Saturday, August 31, 2019

Comparative Paper on the Princess Bride and Copper Sun Essay

Even though the two heros in Princess Bride and Copper Sun have many similarities, they also have an abundance of differences. Amari is the protagonist of the book Copper Sun, which talks about her life as an abused slave. Wesley is the lead character of the movie Princess Bride; in the movie, he leaves his beloved Buttercup to make enough money to support them and has to come save her when she is about to marry Humperdinck, the prince and the man she does not love. These two stories may seem completely different but they have more in common than what meets the eye. Both Amari and Wesley survive their quests with determination and they fight for what they believe is important. A good example of when Amari shows determination is when she comes upon a river that lies between her and freedom, â€Å"We come too far to stop now† (Draper 84%). She is so close to her goal she is unwilling to stop now just like when Wesley is on the verge of death and he still forces himself to get up and fight for Buttercup, â€Å"I told you I would always come for you† (The Princess Bride). However, they have multiple differences, one of which is how Amari is not afraid to show emotion and Wesley’s emotion is in absence when he is the Man in Black. Both protagonists are very comfortable and secure in their hometowns, but they are both briskly ripped away from their comfort zone when they are obligated to start their quests. Amari lives in a relatively poor area of Africa and Westley lives on a farm in his medieval universe. These courageous heroes must find their way through a dangerous quest; their journeys have similarities and differences but the importance is what compels them to complete their quest. Amari and Westley’s heart and soul was shaped by this quest. The scars left behind by the quest will not heal and the memories will be burning in the back of their minds forever. Both of these strong willed characters went through impossibly difficult conditions and tests to accomplish their goal. Just in the beginning of the story, Amari has endured a gr eat deal of pain; she has been stripped from her village and family and the white men have treated her horribly, â€Å"This day she wanted to die† (Draper 2%). Another example is when Amari is reminded of her past and all she has left in her is shame this proves that not only has she gone through horrible memories but all that will never be forgotten. Wesley has started this quest with his own choice. Amari was taken abruptly and unlike Wesley. In conclusion they had their own reasons to start their incredible journeys. Risking your life just to find the lost is not something you do without motivation. Both of these exciting heroes have found themselves in the need to find either their lost true love or their perished freedom. Throughout these intriguing stories both Amari and Wesley have fought for what they thought deserved a battle. Wesley has swung his sword and punched his enemies and now he has finally came to the point where he has found Buttercup, â€Å"I told you I would always come for you† (The Princess Bride). Wesley is reassuring buttercup that no matter the risks he will always come, fight for her and that she is his mo tivation to put his life on the line. â€Å"You know, certain people are chosen to survive. I don’t know why, but you are one of those who must remember the past and tell those yet unborn. You must live† (Draper 13%). Motivation is the force that pushes and pushes the characters to continue with strength and this force is prominent in both Amari and Wesley. These quests have a rope slowly burning but finally the rope has come to an end and all that is left are the ashes. In the burning village that Amari used to call home, she had friends and family but once she was left to live and serve at the Derby farm she thought a friendship would never be something she could achieve. After a long time spent at the Derby farm, Amari and Polly have now realized that their lives are stringed together from then on. This came to a shock as Polly and Amari try to hide the fact that Mrs. Derby has had an affair with a slave situated at the farm as well, â€Å"She realized then how deeply her life was entangle with those of the slaves she had once so despised† (Draper 51% ). Polly has been with Amari through one of the worst and unpleasant journeys a character could have gone through, Polly no longer judges Amari by her skin nor does Polly think of slaves as filthy animals. Wesley has always had Buttercup’s love and even after his quest he still has her love, compared to Amari that no longer has Besa or his love. Wesley is trying to explain to Buttercup that their love is unbreakable, â€Å"Do you think this happens every day† (The Princess Bride). Amari had once eternal love but all was stripped away from her with every slash of the whip and every unbearable night spent with disgusting men. Many dangers and obstacles have been in the characters paths but now they survive with all that is left, the effects, results and memories. If the lost had never been misplaced then there would be no found or any quests. A quest starts with a loss of any sort, in this particular case it was freedom and love. Amari was just the matchstick that started the fire from within Polly and that lead to the roads made of gold in Fort Mose. Wesley just had to find Buttercup to keep his fire going. However, they all went through inexplicable danger and horror but all this just started as a quest to find what they thought was needed. Works Cited Draper, Sharon M. Copper Sun. Illus. Sonia Chaghatzbanian. First Simon Pulse Edition January 2008 ed. New York: Simon Pulse, 2008. Kindle File. Hobbs, Will. Crossing the Wire. Illus. Vince Natale and Hilary Zarycky. New York: HarperCollins e-books, 2009. Kindle File.

Child Abuse and Neglect Essay

Almost one in every hundred children gets abused in the United States, and it happens every day. Child abuse is when a child is physically, sexually, emotionally, and mentally abused. Sexual exploitation, neglect, abandonment, and maltreatment are also forms of abuse. Physical abuse includes but not limited to, throwing kicking, burning, or cutting a child. Striking them with a closed fist; shaking them when they are under the age of three, interfering with their breathing, threatening them with a deadly weapon, or doing any other act that is likely to give the child bodily harm and other minor to major injuries to their health, welfare, and safety. Sexual abuse is committing or allowing to be committed to any sexual offense against a child as defined in the criminal code and sexual exploitations when a child is prostituted, being filming in pornographic acts, or being a part of a live action of pornographic acts. Neglect and maltreatment is when the child is not provided with an ade quate amount of food, shelter, clothing, supervision, or healthcare. Abandonment is when a child is deserted by their guardian, left without food, water, shelter, clothing, hygiene, and medical healthcare, or when the guardian is just not doing things they are supposed to do for a child, they relieve themselves from their duties. We are all mandatory reporters. Meaning that any citizen that sees anything suspicious should report, or if you know of a child being abused and don’t report, you are just as guilty. Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse. Child abuse is no doubt a hidden epidemic in our society today. Ninety percent of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrators in some way; sixty-eight percent are abused by family members. Child abuse also happens no matter how rich or poor you are, doesn’t matter what color you are, and it doesn’t matter how smart or dumb you are. Thirty percent of women in prison were abused as children, and sixty percent of people in drug rehabilitation centers report being abused or neglected as a child, and are 3.8 times more likely to develop drug addictions. About thirty percent of  abused and neglected as children will continue the cycle with their children as well. Eighty percent of twenty-one year olds that were abused as children met at least one criteria for a psychological disorder. Also abused children are twenty-five percent more likely to experience teen pregnancy. I think child abuse is inclining locally because drugs are becoming more known in younger generations, and their also experimenting sexually earlier, and not being safe about which leads to more teen pregnancies. Some of the reasons child abuse occurs in the first place is because of young parents and drugs/alcohol. So if the rate at which those things or more rapidly happening, and at a younger age, the child abuse rate is bound to incline. It doesn’t help that we are a bad drug city and we have one of the highest count of child abuse cases in our city. One way to help stop and prevent child abuse is to recognize it, look for the signs and report it. Make your children aware of sexual abuse, teach them the proper names, and tell them that if anyone tries to engage with them in a way that their private parts are involved, to tell their â€Å"support person†. Teach young parents how to take care of their children before they leave the hospital. Never discipline children when your anger is out of control, ever leave your children unattended. Listen and believe them. If you see child abuse happening, stop it, don’t let it happen. To help end abuse, first you should learn how to recognize it in the first place. Child abuse will never truly come to an end, but there are ways to make sure it happens less. CPS needs to better investigate into cases. If you’ve ever read â€Å"the child called it† then you would know that if they go to the house and everything checks out, they believe it. I think they should go deeper into the investigation, if that means surveillance outside their house for a week then so be it. CPS also needs to better background check their own foster parents. I saw on the news a while back that CPS supervisor was abusing the kids she was fostering. CPS is supposed to be a safe haven for kids to go, yet they go to further get abused. I myself was in foster care, and my â€Å"parents† weren’t the nicest. It’s hard to honestly say anything about improving â€Å"families† considering we aren’t in there every day life, and we may not even know them. How we can best help families is to  make child abuse awareness more public and known, and if we come across a family that has this problem, then intervene. I couldn’t find much on factors of abuse being â€Å"heredity†, but what I could find is that it is not heredity. What generally happens is the child grows up with the type of abuse they know, and because that’s all they know, that’s how they express their â€Å"love† to their child. Not all abused grow up to do the same to their children, I assume the ones most mentally scarred and got psychological problems from it, grow up to do the same. I don’t think that our society is necessarily feeding the abuse to anybody. I don’t really know who would, that’s a touchy subject in the first place. Although I can infer that all of the drug, drinking, partying, and sexual innuendo that is seen everywhere is what is feeding to a worse environment for our society. Drugs, alcohol, and partying is such a huge and wide topic everywhere you go in our society, because of that, it’s more common. Although no one can honestly end child abuse, it is something that we can make more known so that all the poor children that are dying and suffering everyday can also be loved and saved. Learn the signs, report anything unusual.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Government budgeting Essay

Government budgeting is the critical exercise of allocating revenues and borrowed funds to attain the economic and social goals of the country. It also entails the management of government expenditures in such a way that will create the most economic impact from the production and delivery of goods and services while supporting a healthy fiscal position. GOVERNMENT BUDGET In general, a government budget is the financial plan of a government for a given period, usually for a fiscal year, which shows what its resources are, and how they will be generated and used over the fiscal period. The budget is the government’s key instrument for promoting its socio-economic objectives. Budgeting approaches or modes and techniques used in the Philippine government are characterized into three major orientations: * Control-orientation in budgeting is the process of enforcing or applying limitations and conditions that are set in the budget * Management-oriented budgeting involves the use of budgetary authority at both agency levels to ensure the efficient use of resources * Planning-orientation in budgeting is the process of determining public objectives and the evaluation of alternative programs. FOUR (4) BUDGETING METHODS 1. Line-Item Budgeting The line-item budgeting approach emphasizes listing of objects for itemized expenditure such as personnel, supplies, and equipment without much regard for the purpose of programs or projects for which such items are proposed. It also controls expenditures at the department or agency level giving emphasis on the accounting aspect of the government operations in terms of items bought or paid. 2. Performance Budgeting In performance budgeting, objects of expenditures are grouped into categories related to the specific services or products an institution produces, as against objects it purchases, and the development of product cost measurements of activities or services so that managers can measure the efficiency or productivity of spending agencies. 3. Planning, Programming and Budgeting System PPBS is an answer to the need for an economic allocation of resources and the undertaking of government policy, program analysis, and cost utility analysis to improve the policy decision process of government. The scheme requires agency managers to identify program objectives, develop measuring program output, calculate total program costs over the long-run, prepare detailed multi-year program and financial plans, and analyze the costs and benefits of alternative program designs. The system provides a strong linkage between planning and budgeting. 4. Zero-Based Budgeting ZBB is an operating, planning, and budgeting method which requires every agency manager to justify his entire budget systems in detail and transfers the burden of proof to each manager why he should spend any money. It underscores the analysis of all budgetary expenditures to answer effectiveness in achieving organizational goals. The term â€Å"zero-based† refers to the yearly analysis, evaluation, and justification of each program/project/activity starting form zero performance level. BUDGET CYCLE (FOUR PHASES) 1. Budget Preparation This involves the formulation or devisement of a national budget based on budgetary priorities and activities given available revenues and borrowing limits. The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), an interagency body, conducts consultations and studies on fiscal and financial issues with the objective of determining overall expenditure levels, revenue projection, deficit levels, and the financing plan. These are then forwarded to the cabinet and the President for approval. After approval by the President, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) issues a Budget Call. The call usually issued in November directs the different agencies to prepare their respective budget proposals in accordance with approved budget ceilings. 2. Budget Authorization or Legislation In this phase of the budget cycle, the budget is reviewed by the House of Representatives and followed by the Senate through consultation and justification by department and agency heads of their budget proposals. Conflicting provisions are worked out and harmonized by a conference committee. Once a common budget bill has been approved by both chambers, it is submitted to the President for approval. The product of the President’s approval of the proposed budget legislation is the General Appropriations Act (GAA). 3. Budget Execution This phase of budget cycle is the implementation of the General Appropriations Act. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) implements the national budget through the administrative supervision of the President. The Bureau of Treasury of the Department of Finance (DOF) coordinates with the DBM so that cash releases by the latter are based on collected revenues by DOF. 4. Budget Accountability Budget accountability is the analysis and review of the agency operating performance, systems and procedures, and the evaluation of agency accomplishments relative to cost incurred. It compares actual expenditures and performance with the planned expenditures and predetermined targets of the organization. While distinctly separate, these processes overlap in the implementation during a budget year. Budget preparation for the next budget year proceeds while government agencies are executing the budget for the current year and at the same time engaged in budget accountability and review of the past year’s budget.

Importance of Strategic Human Resource Management

Management in an organization and asses its purposes in the chosen organization By Assimilate 23 In present business environment â€Å"information technology' has become back bone of any business or organization, and they are integral part of day to day activities. Information technology which connects all the departments with each other which helps to increase efficiency, reduce communication time, production time, to improve, maintain the business flow. In short every industry and even companies within the industry can have different key success factors.It is important to select supply chain IT systems that are able to give us advantage in the areas most crucial to business success. Companies invest a good amount of their budget to develop new software's programs to improve their flexibility and responsiveness and competitiveness. In recent studies conducted by Food & Agricultural Organization (FAA) it was found that Food wastage across the world is alarming and $ 1 trillion of fo od is being wasted for the reason jack of technology, human error and facilities.In our pizza hut outlet Information Technology will play very important role which will connect all our operation. We being a fast food chain and products used are highly perishable and if a proper control on purchase, storage and production is not there then our business may end up in loss. As per below given diagram IT will be connecting all our departments Fig. 1 Logistics & Procurement: IT will help to collect data, tracking products inventory and reduce lifestyle which will help everybody involved in the process.Has the data will be readily available it will help to procure our raw materials as per the requirement and keep a track on the movements, storage and delivery. Operation: It will help in day to day activities by attending customers taking their orders placing them to our production and arranging to deliver. In addition to this it will help to maintain our financial track, bank accounts, pa yment schedule and other uncial obligations.Customer relationship: To improve our customer service, attend customer complaints and develop relationship with customer we need a proper IT support such as CRM

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Google Case “Don’t be evil” Essay

Google in 2000 developed a Chinese language version that the Chinese could use freely. Two years later, the government blocked the search engine because this latter did not change the findings. In 2004 the government decided to release the site but users could no longer access sites such as political movements. Google has complied with its own accord to remove all sites that should be censored according to the laws imposed by the Communist Party of China. Many words have been banned also in research, such as Hypocrite, Human Rights, Democracy†¦ Google mission tells that â€Å"Google mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful†. But also â€Å"being a Googler means holding yourself to the highest possible standard of ethical business conduct.† The information is readily available for everyone who has access to Internet, without find useless information and the product must be universally accessible. While many companies have ethical codes to govern their conduct, Google claims to have made â€Å"Don’t Be Evil† a central pillar of their identity, and part of their self-proclaimed core values. In 2006, when Google declared their self-censorship move into China, their â€Å"Don’t be evil† motto was questioned. Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt explained that sometimes it might need to allow smaller evils for a greater good. However, Google has since challenged China’s censorship policies on various occasions. DO YOU THINK GOOGLE SHOULD CENSOR SEARCHES IN CHINA? WHY? Google was criticized a lot by international newspapers about ethics codes. _The Financial Times_ asked to the company if they don’t feel guilty about the situation and if they aren’t becoming evil with censoring researches within China. The same year, Google opened offices in China because from a financial perspective, this country represents for the company a dynamic, fast-growing and increasingly competitive market. The decisions of the Chinese Government may be compared to the newspapers in the United States because both decide if they would edit or hide any article wrote and thought inappropriate for the public. In fact, the Government takes decisions if Google has to censor web sites and researches; Google consequently stood on accommodating the demands of the Chinese Government. I think there is not a question of being evil or not. Google is maybe a leader in the world (it ranked in 2005 the third position behind Johnson & Johnson and Coca-Cola), but it cannot take decisions in a country which is not its. The research motor has no power in that country controlled by a Communist Government which is very strong. It is more a problem of coherence from Google, because after reading its mission statement and understanding â€Å"Don’t be Evil useless†, we don’t understand the reason why they change their culture when they operate in another country. According to that mission statement and because some governments make the mission difficult to achieve, Google added to the balance a third fundamental commitment after having penetrated Chinese market: â€Å"be responsive to local conditions.† People thought that Google will follow its mission perfectly, doesn’t matter the situation or the location, and they were very surprised when they discover that Google made some censure by its own. After the censure decision of Chinese Government in 2002, Google was not any more efficient, and every search had to pass though the â€Å"Great Firewall of China† software. That means Google News was never available, as also Google Images which worked just 50% of the time. A good point of Google is the importance of users’ privacy and it is related to users’ interests. But entering in China, Google’s decisions had to be monitored by the government; this changing of filtering all researches compromised Google’s missions. It doesn’t matter to the company to be criticized, or if it lose people trust around the world, because the only thing they believed is to try to give to users the access to Google.com from within China. But Google had to face some more problems, others than the criticism. I mean, the censoring would really have affected the company search results, because if a user tries to search an ensured term, he would be re-directed to a non-censored site or the browser would stop. But Google risks a brand value damage. To summarize, I understood that Google had no choice to become censured. It told it was its own decision because it didn’t want to argue with the Government, and it knew that it had no chance to win the fight. It is too important for the company to expand until China, that’s why the company accepted all the country restrictions and try to have a place in that market. WHY DO YOU THINK GOOGLE DIDN’T WANT TO SUPPLY INFORMATION REQUESTED BY THE US GOVERNMENT IN RELATION TO THE CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION ACT? *  « Would be willing to reveal information pertaining to its users  » — this means that Google does not want to give any information which can harm in any way the users of Google or violate their privacy. Furthermore, Google thought that this request was to get too deep into people lives and this was unacceptable because they needed to protect their users. This is one of a reason why Google does not want to supply information. * In addition, Google does not want to lose its advantage over its competitors by revealing information which could harm them directly:  « threaten Google’s competitive advantage by exposing its proprietary secrets  ». * Last but not least, I think Google didn’t want to supply information requested by the US government in relation to the Child Online Protection Act because they know it would be a huge loss of money for them, the industry of pornography is huge, and therefore if some kids are watching it, Google cannot be too involved in it compared to the money they are making with the industry of pornography. http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/don’t+be+evil http://www.duke.edu/web/kenanethics/CaseStudies/GoogleInChina.pdf

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 3

August 21, 1864 I can't stop thinking about her. I will not even write her name; I daren't. She is beautiful, entrancing, singular. When I'm with Rosalyn, I am Giuseppe's son, the Salvatore boy, essentially interchangeable with Damon. I know it would not matter one whit to the Cartwrights if Damon took my place. It is only me because Father knew Damon would not stand for it, knew I would say yes, just like always. But when I saw her, her lithe figure, her red lips, her eyes that were flickering and sad and thrilling all at once †¦ it was as though I was finally just myself, just Stefan Salvatore. I must be strong. I must treat her like a sister. I must fall in love with the woman who is to be my wife. But I fear it is already too late†¦. Rosalyn Salvatore, I thought to myself the next day, tasting the words as I walked out the door, ready to fulfill my duty by paying a second call on my soon-to-be-betrothed. I imagined living with Rosalyn in the carriage house–or perhaps some smaller mansion my father would build as our wedding present–me working all day, poring through ledgers with my father in his stuffy study, while she took care of our children. I tried to feel excitement. But all I felt was cold dread seeping through my veins. I walked around the grand path of Veritas and gazed wistfully up at the carriage house. I hadn't seen Katherine since she arrived yesterday afternoon. Father had dispatched Alfred to invite her to supper, but she'd declined. I'd spent the evening looking out the window toward the house, but I couldn't see any flicker of candlelight. If I hadn't known she and Emily had moved in, I'd have assumed the house had remained unoccupied. Finally, I went to sleep, wondering the whole time what Katherine was doing and whether she needed comforting. I tore my eyes away from the drawn upstairs shades and trudged down the driveway. The dirt road under my feet was hard and cracked; we needed a good rainstorm. There was no breeze, and the air felt dead. There wasn't another person outside as far as the eye could see, yet as I walked, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on walked, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I got the uneasy feeling that I wasn't alone. Unbidden, Robert's warnings about walking off on my own floated through my mind. â€Å"Hello?† I called out as I turned around. I started. Standing just a few feet behind me, leaning against one of the angel statues that flanked the drive, was Katherine. She wore a white sunbonnet that protected her ivory skin and a white dress dotted with tiny rosebuds. Despite the heat, her fair skin looked as cool as the pond on a December morning. She smiled at me, displaying perfectly straight, white teeth. â€Å"I had hoped for a tour of the grounds, but it seems you are otherwise engaged.† My heart pounded at the word â€Å"engaged,† the ring box in my back pocket as heavy as a branding iron. â€Å"I'm not †¦ no. I mean,† I stammered, â€Å"I could stay.† â€Å"Nonsense.† Katherine shook her head. â€Å"I already am taking lodging from you and your father. I will not take your time as well.† She raised a dark eyebrow at me. Never before had I spoken with a girl who seemed so at ease and sure of herself. I felt the sudden, overwhelming urge to whip the ring from my pocket and offer it to Katherine on one knee. But then I thought of Father and forced my hand to stay put. â€Å"May I at least walk with you for a bit?† Katherine asked, swinging her sun umbrella back and forth. Companionably, we walked down the road. I kept glancing to my left and right, wondering why she didn't seem nervous to walk, unaccompanied, with a man. Perhaps it was because she was an orphan and so utterly alone in the world. Whatever the reason, I was grateful for it. A light wind blew around us, and I inhaled her lemony ginger scent, feeling as though I could die of happiness, right there, next to Katherine. Simply being near her was a reminder that beauty and love did exist in the world, even if I couldn't have them. â€Å"I think I shall call you Silent Stefan,† Katherine said as we walked through the cluster of oaks that marked the line between the village of Mystic Falls and the outlying plantations and estates. â€Å"I'm sorry †¦,† I started, fearing that I was as dull to her as Rosalyn was to me. â€Å"It's simply that we don't get very many strangers in Mystic Falls. It's difficult to speak to someone who doesn't know my whole history. I suppose I don't want to bore you. After Atlanta, I'm sure you find Mystic Falls a bit quiet.† I felt mortified as soon as the sentence left my lips. Her parents had died in Atlanta, and here I was, making it sound like she'd left some exciting life to live here. I cleared my throat. â€Å"I mean, not that you had found Atlanta exciting, or that you wouldn't enjoy getting away exciting, or that you wouldn't enjoy getting away from everything.† Katherine smiled. â€Å"Thank you, Stefan. That's sweet.† Her tone made it clear she didn't want to delve into the topic any further. We walked in silence for a few long moments. I kept my stride deliberately short so Katherine could keep up. Then, whether by accident or by design I'm not sure, Katherine's fingers brushed against my arm. They were cold as ice, even in the humid air. â€Å"Just so you know,† she said, â€Å"I don't find anything about you boring.† My entire body flamed hot as a conflagration. I glanced up the road, as if trying to ascertain the best route for us to follow, though really I was hiding my blush from Katherine. I felt the weight of the ring in my pocket again, heavier than ever. I turned to face Katherine, to say what, I'm not even sure. But she was no longer by my side. â€Å"Katherine?† I called, shielding my eyes against the sun, waiting for her lilting laugh to rise up in the underbrush along the road. But all I heard was the echo of my own voice. She had vanished.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Theological Anthropology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Theological Anthropology - Essay Example We shall thus consider that which is common to all faiths in terms of morality and then proceed to take this a step farther and liberating it from the traditional perspectives to encompass a broader view of humankind. In seeking to understand the morality of any given actions, it is helpful to use some sort of compass in which to judge any action as purely moral or not. In order to not bias the discussion to any one faith, we will apply a method that virtually anyone will be able to accept yet does not invoke the singular nature of any one faith. The most general and acceptable rule of this nature that has ever been attempted is to be found in Kant's categorical imperative. The categorical imperative would denote a requirement that is absolute and unconditional and whose authority must exert itself in all circumstances. According to Kant, we can distill the categorical imperative into three basic precepts: 1) Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law; 2) Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means; and 3) Every ra tional being must so act as if he were through his maxim always a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends. That is to say, any moral law that can be considered as a categorical imperative is one in which you can will it for everyone and is not limited to any person or group of people; what applies to the prince must also apply to the peasant and vice-versa. Next, we must focus on deontological ethics by necessity since to do otherwise would allow actions for expediency and outcome rather than the morality of the actions themselves. Each and every other person must be treated as an end and not a tool. in other words, there can be no inhuman use of human beings as tools to accomplish a goal. They themselves are the goal since the morality of an action cannot be separated from its application to every human being and in no way can this be interpreted as using one human being fore the benefit of the other. Lastly, this law must be considered as one in which all human beings, barring none, act as equals in enacting this law as a means of harmonizing the moral kingdom, thus bringing about a state of perfect moral equality among all humankind. Critics of this approach tend to follow the consequentialist schools of thought, in which the ultimate goal is looked at and not necessarily the means to achieve it. This approach to morality is faulty in large part because it ignores a critical aspect that Kant himself did not make much use of, but which has increasingly important as we see people trying to follow a moral code and failing miserably. The categorical imperative seems admirable in theory, but unworkable in practice, so thus people often ignore the internal aspects of the requirements in favor of practical success. The missing element in consequentialist theories and the element that makes many people view the categorical imperative as unworkable in practice is, in fact the focus on the external world rather than recognizing

Arranging Payments for the Price of Goods Bought in an International Essay

Arranging Payments for the Price of Goods Bought in an International Sale is by the Use of a Documentary Credit - Essay Example 1.1 Definition and Description of Credit Documents a. Documentary Credits For international transactions, buyers and sellers approach their banks, which will in turn undertake a written agreement for the buyer that promises to pay a certain currency value in favor of the seller on the condition that all the requirements known as terms and conditions are met. Evidence of goods delivered by the seller should be in the form of documents defined in the agreements. The buyer’s bank communicates and deals directly 24 Alejandro Jara and Patrick Low, et. al., World Trade Report 2011. World Trade Organization. p. 24. with the seller’s bank. A credit line is assured by the banks prior to release of goods from the seller. Payments are actually made only after documents are received by the buyer’s bank. Therefore documents such as Letters of Credit are very important for international transactions. Documentary credits may be standard or special depending on what will meet th e needs of the transacting parties—buyer, seller, bank of the buyer, and bank of the seller. â€Å"Standard documentary credits can be either revocable (may be cancelled by the buyer), or irrevocable†¦confirmed (a second bank, in addition to the buyer’s bank, guarantees payment) or unconfirmed (payment guaranteed only by the issuing bank).†17 Protection by documentary credits does not include an assurance that the goods are shipped according to understanding. Disagreements can result out of dissatisfaction. Complaints may arise. But the buyer and seller would have to settle the problem on their own. Banks base their decisions on just the documents and the terms and conditions therein. Those documents identify four parties, namely, â€Å"applicant, beneficiary, issuing bank, and advising bank† although in the business community, they are known as the â€Å"buyer, seller, buyer’s bank and seller’s bank†.18 The International Chamber of Commerce had already prepared the Uniform Customs and 17 Edward G. Hinkelman, A Short Course in International Payments: How to Use Letters of Credit, D/P and D/A, Prepayment, Credit, and Cyber Payments in International Transactions. California, USA, World Trade Press, 2003, p. 50. 18 Hinkelman, A Short Course in International Payments: How to Use Letters of Credit, D/P and D/A, Prepayment, Credit, and Cyber Payments in International Transactions. p. 52. Practice (UCP) for Documentary Credits. The UCP recognizes that there are different types of documentary credits, namely, Standby Credits, Revolving Credits, Transferrable Credits, back-to-back credits, revocable and irrevocable, confirmed and unconfirmed. And the definition of documentary credits according to UCP is any arrangement, however named or described, whereby a bank (the issuing bank) acting at the request and in accordance with the instructions of a customer (the applicant for the credit) (i) is to make payment to or t o the order of a third party (the beneficiary) or is to pay or accept or negotiate bills of exchange (drafts) drawn by the beneficiary or (ii) authorises another bank to effect such payment, or to pay, accept or negotiate such bills of exchange against stipulated documents, provided that the terms and conditions of the credit are complied with (Art. 2).4 However, Dr. Zsuzsanna Toth identified documentary credi

Social Work - case example Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Social Work - case example - Essay Example Crises are basically an opportunity for growth when resolved properly as persons in crisis are more open to adapting new problem solving skills. However, when coping mechanisms do not work and crisis is left unresolved, that is when problems arise. Moreover, unresolved crisis will further make the person more likely to be unable to resolve future issues (Crisis Intervention 2006). In this paper, we will tackle on the case of the fifteen-year-old Con who ran away from home and now seeks guidance and counseling. As a social worker in charge of Con’s case, it is best to fully understand his situation and do proper assessment before a suitable intervention can be formulated. Relating the concept on crisis, we will assume that Con is a teenager undergoing crisis. The issues that revolve around him constitute the array of circumstances that bring about his crisis. Con is classified as an adolescent as he is fifteen years of age. As an adolescent, Con faces a series of challenges which may have brought about the predicament he now faces. In Con’s case, his act of running away from home may be a manifestation of the rebellion that is likely of children his age that may be the result of the changes he is undergoing at present (Adolescent Psychology). Moreover, the distant relationship he feels towards his parents along with his closeness to his peers can be the result of his struggle to establish his own identity and his quest for independence. Being in the stage of puberty, Con is placed under a lot of pressure and the increasing anxiety that he experiences in response to all the pressures can trigger a maturational crisis. Hence, the crisis he faces causes him to feel elevated levels of anxiety that might have been the cause for his behavioral manifestations. In order to help Con, interventions must then be focused on correcting the maladaptive behaviors he manifests so that he can function

Media Technologies and convergence Raymond Williams Essay

Media Technologies and convergence Raymond Williams - Essay Example Raymond Williams is strongly opposed to Marshall McLuhan’s analysis that the world has been altered by television, which is intended to mean that watching television reduces one’s intelligence quotient (IQ). Although McLuhan’s line of thought is somehow consistent with experience in the media, Williams argues that it would be overly deterministic to believe in the precepts of this model. On this point, Williams’ line of thought makes quite a lot of sense because some television programs are greatly educative and laden with facts. The implication is that the society can learn a great deal from these facts and effectively develop their IQs. Technological determinism assumes that technological advancement is an accidental, self-driven process. It pre-supposes that the advancements are never pre-determined by external forces. However, most of the technological developments arise as a result of the needs (either real or perceived) of the society. This way, technology is the ultimate result of many years of carefully designed research. Put differently, the kind of technology that develops in a particular place is normally related to the challenges associated with the place. Technology is, therefore, aimed at providing definitive solutions to the needs and challenges of the society. Williams reinforces this point further by making reference to some television-related inventions such as the electric eye, the copying telegraph, the cathode-ray tube, and the scanning system. The details of these inventions show clearly that discovery of the modern television had been long foreseen, and it was in the process of being perfected. One of the challenges that had motivated the conception and subsequent realisation of these inventions is pressure that came with the expanding business and military operations; a situation that demanded a faster and robust broadcasting platform. Raymond Williams emphasises the value of technology in influencing the cultural perception of television. In doing this, he resists the assertions of McLuhan that the message lies in the medium. Williams reasons that if the medium is the message, then the human component would have been left out of the broadcasting system. Williams further argues that contrary to McLuhan’s beliefs, viewers have the will and ability to alter and or pre-determine the otherwise latent logic of technology and history. This is attributable to two factors: first is that television is part of human life, and second

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig Van Beethoven Essay

Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig Van Beethoven - Essay Example Though their lifetimes were relatively close compared to many other composers they lived during different musical times and significantly influenced those styles. Bach's career is best known for his sacred and secular work. His work is considered to encompass all of the Baroque style. While Bach did not introduce any new musical ideas to the Baroque period his work did embrace all that was the Baroque style, though some of his choices can be considered extreme. For example his notation of the complete melodic line, including all flourishes, performers during the Baroque period were presented with the base of the melody and included their own flourishes (Wolffe, C. 381-389). Beethoven music was considered to be extremely important for the transition from the classical to romantic style. His work can be separated into three periods; early (classical period), middle (Heroic period) and late (Romantic period) (Kerman, J., 89-92). Both composers composed many religious works but their utilization of religion and music differs. Much of Bach's work is written for the church or based on religion and he closely tied is music and text. A few examples of this are his motifs in the cantata Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit. The slow repeating notes in the start of the piece Jesus' slow, labored walk as we carried the cross. He also uses many octave leaps, which represent the relationship between heaven and earth. There is also symbolism in his work that is not directly related to the performance. The variation in instrumentation and vocal parts during Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen of St. Matthew's Passion can be seen by some as to form a cross (Wolff, C., 298-303). Beethoven also wrote many religious pieces but his attachment to the church is somewhat less intense than Bach's. Beethoven's religious beliefs are highly debated and though he was raised a roman catholic. While he wrote pieces for the catholic church, the Mass in C and Missa Solemnis being the most famous. The Missa Solemnis was composed in compliance with the standard Musical Catholic Mass. Some of his other work, most notably the ninth symphony contained refers to God and also mythological stories, he refers to the "Elysium" fields (Forbes, E., 880-929). The contribution of Beethoven's works that are considered to be a transition between the classical and romantic styles is his middle or romantic period. His heroic works, which include The Eroica, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eight Symphonies, String quartets 7-11, the Waldstein and Appasionata piano sonatas, and the opera Fidelio, are considered to have extended to scope of classical music. Much of his early period work was based or influenced from Mozart and Hadyn. His middle period work where hugely demanding on the performers. At the time the playing levels of musicians were not consistent as most musical endeavors were sponsored or funded by private individuals. Large symphony orchestras like the New York Philharmonic that play together constantly had not been formed yet. Bach's music did not cause a change in musical styles. Instead his work encompassed much of the Baroque style by bringing his music to a new level. He is noted for his use of contrapuntal technique (the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in rhyme and contour but have harmonic association), his harmonic and melodic structure from a small to large scale, and his incorporation

The Reasons the Roman Empire Fell Research Paper

The Reasons the Roman Empire Fell - Research Paper Example For the economic reason, Rome’s decline was precipitated by the decline in manufacturing and trade which resulted in the populations loss of purchasing ability. This resulted in the widening between the rich and the poor. For military reason, Rome’s armies became political as it can determine succession of emperors. Soldiers also became scarce as the empire can no longer afford to pay them. Rome resorted to barbarian troops which has no loyalty to Rome and cannot be depended on defending Rome. It is more interested in obtaining spoils of war and cannot be depended on to fight their fellow barbarians in behalf of Rome. Politically, patriotism and pride among Romans dwindled as most emperors no longer command respect and loyalty. Democracy was no longer practiced and its citizens can no longer vote. Rome’s leadership also deteriorated that it slid to patronage politics where loyalty is bestowed to an Emperor instead of the state. There was also no orderly transitio n of power, partly because the military meddles with the succession of the emperors. Rome became divided the creation of two empires brought about loyalty crisis. The division started when Constantine made Byzantium a capital which was formerly in Rome. The succeding emperor, Diocletian thought that by dividing Rome into two would strengthen the empire, in fact brought the opposite and furthered the division of the empire and precipiated its fall. This period marked a crisis characterized by military Anarchy (235 -284 AD) when its emperor, Alexander Severus was assasinated. Rome ceased to be a learning center and instead became preoccupied with gladiator shows and chariot contests instead of intellectual pursuits. In a way also, Christianity contributed to the fall of Rome because it undermined the basis of its leadership such as imperial divinity. Hunger, plagued, famine and war ensued that deteriorated the Roman empire further. In general, Rome fell due to its dependency to non-Ro mans which later turned against the empire. The Antonine Plague which wreaked havoc in 165 Ad also wiped out nearly half of its population with the spread of the epidemics such as measles and small pox. The annihilation of its population precipitated its dependency towards barbarians who turned against the empire. These barbarians were not really concerned with the security and protection of Rome but only with the loot and spoils of war. The infusion of non-Romans into its military also diluted its sense of patriotism and sense of loyalty to the empire. One of the more popular theories which was attributed to the decline and fall of Rome is its moral degradation which is often depicted in popular media such as the movie Gladiator. The series of war it was involved in also caused the demise of the Roman Empire. The first war with the Visigoths in 376-382 AD where Emperor was killed allowed the fleeing Huns to live in the borders of Rome who later rebelled against the Empire and contr ibuting to its instability2 (Goldsworthy, 2009, 13). Rome also lost during the first war. The Alaric war, which was also known as the second war with the Visigoths ultimately led to the sacking of Rome in 410. Alaric invaded Italy and eventually founded the Visigothic Kingdom in Gaul and Hispania3 (Gibbon et al., 2003, 318) Many of its territories, such as those in the regions of Hispania and

Monday, August 26, 2019

The New Product Marketing Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The New Product Marketing Strategy - Essay Example They are assembled from imported parts from various regions of the world. However, principal design works were done particularly at Sony’s research facilities in Japan. The brand name is not only used in Televisions but also on other products such mobile phones. Sony used Bravia as a brand name to emphasize the quality of their television products that were believed to have a high resolution in the market (Morrison & MacMillan 2007, p. 65). In 2014, the name Bravia evolved from being just a brand name of being a subsidiary of Sony. The mother company Sony Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation based in Japan (Tracy 2014, p. 49). The Corporation is a diversified business with a primary focus on the production of electronics (TV, gaming consoles, refrigerators). It is noted the Bravia has a wide range of television products and other such as accessories, mobile phones, Green TV Sony Bravia Internet T vans Video. Its television products have outstanding features which include: a full HD LED Display (1920 * 1080), X-Reality PRO Picture Engine, Motion flow XR 200, Smart TV with Built-in Wi-Fi, easy Wall mount solution as well as USB Recording and Playback (Morrison & MacMillan 2007, p. 87). The company recently launched a new Bravia TV, namely Android TV which has actually revolutionized the clients viewing experience. Android TV has enhanced pictures, beautiful design, and innovative control. This product has 4K Processor which enable it has stunning picture quality. It has inbuilt precision detail enhancer, precision mapping that let it brings out lifelike colors, as well as dynamic contrast enhancer. As in any business, the success of a particular business lies within the ability of the management to position itself strategically and so establish the products or services being offered (Cavinato & Flynn 2006, 78). Additionally, Arnold

Legal feminist theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legal feminist theory - Essay Example It follows, therefore, that the key issue identified and addressed by feminists can be viewed broadly as the bill of rights for women. This paper is in support of legal feminist theory and will offer reasons for the choice. The women’s suffrage may have had voting rights as its driving ambition, but in the contemporary world women need more liberties, albeit simply by virtue of being female. The feminist viewpoint of law identifies how patriarchy invasively influences legal structures, demonstrating how the material condition of women is adversely affected. For example, the landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 93 S. Ct. 705, 35 L. Ed. 2d 147 (1973), showed that women reserve the right of abortion as a basic constitutional right (Levit & Verchick 89). Essentially, the ruling supported that reproductive rights should be borne by women, even though with certain limitations. This is in direct support of legal feminist theory because it promotes interdisciplinary examinations into how practices, policies and expectations relating to gender are influenced by the interaction of culture and law. It operates from the liberal legal prototype and focuses on an approach to law based on rights to en sure that women also enjoy genuine equality (Sunder 93). Legal feminist theory develops reforms designed to correct gender restriction, exploitation and injustice (Sunder 104). Therefore, through the perspective of feminist epistemology, political theory and relational metaphysics, legal feminist theory applies insights into feminist philosophy which help in understanding and changing the way overriding masculinist standards are enforced by legal institutions (Threedy 745). For instance, one would easily answer in the negative when asked whether judges can and should be allowed to be feminists, simply because judges are expected to do their job and not be activists who promote personal political agendas. However, judges

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Why might an existing non-franchised business choose to become a Essay

Why might an existing non-franchised business choose to become a franchisor - Essay Example The motive is consistent with the resource allocation theory that stipulates that organizational units are most productive when tightly controlled (Ashar & Shapiro, 1988), although the new resource-based view of the theory advocates value creation by combining local (or franchisee) and central (or franchisor) advantages (Combs, 2003). The motive was a major driver of franchising among American auto manufacturers in the 1900s (Combs, 2003). The auto manufacturers lacked funds to open dealerships across the country. Their workaround to the problem was to create chains of franchises across the US. The franchisees invested in stocks of vehicles and premises. In return, they enjoyed exclusive marketing territories. Although a business may want a franchise in order to use other people’s funds to grow, some scholars have cast doubt over the cherished notion that the ability to expand without investing their money and retain control over operations is one of the main reasons firms fra nchise. Franchisee financial constraints are a major cause of poor relations between the franchisor and franchise and a threat to the survival of both (Dada, et al., 2009). If this argument is true then it defeats the logic of the franchisor seeking to expand using the franchisee’s capital. A number of reasons explain the occurrence of such a situation. First, some franchisees may falsify their financial position in order to meet the stringent requirements of the franchisor. Such falsification of information, coupled with lack of due diligence on the part of the franchisor creates a situation where the franchise starts the franchise with inadequate capital. Shortly afterward, the franchise becomes unable to provide the product they set out to provide. Even in the absence of documented cases of this nature, the risk of such a scenario is real. The implication is that a business that is desirous of adopting a franchise model as a

Remmber event Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Remmber event - Essay Example Maybe, I have a lot of lessons to learn from this experience which until now is one of my greatest questions I always throw to God. Years ago, when I was still in high school, I was awakened one morning by the voice of my father. He was talking and crying so bitterly I thought I must have been dreaming. I closed my eyes, thinking that when I opened them again, things will change. Sadly, it was not a dream at all. My father was telling my mother that my favorite cousin, Wesal died. I lay in my bed, numb. I did not seem to be able to move. It was unthinkable. My cousin is very young and she was among my best friends. I was very close to her because she was a good person. She was so sweet, always smiling and ready to encourage other people to face the difficulties of life even though she was suffering, herself. I admired her strength because I knew just how she was living as a married young woman. She was forcedly married to her cousin at a very young age. She did not love the man but because of our culture, she had no choice but to follow her parent’s desires. Nevertheless, Wesal suffered a lot in the hands of her husband. I was one of her confidants. She told me what was happening between her and her husband. She cannot divorce her husband because it is taboo for women to do so. Still, she always finds a way to hide her troubles and show that she could manage. When Wesal got pregnant, she was not treated any better. Her difficulties seemed to become more and more severe. After giving birth to young boy, she suddenly got sick. It shocked most of us when the doctors found out that she was suffering from cancer. She was too young. I visited her lot during that time and I was happy that she was always smiling. I did not know then that she was just trying to show how happy she was when in fact, deep inside, she was grieving and suffering. Before she died, I rejoiced when she told me she was feeling a lot better as opposed to other days when the pain

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Now you see me(2013) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Now you see me(2013) - Essay Example There is no link in the cast of this film. Laurent and Ruffalo are engaging protagonists. The film’s bumbling steely optimism vs. pessimism makes it enjoyable to watch. It is also interesting to watch Caine portray Freeman as Thaddeus, and Arthur Tressler as the rich sponsor of the Four Horsemen. These two subvert the audience’s expectations, by acting as older gentlemen. By comparison, the Four Horsemen, despite likable performances, are not equally satisfying as characters who are fully-realized on the surface and as metaphorical embodiments of emotional qualities. The Louis Leterrier’s cinematic technique blends well with Boaz Yakin Magician Caper storyline. The result is a captivating subtext about the importance of art in entertainment, an enduing magic of films, and the critical role of creative integrity in the cynical skepticism world. The final film features a charismatic band of actress and actors who create a bit of fun and exciting viewing experience through better communication that underlies the message. The film Now You See Me lacks the majestic pop-art statement. The movie’s central set pieces and action sequences are not executed with enough finesse. Furthermore, an attempt to spin the deeper mythology may seem too much like a sequel fodder or rather an afterthought. Nonetheless, this demonstrates that Hollywood films can still entrance. Commenting on the film Ricourt and Yakin said the Now You See me film is similar to a screenplay by (Yakin 4). The film is characterized by twists and turns that probably do not pe rfectly hold up under close-scrutiny. The narrative tends to boil down to a cat and mouse game. However, it is interesting to participate in the guessing contest. Similarly, â€Å"the final reveal† caps off themes and ideas, which are developed throughout the story, is satisfying and easily brings greater significant to the story line proceedings. A look at review’s of renowned critics can give an insight

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 16

Case Study Example The third case entitled ‘FOX news suicide live’ is about a police chase that ends with the suspect shooting himself as FOX television aired the event live. The matter about this case revolves around the merits of displaying such level of violence on television. Regarding the case of the ‘NYC Subway Photographer,’ the first ethical issue revolves around the protection of human life. The second ethical issue focusses on the merits of airing a violent and disturbing video without editing its gruesome details. Viewers with weak sensibilities were obviously disturbed and deeply affected by truth of the death of a man who should have been rescued. Given that the photographer was within range of the incident, it would have been more appropriate for him to act responsibly and humanely by protecting the man instead of taking pictures of the heinous spectacle. Such an intervention would have been defensible on moral grounds. Compassion and empathy should have been the guiding principles to the most appropriate decision from the photographer. Airing the death of a helpless man is not consistent with the ethics of journalistic practice. The cruelty of the situation is that the man was actually pushed to the subway by a violent man who stood nearby to watch the death of his victim. The photograph is an indictment to the photojournalist with regard to his sense of judgment, professional ethics, and moral standards. Protecting the life of a human being must remain the primary concern of a journalist (Smith 61). The photojournalist should have considered the life of the man above his journalistic duties. One ethical issue that connects with the case of the ‘Newspaper Photographer Fired’ is the need to uphold truth and accuracy in the conduct and practice of journalism. The photographer in this case took notice and consequently disapproved of a journalistic practice he found to be outside the ethics of the profession. Photo shopping of pictures to be used in a

Friday, August 23, 2019

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

Witchcraft - Essay Example There are various cases in which this supernatural aid is usually invoked, to awaken the compassion of love that are desired, to compass the death of any obnoxious person, to call up a dead person, or to bring calamity upon rivals, enemies and opponents. Witchcraft has been done by numerous people in nearly all the periods of world’s history. The traditional belief is that not only of the dark ages but also the witches and wizards of the post-reformation times were addicted to such practices and they entered into a compact with the Satan, adjured Sacraments and the Christ, observed ‘the witches sabbath’; they paid divine honor to the ‘king of darkness’ and in return they got from him supernatural powers like harming their chosen victims, doing what they desire to, for instance, riding through the air on a broomstick, and willing to perform any service which is needed to fulfill their nefarious purposes. (Thurston, H. 1912) During the Middle Ages and even today at times, witchcraft is performed by witches as an act of healing and curing illnesses. These Witch-healers were at times the only general medical practitioners for people who had no facility of doctors and hospitals and were terribly affected with poverty and diseases. Even the church itself had very less to offer the suffering peasantry yet the Witches healers were even killed as well as accused of helping and healing. A witch-hunter puts it as: â€Å"For this must always be remembered, as a conclusion, that by witches we understand not only those which kill and torment, but all Diviners, Charmers, Jugglers, all Wizards, commonly called wise men and wise women†¦and in the same number we reckon all good witches, which do no hurt but good, which do not spoil and destroy, but save and deliver†¦It were a thousand times better for the land if all Witches, but specially the

Constitution in 2013 - Changes and Interpretations Term Paper

Constitution in 2013 - Changes and Interpretations - Term Paper Example e idea of arming the citizens dated back to around 700 AD in England when King Alfred required all the citizens to be armed depending on their financial status with the poorest at least owning a spear and a lance. With time, the ownership of weapons was even allowed to the workers of a landowner, which was in preparation for crossing the sea to Gascavy. This paper will explain the history of the right to own weapons in American bill of rights and how the interpretation of the same has changed for the last two centuries including the relevant Supreme Court cases involved. In1785 delegates from two states of Maryland and Virginia met to address the inadequacies that were in the present in the articles of the confederation, and a year later, another meeting was held with delegates from five states that identified the solutions to the problems. These includes setting up of an arbitration process to handle disputes between states, the need for setting up a militia to defend the states against foreign invasions and an interstate force that is trained to suppress insurrections especially by the slaves. Federalists such as James Madison who supported the congress to be given the power over security and forming the army was of the opinion that the federal government would not be able to raise a strong enough army to counter the militias. However anti federalists were not supportive of the constitution that gave such huge powers to the federal government as they thought the federal government would decide to disarm the militias. In order to solve the gridlock and push ahead with the adoption of the constitution, a compromise had to be reached and the anti federalists wanted the powers of the federal government to be decentralized (Geber 48). It was agreed that a bill of rights should be included in the constitutions so the federalists promised to support an amendment of the constitution if it was adopted and this convinced many of the anti federalists to support the

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Golden Ratio Essay Example for Free

Golden Ratio Essay The Golden Ratio which is also referred to as golden mean, golden section or divine proportion is a number frequently encountered when calculating ratios of distances particularly in simple geometric figures like pentagram, dodecahedron, pentagon and pentagram. It is an irrational constant in mathematics which is given an approximate value of 1. 6180339887 and is symbolized by the Greek letter phi or in other words , or sometimes . Most of the greatest mathematicians in the ancient Greece, Euclid and Pythagoras along with Leonard of Pisa who was medieval Italian Mathematician together with Johannes Kepler, Renaissance astronomer and the present day scientific individuals like Roger Penrose, Oxford Physicist have spent a lot time in studying this ratio along with its properties (Weisstein, 2010). The Ancient Greek mathematicians initially studied the Golden Ratio simply because it frequently appeared in geometry. The Greeks have always attributed the discovery of this ratio to Pythagoras along with his followers. The Golden Ratio was first used by Martin Ohm in his 2nd edition book Die Reine Elementar-Mathematik in 1835. The fascination of this concept is not confined to mathematicians but also artists, musicians, biologists, mystics, architects, historians and psychologist have debated and pondered the basis of its appeal and ubiquity. Prof. Michael Maestlin wrote the first approximation of the Golden Ratio in 1597 and stated it to be about 0. 6180340. It is fair to declare that the Golden Ratio have brought inspiration to most thinkers of various disciplines than any other number has done in the history of mathematics (Weisstein, 2010). The Golden Ratio in Art Just as the Golden Ratio is used in the beauty and design of nature, it can also be applied in achieving balance and beauty in the design of art. This is just a tool for composition although it is not a rule. Leonardo Da Vinci, used the Golden Ratio intensively in designing and in many of his paintings, he featured the Golden Ratio which he called the â€Å"divine proportion†. This he did after his exploration of the human body by engaging in the ratios of the lengths of different body parts. His illustration of the polyhedra on the divine proportion, and his perspective concerning the body proportions portraying the Golden Ratio has led to the speculation by some scholars that he used Golden Ratio in painting. This speculation has been seen in his Mona Lisa painting where it employs Golden Ratio proportion. The Sacrament of the Last Supper, which is a painting by Salvador Dali explicitly, illustrates the application of the Golden Ratio. The canvas’ dimension is that of the golden rectangle and what dominates the composition is the large dodecahedron which has its edges in Golden Ratio and swings above and behind Jesus. Other paintings speculated to symbolize the Golden Ratio are Holy Family by Micahelangelo, Crucifixion by Raphael, Self-portrait by Rembrandt, Golden Section Plate by Fletcher Cox and Bathers by Seurat (Obara 2010). The Golden Ratio in Architecture The Ancient Egyptians became the first individuals to apply mathematics in art. It is obvious that they did this by ascribing magical properties of the Golden Ratio and henceforth using that in designing their great pyramids. Some studies regarding the Parthenon and Acropolis offer a conclusion that most of its proportions give an estimated value of Golden Ratio. The facade of the Parthenon along with the elements of its facade are suspected to be circumscribed in terms of golden rectangles. The fact that the proportions of the classical buildings or rather their elements are according to the Golden Ratio clearly explain that the architects who designed them were conscious of the Golden Ratio and applied it in their designs. On the other hand, it is possible that the architects applied their special sense of good proportion and as a result their proportions gave approximate of the Golden Ratio (Obara 2010). According to a geometrical analysis carried out by Boussora and Mazouz concerning to the Great Mosque of Kairoua, it is evident that there was consistent utilization of the Golden Ratio in its design. The Golden Ratio is applied in the overall proportion of the plan along with the dimensioning of the court, the prayer space and the minaret. Mazouz and Boussora further scrutinized earlier archaeological theories concerning the mosque and demonstrated the Golden Ratio in the geometric constructions through the application of the constructions on the plan so as to test their hypothesis(The Golden Number). Le Coubusier explicitly applied the Golden Ratio specifically in his Moduaor system which he saw as a continuation of the traditions of the work of Battista Alberti, Leonardo da Vinci’s â€Å"Vitruvian Man† and others who applied the human body proportions to improve the function and appearance of architecture. Mario Botta, a Swiss architect based most of his designs on figures of geometry. Some of the private houses which he designed in Switzerland consist of cylinders, squares, cubes and circles. In Origlio, Mario has designed a house with the proportion of the Golden Ratio between the side sections and the central section of the house. In a recent book by Jason Elliot, it has been contemplated that the Golden Ratio was utilized in designing the Lotfollah mosque and Naqsh-e Jahan Square. The Golden Ratio was also used in designing the Notre Dame in Paris in 1250 (The Golden Number). Conclusion The idea of translating beauty into a simple number, the Golden Ratio is quite disturbing. It is true that beauty is not something that is so substantial in something like a lifeless number but rather something we all have to make personal choices regarding it. Basing on the rule of thirds that is used in photography, for a photo to emerge appealing and balanced, the image must be made to abide by the grid that is divided into thirds. The number of comments that a person receives directly correlates with the beauty found in his/her image. Though, there are other factors that affect how people view a person or something, good comments are given depending on how the image appeals the eyes. For attractive people like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, the skeleton of Golden Ratio almost fit perfectly on them. However, when the skeleton was put on a picture of an individual who looked a bit unattractive, the skeleton did not fit. I am not suggesting that beauty should be translated into being lifeless and cold because of it being defined inform of numbers. However, I think that the paintings and houses that used the proportions of the Golden Ratio look appealing and beautiful. In my opinion therefore, physical beauty can be measured by Golden Ratio.

An analysis of Shakespears Essay Example for Free

An analysis of Shakespears Essay The original sonnets were written by Francesco Petrarca in Italy. The word sonnet comes from the Italian word sonetto meaning little song. The Italian sonnet is made out 14 verses that are split into two parts. The first eight lines, called the octave, describe the problem while the six last lines, sestet, provides the solution. This form is different than English sonnets such as Shakespeare Sonnet 106. English sonnets still have 14 verses but they instead have three quatrains and one rhyming couplet. The first part, like the Italian sonnet, presents the problem. The second and third part complicated this situation further. Then the last part, the rhyming couplet, resolves the presented problem usually in a way that makes it a paradox. Sonnets are written in a strict rhyming and meter scheme. Iambic pentameter is used as a device in writing sonnets. This means that each line has ten syllables that alternate from hard to soft tones. The rhyming scheme for English sonnets is abab cdcd efef and gg for the rhyming couplet. We will be taking a look on Shakespeares Sonnet 106. Shakespeares sonnets are much different from Francesco Petrarcas sonnets. Petrarcas sonnets are about love and beauty while Shakespeares sonnets are mocking all the clichi s of the same thing. Shakespeares Sonnet 106 is a very beautiful sonnet about a lady. What I am assuming is a young man is telling this girl that her beauty is beyond description. He tells her all the writers before him, had premonitions about her and thats why you can find her beauty described in history books. The best lines, in my opinion, is I see their antique pen would have expressd even such a beauty as you master now. I think this line really sums up what Shakespeare is trying to express in the sonnet. I love that even though Shakespeares sonnets are about love, his sonnets are written in a non clichi way. He even mocks the clichi writers in his sonnet. Even though Shakespeares sonnets do not use clichi s, I think that his sonnets are the sweetest things I have ever read. The thing that makes Shakespeares sonnets complete is his choice of words and the technique he uses. Shakespeare describes everything unconventionally but in a genuine way. He explains history, for example, as chronicles of wasted time. In a way, this metaphor reflects the inner working of Shakespeares mind and shows us what his motivation behind his work was. In the sonnet, he shows us that beauty will eventually die and that literature will pass it on to the future. His use personification is very deep and meaningful, such as beauty making beautiful rhyme or antique pen cannot express I also love adjectives, such as lovely and divining eyes. These adjectives really set the tone of the sonnet, which is the essence of beauty and it being everlasting through the art of literature. Shakespeare was a genius of his day of age. His sonnets so intricate that it takes hours just to properly analyze one of them. His non-clichi writing style gave his work a little more pizzazz to his work. He expanded on the idea of the Italian sonnet and made it his own. Shakespeare wrote over 150 sonnets, all them unique in their own way. Shakespeare opens up his mind on paper and tells us the world as it is.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Management Essay Example for Free

Management Essay The management functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling Management is the attainment of organizational goals in an effective and efficient manner through planning, organizing, leading and controlling organizational resources. The success of an organization is determined by four essential functions of management: controlling, leading, organizing, and planning. Controlling involves directing and monitoring the progress of employees. Controlling employees and the work environment helps employees to stay focused on goals set by the management. Management must provide superior leadership skills by making their presence known in the work environment. Employees have a basic need of having contact on a daily basis with management. By leading managers motivate their employees and increase efficiency. Management makes an organization successful by organizing all aspects of business which would include business functions; creating organizational charts, setting goals, creating an action plan, and figuring out the logistics to make sure goals are achieved. Management must use the function of control to stabilize employee performance and the work environment. Control is always viewed as a negative term because employees think of being restricted. However, controls are placed for the benefit of everyone, without a controlled organization there would be chaos. Within my organization, management maintains control by setting clear guidelines each employee must obey. Managers expect people in an organization to change their behavior in response to control (Erven, 1994). Since my colleagues and I work as independent contractors everyone has the power to choose their own schedule. Management controls the environment by making everyone adhere to the set schedule by 75% or better. When contractors meet their commitment, they are rewarded with a pay incentive. Prior to this policy being enforced, performance was lower, since this control has been in place performance has increased dramatically. Leading Management is expected exercise the function of leading in order for the organization to meet their goals. Leading is an essential function of management because it helps management direct employees to focus on the big picture. Typically management will focus on increasing productivity to improve cost efficiency. In order to improve productivity, employees need direction and motivation from management. At my organization, employees are paid based on commission. Management provides employees with information about busier working hours so that employees have the opportunity to maximize their efforts on those hours. At the end of the day, management wants the needs of the customers to be met as well as employees to be satisfied with their compensation. Organizing Organizing is a critical component of good management, because everything within the organization is depending on the organizational skills of the management. Management is primarily responsible for organizing resources in order for goals to be met (Bateman Snell, 2007). Within the organization, management must create an organizational chart which would describe the business function and responsibility of each person on that chart. Management would assume responsibility for all logistics to be in place to assist their employees of meeting their goals. In my organization, a critical component of organizing involves having all of the necessary technology functioning properly since business is conducted by phone and internet. On a daily basis the management has to make sure the phone routing system is functioning properly as well as their websites. Occasionally technical problems occur, and they must be handled immediately or else business will suffer if the necessary technology is not available. Planning Planning is essential component to the other three functions of management running smoothly. Planning involves the management team identifying goals and objectives within the organization. Once goals are mapped out, management must work together to analyze the current state of the organization and make a plan of action to implement immediate changes. In order to plan successfully, management must anticipate circumstances they could be affected by. Based on goals, objectives, and their forecast into the future they can begin to create business strategies. The management in my organization focuses on increasing the volume of customers. When the volume of customers drops, promotions occur more often to lure customers in. In order to prepare for unthinkable situations such as a drop in business management must work within other departments to develop contingency plans when business is not going as planned. The roles and responsibilities managers have within an organization. There are managers in every profession – it is not a standalone field. For those of us who become managers, we reach a stage in our career progression where we apply for roles which have management responsibilities. We then need to build our managerial experience and gain the knowledge and skills to enable us to carry out the role effectively. As a manager, there are many responsibilities must follow. Managers take on an essential responsibility for communication. Particularly with the pace of change, it ismore important than ever to keep employees informed of what’s going on. In performing the informational role, managers are essentially two-way information conduits. Managers must keep employees informed of all things that affect their work and provide information to their organisation (and, often, outside their organisation) about what the team is doing. To undertake PDRs with staff. Through the PDR process, to engage in the setting of objectives in order to assist in the monitoring of performance and the development of the individual. To assess the training and development needs of staff to ensure that they are adequately supported in relation to their work responsibilities. Managers are also required to ensure that staff have completed the relevant mandatory training for their role. To ensure appropriate management systems and procedures are in place to meet your health and safety duties. You will find your responsibilities contained in the University’s Health and Safety policy. You are required to ensure appropriate risk assessments are carried out in respect of significant hazards and safety inspections. To apply the University’s Equal Opportunities Policy. Line managers are responsible for maintaining a working environment that is free of discrimination, harassment, victimisation and bullying. In applying the Universities Equal Opportunities Policy and associated training, line managers have an important role in ensuring that no person associated with MMU receives less favorable treatment on the grounds of: gender, race or ethnic origin, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, social background or for any other identifiable discriminatory cause. There will be other responsibilities for you dependent on your managerial level within the University. You should speak to your own manager if you need to clarify any of these.

Adolescence and Clothes Essay Example for Free

Adolescence and Clothes Essay Good afternoon, today I will try to express my opinion about this statement „You can tell a great deal about people from the clothes they wearâ€Å". And I will speak about which age group of people care most about their looks, how important is fashion for me and what is advantages and disadvantages of wearing a school unifrom. I agree with this statement , because you can get to know a lot of about people from they clothes. For example if man wear formal clothes I can make and overall opinion about him. He is formal, intelligent elegant and taking care of himself. If I would saw someone at work with dirty and tear clothes of course I would think about him not so good. I think teenager are the group of people who care most about their looks.Teenagers believe their looks are the key to a good relationship and it will help become popular at the scholl. But When theyre older, theyll realize it doesnt work like that. Fashion helps to express themselves and also provides teenagers a sense of identity by signaling which grouping they belong to (emo punk, goth, etc.) And in my opinion Celebrities perhaps are the greatest influences on teenagers in the modern world, and they can have a huge impact on a teens ideas about fashion and its importance. Fashion isnt important to me at all. I dont care about having the newest, the most trendy, or the best label for anything. To me, being trendy is not expressing yourself, it is merely following the crowd and trying to fit in. I just prefer to be myself.And I wear what I like. I study at gymnasium so we wear school unifrom. I think school uniform have advantages and disadvantages. Here are some advantages : 1. People automatically respect you Whenever wed go on fieldtrips, people comment on how professional and nice we looked 2. Everyone looks exactly the same You dont have to worry about not wearing the right thing. And some disadvantages : 1.Its annoying wearing the same thing as everyone else 2. You wear it everyday, all day it‘s just become boring . And lack of Variety To sum up everyone should wear clothes which they like and feel good with.These clothes will show the real you. Because other people can tell a great deal about you from the clothes you wear.

Improve Customer Service In Hospitality Industry Tourism Essay

Improve Customer Service In Hospitality Industry Tourism Essay The main purpose of this report is to research the problems in customer service of hotel and promote substantive recommendations to solve the problems. The report comprises the special definition of service, analyses of problems and methods of solving the problems. In order to improve those weaknesses of customer service, this report also identifies some detailed strategies. 2.0 Introduction Along with rapid economic development, competition in hospitality industry is becoming more intense, and the customer service is becoming an important means of improving efficiency, building brand and expanding sales. The level of customer service will largely determine the outcome of competition. Guests check a hotel, buying not only the facilities, and guests have a dinner at the hotel, purchase is not limited to meals, more importantly, they want to receive high-quality and thoughtful service. Therefore, the hotels mission is to provide quality services for guests and to meet the needs of guests. It is common pursue of hotel manager that how to improve customer service quality and make the hotel in a dominant position in the fierce market. 3.0 Customer service definition Services can be defined as the sum of behavior effectiveness that hotel staff devoted their emotions to form with the basis of certain equipment and facilities and with the target of customers needs (Gavin B. and Gillian M., 2002). We can build a figure to explain the word service. Figure 1 As the figure 1 said that customer service contain eight means: smile, excellence, ready, viewing, inviting, creating, eye and giving (Joost P. M. Wouters, 2004). In fact, these are some of the dictionary explanation about service. It enables services definition more specific, more operational. It is a circle surrounding the center of hotel, and this circle form the definition of service. 4.0 Improving service quality is the survival basis for hotel Modern customer needs are diversified and personalized, and their requirements are also getting higher and higher. It requires the hotel starting from the customer needs and continuously improves service quality (Omar M. and Simon J. 2006). Fundamentally speaking, quality of service is the basis for survival and development of hotel. Competition among hotels, in essence, is the service quality competition. The reasons are as below: 1. Customers are sensitive to quality of service; 2. Customer satisfaction are positively related to service quality. 5.0 Customer service qualitys problems analysis 5.1 Level of service quality is low Many hotel staff lack of initiative. Smile service can not be carried out and lack of basic manners etiquette (Allan Yen-Lun Su, 2004), and the staff can not operate advanced equipments. Although the situation has been improved in recent years, it still does not meet customer satisfaction very well. 5.2 Lack of inter-departmental services co-ordination Hotel customer service products have the property of integrating and which is provided by different departments and staff. Hotel service quality is good or bad that depends on the degree of cooperation and coordination between different departments and staff. Many managers are more concerned with the performance of their departments, rather than the co-operation with other departments, the corresponding barrier will eventually rush the guests to turn to rival. 5.3 Service Quality Management is inefficient Hotel service quality products are not only the physical products, but also the intangible service. Intangible services principal is human-that is hotel staff  ¼Ã‹â€ Marianna Sigala, 2005). Regulating and controlling the conduct of staff is the fundamental way to improve the quality of services. 6.0 The implement measures to improve the quality of hotel customer service 6.1 Build support system of customer service level of hospitality industry Figure 2 (FL=foreign language skill OM=operation manage skill IK=information knowledge EK=etiquette knowledge) From the survey results, it is a must that strengthen the operation manage skill of high-star hotel staff, foreign language communication skills, as well as the growing populary information systems management knowledge and so on. Hotel should build the certification system of hotel industry staff training that implement a voluntary system of taking examination to post. Through scientific training, help new employees master certain amount of hotel industry business knowledge. 6.2 Hotel managers should strengthen awareness service quality The quality of customer service the centeral work in hotel daily management, thus all staff should have a sense of quality and managers must establish the concept of service quality. Only managers taken root deeply in the concept of customer service quality can he regard quality as the lifeblood of enterprises, and make staff recognize the importance of customer service quality (Ling-Feng Hsieh and Li-Hung Lin, 2008). 6.3 Establish perfact service quality management system Establish the organization of customer service quality management. Hotel should set up specialized organization of customer service quality management as ensuranment of service quality system. Specifically, it is that establish comprehensive, scientific and rational, and controlled service control system, and bring the hotel quality activities into a unified quality management system through a certain rules, methods and procedures. Make out quality standards and quality objectives. Hotel should make specific standards to daily management of each service item and service sectors, and make work norms and procedures to make employee have the rule to comply with. Hotel can accurately record service process of different positions and sectors, and then analysis carefully, further improve service according to quality manage requirement, finally rationalize it, and defined it with the form of text and graphics and then form a service program. 6.4 Implementing a system of first-staff being in charge As far as customers concerned, they visit hotel and spend money just for buying service, and they do not have interest in understand that with which thing they can turn to which person for help. They have the right to believe that any employee represents hotels and should solve problem for them. So this system means, any hotel staff working in the post, who is the first to be consulted by customers, will be the main person in charge of solving problems and request of guests (C. F. Cheung and W. B. Lee, 2003). 7.0 Conclusion In conclusion, many hotels need to improve customer service level. Therefore, control and review is required when implementing administration and marketing activities. The hotel has to establish business goals for controlling and reviewing.

Nuclear Energy And The Future Power Debate

Nuclear Energy And The Future Power Debate Thesis statement: Regardless of the various definitions of renewable, nuclear meets every reasonable criterion for sustainability, which is the prime concern. The main reasons are first it produces the most energy than any non-renewable resource, second high reserves of uranium are found on earth which is the raw material for nuclear reactors; third there is no release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, chlorofluorocarbon during a nuclear reaction, fourth plutonium, a by-product of commercial nuclear plant operation, can also be used as a fuel, fifth the amount of waste produced is the least of any major energy production process and finally the nuclear fuel is inexpensive and easier to transport. The rise of global warming concerns throughout the world over the last ten years have led to a renewed interest in what was once considered a dead market-nuclear energy. After the Cold War, nuclear energy development was largely forgotten for many years until this r enewed desire among developed nations for alternative energy sources once again thrust the idea of nuclear power into mainstream consciousness. As the price of oil and global warming concerns both continue to rise steadily, a renewed interest in the clean-burning properties of nuclear power are becoming much more attractive. Although there are various risks involved when using nuclear energy, I will argue that nuclear energy is the best source of energy to replace oil and also I will argue that nuclear energy wastes are treatable, can be recycled and possess no threat to mankind. Among the various advantages of nuclear energy, its efficiency is by far the most important. The efficient use of natural resources is a major criterion in determining the environmental friendliness of a source of energy. It is a basic energy fact that the fission of an atom of uranium produces 10 million times the energy from an atom of carbon than does coal. Nuclear energy extracts by far more energy from the natural resource Uranium than does the exploitation of oil or any other natural resource. In 1950s Dr. M. Hubbard, Geologist at Shell, said that US Oil would peak in 10 to 15 years. He was laughed at and in the 1970s we ran out of Oil. His statement was based on a Discovery Bell Curve which said oil production continues to go up even after the oil discoverys drop off and that the rate that we run out of oil can be measured on the lack of new discoveries. Heres a quote from NEIs website: Nuclear plants are the lowest-cost producer of baseload electricity. The average production cost of 1.87 cents per kilowatt-hour includes the costs of operating and maintaining the plant, purchasing fuel and paying for the management of used fuel. These facts prove nuclear energy as the most efficient form of energy over its competitors, including oil, coal, wind, hydroelectric, and near-term solar power. Some people may be under the impression that uranium is a rare metal but its about as common as copper or tin and 40 times more common than silver. Sources of nuclear energy mainly uranium, on Earth are abundant, which makes this resource similar to renewable resources. According to the NEA (Nuclear Energy Agency), uranium resources of total 5.5 million metric tons and an additional 10.5 million metric tons remain undiscovered-a roughly 230-year supply at todays consumption rate in total. Bernard Cohens, Professor of Physics at Pittsburgh University, 5 billion year estimate is based on extracting uranium from seawater, which the Japanese have already shown to work. Cohen calculates that we could take 16,000 ton per year of uranium from seawater, which would supply 25 times the worlds present electricity usage and twice the worlds present total energy consumption. He argues that given the geological cycles of erosion, subduction and uplift, the supply would last for 5 billion years wi th a withdrawal rate of 6,500 ton per year. He comments that lasting 5 billion years, i.e. longer than the sun will support life on earth, should cause uranium to be considered a renewable resource. Among the many benefits of nuclear power, the main advantage of nuclear power has over other methods is that it is a clean way to produce energy as it does not result in the emission of any of the poisonous gases like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide. In todays world when pollution of the atmosphere is one of our main worries, an option such as this is definitely preferable compared to burning of fossil fuels which causes so much of pollution (Dujardin 2007). Also, the creation of nuclear energy doesnt contribute to environmental issues such as global warming as it doesnt release carbon dioxide in the atmosphere like the fossil fuels do. More importantly, fossil fuels reserves across the world are bound to get exhausted at some or the other point of time. Going by the alarming rate at which we are using them, it is predicted that, the coal and oil deposits across the world are expected to finish by end of this century. On the other hand, the uranium deposits on the planet are to continue for a long time, and even if they end alternative sources in form of plutonium and thorium also exist. Nuclear energy is also considered to be renewable depending on the type of reactor that is being used. The special type of reactor design called a breeder reactor can create or refine radioactive elements as a part of its functioning (Young, 1998). There are breeder designs that, once operating, can refine uranium, turning even natural uranium into fuel-grade uranium that can be used by other standard reactors. Some breeder designs create plutonium as a byproduct, which can be used for either power generation or in nuclear weapons. Currently, there are 442 reactors operating in the world, 130 of which are in the United States. Another 12 are being built in foreign countries. With the current technology, only 1% of the energy available in uranium is able to be captured by thermal reactors. This energy makes up between 11% and 18% of the total energy available in the world. Developing technologies that would allow us to capture more of this available energy is at least 15 years away, b ut with incentives, these advances could be a realistic part of our future. The potential is not the only part of the advantages of nuclear energy. The uranium is reasonably cheap to mine, and easy to transport to reactors around the globe, making nuclear energy relatively inexpensive to produce when compared to conventional methods of energy production. The average finished cost of nuclear energy is between 3 and 5 cents per kilowatt, and the cost has dropped over the last 26 years, while the cost of other forms of energy has risen steadily over the same period of time (Makhijani Saleska, 1999). The potential is not the only part of the advantages of nuclear energy. Regardless of the various definitions of renewable, nuclear power therefore meets every reasonable criterion for sustainability, which is the prime concern. Concern about the proper disposal of nuclear wastes is one of the most controversial aspects of nuclear power. Nuclear wastes are radioactive and so long-lived that very special arrangements must be made for disposal. The focus and controversy are about high-level wastes, which are the minority of waste from a reactor but comprise the majority of the radioactivity. The waste is generated when utilities remove the spent fuel. The spent fuel rods are very hot and contain both remaining radioactive fuel and other highly radioactive fission products. The plant operator must shield the rods with water by placing them in tanks or ponds at the reactor sites. Industry has to maintain control and is responsible for storage until the final disposal site can be arranged. In the United States, utilities store all spent fuel temporarily at reactor sites. No permanent depository for high-level wastes exists. Industry argues that the management of wastes has been very successful. They report that there have not been any releases that have had adverse impacts and the costs are internalized. Despite their claims of success, their remains significant concerns of long-term disposal. Both, the disadvantages and advantages of nuclear power plants have to be taken into consideration when determining whether this source of energy is efficient for development of power or not. While the critics of nuclear energy have been citing the various nuclear power plant disasters that have occurred in the past as one of the main reason for refraining from use of nuclear energy, its proponents are confident that it has the ability to sustain the energy requirements of the entire world, in a safe manner. Overall, however, I believe that the use of nuclear energy greatly outweighs any other sources of energy.