.

Deadly Feasts

Erica Dunyon Directed Readings Deadly Feasts by Richard Rhodes I have to admit, on the opening scene I was really skeptical about reading this book. I really have always hated the idea of cannibalism, so when I was reading and imagining this, in my mind one word came to my attention, â€Å"Disgusting! † Progression into the book, however, received my attention, and I continued forward. I enjoyed reading this book. It was very informative, easy to understand, and easy to read. I learned about various prion diseases and their effect on each species they infect.Deadly Feasts is about spongiform encephalopathies including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Scrapies, Rida, Kuru, and mad cow disease. This book explains the relationships each spongiform disease has in common with each other, as well as their signs and symptoms. Mad cow disease and scrapies are quite similar to each other, and was endemic in Britain when this book was published. Another rare disease occurring in humans known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease has then been related to mad cow disease. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is one in which eats human brains. Kuru is thought to be another spongiform disease.Kuru was thought to be a result of sorcery. Initially when this disease was discovered, the belief was leaning toward this disease taking on a genetically transmissible role. After much research, it is known that it is a transmissible disease spread by the consumption of infected flesh. The extremely unusual thing about kuru, along with other spongiform encephalopathies, is that it lacks the presence of inflammation. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are also known as prion diseases. The infectious microbe in TSEs is a specific protein called prion protein.These prion proteins and proteins of the brain are extremely similar. This may be the reason these proteins are not detected by the immune system which is why they do not cause inflammation. These diseases are unique because they are impo ssible to kill. They have been exposed to virtually everything including, extreme temperatures and radiation, and still have the ability to infect and cause disease. Gajdusek believed that transmission of these spongiform encephalopathies was in the form of protein in diseased dead animals, including sheep and cattle that were fed to other cattle.Rhodes refers to a concept known as industrial cannibalism. This means that the supplements were made from dead cows. Despite the fact that cattle were coming down with a disease that decreases the cow population, supplements were still made with the remaining’s of diseased cattle and fed to other cattle. Transmission of this disease can occur months or even up to decades because the disease can incubate for the allotted time. Britain was responsible for the initiation of research in this epidemic group of diseases. Britain did not inform the public in regards to this disease.They also bought diseased animals for half of the market v alue. The British government banned individuals from feeding animal waste to other animals, in 1989 to limit the spread of these diseases. In addition to limitting the transmission of these diseases, as a safety measure, the FDA prevented industries from feeding cattle protein from dead sheep, cattle, and other susceptible diseased animals. Europe still has increasing cases of the disease, which it infects many various herds and species of animals, supporting that the epidemic disease is able to spread across the species barrier The British government, by making the wrong public health choices, has conducted a frightening natural experiment, allowing a lethal disease agent to spread through the human food supply, exposing the entire British population. † (Rhodes 97) America is trying to prevent the spread of spongiform disease transmission from Britain to the U. S. by manufacturing our own beef and meat products. Unfortunately, it would not be known if the disease has affected our population until it is a point when it might be too late. TSE’s are essentially unidentifiable until they progress to the point of brain damage. † (Rhodes 97) Spongiform diseases are still a known problem in the world, and the protection we give ourselves, or lack of protection is an issue brought up by Rhodes. Rhodes refers that spongiform diseases might be Britain's †new Black Death. † He states that the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are public health problems and not only clinical. Transmission is controlled by actions of both social and institutional aspects.The term the â€Å"new Black Death† refers to the ease of the transmission of the disease. If the plan for eradication is not carefully planned and executed, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies can be a serious epidemically known disease that can cause many deaths. In conclusion, I recommend Deadly Feasts to all individuals, not necessarily limited to only those interest ed in microbiology. This book gives insight on a former, and always possible, group of diseases that can become epidemic at any time. I believe knowledge is power, so knowing about these diseases only contributes to public safety.

Film Review 12 Years a Slave Essay

Based on a true story, 12 Years a Slave depicts the journey of a free black man in the 1840s that is kidnapped and sold into southern slavery. Aside from the captivating story and tremendous acting, the historical accuracy of slavery during this time is gut retching. The director, Steve McQueen, does a remarkable job executing the transition of Solomon Northup’s autobiography into a live action film, but what makes this movie so captivating? What about the film makes the audience establish a new perspective on America’s dark past? The following analysis will provide some insight to the film and the story and explore why this movie will not only leave you in tears, but cause you to have a new found respect for people that endured a life of slavery. Before I jump into the meat of the discussion and share my thoughts it is important to begin with a clear understanding of the film’s story. In the opening scene we are introduced to Solomon Northup as a slave. The film continues with a series of flashbacks between his present slave life and his previous life as a free man. For the sake of clarity I will summarize the film in historical order. Solomon Northup, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, grew up as a freeman in upstate New York. His skills consisted of reading and writing, and he was also a very talented violinist. Solomon was a well-respected man among his community and was just like another other family man. Wife to Anne Hampton and father of two, Margaret and Alonzo; Solomon had the life most slaves would never experience. One day Solomon runs into two men who offer him a job opportunity to which he accepts. He tells his family goodbye and believes he is on the road to his new job. Instead they drug Solomon, and sell him to the slave trade. Confused and shocked, Solomon is thrust into the horrors and cruelty of the slave trade. Claiming he was a freeman was not enough to spare his freedom. From the moment he was captured to the scene where he was sold, the film captures the cruel reality of the slave trade and the treatment of people of color. Aside from his journey the film does a great service to exposing the harsh selling methods showing how families were separated; they were put on  display, nude, for a potential buyer to see. The whole process is quite disgusting. Solomon is purchased by Master Ford of a sugar cane planation. Solomon was highly advised against relieving his knowledge and literacy to the white men, but went against this when he revealed himself to his master. Ford was kind hearted and became fond of Solomon, making Ford’s other white overseers angry. They set out to kill Solomon after a few heated encounters, which lead to a good 2-3 minute scene of Solomon dangling from a noose with his toes scraping touching the ground. Close to death, other slaves go about their day in the background as he struggles to breathe. Master Ford saves Solomon just in time but has to sell him off because he has caused him too much trouble and had to settle his debt. Solomon is sold to Master Epps of a cotton plantation. Here is where Solomon endures the most cruelty and sees how devastating life as a slave truly is. He meets Patsey, a young black woman who is admired by Master Epps. His infatuation with her becomes dangerous when Epps’ wife becomes suspicious. Patsey, not wanting anything to do with Epps, plays along to keep her life. Her rape and whip scene are honestly one of the hardest thing to watch. After years of hell on the plantation, a Canadian contractor is hired to work on the planation. Solomon finds trust in the man and seeks help through him. Not long after the contactor leaves, help finds its way to Solomon in the form of an old friend, Mr. Parker, who proves he is a freedman and rescues Solomon from slavery and returns him home to his family after 12 years. Now with a general idea of the plot we can dive deeper into the material. The reason why this film will strike you different from most is because it is all true. It is a harsh reality that most people in society do not like to face. Most Americans have a preconceived idea about slavery because of intermediate and high school history classes. Yes, we have all heard the lecture that slavery was disgusting and a dark time in America’s history, but no matter how in depth your instructor was no one could prepare you for  physically seeing those disgusting events. The film not only captured the struggle that was this man’s life, but also demonstrated what other slaves suffered through as well. Seeing the treatment of these human beings really rallies you up, makes you really hate the society of that time. Seeing people being treated as dogs, no, worse than dogs, objects, boils my blood. Actually seeing everything take place makes it that much more real. People did not realize that pain and suffering slavery caused in our nation, at least not until this film. The acting portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong as Patsey, was outstanding. I truly believed their emotion and character. Ejiofor’s best scene is when he is finally reunited with his family. You can see the buildup of overwhelming relief and happiness in his eyes and face. It was pure emotion. That emotion is what really helps captivate the audience. It gets the viewers to feel along with the characters, establishing a bond between the audience and the character. When you create such a deep bond with your viewers, you create compassion and self-awareness. This provokes those preconceived notions of the ideas of slavery and causes viwers to be more respectful to those who have suffered and for people who are still being oppressed today.

Fear and Loathing on MySpace.com Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Fear and Loathing on MySpace.com - Essay Example But who is she hanging out with And who is lurking online in the shadows of MySpace leering at the profiles of these vulnerable tweens While some have hailed MySpace as the greatest social experiment of the century, others have called it a Sears and Roebuck catalogue for pedophiles. Social networking has forever altered the modern childhood relationship. This revolution has left our youngest children, ages 8-13, open to the threat of exploitation and for these kids MySpace is a dangerous space to be in. The greatest threat to these children who visit MySpace is the potential to be sexually solicited. A study conducted at the University of New Hampshire found that 1 in 5 children who have been online on a social network have experienced sexual solicitation (Mitchell, Finkelhor, and Wolak 3012). With the number of younger children creating a profile on MySpace skyrocketing1 this means millions of children are being exposed to this danger. As younger and younger children begin to logon and socialize, we put an age group at risk that are the least able to handle these abusive situations. Though MySpace requests that all users must be age 14 or older, younger and younger children are going online. ... Still, the children at risk get younger. A New Jersey Principal became concerned when "one of her 10-year-old students got an inappropriate message from "someone clearly an adult" ('"MySpace' Cadets"). This was on a school computer with close supervision. Younger children are able to deceive the registration process and could end up being molested or worse. The fact is that MySpace does not verify age and there is no way they can. The BBC reported in March 2006 that two men were arrested in the US over sex charges after they allegedly used MySpace to illegally contact their victims ("MySpace Tightens Age Restrictions"). One girl was just 11 years old. Though MySpace has made a token effort to tighten their age restrictions, they are well aware of the loopholes in security. They have even begun to warn teenagers of the danger. Recently, "the site introduced adverts warning teenagers about the dangers of sexual predators on the web" and the BBC contends that, "At the moment, MySpace has no way of verifying the age of users" ("MySpace Tightens Age Restrictions."). Currently there is not way to prevent an 8-year-old from registering as an 18-year-old. How easy is it for someone to pretend to be a different age or gender on MySpace According to computer security expert Richard Carlotti, anyone can do it. He says that MySpace currently uses the honor system and uses the information you supply it. He warns people that MySpace can never be safe for young children. He says, "If it is designed to be used by teen-agers, the security needs to be geared toward them, which means anyone with a 13 year old mind can subvert the system". The only way to increase the security is use biometric identification systems2 that are simply too expensive and

Leadership and management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Leadership and management - Assignment Example The leadership skills within the organization was very poor which resulted in arise of various issues. There have been various changes taking place in the HR Management as well as the learning and development functions in the HR Department. As the Learning and development manager of the Hospital Trust, I have been asked to prepare a draft report for the HR Director. The report would reflect the changes that have been proposed followed by the impact of the existing culture, hierarchical structure and power of the doctors on the proposed changes. A set of recommendations would also be provided in order to reduce the impact of the above mentioned factors on the proposed changes. ... Moreover the leadership skill in the top management level was poor. Proposed Changes The new CEO of the trust has decided to start a process of radical transformation which would make the trust outward looking by means of high levels of employee engagement and external and internal customer service. The streamlining of the Human Resource management & Development is taking place by using various assessment centres in order to determine the suitability of these new roles within the organization. This required recruitment of new staffs because the existing managers failed to get back their positions in the downsized trust. The HR Department of the Trust was also organized with eight HR professionals among whom four were new in the Trust. The Hr Director was expecting that this time they could provide quality service to the external organizations as well as the internal customers. The learning & development programs within the organization were also being changed. Impact of the Hierarchi cal Structure on the Proposed Change Process The hospital trust has bureaucratic hierarchy which resulted in the poor management process within the organization. According to Ashkanasy, Wilderom and Peterson (2011) the bureaucratic hierarchy has discouraged the innovation and creativity within the organization. Under bureaucratic hierarchy, the Trust faced rigid controls. In such case it is very likely that the organization will find it difficult in adapting to the change process taking place. Thus it will provide resistance to the change process and can make the process slow and time consuming. This would de-motivate the employees and provide stronger resistance to the change. Impact of the present culture on the Proposed Change Process The culture of