Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Increased interdependence among nations Essays

Increased interdependence among nations Essays Increased interdependence among nations Essay Increased interdependence among nations Essay Globalization has made it easier for nations to obtain the goods or services that they need from other countries. With the assurance that they can easily import life essentials such as food and clothing, many countries have reduced or completely stopped the manufacturing of these products. They instead focus their energy on offering financial services or medical services to other nations. One such country is India (Boudreaux 68). Most third world countries rely on developed countries for the provision of machinery and computers. This arrangement is beneficial to all the parties involved. However, it is not stable as it appears to the naked eye. If something should happen to cause further destabilization, then all the parties involved will suffer (Weinstein 98). If, for instance, a developing country that relies on a developed country for machinery lacks the capital required for importation, many businesses in that county will suffer. All countries are financially dependent on their trade partners. The U.S. dollar is used as the world currency in the financial market. Today, the U.S. economy is much stable than it was during the Great Depression. However, should the U.S. economy fall or destabilize, all other countries will face the consequences as well. The only nations that will be safe in such a situation are those that are fully dependent on globalization for their survival (Weinstein 165). Many of these nations are the third world countries, especially in Africa, that are believed to have nothing to offer to the world economy. Increased Rate of Unemployment Since the 2008 economic recession, the rate of unemployment in the U.S.A. and many developed countries has gradually gone up. Contrary to this, developing countries are experiencing a much lower rate of unemployment (Boudreaux 150). The wage policies and environmental protection laws in developing countries are much lower compared to those in the developed countries. Because of this, many corporations are investing in developing countries, hence creating more jobs. More job opportunities are lost to the developing countries due to frequent capital transfers from the developed nations (Boudreaux 154). To solve unemployment in the developed countries, more protectionism laws need to be put in place by the developing countries (Weinstein 189). These laws will protect the workers from developing countries from exploitation by the multinational corporations that are out to make more profits by hiring cheap labor. Developing countries are importing more products from the developed countries. The result of this is the closing down of many local industries, hence increased rate of unemployment (Boudreaux 134). One way of reducing unemployment in the developing nations is to regulate imports and encourage local production of good, thus creating more job opportunities. Exploitation of Developing Countries At the onset of globalization, there was the glamour of people having the chance to world oversees and conduct their business with much ease. While this has become a reality for many people, the negative impacts of the same are just beginning. Globalization has made it easier for the transferability of industries and jobs to the developing countries (Weinstein 186). All this is an attempt to lower production costs, have a lower wage bill and increase profitability in the corporation. Today, many U.S. industries have shifted their operation to either China, India or in some parts of Asia. A similar situation is developing in Australia. China, India and Asian countries produce goods at lower costs due to availability of raw materials. They also offer cheaper labor compared to the developed countries. The companies make more profits. The profits go back to the developed countries for more development. The third world countries are left struggling economically, despite the fact that they are in charge of manufacturing (Weinstein 197). The transfer of jobs to the developing countries may be viewed as a way of creating more jobs. However, it comes at a big cost as many people are paid less than $3 per hour. With the current living standards, this is barely enough to put food on the table. This can be solved by the developing countries putting into place better wage policies for their citizens. Before accepting to manufacture goods for a developed country, developing nations should sign contracts that call for financial benefits. The profits should also be reinvested in the developing country that production is taking place. Corporations should also be advised to pursue a more realistic approach to making profits (Casper 124). One such approach is one used by Henry Ford, where he paid his workers enough money that they could afford to purchase the same products that they were manufacturing. The lack of government regulation is another factor that contributes to the exploitation of third world countries. The governments in these nations need to step up to defend their economies and citizens. Establishment of minimum wage rates will help the people live better lives. Government agencies need to be created to help in the regulation of multinational companies that set base in developing countries. Cultural Erosion The observable impact of globalization is cultural erosion, especially in the developing countries. Prior to modernization and globalization, developing countries held their traditional way of life dearly. Their mode of dressing, eating habits, socialization of children, the value of placed on marriage and other cultural practices were passed from one generation to another. Today, the western culture is more prevalent in the world (Boudreaux 234). Few countries have held to their originality as many have taken up what is in fashion today. Today, practices such as alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual immorality and divorce are at an all-time high. It is high time that traditional values are brought back to the society before moral degradation destroys us. We still have our grandparents who can play the role of reminding us what their ancestors practiced. Cultural exhibitions should be held frequently to remind the youths of their roots. Increased Competition in the Market Due to globalization, many countries have eased up their trade regulations. This has made it easy for external companies to penetrate local markets, posing a threat to their operations. Multinational companies are able to set base in any country they so desire due to free trade policies and availability of capital. More businesses have come up, as people try to take advantage of the cheap labor, easier modes of transportation and higher demand of good and services, both locally and internationally (Weinstein 203). Each new business tries to outdo the other in terms of offering better products and services at affordable prices. This competition is healthy and dangerous at the same time. In a bid to lower prices, many companies are offering counterfeit products, which could be harmful to the consumers (Dollahite and Haun 156). Policies need to be put in place to regulate the number of businesses within a particular sector. This will help to control competition and reduce instances of fake and low quality products. Increased Health Hazards As mentioned before, globalization has caused serious environmental pollution. More industries have come up because of globalization. Many nations lack strict environmental laws. Industries have taken advantage of this fact by emitting dangerous gases into the air while manufacturing their products (Boudreaux 253). This has caused air pollution, which has in turn resulted into more air borne ailments. Today, asthma, pneumonia and respiratory diseases are at an all-time high because of breathing in polluted air. The noise made by the industries in the course of their operations has caused serious damage on the hearing of the employees and the people living close to the industries (Haldar 202). Waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid are on the rise due to disposal of waste products in water sources. Many industries lack proper waste disposal methods. They dispose their waste products haphazardly, completely ignoring the dangers associated with a dirty environment. Many trees have been cut down to create space for the creation of more industries. This habit has resulted in less rain for many countries. In the end, this has resulted in soil erosion, drought and famine (Haldar 230). These events have caused the death of so many people due to starvation. Every country needs to come up with strict environmental laws. Hefty penalties should be put in place for any individual or company that is caught polluting the environment. Social groups should involve themselves more in environmental clean-ups. In conclusion, globalization has achieved its potential but has caused several negative effects that are doing more harm to the people. It is imperative that globalization be redesigned in such a way that its negative impacts are reduced. Bearing in mind that globalization affects important areas such as democracy, the environment and the economy, policies should be put into place to regulate it. Developing countries need to step up and offer financial and planning aid to the developing countries. There is need to restructure the current international financial system to cater for the needs of both poor and rich nations. Globalization is meant to improve the living standards of all those involved. For this to be achieved, a human face needs to be put in globalization. Bibliography Boudreaux, Donald J. Globalization. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2008. Casper, J. K. Changing Ecosystems: Effects of Global Warming. New York: Infobase Pub. , 2010. Dollahite, Nancy E and Julie Haun. Sourcework : academic writing from sources. Boston : Heinle/Cengage Learning, 2012. Haldar, I. Global warming: The causes and consequences. New Delhi: Mind Melodies. , 2011. Houghton, J. T. Global warming: The complete briefing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Jones, L., Fraser Institute. Global warming: The science and the politics. . Vancouver: Fraser Inst., 1997. Weinstein, Michael M. Globalization : whats new? New York: Columbia Univ. Press, 2005.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Frankenstein Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices

Frankenstein Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices Mary Shelleys Frankenstein is a 19th-century epistolary novel associated with both the Romantic and the Gothic genres. The novel, which follows a scientist named Frankenstein and the horrifying creature he creates, explores the pursuit of knowledge and its consequences, as well as the human desire for connection and community. Shelley depicts these themes against the backdrop of a sublime natural world and reinforces them using symbolism. Pursuit of Knowledge Shelley wrote Frankenstein in the midst of the Industrial Revolution, when major breakthroughs in technology were transforming society. One of the central themes in the novel- man’s pursuit of knowledge and scientific discovery- explores the subsequent anxieties of this period. Frankenstein is obsessed with uncovering the secrets of life and death with ruthless ambition; he disregards his family and ignores all affection as he pursues his studies. His academic trajectory in the novel seems to mirror mankind’s scientific history, as Frankenstein begins with the medieval philosophies of alchemy, then moves on to the modern practices of chemistry and mathematics at university. Frankensteins efforts lead him to discover of the cause of life, but the fruit of his pursuit is not positive. Rather, his creation only brings sadness, misfortune, and death. The creature Frankenstein produces is an embodiment of man’s scientific enlightenment: not beautiful, as Frankenstein thought he would be, but vulgar and horrifying. Frankenstein is filled with disgust at his creation and falls sick for months as a result. Catastrophe surrounds the creature, who directly kills Frankenstein’s brother William, his wife Elizabeth, and his friend Clerval, and indirectly ends the life of Justine. In his search for the root of human life, Frankenstein created a deformed simulacrum of man, privy to all the usual human degradations. With the disastrous consequences of Frankenstein’s achievement, Shelley seems to raise the question: does merciless pursuit of knowledge ultimately cause more harm than good to humankind? Frankenstein presents his story to Captain Walton as a warning for others who wish, like he did, to be greater than nature intended. His story illustrates the downfall caused by human hubris. At the end of the novel, Captain Walton appears to heed to the lesson in Frankenstein’s story, as he calls off his dangerous exploration to the North Pole. He turns away from the possible glory of scientific discovery in order to save his own life, as well as the lives of his crewmen. Importance of Family In opposition to the pursuit of knowledge is the pursuit of love, community, and family. This theme is most clearly expressed through the creature, whose singular motivation is to seek human compassion and companionship. Frankenstein isolates himself, puts aside his family, and ultimately loses those dearest to him, all for his scientific ambition. The creature, on the other hand, wants precisely what Frankenstein has turned away. He especially wishes to be embraced by the De Lacey family, but his monstrous physique bars him from acceptance. He confronts Frankenstein to ask for a female companion, but is betrayed and cast away. It is this isolation that drives the creature to seek revenge and kill. Without Frankenstein, his proxy for a â€Å"father,† the creature is essentially alone in the world, an experience that ultimately turns him into the monster he appears to be. A scene from the 1931 film adaptation of Frankenstein.. Archive Photos / Getty Images There are multiple orphans in the novel. Both the Frankenstein family and the De Lacey family take in outsiders (Elizabeth and Safie respectively) to love as their own. But these characters are markedly dissimilar to the creature, as they are both nurturing, matriarchal figures to fill in for the absence of mothers. Family may be the primary source for love, and a powerful source for purpose in life at odds with the ambition for scientific knowledge, but it is nevertheless presented as a dynamic in conflict. Throughout the novel, family is an entity fraught with the potential for loss, suffering, and hostility. The Frankenstein family is torn apart by revenge and ambition, and even the idyllic De Lacey family is marked by poverty, the absence of a mother, and a lack of compassion as they turn the creature away. Shelley presents family as an important means for love and purpose, but she also depicts the familial bond as complicated and perhaps impossible to achieve. Nature and the Sublime The tension between the pursuit of knowledge and the pursuit of belonging play out against the background of sublime nature. The sublime is an aesthetic, literary and philosophical concept of the Romantic period that encapsulates the experience of awe in the face of the natural world’s extreme beauty and greatness. The novel opens with Walton’s expedition to the North Pole, then moves through the mountains of Europe with the narratives of Frankenstein and the creature. These desolate landscapes mirror the problems of human life. Frankenstein climbs Montanvert as a way to clear his mind and minimize his human sorrows. The monster runs to the mountains and glaciers as refuge from civilization and all its human fallibilities, which cannot accept him for his faà §ade. Nature is also presented as the ultimate wielder of life and death, greater even than Frankenstein and his discoveries. Nature is what ultimately kills both Frankenstein and his creature as they chase after one another further into the icy wilderness. The sublime uninhabited terrains, of equal beauty and terror, frame the novel’s confrontations with humanity so that they underline the vastness of the human soul. Symbolism of Light One of the most important symbols in the novel is light. Light is tied to the theme of knowledge as enlightenment, as both Captain Walton and Frankenstein search for illumination in their scientific pursuits. The creature, by contrast, is doomed to spend much of his life in darkness, able to walk around only at night so that he may hide from humans. The idea of light as a symbol for knowledge also refers back to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, in which darkness symbolizes ignorance and the sun symbolizes truth. The symbolism of light arises when the creature burns himself in the embers of an abandoned campfire. In this instance, fire is both a source of comfort and danger, and it brings the creature closer to the contradictions of civilization. This use of fire links the novel with the myth of Prometheus: Prometheus stole fire from the gods to aid in humankind’s advancement, but was eternally punished by Zeus for his actions. Frankenstein similarly took a kind of ‘fire’ for himself, by harnessing a power not otherwise known to mankind, and is forced to repent for his actions. Throughout the novel, light refers to knowledge and power and weaves in myths and allegories to make these concepts more complex- calling into question whether enlightenment for humankind is possible to achieve, and whether or not it should even be pursued. Symbolism of Texts The novel is filled with texts, as sources of communication, truth, and education, and as a testament to human nature. Letters were a ubiquitous source of communication during the 19th century, and in the novel, they are used to express innermost feelings. For example, Elizabeth and Frankenstein confess their love for one another through letters. Letters are also used as proof, as when the creature copies Safie’s letters explaining her situation, in order to validate his tale to Frankenstein. Books also play an important role in the novel, as the origin of the creature’s understanding of the world. Through reading Paradise Lost, Plutarch’s Lives and the Sorrows of Werter, he learns to understand the De Lacey’s and becomes articulate himself. But these texts also teach him how to sympathize with others, as he realizes his own thoughts and feelings through the characters in the books. Likewise, in Frankenstein, texts are able to portray the more intimate, emotional truths of the characters in ways that other forms of communication and knowledge cannot. The Epistolary Form Letters are also important to the novels structure. Frankenstein is constructed as a nest of stories told in epistolary form. (An epistolary novel is one told through fictional documents, such as letters, diary entries, or newspaper clippings.) The novel opens with Walton’s letters to his sister and later includes the first-person accounts of Frankenstein and the creature. Because of this format, the reader is privy to the thoughts and emotions of each individual character, and is able to sympathize with each one. That sympathy extends even to the creature, with whom none of the characters within the book sympathize. In this way, Frankenstein as a whole serves to demonstrate the power of narration, because the reader is able to develop sympathy for the monster through his first-person storytelling.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Corporate strategy assigment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Corporate strategy assigment - Essay Example The company has employed more than ten thousand professionals in 27 countries globally. The company enjoys considered client base that include insurance companies, corporations, sovereign wealth funds, banks, pension companies and endowment foundations. The company offered integrated services to its clients including enterprise management, strategic advisory services and risk management services. The company has more than US $ 3.67 trillion in fixed income securities, real estates, equity funds and alternative investments (Grind 40). Business model development Black Rock Inc has implemented an excellent business model. The company recognizes the changing business environment requires innovative products. The company has a global scale approach to its operations and enables clients have a local reach to its services. The company is also client-focused since it provides integrated services to its client portfolio. The business model is aimed at facilitating efficiency, enhancing teamwo rk across the globe and offering tailor-made products that meet the client needs. Organisational culture One of the core assets of the organisation is an organisational culture that is aimed at meeting client needs. ... The company adds value to client solutions by the constant evolution of new product offerings. Through offshore funds, unit trusts and managed accounts, the company has been able to meet the unique needs of each client in the world. Human resources The company has invested in highly qualified risk management analysts and other key staff. For instance, the company has recently recruited experienced staff from some of the major competitors. The risk and quantitative analysis teams utilize a global and integrated approach in analysis of the market risks while also maintaining a regional orientation. The human resources are able to use the best practices in investments and risk management activities. Distribution and logistics The company has office locations in about 27 countries. The company has also enhanced the global reach through offering investment opportunities through the internet. The company has established partnerships with other financial intermediaries in order to increase the client base. Porter’s Five Forces Supplier power Maintaining of a good relationship with current clients is very important for Black Rock Inc. Current clients usually refer new clients due to their satisfaction with services that they receive from an organization. The company recognizes this and has invested on building long term relationships with their clients. One of the critical assets of the company is a good reputation that is maintained by the investor relations segment of the business (Schermerhorn 2010). Black rock Inc has been able to gain a high ranking among potential employees through its performance in the industry. Therefore, the company gets a highly qualified pool of applicants to choose from when hiring employees. The employees are

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Conceptualizing a Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Conceptualizing a Business - Essay Example This is because the food is cheap, but it has many calories that pose health risks to citizens. Therefore, this aspect brings the writer to the choice of opening up a restaurant that has nutrient facts and serves healthy food at affordable prices. The restaurant will offer varied types of products, which will be served on different occasions. For instance, it will serve healthy products and services to customers such as colorful fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamins. It will also serve whole grains, and low-fat dairy product and other products, which have rich carbohydrates. Other products include fish, groundnuts, starchy, lean poultry and unsaturated oils like olive oil and canola that have low calories, hence reducing increased risks for diseases. These are beneficial because they have low calories; hence, they will help customers to have sufficient energy; thus living a healthy lifestyle (McLaughlin pr.8). Therefore, the restaurant will target all categories of customers including students, civil servants and even tourists from varied parts of the globe. The mission of the restaurant is to offer customers nutritious products and services at affordable prices. This mission is significant because it will improve the health living standards of many people; thus maintaining a healthy nation. The vision of the restaurant is to be the health-oriented competitive restaurant by delivering quality and health services at the lowest possible price while striving to meet the needs of all customers effectively. The organization will strive to achieve this in the future through ensuring that customers consume healthy products. Therefore, they will train employees to serve customers health products in order to enable the restaurant to become competitive in the future. The company will employ effective business strategies that will enable it to achieve a competitive advantage in the competitive business environment.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Sustainable agriculture Essay Example for Free

Sustainable agriculture Essay From her educational text, Jenny Ridgwell states, â€Å"Many supermarkets stock a range of ‘organic’ foods; these are normally more expensive than other foods, since it is more difficult to match the volume of perfect fruits and vegetables that are produced by intensive farming. Organic foods are grown using traditional methods of faming without artificial fertilisers, pesticides or intensive growing systems. People who eat organic food believe that it tastes better and that it is better for the environment. † (Examining food and nutrition. ) Having sourced this statement, I have studied its content and found it to be a very good definition of organic foods, showing the main features of organic food and people’s perceptions of organic products. Secondly according to a newspaper article from 2001, about the cost of going organic ‘at least 80 per cent of a cow’s feed would have had to be organically grown. Veterinary drugs would have been allowed if animals fell ill, but there would have been a ban on routine use of antibiotics to prevent infections’ (Times Newspapers Ltd 2001) . This article reference shows the implications placed on farmers dealing in organic produce, yet it gives us an idea about the health related aspects of organic foods, such as them containing no artificial substances, as an end product and during the production process. In consideration of my viewpoints I have chosen to interview two people from my immediate family, who have separate roles within the home. My first viewpoint was from my mother, who is the main breadwinner of the family and sources the food for most meals, yet she responded negatively in the session. In her statement she mentioned, â€Å"I do not buy organic produce as the price is much more expensive compared to standard produce of which you receive a greater quantity for the price with little quality compromised. † On the other hand my second interviewee was my father, a previous agriculturist. He replied positively to the interview remarking that, â€Å"I would buy organic food just for the taste alone, but knowing the health benefits and what hard work is involved it is only a privilege to accumulate great food and give the tradition a well deserved boost. From my discussions with the interviewees it has become apparent that they know the nature of organic food, the advantages and the disadvantages. To summarise, it is clear that organic food is not top of their priorities yet it is still considered and acknowledged in the day to day running of a household. Many people say organic food is better than non-organic foods, in many cases, they are healthier because ‘with processed foods there can be hidden fats, salt and sugar that can go in during the processing. Food certified as organic is not allowed to contain genetically modified ingredients. ’news. bbc. co. uk (Accessed 02/10/12). â€Å"A four year European Union funded study found that with regards to organic food compared to regular food: There are 40% more antioxidants in organic food, milk that is taken from organic herds contains 90% more antioxidants, and there are higher levels of beneficial minerals. † www. dosomething. org (Accessed 27/09/12). These findings clarify that my second interviewee’s opinion is wide spread on behalf of health issues throughout our consumers of organic produce. While many people insist organic foods contain more health benefits, according to university studies, ‘overall, there was no discernible difference between the nutritional content, although the organic food was 30% less likely to contain pesticides. ’ www. bbc. co. uk (Accessed 19/09/12). This information emphasizes my mother’s statement about â€Å"little quality compromised† this also highlights her point that we pay more for less, in more aspects than one, perhaps maybe even including our vitamins and minerals. There are many unknown benefits of organic food that provides a great advantage over non-organic produce. Many of these advantages are in connection with health, especially â€Å"children and foetuses who are most vulnerable to pesticide exposure due to their less-developed immune systems and because their bodies and brains are still developing. Exposure at an early age can cause developmental delays, behavioural disorders, and motor dysfunction. † www. helpguide. org (Accessed 27/09/12) As well as organic food differing from non-organic foods in nutrition they also differ in price, the reason for organic produce being more expensive to buy ‘is that agro ¬chemicals are designed to make food cheaper to produce. Agro ¬chemicals were not developed with nutrition, taste or the ecology in mind. The chemical designers’ remit was to make mass production of food cheaper. So what we get is a cheap but inferior product. ’ www. organicfoodee. com (Accessed 02/10/12) Much of this extra cost is due to the products necessary for produce to be classified as organic. A statement from Humphrey feeds revealed ‘organic wheat is costing us currently about 245 pound a tonne, whereas conventional wheat, most of what we had bought is about 120 pound a tonne,’ showing the costs implicated on organic producers. (Food Programme, BBC Radio 4, 12th Oct 2008) In my opinion organic foods are of a much better quality, taste and are generally less harming to the environment, this is severely reflected in their price and in many cases has extreme effects on food choices. ‘Organic farming has always tried to anticipate the challenges farmers are now facing, such as payments, and now the Nitrate and Phosphate Regulations. Organic farming has a less intensive nature and integrated approach, so organic producers have generally been able to meet these challenges without too much difficulty. ’ www. dardni. gov.uk (Accessed 02/10/12). This statement from the Department of Agriculture makes reference to the differences in farming techniques and the problems faced by non-organic producers, but to a certain extent organic farming goes back to nature, for example, farmers use crop rotation to fertilise the soil increasing stores of carbon in the soil, eventually ‘we could offset at least 23% of agricultures greenhouse emissions. ’ www. soilassociation. org (Accessed 19/09/12). This refers to mainly non-organic producers; however organic producers face hefty stipulation over what they can and can’t do. In particular the Department of Agriculture imply a regulation in which the period of slurry spreading is suited to the weather. An article from a farming newspaper last week read; ‘The closed period is due to come into operation on October 15, after which farmers caught spreading slurry would normally face prosecution. (Farm Week, September 27th, 2012). This has a greater impact on organic producers due to their lack of permitted resources, implicating that they can only fertilise soil at particular times throughout the year compared to non-organic producers, nonetheless in my opinion this has great consideration for the environment. In regards to helping the environment ‘organic farming practices use 30% less energy, less water, and obviously no pesticides,’ hence reduces groundwater pollution. www. thechicecologist. com (Accessed 02/10/12) In conclusion, I have found my research on organic food to be practical and obtained from a range of different sources to give adequate reasons for purchasing and consuming organic produce.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

OnLive: The Future of Gaming or Technological Disaster? Essay

OnLive: The Future of Gaming or Technological Disaster? The OnLive Company first proposed their plan to provide cloud-based gaming service to the public at the E3 conference, June 2009. To many of the enthusiasts at the conference, it seemed that an On-Demand service for video games was only natural, given that movies and music have already adopted cloud distribution. As Microsoft and Nintendo premiered their new resource-hungry consoles, OnLive demoed Crysis, a graphics intensive videogame, on an iPhone. The crowd was astonished by the games low-latency, and quality. CEO Steve Perlman also points out â€Å"we can deliver anything† through the cloud, including design applications, movies, and other forms of multimedia. OnLives idea to deploy the innovative service has not gone without criticism; many people are skeptical of their business plan and believe it to be impractical. In prospect, the OnLive service will revolutionize the gaming industry. After using the service for only a few minutes, I mused that gaming consoles would never again dominate the market. Along with games, OnLive’s interface is also a social network. It allows users to interact and share information, such as "Brag Clips" which are user-selected 10 second clips of memorable moments in their gameplay. Perhaps most importantly OnLive can be played through nearly every new device with an Internet connection, including iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. Currently on pre-order is OnLive’s â€Å"MicroConsole", a cigarette package-sized device that can connect to OnLive to a Television. Even the old IBM computer that has been sitting in your garage for years can run the newest games through OnLive. Whereas in the past gamers were forced to purchase the new Sony Pla... ...Perlman Gives Us His Post-launch Perspective.† Interviewed by Rich Brown. CNET News. Communication Network Inc., 15 July 2010. Web. 4 Nov. 2010. . Paul, Ryan. "40GB for $55 per Month: Time Warner Bandwidth Caps Arrive." Ars Technica. 3 June 2008. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. . MMOGchart. MMOG Subscriptions Market Share - April 2008. Digital image. MMOGchart.com. MMOGchart, Apr. 2008. Web. 7 Nov. 2010. . Rayburn, Dan. "The Rapid Decline in Bandwidth Costs Since 2005 -- Seeking Alpha." Seeking Alpha. Seeking Alpha, 2 June 2009. Web. 1 Nov. 2010. . "What Is MMOG?" GamesTotal.com. Games Total. Web. 6 Nov. 2010. . "What Is Pandora Radio?" WiseGEEK: Clear Answers for Common Questions. WiseGEEK. Web. 3 Nov. 2010. .

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Contraceptives in School Essay

During the past decade, there have been stark generational differences in terms of moral and social norms. In order to accommodate for these changes, society has had to make difficult decisions regarding the protection of todays youth. One of the biggest controversies that have been ongoing deals with the gray area regarding the roles of educators and parents. School systems today are distributing condoms and contraceptives to students as young as 11 years old with the intention of preventing their students from suffering from the negative side effects of sex. From an ducator’s perspective, the distribution of condoms has become a necessity due to the overwhelming lack of morals instilled in the youth at the fault of their parents. They also argue that it encourages safety and that it is completely foolish to assume that abstinence is always practiced. On the contrary, conservatives will argue that condoms promote sex and their distribution will show minors that sex at a young age is socially acceptable. Conservatives’ opinions are naive because they blatantly condone the fact that standards and practices have changed dramatically over time. The rising issue of under aged sex has made the distribution of condoms a necessity in order to combat the negative ramifications of the decisions made by todays uneducated youth. A misconception that is widely believed is that passing out condoms in schools will influence or pressure teens to have sex. According to Dr. Kevin J. Minch, if young people believe they will be â€Å"safe† when using a condom they are much less likely to be deterred from engaging in dangerous and immoral behavior (Minch). The conservatives believe that with the introduction of condoms at an early age, this would lead to the unnecessary exposure of the youth to a concept hat should only be tackled by legal adults. It allows them to stray into the obscure world they are not yet ready for. Widespread condom distribution will establish sexual activity as the norm among young teens, creating peer pressure to participate in sex. The added temptation to engage in sexual activity is â€Å"protected† will result in more women having sex at a younger age, perhaps furthering their exploitation. Minch) Sex is a topic that should be addressed at the discretion of each parent and the fact is that educators are slowly taking over the responsibilities of the parent. The opposition would argue that parents of every ethnicity and background have spent years of their life attempting to instill solid morals and values to their children. It is understandable how a parent would feel for a high school teacher to pass out condoms to students at such a young age. Education systems are making the decision on what they think is best for the child rather than having the parents deciding the verdict on this issue. It is said that teenagers who have a good relationship with their parents are less likely to experience a pregnancy and the harsh consequences from unprotected sex. Good communication between parents nd children helps ensure that children make the right decisions when it comes to their sexual activity. However, as seen by the statistics, the amount of parental involvement in the lives of teens today is limited. Educators are simply picking up the slack since some parents do not educate their children on the simple right and wrongs like previous generations were taught. In addition to educators programs that educate our youth and that taxpayers should not fund these programs. â€Å"Is it really the responsibility of hardworking taxpayers to pay for the use of protection for irresponsible teens? I certainly do not think so† (Cook). Educators do not need to sanction the idea of a sexually active lifestyle; however they should hearten all young teenagers to make Judicious decisions when it comes to being sexually active. In this case, schools provide their sex-education classes and many prefer it stayed Just that, that it is not fit to provide a basket of condoms upon the exiting of a classroom. What the conservatives fail to do is look at the logical perspective and to take into account the statistics and reality of todays youth. What needs to be widely noticed is that the United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births. It is fact that that the teen pregnancies in our nation cost the United States at least 7 billion dollars each year. For the fiscal year of 2006 the federal government spent over 38 billion dollars to support families that began with a birth from a teenage mother. Nearly eight billion dollars is spent each year to diagnose and treat sexually transmitted diseases. Either the money paid towards taxes can contribute to pregnancies and their after effects, or the money can be well Prevention is much more important when all the facts are spent on prevention. displayed. Every year, around 750,000 teenagers will get pregnant. As a result, more than two thirds of teenagers who give birth will drop out of school, thus leading to an uneducated and difficult future. Teenage mothers and their children are more likely than others to be placed in the poverty bracket; therefore billions of dollars are spent taking care of them. Teen pregnancies are seen as a disadvantage in todays society due to the fact that many children born to teenage mothers tend to have a low birth rate. In addition to this, children born to teenage mothers are said to do poorly in school as they age and are more suceptible to abuse and neglect. The ruth is that the Centers of Disease Control reports nineteen million new STDs each year and approximately half of these reports are from our youth. One in four sexually active teenagers become infected with a sexually transmitted disease every year, which includes but is not limited to Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Genital Warts, and Herpes. (The Alan Guttmacher Institute). Another mind wrenching fact coming from the American Social Health Association is that of nine million new STD cases in the year 2000, ninety percent was accounted for by HIV and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) in ages fifteen to twenty-four years of age. Chesson HW, Blandford JM, Gift TL, Tao G, Irwin KL. According to an educator working out of a New York City public high school, the idea of distributing condoms has her approval. â€Å"If I could, I would give out condoms in my classroom. I think we should make it as easy as possible for teens to access condoms. † This statement could cause an upheaval of opinion, but this teacher is looking out for the welfare of her students. High school students’ main focus should be education, goal setting, and discover ing their own individuality. These teenagers should live an energetic and active life without worrying about remarital sex. Even though this is true, it has been proven that over 50% of teenagers have had sexual intercourse before graduating High School. So what is to come of this? Considering a high percentage of high school students are in fact having sex, there are outstanding statistics proving many STDs and teenage with the prevention classes and protection. When students are provided with condoms, it at least gives them the opportunity to be responsible with such an irresponsible act. Condoms are proven not to be 100% effective protecting against pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. However they have and will cut the odds by a landslide. Their distribution could have a significant impact on many lives by protecting them from diseases and unforeseen pregnancies that can end a young mother’s future. The best defense against STD’s and under aged pregnancies is simply knowledge and protection. Frequently, parents are too embarrassed to approach their child about any type of sexual activity. For this reason students are left uniformed and in harms way. A catastrophe will take place if sex education and protection are taken away from the students today. Parents need to be active and not permit sexual activity and disregard its existence. Often our society does not recognize these situations. Regardless of the parents’ opinions of moral and religious rights, someone has to protect the youth considering abstinence is not a sure avenue for these children. This is why our education systems have, and need to continue doing so, taken a step forth to protect our nation’s future.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Wisdom from Suffering

Amber Lyles Humanities HNS Period 9th 18 September 2011 Wisdom From Suffering â€Å"Suffering is the price of being alive. †; â€Å"make use of suffering. † These straight forward quotes sourced from the thoughts of Judy Collins and Henri-Frederic Amiel are produced from different origins but compatible. Collins’s is stemmed from the idea that suffering cannot be avoided and Amiel’s is from his philosophy of the art of living. Most people try to deny and avoid the path of suffering. Yet, they often fail to realize that no matter how many detours they take around suffering, the construction of it is still going to be there. Might even relocate closer to them where they are forced to really deal with it. In Sophocles play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus, the king of Thebes suffering comes from personal and criminal revelations. Somewhat similar but not nearly as extreme is and/or was the origin of my suffering. Good thing is that, people gain wisdom from suffering through growth and acceptance. Being king is hard, title alone comes with high prestige and expectations. Oedipus was put on a pedestal by the citizens of Thebes like he was their God. That was their biggest mistake. So when the land of Thebes is plagued by disease and death, Oedipus pleas that â€Å"I know that you are deathly sick; and yet, sick as you are, not one is sick as I. Each of you suffers in himself alone his anguish, not another’s; but my spirit groans for the city, for myself, for you. † Oedipus not only wants the city to know that he suffers with them but that he suffers substantially because his suffering not only includes himself. Now not saying that what was said wasn’t sincere, just the fact that he knew of how they saw him put pressure on him to over exaggerate a little to make a point that he cared. His greatest suffering came through the process of finding out who killed King Laius; a king before him, whose death was believe to have brought the plague. During that process Oedipus was told by Teiresias, a blind prophet, â€Å"†¦. you are the murderer you seek. † Of course Oedipus dismissed the statement; cursed the prophet and his words. Not only was Oedipus being the murderer revealed, but the fact that he was a Theban; born to Iokaste who is his current wife and mother of his kids. That means that he married and had kids with his own mother. From that moment on Oedipus is confused, enraged and accuses Kreon bringing Teiresias to him to as a way to try and his throne. The suffering of the city of Thebes caused by the plague-wind brought about by a way of the death of King Laius leads to the wisdom brought about by Teiresias. The knowledge that Oedipus gains is that he killed his father, married and had kids with his own mother. Oedipus brought about his own doom and â€Å"served his own destructionâ€Å"; in the words of Kreon. Anyhow, I’d like to share my own story. I was born in Chicago on March 4, 1994 to Brenda Yarbrough and Marvin Lyles. Well that’s what I’d thought. Found out when I was 8 or 9 that Marvin Lyles wasn’t my father and that my real dad wanted nothing to do with me. I blamed my mother for a lot a lot of things, which I’ve felt bad for because she’s had enough to deal with. Stage 4 cancer survivor, only has one kidney, has had heart attack, high blood pressure, single parent mother for me and my two brothers most of her life, list goes on and on. She doesn’t need me to make her feel guilty. In 2002, we moved to Aurora because my mom had met this man and got married. I wasn’t to happy about leaving Chicago and family but the idea of having a â€Å"father† and sister appealed to me and made the situation more comfortable. Well that marriage started off good then a lot stuff happened and it all went downhill. The marriage really produced a lot of trust issues and fears that I have today. They got divorced and from then on it’s mainly been me and my mom. To return to the topic, my biggest suffering I would have to say stems from the situation with my father. I’ve been in some dark places even to the point where I didn’t want to live. Just felt unwanted, that something was wrong with me that my own father didn’t want me and that I was just a burden to my mom. The knowledge I’ve gained is that life is precious, I’m not a mistake, it’s not my fault, just his lost and that my mother is and has done the absolute best she can/could; she’s my greatest motivation. I’ve just had to grow and mature quicker, stay strong and accept things that I can’t control. On to Oedipus situation , don’t think that he should do it again. Fate is fate, it was suppose to happen. He probably could’ve handled the Teiresias situation differently and been more mannered. Then again Oedipus would’ve probably had to figure it out the truth by himself, instead of forcing it out of Teiresias. That probably would’ve took forever and the people in the city would’ve suffered more. So, either way would produce the same outcome of wisdom for Oedipus, just a difference in time, the amount of suffering and when death would come. It’s like having the option of the death penalty or life in prison; person knows they’re going to die either way just a matter of time. Oedipus brought his tragedy upon himself; even though he seemed ignorant to fact until the end. He killed his father, married and had kids with his mother and had to reap the repercussions of his own decree. That was meant to happen. The reason why, unknown, but someone could’ve found light in it and shouldn’t be revised. Next, is the question of , why or why not would I do my situation with suffering over again? I honestly can’t say that I would. Reason being is, because as I look back over my life; from being homeless, crying myself to sleep at night, struggling with the situation with my dad, feeling alone, jail visits, health scares to the littlest lie have all help me grow and learn. The greatest thing I’ve learned through my suffering though, is the importance of my momma. I appreciate her so much for the sacrifices she has made and her strength. Our life isn’t the best, but we have each other. She cries, I cry, she hurts, I hurt, when she’s happy is when I’m the happiest. That’s why I strive to stay focused in school and do the right thing because I know that what she has been through when she was younger is what she doesn’t want me to experience. She’s is the just best friend/mother/father I just don’t know where I would be without her. I still have my underlying issues and occasional problems but now I know that I’m going to be okay. Can’t change the fact that my real dad doesn’t want me, but I can change how I handle it. Yes it hurts, but as long as I got God, my momma, family and those that care truly care for me in my corner; can fight anything. All in all, people gain wisdom through growth and acceptance. Oedipus gained wisdom through knowledge that the suffering of his city was the result of a plague-wind brought about by his killing of king Laius. In the process leading to his own suffering with the revelations that her was the murderer that he sought after and that he married and had kids with his very own mother. The wisdom that that I gained through my suffering stemming from the situation with my father is that I’m not a mistake, have to accept that it’s out of my control, his loss, and that my life is to precious to consider taking. I continue to progress and Oedipus is dead. Revisiting the words of Judy Collins and Henri-Frederic Amiel, â€Å"Suffering is the price of being alive. †; â€Å"make use of suffering. † Everybody experience suffering; whether brought about themselves, by circumstance or environment. Suffering is apart of life and the art of living is to make use of it to gain wisdom. People should just accept it, there’s no shortcut; just drive through it and learn. Suffering is everywhere. If a person doesn’t agree, dare them to just look around, listen to the news and tune in to reality.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Holiday In Portugal essays

Holiday In Portugal essays Pleasant Holiday Experiences On Costa Do Estoril And Beyond Portugal's Costa Do Estoril enjoys a delightful south-facing perspective. It starts at Carcavelos, 15 kilometres from Lisbon, and stretches for a distance of 20 kilometres westwards along the Atlantic seaboard to Guincho. It portrays a delightful blend between the charm of the land and the fascinating exquisiteness of the sea. Using the internationally known resort of Estoril as a base, my wife and I had the pleasure of experiencing the region and some of its peripheries during a 2001 visit. We found Estoril to be a pleasing, safe and unspoilt smallish seaside town where natural beauty and individual architecture blends with the surroundings. It has a pleasantly warm climate with an ever-present gentle breeze. Estoril has played its part in history making. It was a favourite haven of kings and aristocrats who retreated to exile following many of the tumultuous events of the 20th century and, a centre of international espionage and secret diplomacy during World War 11. The legacy that remains is one of sophistication and cosmopolitanism. Today Estoril is better known for its magnificent casino. A delightful park, edged by tall, tropical palm trees, fronts the attractive building which forms the centrepiece of the resort. A visit to the multifaceted entertainment centre is recommended. Close-by is the famous Tamariz Beach. The combination of a vast, shimmering sunlit bay, people of all ages and colour relaxing on the sand, and a promenade hiving with happy, smiling strollers creates a lasting impression. A four-minute train ride, or thirty minutes on Shank's mare via a promenade, takes one from Estoril to picturesque Cascais. It has much to offer in the way of forts, castles, swimming, sailing, eating out, shopping and scenery. Well worth a visit or two! Lisbon is a mere 25 kilometres from Estoril. The breathtaking architectural treasures and deep-seated seaf ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

6 steps toward a cautious career change

6 steps toward a cautious career change A life where you dread what you do every day isn’t sustainable. If you’re absolutely miserable, it’s clear you need a change- maybe even a total career overhaul. What isn’t clear is how to transfer all the hard work you’ve put into building this one career into the start of a new one. There are ways to make a big change without having to give up all the gains you’ve made so far. Let’s explore some key steps you can take.1. Define your ultimate goals.First and foremost, take a big step back and ask yourself some tough questions. What do you want out of a career, and why aren’t you getting it in your current career? Look at your life from higher up to map out the career and work life you hope to attain. Taking time to assess the situation will help you make the right choices and not rush into anything too fast.2. Pick an ideal moment.A career change is a stressful move, no matter how happy it makes you. Even if you’ve done your homework and can make the transition as smooth as possible, your life will be turned upside-down for a while. Choose a time to explore career change when everything else in your life (your family and friends, your home life, etc.) is stable and can fly on autopilot as you navigate the bumpy seas of your transition. Don’t attempt any massive job changes when you’re about to go through a massive life change, as well!3. Ask people who have found success.Seek advice from people further up the food chain who have made big career leaps. They can give real-life examples of how to handle specific situations. Ideally, you can find a mentor in the field to ask about steps for your particular industry. You’ll want to gain a full understanding of the territory you’re branching into in order to make smart, calculated moves.4. Think big, act small.Once you’re sure you have an ideal scenario of where you want to eventually end up, go  for it. Just break th at massive goal down into smaller benchmarks- goals that you can meet in the shorter term. Then put your blinders on and focus on one task at a time until you start generating the momentum to carry yourself closer to your desired endpoint.5. Test the waters.If you’re not 100% sure of what you want, don’t just leap headfirst into a new career- particularly one that will involve a major lifestyle change. Try to gain some casual experience in the field or position before you commit. The last thing you want to do is end up in a new career and hate it! Try volunteering or taking on some freelance work until you see how well you fit.6. Remain humble throughout the process.You’re making a move into a territory you can’t know as intimately as the one you’ve been in- no matter how well-respected and successful you are currently. You’ll have to start a few notches down and prove yourself. Embrace new challenges with eagerness and gratitude, and youâ⠂¬â„¢ll be fine.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Business organisation and policy cartels and monopolies Essay

Business organisation and policy cartels and monopolies - Essay Example On the other hand, buying cartels aim at purchasing raw materials for its members while the output determining cartels determine the quantity of output for each member unit as the name suggests (Sangla 2009, p.181). Without government intervention, an isolated monopolistic firm would only exist in an ideal world. This is because most monopolistic firms make a lot of profits thus encouraging the formation of rival firms. In the long run, the new firms break the monopoly. Most governments in the 1920s embraced mergers and trade unions in key economical sectors such as chemical and metal industries (McTavish 2005, p.52). However, most of the business organizations preferred cartels to the other forms of trade convergence. After the World War II, the business field developed thorough monopolies and restrictive practices, which had salient effects on business organizations (McTavish 2005, p.52). Currently, it is only America in the whole world, which has not legalized cartel formation. One of the most popular cartels today is the organization of petroleum-exporting countries (OPEC). OPEC was established mainly to control the amount of oil each member produced. Member units that form cartels always enjoy a wide variety of benefits. Each member usually has a guarantee to earn fixed minimum profit which is not the case with other business institutions. In addition, all marketing and other secondary functions of the individual business organizations such as transportation, advertisement and marketing research are normally carried out by the cartels (Sangla 2009, p.181). In addition, the member firms also enjoy price control. Since, in working as a pool, the individual firms acquire monopolistic characteristics, they are in a position to charge the prices of their products at their own will. Conversely, the cartels and monopolistic

Friday, November 1, 2019

Transition Of Corporate Power And How It Effect Fashion Industry Assignment

Transition Of Corporate Power And How It Effect Fashion Industry - Assignment Example The paper "Transition Of Corporate Power And How It Effect Fashion Industry" discusses Transition Of Corporate Power And How It Effect Fashion Industry. In the fashion sector, the corporate should be focusing on the governance so that they maximize residuals and in thecases of investor-owned firms, theyhave to make a pro datadistribution to theshareholders. The pro-data distribution allows accountability when it comes to government subsidies and the role of labor laws and community interest. An example of a transition of corporate power in thefashionindustry is China. China is one of the largest consumers of textile with its population of 400 million, giving a high demand for textile. In the past, the fashion industry has faced problems starting from insufficient raw materials and inadequate technology. In 1950, the Chinese government started it five-year plan with the construction of cotton mills, printing and dyeing plants. The plan was not only meeting the demands of the growing p opulation but also to provide employment. The government solely embarked on the production, structure and distribution. It however failed to meet the requirements of its population, so the government introduced a modernized method of the open policy. Therefore, allowed foreign direct investors to do businesses in China. It also enabled China to renovate its outdated industry rapidly and also make new economic ties with other countries. The result was a transformation of the intermediate products like thread.