Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Biography of Zheng He, Chinese Admiral

Memoir of Zheng He, Chinese Admiral Zheng He (1371â€1433 or 1435) was a Chinese chief naval officer and wayfarer who drove a few journeys around the Indian Ocean. Researchers have regularly thought about how history may have been unique if the primary Portuguese adventurers to adjust the tip of Africa and move into the Indian Ocean had gotten together with the naval commanders tremendous Chinese armada. Today, Zheng He is viewed as something of a society legend, with sanctuaries in his respect all through Southeast Asia. Quick Facts: Zheng He Known For: Zheng He was an incredible Chinese chief naval officer who drove a few campaigns around the Indian Ocean.Also Known As: Ma HeBorn: 1371 in Jinning, ChinaDied: 1433 or 1435 Early Life Zheng He was conceived in 1371 in the city presently called Jinning in Yunnan Province. His given name was Ma He, demonstrative of his familys Hui Muslim starting points since Ma is the Chinese rendition of Mohammad. Zheng Hes extraordinary incredible granddad Sayyid Ajjal Shams al-Din Omar was a Persian legislative head of the area under the Mongolian Emperor Kublai Khan, organizer of the Yuan Dynasty that administered China from 1279 to 1368. Mama Hes father and granddad were both known as Hajji, the honorific title gave to Muslim men who make the hajj, orâ pilgrimage, to Mecca. Mama Hes father stayed faithful to the Yuan Dynasty even as the revolutionary powers of what might turn into the Ming Dynasty vanquished bigger and bigger wraps of China. In 1381, the Ming armed force executed Ma Hes father and caught the kid. At only 10 years of age, he was made into an eunuch and sent to Beiping (presently Beijing) to serve in the family of 21-year-old Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan who later turned into the Yongle Emperor. Mama He developed to be seven Chinese feet tall (likely around 6-foot-6), with a voice as noisy as a colossal ringer. He exceeded expectations at battling and military strategies, contemplated crafted by Confucius and Mencius, and before long got one of the sovereigns nearest compatriots. During the 1390s, the Prince of Yan propelled a progression of assaults against the resurgent Mongols, were based only north of his fiefdom. Zheng Hes Patron Takes the Throne The primary ruler of the Ming Dynasty, Prince Zhu Dis oldest sibling, passed on in 1398 in the wake of naming his grandson Zhu Yunwen as his replacement. Zhu Di didn't warmly embrace his nephews rise to the seat and drove a military against him in 1399. Mama He was one of his leaders. By 1402, Zhu Di had caught the Ming capital at Nanjing and crushed his nephews powers. He had himself delegated as the Yongle Emperor. Zhu Yunwen likely kicked the bucket in his consuming royal residence, in spite of the fact that gossipy tidbits continued that he had gotten away and turn into a Buddhist priest. Because of Ma Hes key job in the upset, the new sovereign granted him a manor in Nanjing just as the honorific name Zheng He. The new Yongle Emperor confronted genuine authenticity issues because of his seizure of the seat and the conceivable homicide of his nephew. As per Confucian convention, the primary child and his relatives ought to consistently acquire, however the Yongle Emperor was the fourth child. In this way, the courts Confucian researchers would not bolster him and he came to depend as a rule upon his corps of eunuchs, Zheng He the vast majority of all. The Treasure Fleet Sets Sail Zheng Hes most significant job in his lords administration was being the president of the new fortune armada, which would fill in as the sovereigns head emissary to the people groups of the Indian Ocean bowl. The Yongle Emperor named him to head the enormous armada of 317 throws out ran by more than 27,000 men that set out from Nanjing in the fall of 1405. At 35 years old, Zheng He had accomplished the most noteworthy position ever for an eunuch in Chinese history. With an order to gather tribute and set up attaches with rulers all around the Indian Ocean, Zheng He and his naval force set out for Calicut on Indias western coast. It would be the first of seven all out journeys of the fortune armada, all instructed by Zheng He, somewhere in the range of 1405 and 1432. During his profession as a maritime officer, Zheng He arranged tradeâ pacts, battled privateers, introduced manikin rulers, and brought back tribute for the Yongle Emperor as gems, meds, and fascinating creatures. He and his team voyaged and exchanged not just with the city-conditions of what are presently Indonesia, Malaysia, Siam, and India, yet additionally with the Arabian ports of current Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Despite the fact that Zheng He was raised Muslimâ and visited the places of worship of Islamic blessed men in Fujian Province and somewhere else, he likewise adored Tianfei, the Celestial Consort and defender of mariners. Tianfei had been a human lady living during the 900s who accomplished edification as a young person. Talented with prescience, she had the option to caution her sibling of a moving toward storm adrift, sparing his life. Last Voyages In 1424, the Yongle Emperor died. Zheng He had made six journeys in his name and brought back incalculable emissaries from remote terrains to bow before him, yet the expense of these outings weighed vigorously on the Chinese treasury. What's more, the Mongols and other roaming people groups were a consistent military danger along Chinas northern and western outskirts. The Yongle Emperors mindful and academic senior child, Zhu Gaozhi, turned into the Hongxi Emperor. During his nine-month rule, Zhu Gaozhi requested a conclusion to all cherish armada development and fixes. A Confucianist, he accepted that the journeys emptied a lot of cash out of the nation. He wanted to spend on battling off the Mongols and taking care of individuals in starvation assaulted regions. At the point when the Hongxi Emperor kicked the bucket not exactly a year into his reign in 1426, his 26-year-old child turned into the Xuande Emperor. A fair compromise between his glad, inconsistent granddad and his mindful, academic dad, the Xuande Emperor chose to send Zheng He and the fortune armada out once more. Passing In 1432, the 61-year-old Zheng He set out with his biggest armada ever for one last outing around the Indian Ocean, cruising right to Malindi on Kenyas east coast and halting at exchanging ports en route. On the arrival journey, as the armada cruised east from Calicut, Zheng He passed on. He was covered adrift, despite the fact that legend says that the team restored an interlace of his hair and his shoes to Nanjing for entombment. Inheritance In spite of the fact that Zheng He lingers as an overwhelming figure in present day eyes both in China and abroad, Confucian researchers made genuine endeavors to cancel the memory of the extraordinary eunuch naval commander and his journeys from history in the decades following his passing. They dreaded an arrival to the inefficient spending on such campaigns. In 1477, for instance, a court eunuch mentioned the records of Zheng Hes journeys with the goal of restarting the program, however the researcher responsible for the records disclosed to him that the reports had been lost. Zheng Hes story endure, in any case, in the records of team individuals including Fei Xin, Gong Zhen, and Ma Huan, who went on a few of the later journeys. The fortune armada additionally left stone markers at the spots they visited. Today, regardless of whether individuals see Zheng He as a seal of Chinese discretion and delicate force or as an image of the countrys forceful abroad development, all concur that the chief of naval operations and his armada remain among the extraordinary miracles of the antiquated world. Sources Bit, Frederick W. Imperial China 900-1800. Harvard University Press, 2003.Yamashita, Michael S., and Gianni Guadalupi. Zheng He: Tracing the Epic Voyages of Chinas Greatest Explorer. White Star Publishers, 2006.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Heat and Temperature Difference Essay Example

Warmth and Temperature Difference Essay Example Warmth and Temperature Difference Essay Warmth and Temperature Difference Essay Warmth and Temperature Difference BY abevl 23 Name: Date: Student Exploration: Heat Transfer by Conduction Vocabulary: conduction, convection, protect, radiation, warm conductor, warm vitality, warm cover Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE utilizing the Gizmo. ) Suppose two singing dish have been left on the oven with the burners on. One of the browning skillet has a metal handle and different has a wooden handle. 1 . Which handle do you figure you could securely contact? 2. For what reason do you figure one handle will be cooler than the other? Thingamabob Warm-up Heat, likewise called warm vitality, can be transmitted through space (radiation), by oving liquids (convection), or through direct contact. This last strategy, called conduction, is investigated in the Heat Transfer by Conduction Gizmow. To start, watch that Aluminum is chosen. Select the BAR CHART tab and turn on Show numerical qualities. 1. What is the underlying temperature of every measuring utencil? Measuring glass A 95 Beaker B 5 2. Snap Play ([pic]) and watch. A. What befalls the temperature of Beaker An after some time? Measuring utencil a goes down after some time. B. wnat nappens to tne temperature 0T Beaker B after some time? Measuring glass D goes up. 3. For what reason do you think the temperatures of Beaker An and Beaker B changed as they did? Due to conduction. I Aactivity A: [pic] I Get the Gizmo prepared: I Click Reset ([pic]). I Measuring heat move I Check that Aluminum is chosen. Question: How does the temperature distinction between two compartments identify with the pace of temperature change? 1 . Watch: Select the GRAPH tab and press Play. Hold up until the temperatures of the two recepticles are both near 50 oc, and utilize the zoom out catch ([pic]) to see the entire diagram. Sketch the diagram in the space at right. What does the diagram appear about the pace of temperature change after some time? 2. Structure theory: How would you think the temperature distinction between the eakers identifies with the pace of warmth move? 3. Assemble information: Select the TABLE tab. Snap Reset, and afterward click Play. Snap Pause ([pic]) at regular intervals (doesn't need to be definite). Each time you click Pause, record the temperature of every container and their temperature contrast in the table beneath. (To discover the temperature contrast, take away the temperature of measuring glass B from that of recepticle A. ) I Ilme (s) I Beaker A temp. I Beaker B temp. contrast (oc) 1 1100s I craps 1 1400s 1 1600s (Aactivity A proceeded next page) Aactivity A (proceeded from past page) lemp. . Compute: At each time, what is the aggregate of the temperatures in every measuring utencil? 5. Apply: In this reproduction, the measuring utencils are superbly protected. This mearns that no warm vitality (heat) is lost to the outside condition. In the event that the containers were not flawlessly protect ed, how would you figure the entirety of their temperatures would change after some time? Clarify. 6. Analyze: Compare the temperature changes in the 0-100 second interim to the 500-600 second interim. In the first place, record the temperature distinction toward the beginning of every interim. At that point, compute how much the temperature in every container changed during the interim. I Value 10-100 s interim 1500-600 s interim I emperature OITTerence at tne sta I interim IChange in Beaker A temperature IChange in Beaker B temperature tne time 7. Break down: How does the pace of temperature change rely upon the temperature distinction between the two containers? 8. Think and talk about: Why do you think the pace of temperature change doesn't remain steady after some time? In the event that conceivable, examine your answer with your instructor and cohorts. I Aactivity B: I Conductors and protectors ISelect the TABLE tab. Presentation: Materials that permit warmth to go through effectively are called warm conductors. Materials that oppose the exchange of warmth are called warm encasings. Questlon: wnlcn materlals are tne Dest conductors? wnlcn are tne most noticeably awful conductors? 1. Anticipate: In the Gizmo, you can utilize aluminum, copper, steel, or glass to interface the two protected measuring glasses. A. Which material do you think will be the best warm conductor? B. Which material do you think will be the best warm encasing? 2. Accumulate information: With Aluminum chose, click Play. Snap Pause after around 200 recreated seconds. Record the temperature of every recepticle at 200 seconds. Next, compute the temperature change of Beaker A. Rehash with every material to finish the table. I Material I Beaker A temp. at Beaker A temp. change (oc) seconds (oc) 3. Dissect: What does your information demonstrate? I Beaker B temp. at 1200 seconds (oc) I IAIuminum I ICopper I Glass 1200 4. Order: Which materials would you characterize as warm conductors, and which would you group as a cover? Which material was the best warm conductor? Warm conductors: Thermal protector: Best warm conductor: Apply: A great Trying skillet wlll transTer perfect qulcKly Trom tne oven Durner to tne food. In light of the aftereffects of the Gizmo, which material would be best for searing dish? Why?

Friday, August 14, 2020

A grab bag filled with a magical camp and the Big Apple

A grab bag filled with a magical camp and the Big Apple It’s official: my blogging hiatus has ended. It has been a crazy couple of weeks, filled with editing medical school applications (first drafts, second drafts, third drafts, galore!), trying to finish up my summer projects at the National Institutes of Health (I’m close, but it looks like I’ll be sticking around the lab for an extra week), presenting my research (2 poster presentations + a lab presentation), writing papers (coming soon to an MIT journal near you), working at Camp Kesem (it was a huge success, more info on it later), taking daily trips to the Au Bon Pain in the NIH Clinical Center (which I justify by the total savings of about $15 and a tree or two that I achieved by using a refillable mug), hanging out in New York City, and more. I’m really only getting slightly more sleep than I do at school and my caffeine intake is far too high, but the few breaks that I’ve had have been as glorious as the Charles River on a spring morning. As I sit on the train from New York to DC, the fact that I’m going to be a *senior* is slowly, and painfully, sinking in. Could it really be true that I only have one year left at the Institvte? Take me back to freshman orientation, when four years seemed like an eternity and the underground route from E25 to Lobby 7 seemed just about as real as dragons and reindeer (oh wait…) Now, those tunnels are just a warm, familiar respite from freezing midnight walks from Kendall; they are a home that I share with rats the size of cats. I have this problem where I really start to enjoy things just as they’re about to end. Maybe I just loosen up and become comfortable with my surroundings, or maybe I just forget all the bad things and reminisce endlessly about the good (my memory is funny like that.) So now that I am almost done with college, it’s time to do all the things that I should have done more often during the past three years. That means getting lost (I guess I’ll have to go out to the suburbs for that) and wandering on sidewalks for hours, having picnics by the river, playing Frisbee on Kresge lawn, doing psets on Killian Court, going to more events by the Lab for Chocolate Science, visiting Lansdowne Street, seeing the Boston Pops, and cheering/jeering at a Celtic’s game. It means inviting my professors to lunch and getting to know more of my classmates. It means doing whatever it takes to check every last box on my “101 Things To Do Before Graduating from MIT.” And, lucky for you, it also mean s blogging more frequently. But, you have to tell me what you want to hear. Want to hear more about my adventures in Boston or my class schedule? Ask and I shall try my darndest to answer (except for “How do I get into MIT?” I still don’t know what to say to that one.) This past week, I tried to implement my new “carpe diem” mentality. Last Thursday, I went to Boston to attend counselor training for Camp Kesem. As I wrote in a previous entry, Camp Kesem is a free summer camp for kids whose parents have/had cancer. It is an opportunity these kids to forget their worries by just having fun and meeting other people who have had the same experiences. This was MIT’s first year hosting the camp, and I think that it’s safe to declare that it was a huge success. Obviously, the logistics behind establishing a camp can be quite difficult facilities must be arranged, counselors must be interviewed and chosen, and campers must be recruited â€" but I think it is safe to say that our first year was a huge success. Before I go on, I would like to thank Daniel Hawkins, Diana Gallagher, and Shaye Storm for their generous donations that helped make the camp possible. So on August 12, the day camp started, I assumed my “camp identity” of Smile (everyone makes up a name for themselves and none of the campers knew our real names. I chose my camp name because it’s an anagram of my real name and I’m almost always smiling.) I spent the next five days with sixteen other MIT students, three administrators, and thirteen campers at a beautiful facility in Rhode Island. From 7:30 am to 10:30 pm, we sang camp songs, rotated between activities (drama, arts and crafts, sports, and nature), swam in the lake (the third cleanest in Rhode Island, I was told. It turns out that there are only five lakes in Rhode Island to begin with…!), played games, ate smores, and much more. I was responsible for arts and crafts, so I sat at a picnic table nestled between the trees and beside the lake and glued, cut, and drew for about three hours a day. I’m pretty sure that I’ll never get all the glitter out of my pants and hair (pictures of Julio and Vivian ’09 d oing arts and crafts below, all courtesy of Dan ‘10. Unfortunately, I cant put up pictures of the campers.) Some other highlights include our evening “cabin chats,” giant volleyball games (I broke the net on my first serve… though in my defense I never claimed to be athletic), meteor showers, and pie eating competitions. All of the campers were not only incredibly mature and conscientious, but also talented and hilarious. It was an experience that I think we will all remember. Hopefully next year we will have even more campers, and keep us in mind if you are interested in becoming a counselor! After Camp Kesem, I spent a few days in New York City before heading back home. The weather was incredible and I got to indulge in three of my favorite activities- walking around, eating at cafes, and window shopping. Thanks to my gracious hosts in NYC, I got to see new parts of it like Brooklyn (including Coney Island, where I ate a Nathan’s hot dog at the original location) and the Seaport District (which looks exactly like Boston’s Faneuil Hall.) ‘Twas awesome, and now it’s time to buckle down for one last week of my summer internship.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Pursuit of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby and in...

The American Dream has always been a driving force in the lives of Americans. It has become a foundation of ideals and hopes for any American or immigrant. Specifically, one of the ideals that always exist is the dream of America free of class distinction. Every American hopes for a society where every person has the opportunity to be whomever he or she desire. Another ideal in the American dream is the drive to improve the quality of life. As one’s idea of the American Dream gets closer and closer, often times political and social ideals of America cause their American Dream to take a turn for the worst. The American Dream has become a motive for success for both Americans and immigrants. The dream is what draws foreigners to†¦show more content†¦The American society expects only certain things from certain people, ruining the American Dream for residents of America. In The Great Gatsby, Myrtle represents the low and ignorant class of America. She is a model for citizen who tries to break the social barriers that the society puts up and pursues wealth by any means necessary. Although people that goes extend themselves outside of their social class is achieving the American Dream, the society has its limits. When Myrtle receives a compliment made about her dress, she acts snobbish and blows off the comment. Nick sees the act that Myrtle has put on just to be a part of the upper-class society. The people around her easily recognize Myrtle’s fraudulence. Similar to Myrtle, Troy Maxson soon realizes that the society has its limits that affect the American Dream. In Fences by August Wilson, Troy Maxson sees how African-Americans are suppressed in the society he lives in. He believes that all African-Americans are â€Å"born with two strikes on you before you come to the plate† (69). Troy is always cribbing about the disadvantages of being a African-American and how his American Dream of playing baseball was jaded by th ey society. For both Troy and Myrtle, they have both realized that with each society come political and social ideals that destroy their American Dream. Society has an ideal about the American Dream that as you get closer to your own American Dream, your quality of life isShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Fences By August Wilson1240 Words   |  5 Pagesyoung, they are told to â€Å"dream big† and â€Å"shoot for the stars†. Nothing seems impossible. As people grow older, they become more aware of reality and dim their childhood dreams to a more practical level. However, this light always remains in the back of their brain, keeping them wondering what if? What if they had continued to pursue this goal despite the likeliness of failure? Would it still be worth it? Fences by August Wilson tells the story of an impoverished African-American family in the 1950s andRead MoreFailure Of The American Dream In The Writings Of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zora Neale Hurston, And Augu st Wilson1418 Words   |  6 PagesThis literary study will define the failure of the †American Dream† in the writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Arthur Miller, Zora Neale Hurston, and August Wilson. Fitzgerald’s account of the Jay Gatsby s rise to fame in the 1920s defines the failure of financial success as part of the American Dream. Gatsby will eventually die due to his excessive greed, which is not unlike the emotional death of Willy Loman as he fails to become a successful salesman in Author Miller’s Death of a Salesman. More

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Native American Tribe The Tribes Of Now Arizona And New...

Starting in the 1400s, the Native American tribe called the Dineh occupied the territories of now Arizona and New Mexico. In their language, Dineh means â€Å"the people†, in which they call their homeland Dinetah. They got the name Navajo from the Spanish so that they wouldn t get confused with the Apache tribe, for they looked very much alike. The Navajo had a unique lifestyle and focused on art, religion, and farming. They had many conflicts with their neighbors and especially the United States Army. When they were relocated to different parts of the South, they had the integrity and unification to presume their traditions, especially their art and religion. The Navajo had a lifestyle that is not too diverse than the American style of living today. They lived in homes, raised livestock, and the public had roles that are a bit similar to ones in our society. They lived in cone shaped houses called hogans. At first, logs and poles were used as framework, but in later years, they used stone or adobe. The doorways always faced east so that the first thing the family saw was the morning sun. They also raised livestock to increase herds instead of the usual in which the tribe would use up the supply for food. They first received goats and sheep from the Spanish, in which they used for meat, milk, and wool. They also acquired horses at about the same time. Horses gave them greater mobility during raiding and hunting activity. The roles of the people are also similar to the worldShow MoreRelatedThe Apache Indians Long And Proud Culture1803 Words   |  8 PagesAs we know, the first Americans to inhabit what is now the United States was not the Europeans, but instead Native Americans. Part of our great nation’s history involves history that is not always so great. Our country has endured many wars, struggles, economic and agricultural hardship and history that many would call shameful. However, the United States has evolved over hundreds of years and has transcended its very existence and influenced every corner of the globe, because of those past hardshipsRead MoreThe Apache Indians Long And Proud Culture Essay2231 Words   |  9 PagesThe First Americans As we know, the first people to inhabit the United States were not the Europeans, but instead the Native Americans. Part of our great nation’s history involves a history that is not always so great. Our country has endured many wars, struggles, economic and agricultural hardship and a history that many would call shameful. However, the United States has evolved over hundreds of years and has transcended its very existence and influenced every corner of the globe, because of thoseRead MoreWar Between Europeans And Indians1745 Words   |  7 Pagesas, mutual feelings of being superior, have infused relations between Native Americans and non-Natives in North America. Intertribal conflicts among the Indians, and nationalistic rivalries, lacking faith, and expansion desires on the part of non-natives worsened these tensions. The resulting white and native conflicts often took a particularly bad turn and resulted in the near destruction of the native people(Native American). War between Europeans and Indians was common back in the 1600s. In 1622Read MoreArizona’s Historical Development2438 Words   |  10 Pagesdates back to thousands of years ago. Arizona holds the second largest amount of indigenous/ Native American population of any other state in the United States. One of the first groups of people to live on Arizona’s land was the Native Americans, or otherwise called the American Indians. These Natives came much before any of the Europeans, or the Spanish settlers came to Arizona. There were three main Native American groups that truly began the exploration of Arizona. These groups include the AnasaziRead MoreArizona s History And Government1131 Words   |  5 Pagesownership of land titles, Arizona has shed tears of joy and tears of fear. Enveloped in a war-like atmosphere within its society and its culture Arizona continues to find its own identity, filled with diversity and a more united way of living. Long before Mexicans and Europeans entered Arizona land, it was occupied by indigenous nations. These Indian tribes, also known as the Cochise tribes were made up of 3 specific groups: The Hohokam, Anazazi, and the Mogollon natives (Gawronski, 14). OriginatingRead MoreAlbert Kinsey Helped Change The American Public s Preconceptions On Sexuality935 Words   |  4 PagesEssay Question #2 Albert Kinsey helped change the American Public’s preconceptions on sexuality by publishing two bestselling books from 1947 to 1953 on the topic. Titled â€Å"American Sexual Behavior† and â€Å"Sexual Behavior in the Human Female†, these books both confirmed and challenged the generally held beliefs dealing with marriage, sexual gratification, and sexual orientation. Sex was deemed important for a healthy marriage, adultery was frequent and homosexuals weren’t weird anomalies. Hugh HefnerRead MoreThe Apache Indians Essay1108 Words   |  5 Pages The Apaches, like most Native Americans, have no written history other than that written by white men. But the story of the Apaches did not begin in the American Southwest but in the northwestern corner of North America, the western Subarctic region of Alaska and Canada. The Apache Indians belong to the southern branch of the Athabascan group, whose languages constitute a large family, with speakers in Alaska, western Canada, and American Southwest. The fact that the Apaches originated in the westernRead MoreEssay on Navajo-Hopi Lande Dispute1679 Words   |  7 Pages When first considering the Navajo-Hopi land dispute as a topic of research, I anticipated a relatively light research paper discussing the local skirmishes between the two tribes. However, my research has yielded innumerable volumes of facts, figures and varying viewpoints on a struggle that has dominated the two tribes for over 100 years. The story is an ever-changing one, evolving from local conflict to forcible relocation to big business interests. The incredible breadth of the disputesRead MoreThe Mexican American War Essay1570 Words   |  7 Pagesneighbors, The United states and Mexico during 1846 to 1848 was a defining for both the nations. United States became a continental power as Mexico lost half of its territory, the present American Southwest from Texas to California. THE GEOGRAPHICAL BORDERLANDS The region which Mexico lost to united states is a region with own diverse history and culture. It is the present day states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Mexican, Native American and Anglo American cultures were clashed and blendedRead MoreAmeric The Columbian Exchange1180 Words   |  5 Pagesencounters between europeans and natives of the American continents resulted in a vast diffusion of food, livestock, technology, and diseases. This later became known as the Columbian Exchange. Two of the most influential things to be traded between the groups was horses, used for hunting and agricultural improvement, and diseases, such as smallpox, measles, yellow fever, typhus, and malaria. Diseases depleted many Native American populations, destroyed American Indian societies , and allowed europeans

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

McDonaldization of Society Free Essays

Ritzer’s theory of McDonaldization proposes a new interpretation of modern world order, social structure of society and business relations. Efficiency is one of the main components of McDonaldization. Ritzer (2000) explains: â€Å"McDonald’s offers efficiency, or the optimum method for getting from one point to another. We will write a custom essay sample on McDonaldization of Society or any similar topic only for you Order Now For consumers, this means that McDonald’s offers the best available way to get from being hungry to being full† (9). Efficiency helps companies to adopt particular cause of action. Efficiency means the best solution to meet the needs of parties involved. Efficiency involves the identification of a problem or issue which requires consideration. At this stage there will be a decision to do nothing or pursue the issue. For instance, fast food restaurants help customers to save time and money. People can buy meals in a short period of time ‘without leaving their cars’ (9). Efficiency can be explained as rationality, fast service delivery and low cost solutions.   Continued change is inevitable and likely to develop at an even faster rate. â€Å"The fast-food model offers people, or at least appears to offer them, an efficient method for satisfying many needs† (10). A salad bar is a vivid example of efficiency: a customer buys a plat and creates a salad himself. By keep ­ing the objectives in mind and always looking for ways in which both parties can work together to achieve their common objectives, it should be easier to reach a mutually acceptable service. If efficiency concept is followed, the company is required to identify possible courses of customers’ action to solve the problem. www.expedia.com is a travel agency which follows an efficiency principle in order to deliver quality services at low cost. ‘Self-service’ is the main tool used by Expedia Travel. A client can plan his trip or vocation according to his budget and wants. A client calculates the price of his trip himself and can reduce its cost choosing a cheaper hotel or flight. This self-service presents opportunities for diverse customer groups. This approach is interesting to everyone who wants to plan a good vocation at low cost. On the other hand, a client is forced to spend more time on planning and organizing process, mastering new technology and computer skills. The case of Expedia travel shows that in changing environment, the use of technology requires more problem solving skills and the ability to interpret data. Routine tasks requiring a low level of skill are disappearing fast. Used in conjunction with flexible planning, efficiency requires a customer’s participation in service delivery. Using this approach many firms adopted that principle understands it as clients’ participation in planning which have the potential to improve the quality of their work. Any improvement here is said to be beneficial. Important in the above is the recognition that involvement of clients in examining problems and seeking to develop solutions is only one part of the efficiency approach. Moreover, all manner of developments and improvements are discussed in the context of the strategy that management has agreed upon in order to turn the company around. Through involvement of all parties and by bringing in new skills new ways of doing things are sought. Ritzer’s concept of ‘efficiency’ shows that involvement of a customer/client in service delivery process helps companies to reduce operational costs and time. Ritzer underlines that a modern consumer pays for this privilege. Beyond this it is essential that customers are given a chance to seek out and develop cost-effective solutions. Works Cited Ritzer, G. The McDonaldization of Society. Pine Forge Press; 2000. How to cite McDonaldization of Society, Essay examples

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Assumption of Risk Who is to Blame For Our Action Essay Example For Students

Assumption of Risk: Who is to Blame For Our Action Essay sAssumption of Risk: Who is to Blame For Our ActionsThe doctrine of assumption of risk clearly defines the responsibilityof all voluntary actions taken on by individuals, independent of the inherentrisk or danger involved with such actions. Are we only to assume responsibilityfor the positive outcomes of our actions, without also accepting the negativeoutcomes as well? Most individuals only claim responsibility in cases in whichthey are fully responsible for their actions. Living within a country whichhouses a large amount of private enterprise, we often find ourselves relying onoutside help. In many occasions we, the individual seeking assistance, hold thepower to choose which avenue of help will be taken. In these cases in which wehave the choice, should we not also be held responsible for the outcomes of ourdecisions, especially in cases in which we have been pre-warned about anyinherent risks or dangers? For example, When we take it upon ourselves to driveon a private road, smoke cigarettes, work for a mining company, or fly on adiscount airline at our own volition, do we tacitly consent to takeresponsibility for any outcome these actions may hold? The assumption of riskdoctrine seems to ignore the fundamental obligation of entities to ensure theirnatural goals. The distinguishing factor in deciding responsibility infaultless cases which call on the assumption of risk doctrine is the controlheld by individuals after the situation has begun. In accordance, companiessuch as discount airlines and cigarette companies must take on theresponsibility of completing their duties, while individuals who chose to workin a mine or drive on a private road must accept the responsibility of theiractions to do so. All airlines hold the responsibility of transporting their customersfrom a point of origin to a previously designated destination. The person whoagrees to buy a discount airline ticket, which warns to fly at your own risk,is entitled to receive the minimum service of transportation provided by theairline. The individual traveler should assume no other benefits other thantransportation. The airline company claims this act of transportation to be itsgoal of services rendered. Independent of difficulties which may arise incompleting this goal, the airline may not alter the basic duty which it iscontractually obligated to perform. The airline tacitly consented to performthis basic duty the moment they began transporting individuals for an acceptedpayment. Once an individual has boarded the airplane they render all controlover their safety to the accepting airline which holds the minimumresponsibility of returning the individual back to a state of safety once theirduty is complete. The me re nature of airplane transportation forces theindividual to render total control over themselves to the airline. Thistransfer of control holds the airline responsible for any action which may occurdue to the obvious lack of responsibility in the hands of the individual. Oncethe plane has closed the cabin they withhold all control of an individual overthemselves, and must grant the service promised. The individual may demand theright to existence and hold the company liable once they hold the power todictate all aspects of the situation. One problem which arises within the situation is that of somethinghappening which the airline holds no control over. Any difficulties which arisedue to the daily routine of the airplane fall under the responsibility of theairline. Even occurrences which are deemed unavoidable fall under theresponsibility of the airline because they hold total responsibility of theirclients once the cabin is closed. Due to the complete control the airline holdson the situation it may be assumed that the doctrine of assumption of riskapplies solely to the airline. In creating a situation in which the individualmust give up his/her right to self-substinance the airline holds fullresponsibility for any actions taken which may effect the safety of itspassengers. Anytime the airline engages in profit making acts, such as cuttingcosts, they increase the risk upon themselves in return for extra monetarybenefits. Monique Abdelsayed EssayAlthough the company acknowledges the dangers of working in the mines, it is thedecision of the workers to accept the risk or find less hazardous job. Theindividual holds the power to work in the mine or not. Unlike smoking, the mineholds no addictive qualities which force the workers to stay. The workerassumes full responsibility for his/her actions due to the choice to work in ahazardous area. Since the company never gains control over the worker, theworker stays in full control of the situation given the apparent risks involved. The only instance in which the mining company gains some power over theindividual is in the case of monetary concerns. If the individual can onlyobtain work at the mine and relies upon the income produced, it seems clear thatthe company then holds some power over the individual. Although, this power islimited by the mind set of the individual to determine the actual importance ofmonetary gains. Since the mine holds no addictive quality which forces theindividual to work, the worker holds a free mind to decide what qualities oflife are most important. This freedom to decide releases the company fromresponsibility of any problems which may arise as a result of the mine work, andplaces all burden on the individual. Some may argue that the mining company holds some responsibility overthe well-being of its employees. These beliefs support the idea that thecompany should provide the greatest amount of safety precautions for theirworkers. This can be witnessed through the use of safety equipment, medical aid,and protective gear. Since the company has already warned about the risks, itbecomes the burden of the individual to purchase these items for themselves. The company only holds the obligations to inform the workers of such availableequipment. If the workers feel this is unfair they may quit working andpossibly force employers to engage in such safety precautions. Theresponsibility of providing payment for work is the only act which must be takenon by the employer after they have given the warnings about the dangers ofmining. The rest of the responsibility lies in the hands of the miners who holdthe power to decide where they work. The final case regarding responsibility of actions lies on a privateroad which warns individuals of falling rocks. The sign posted at the beginningof the road clearly states any dangers and makes the reader aware of theapparent risks. The fundamental obligation of the road is similar to that ofthe airplane in that it must provide a means for transportation from point A topoint B. However, the road differs from the plane in that the person driving isin control of the situation at all times, and never gives up control over theiractions. The speed of travel, length of stay on the road, and the decision totravel on the road are all decisions made by the individual and have a directeffect on the safety of the individual. In this case the driver becomesresponsible for his actions on the road. The owner of the road met therequirements set upon him by providing means of transport and warning of anydanger; all other responsibility lies in the able hands of the individualdriving the automobile . The responsibility of any given action remains in the hands of those incontrol of the action at any given time. As seen in the airplane and cigaretteexamples, proper warning does not warrant lack of responsibility if theindividual holds no control over the outcome of the action. The mining companyand private road examples show how responsibility lies in the hands of theindividual as long as control over the situation is also controlled by theindividual. It is clear to see that responsibility for any given action remainsin the hands of those who hold control over the situation. Philosophy

Friday, March 27, 2020

Hotel Performance Evaluation free essay sample

This Department publishes research notes, conference reports, reports on the work of public agencies and associations, field (industry) reports, and other relevant topics and timely issues. Contributions to this department are submitted to its two Associate Editors: Research Notes to Juergen Gnoth (Department of Marketing, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Email ) and Conference Reports to Russell Smith (Hospitality and Tourism, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Rep. of Singapore. Email ). Unsolicited conference and agency reports will not be accepted. RESEARCH NOTES ww. elsevier. com/locate/atoures Annals of Tounsm Research, vol. 31, NO. 3, pp. 712-715, # 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Printed in Great Britain 0160-7383/$30. 00 A DEA Evaluation of Taipei Hotels Wan-Erh Chiang Ming-Hone Tsai Li Shau-Mei Wang National Central University, Taiwan It is always a major concern for top management to measure efficiency. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is an excellent tool for assessing the relative efficiency of decision-making units. This research is aimed at measuring hotel performance by DEA under three operational styles of International Tourist Hotels (ITHs) commonly een in Taiwan since 2000: Independently owned and operated, franchise licensed, and managed by international hotel operators. We will write a custom essay sample on Hotel Performance Evaluation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The results are expected to provide hoteliers with a basis for constructing strategies and promotion plans. With carefully selected indicators (input/output variables), DEA is able to locate and diagnose inefficiencies, and to provide information for improvements. Several in-depth interviews were conducted with top managers of some Taipei ITHS for critical indicators.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Unbroken Essay Essay Example

Unbroken Essay Essay Example Unbroken Essay Paper Unbroken Essay Paper Unbroken Essay Unbroken is a non-fiction book written by Laura Hildebrand. Unbroken is about Lieu Simpering, an Italian American that lives in Torrance, California, soon to be an Olympic miler and bombardier of the air force. He was born in January 26, 1 917, at 5 years old, Lieu would smoke cigarettes while walking to kindergarten, and at 8 years old he would start drinking. He had a very troublesome childhood; he would steal around his neighborhood and would eat anything that was edible. He would be bullied because he was a small kid hen his dad taught him how to fight so, then he started picking fights but he always admired his older brother Pete. One day when Lieu was caught sneaking people in to a basketball game by using his home key (he found out theres a 1/50 chance of a fitting a key to any lock), was later almost suspended by the principal and was no longer able to participate in any sport or school activity. Pete begged to the principle to let Lieu participate in a sport in which later Pete convinced Lieu to join track and found out he was good at running but Lieu didnt like running so, he did it for the applause. Pete started coaching Lieu and he commenced to break records and earned the nickname Torrance Tornado. Lieu participated in an Olympic 5000 qualifier and lost but despite the loss he got invited to the final of the Olympic in NY. He was able to compete in the Berlin Olympics of 1936 even though he placed in 2nd place in the finals in a finish so close, Lieu later said, you couldnt put a hair be;men us. When missing 7th place he impresses the audience and meets Hitler who says, Ah, youre the boy with the fast finish. What was so impressive was his sat lap which broke record his final time, 14:46. 8, was by far the fastest 5000 run by any American in 1 936, almost 12 seconds faster than Lashs best for the year. Lieu got in trouble with the Nazis when he wanted to take the Nazi flag as a souvenir and later replied that he wanted a souvenir of the happy time he had had in beautiful Germany so they let him go and let him take the flag. When the press wanted to hear about Louses adventure he had 2 versions of how he got the flag in one version, Hitler himself had allowed him to keep the flag. In another, Lieu had concealed the flag so cleverly that it was never discovered. He had done it all, went the story, to win the heart of a girl. After the Olympics were finished the Olympic Village was transformed into a military barracks. Coming back from the Olympics Lieu attended the University of Southern California, making friends with Jimmie Assai, who was later found out as a Japanese spy/war criminal whose attempts to pass as a student were apparently an elaborate ruse. Lieu was looking forward to the next Olympics but was later cancelled because of World War II. In 1941, Lieu joined the Army Corps, but drops out later on. But, Lieu doesnt read the papers Of resignation from the Air corps to find out later after signing he had agreed to rejoin them so he became a bombardier. Louses aircrew was made up of Phillips, temporary co-pilot gross, Simpering, Mitchell, Douglas, Pillsbury, Clansman, Monster, Lambert, and Brooked. They were a very talented crew and their first mission that was also successful was on Wake Atoll. After the battle of Naira, some of the men survived an attack on their base on Funfair. Their first plane was called superman but was later unable to function after contact by some zeros where 2 crewmen died from bleeding in the skull and another from being shot. Their plane after Superman was Green Hornet which wasnt air worthy, had new crew members and had engine failures over 200 miles from base and caused them to crash and as a result only Lieu, Mac, and Phil survived. They drifted in the Pacific Ocean for 46 days. The first day Mac panicked and ate all of the food rations. They survived on the birds to use as bait and sometimes food when they didnt catch any pilot fish. When dying of thirst Lieu prayed to god and promised, If god would quench their thirst, he vowed, hed dedicate his life to him. Rain would fall the next day. Before reaching land Mac died and the Japanese Ana captured them. The Japanese didnt inform America of the capture of Lieu. They let Lieu and Phillip recover in a hospital then they Were transferred to a prisoner camp where they thought they Were going to be executed. Since Lieu was a famous Olympic runner, he was given harsh treatment by the guards. He was sent to a camp in Tokyo where he received ritual treatment from Mouthier Wattage a. K. A The Bird. A Japanese propagandist wanted to use Lieu to make pro-Japanese broadcasts to America then was punished for refusing. The men were completely cut off from news of the war until the guards let them go when the war was over. Lieu was sent to a hospital to realize later that he would never run again. When Lieu finally came home their family were ecstatic to see their once little Lieu was well alive but were not aware of his OPTS until during a homecoming he started having flashbacks and spit at any person that looked Japanese. He had nightmares when the Bird was beating him. After meeting Cynthia for 2 weeks he decided to ask her for marriage. Lieu became a hard drinker and sadly Cynthia wanted a divorce. Cynthia has a religious awakening and decides to not file a divorce after meeting Billy Graham. Cynthia managed to convince Lieu to attend a Billy Grahams sermon. Lieu remembers the day with Phillip where he promises to god, if he saved them, he would serve god forever. Lieu stops drinking, stops having nightmares, forgives The Bird, started giving talks and making appearances to tell his adventures.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Application of Criminological Theory Case Study

Application of Criminological Theory - Case Study Example On my part, I would have opted to expel Robert immediately. However, my background in criminology prevents me from doing so. Theories of criminology are like lenses of different shades, sizes, and colors. They allow professionals and practitioners to look at an issue with a wider perspective. This is what I am obliged to do. I will consult the different applicable theories, compare and contrast their approaches, and finally I will state my decision in this hypothetical situation. In many ways, some of these theories contradict each other. Sometimes, they complement each other. Nevertheless, these should be thoroughly studied so that growth in knowledge can be attained. And, it is true: criminology can really be applied to many situations; it is not just a course for would be police officers or Crime Scene Investigation people. Strain is the pressure on disadvantaged minority groups and the lower urban populous to take advantage of any effective available means to income and success that they can find even if these means are illegal (Akers, 2000, in Collins, n.d.). With this theory, perhaps, Robert's disadvantaged origins game him a social stigma. Perhaps, I should look whether this student he beat up had previous mischief done to Robert, Robert just kept quiet, and he retaliated because he does not trust his teachers. But this is insufficient in itself. After all, this is just a hypothesis, and I must verify this later. Classical School of Criminology The classical school simply states that criminal behavior arises from the animal side of us. Humans are rational, but they usually act with their self-interest in mind. Consequently, if people are informed of the consequences of certain actions, they will avoid doing it. Thus, the concept of deterrence arises from the Classical School. Deterrence means a crime can be avoided by making sure that people are aware that punishment for a certain crime is so severe that doing it is not really worth it. (The Classical School, 1998). Perhaps, Robert is not really aware of the consequences of such anti-social behavior. If so, I will consider emphasizing to the students the consequences of such behavior. My would-be initial reaction would not be a far-fetched choice after-all. If this theory were to be followed, the school must punish Robert so severely so that no other student, privileged or not, will ever consider doing such behavior in the future. Also, in such event, I will review whether the disciplinary system is outdated and ineffective. I will form a committee to draft a new set of disciplinary rules, if such conclusions are also reached in an investigation. William Sheldon: Body Shapes Simply put, certain features of the body are determinants of criminal behavior. In particular, criminals usually have big, athletic, or overweight bodies. However, this theory is put in doubt. Some theories say that instead of Sheldon's somatype, it should be body mass index. (Maddan, S., Walker, J., and Miller, J., 2008) But this theory is not applicable since Robert is not really that huge or overweight or athletic. He is just an average guy, if you do not know

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Justice and policing in United Arab Emirates Research Paper

Justice and policing in United Arab Emirates - Research Paper Example A research conducted under Hauser Global Law School Program found out that, â€Å"although the core principles of law in the UAE are drawn from Sharia, most legislation is comprised of a mix of Islamic and European concepts of civil law, which have a common root in the Egyptian legal code established in the late 19th to 20th centuries.† The justice system of the UAE is straightforward and the security and integrity of this region is attributed to its strict laws and regulations that its citizens and visitors are bound to follow. The working of the justice system is different in the UAE from many other countries in a lot of ways. In general, the legal system of many countries is shaped by precedents but in the case of the UAE, each case is treated as a new case and analyzed according to its circumstances. Furthermore, it is noteworthy to mention here that the courts in the UAE conduct in Arabic language, so legal representation is required to be well versed in Arabic. Thus lang uage barrier can be an issue for someone who is not familiar with Arabic and this can be particularly a problem for foreigners who may be involved in civil or financial-related disputes in the UAE. The criminal court of the UAE deals with all kinds of minor offenses and heinous crimes. As the UAE is constituted by seven emirates and each emirate has its own criminal courts, therefore, the justice system is strongly interconnected throughout the UAE. The independence of Federal judiciary â€Å"is guaranteed by the constitution† and it comprises of the Supreme Court and the courts of First Instance.

Monday, January 27, 2020

Introduction To Strategic Management Business Essay

Introduction To Strategic Management Business Essay Alfred D. Chandler, an American business historian, defined strategy as follows: Strategy is the determination of the basic long-term goals and objectives of an enterprise, and the adoption of courses of action and the allocation of resources necessary for carrying out those goals. Here A. Chandler believes that strategy consists of equal importance to defining objectives and goals as it is to providing the measures for attaining them. Strategic management is a consistent level of managerial activity of setting up goals and tactics and ensures a variety of decisions by the top management to successfully achieve those aims or goals in the long term and at the same time providing for adaptive responses in the short term. This provides an overall direction to an organization. The strategic management process consists of three components: Strategic analysis, strategic choices and strategic implementation. These components are vital in a firm as it appraises the business and industries in which the firm is a part of. It also brings about a healthy competition and helps in defining of attainable goals in present and future and also reevaluates each strategy. The Components Of Strategic Management Process, in its plainest sense, is fixing tactical decisions, evaluatin g the strength and recognizing the critical external factors, which may play a part in influencing the position of the firm and also defining the factors that bring about the implementation of a firm through these components. Different from the classic business planning, Strategic management focus involves Mission, Vision and Out-of-the -box thinking. Top management uses strategic management to describe where and when they would want to position their firm in the industry. Strategic planning helps assess the firms opportunities and threats, exposes its strengths and weaknesses as well as encourages the firm to adapt. A SWOT analysis, strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats, is an excellent way to help develop a strategic plan. Like used by many Fortune 500 companies, these four components pose as the building blocks of a strategic plan for a firms existence. Similarly, PEST analysis (Political, Environmental, Social and Demographic and Technological factors) is a examination of the external marco-enviormental in which in firm exist. It helps to examine the effect of these influences on the firm as opportunity and threat in the SWOT analysis. It is also used for assessing the market rise and fall, and as such the position, potential and direction of the firm. The BCG (Boston Consulting Group) Matrix is a four-celled matrix; it is the most renowned strategic planning tool. It provides a graphical representation for the firm to examine diverse companies in its portfolio. It provides the management with a comparative analysis of firms potential and the evaluation of environment, which it operates in. Organization Structure Organization is a term that can be studied as a process as well as a structure. In a fixed sense, organization is a structure, where a team of people functions and tries to accomplish a certain objective. In the words of Kast and Rosenzweig, structure is the established pattern of relationships among the component parts of the organization. In this sense, the network of relationships among individuals and positions in the firm are refers to as an organizational structure. Organizational structure defines how responsibility, roles and power are coordinated, controlled, how information moves between the different stages of management and how they are assigned. When the most of the decision making power and control over departments and division lie with the top level management it is know as Centralized structure. In a decentralized structure, the decision making power is distributed over the departments and allowing them to enjoy certain degrees of freedom. There are four major components that affect organizational structures, they are, Environment, Strategy, Technology and Human Resource. Environment being are very volatile factor itself, managers will face more problems depending on how fast it changes. Thus, structures need to be more flexible in order to face these changes; this would also suggest the need to decentralize authority. Various strategies would need to utilize different structures. Such as a differentiation strategy would require a flex ible structure and low cost would need a more formal one. Organization structures are also determined by what type of technology is being used. For instance, a company that has an automated operational system would opt for a decentralized structure because the progress of employees would be monitored and the immediate supervisor would be able to provide guidance and when needed. One of the most commonly found structures found within firms is the functional structure, it consist of small units or departments which are grouped or identified by specialty, like finance, IT, logistics, sales, human resource, and so on. This distinguishes the departments by product produce by each unit or geographical region; this enables managers to maintain more control over each group. This structure is based on high specialization and high control and efficiency concept. In terms of effectiveness, the functional structure is most effective in small to medium size firms that only deal with a few produc t and services. A matrix structure is an organizational reporting structure frequently used for project-based teams. This structure uses both departments as well as products as determinates to group teams together; this allows ideas to flow between various parts of the organization. This is a complex structure of reporting relationships and has proven to be very flexible and can respond rapidly to change. It is effective for a large organization with a large number of products and services. Strategic Mapping A strategic group is a concept used in strategic management where companies that are a part of the same industry and provide similar business models and/or similar strategies are grouped together. For instance, the fast food industry can be divided into different fast food joints in terms of pizza or burgers, which can be based on different variables like time, price, presentation, etc. The number and the composition of the groups within the industry depend on the dimensions used to define them. Strategic management experts mainly use two-dimensional grid in order to justify their direct competitors, those with similar strategic models, and their indirect rivals. M. Hunt (1972) devised the term Strategic Group whist analyzing the appliance industry after discovering the high level of competitive rivalry. He the then subscribed this to the subgroups existing the industry. This then caused the industry to undergo rapid innovation, price reduction, increase in quality and lower profitab ility than normal economic models would deliver. M. Porter (1980) developed the concept and explained strategic groups in terms of Mobility Barriers. Value Chain Analysis This analysis focuses on every level of the business that it goes through from raw materials to the final user. The goal is to maximize value at the least possible cost. For one to better understand the activities from which an organization creates shareholder value and competitive advantage, it has been proven useful to simplify the business system into series of value-generated activities, also known as value chain. Michael Porter, in his book Competitive advantage (1985), introduced a value chain model that consists of arrange of activities that was found to be common to a wide range of firms. M. Porter identified these activities and classified them into primary and support activities. The primary activities include Service, Marketing Sales, Operations, Inbound and Outbound Logistics. Theses activities are supported by four components Infrastructure of the firm, Human Resource Management, Procurement and Technology Development. The main goal of the value chain analysis is these activities need to provide a higher level of customer satisfaction that exceeds the cost of them, thus creating profit margin. In other words, the firms margin depends on how effective the firm is on performing these activities efficiently, so that the level of customer satisfaction is sufficient enough for them to pay for the products that exceed the cost of the activity itself. By reconfiguring the value chain a firm may be able to achieve a competitive advantage by providing better differentiation or through lower costs. Value chain activities are not inaccessible from one another but rather one activity often affects the cost or the performance of the other. There may exist linkage between primary activities or between primary and support activities. The value chain analysis is a flexible tool for a firm; its competitors and the industry. It can be used to create or study the competitive advantage on both cost and differentiation. Cost advantage is done through a better understanding and squeezing out the cost from value adding activities and differentiation is achieved by focusing over those activities with core capabilities in order to out pre form the competitors. It provides a deeper understanding of the firms strengthens and weaknesses. The main advantage of value chain is that it is adaptable to any type of business, big or small. However, M. Porters book Competitive Advantage, the value chain is largely focused on manufacturing industry, thus puts off other types of business. Due to the complexity of the value chain analysis and the scope and scale of the value chain has proven to be intimidating, it is time consuming. To understand the firm competitors one must identify and examine the key differences and strategy drivers, hence, needing substantial information. The business information system is not always structured to draw out information easily for a value chain analysis.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Brave New World Government

Government: this word is used to define the system that maintains the state and her people. This system is run by officials who, hopefully, have the nation's best interest at heart; but these best interests for a country often find themselves conflicting in their particular perspectives. In the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, the government has chosen to preserve the interest of state and this dystopia is the result of mankind choosing the wrong faction in the conflict of interest.To clarify, the principles, theories and arguments presented here in are democratic in orientation and not communistic, because the arguments aim toward freedom and rights. Those in control in Brave New World have misguided the nation’s populace into dystopia, they have lost the people's interest, they have disregarded the people's respect and they have effectively stolen evolution. There will always be a great conflict for those with the misfortune of being leaders: to preserve the state or the people.A decisive argument will skip the moral ethics and get right down to the primary idea: a nation is only possible through her people. This being said, it becomes logical that the right course of action for any leading party is that of the interest of the people; the interest of the people has been touted by many famous political icons throughout the ages as the most vital of a nation's concerns. In fact â€Å"the nation's concerns† is directly related to the concern's of her people. This idea, being understood, it is absolutely impossible in a utopian setting that there would be dissatisfaction.A good leader must make sure that their people are provided for, and this can be done simply by meeting the needs of the nation. If the nation wants for nothing, it can be assumed that order would automatically be ensured amongst her people. In Brave New World, the World Controllers have implemented human conditioning and predestination, these methods have indeed assured them that they operate within the nation's best interest. In fact, one can say that by brainwashing the people they have stolen control and not earned it, and the ‘utopia' in Brave New World can be defined as a controlled dictatorship.This is but another example of how the State has failed the people. Any ruler worth his salt must first earn the respect, or alternatively fear, of his subjects in order to reign successfully. Respect earns the ruler the trust of the people: this trust then allows for orderly conduct amongst the citizens of the country. Earning respect can be achieved by conducting one's self honorably and proving one's capabilities. Huxley presents another technique of acquiring respect by employing â€Å"hypnopaedia† as means of earning respect and gaining control over the nation. â€Å"Of course they don't.How can they? They don't know what it's like being anything else. We'd mind, of course. But then we've been differently conditioned. Besides, we start w ith a different heredity†(Huxley,5). Brave New World's Henry foster shows us how conditioning effects a person's values. The citizens do not respect the controllers, they merely adhere to the rules. Though this does not mean that they are dissatisfied, in actual fact they have no sense of dissatisfaction unless it stands opposed to their hypnopaedic prejudice. â€Å"What a hideous colour khaki is,† remarked Lenina, voicing the hypnop? ic prejudices of her caste†(Huxley,4). Essentially what Huxley has wrought is a world of mindless drones with no sense of self, which is quite possibly the worse outcome for mankind, to become enslaved by a system they created and lost control over. There is one major variable that needs to be considered in keeping order in a nation. People change, things change, nothing will ever remain the same for long, and a good government should be as adaptable as the people. If one is to properly maintain order, one must be able to conform wit h society and trends.These changes and trends are how mankind has learned and developed, and will continue to do so. As stated, government or those in power, must too be able to move forward or to risk losing control and becoming obsolete. This is quite possibly the biggest flaw in Huxley's Brave New World: mankind now controls and predestines the people that inhabit their world, and the price for this control has become progress. A society built on the basis of ‘Community, Identity, Stability’ will never be able to face the ever changing, fickle nature of humanity. In order to preserve control they must therefore eliminate evolution.They have stolen evolution’s format: the world and mankind will forever be stuck in the small cage of Brave New World, and in essence this eliminates anything that is truly either brave or new. In conclusion, it is safe to say that Huxley's utopia went about achieving its status in the wrong way. Mankind has lost its free will to the controlling powers of a system. This system cannot be called government, as it is more akin in characteristics to slavery. Man no longer has freewill and order is kept not through respect and intellect, but via degeneration nd conduct. The former sections of this essay present strategies and techniques used to maintain order in a society of individuals. Finally, it may be argued that the Brave New World protects society by locking them in a cage of ignorance; however, this is at the cost of freedom, and this is unacceptable. Mankind needs be free in order to progress as has been explained. Protection is all well and good but not at the cost of freedom: humans must be free to make mistakes in order to evolve, grow and create. Societal order must still be maintained, but not abused.Those in charge are well within their right to impose laws and rules, as long as these laws keep within a reasonable parameter. Protection is one thing, enslavement is another; if protection must come at t he cost of freedom then it is not worth it, and I am sure that those in Brave New World, if given the chance, would choose freedom. Huxley's utopia is a future that we should hope is never realized, it would bring us to ruin. If we must place faith in those in control, let us hope that they possess the qualities presented in this essay, and have the ability to lead a world of free people forward and beyond.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Culture of Lebanon Country Essay

Prescriptive were given to the patients. It consists of description, preparation and steps of the treatment that has to be provided. It also indicated here the responsibility of the patients in the given prescription to accomplish the desired effect. It provides a clinical care for the patient and for the outcome that it may bring. To make the baby born and grow into a loving and warm environment, some treatments and practices have to be completed. Some of these prescriptive were as follows. A mother has preferably given a hot food rather than cold ones during her pregnancy. This is believed to provide warmth for the fetus. During the time of menstrual cycle and post delivery period, they are given cold foods and preferred a cold environment. These are the beliefs that are being related to the hot and cold theory of disease prevention and maintaining good health that influence conception and pregnancy. To be a mother is the essence of being a woman. Many pregnant women practice some safety measures to protect their baby from harm. Some women practice to sleep on their backs to protect the infant; they keep having frequent intercourse and keep the vaginal canal well lubricated to facilitate an easier birth and keep on being active to prevent decrease of amitotic fluid and ensure a smaller baby. So they will not experience the pain of birth giving for a bigger offspring. For a very long period of time, taking care of infants is done by placing the baby in a crib or playpen. Small bedrooms are also designed for infants. However as time passed by, many mothers had been very busy in their work that they leave their responsibility, as the mother to their child, to kindergartens and even babysitters. The grandparents are also the one who commonly help in raising the child. In every part of the world, education is very important and so as in Lebanon. It had been also said that the first teacher of the child is his or her parents. This is true because it is the place where the child learns to do things on his or her own way. Taboo is a word used to describe an object and action that should be totally avoided due to social and cultural objections. One of the strict Lebanese Taboo practices is not to give birth when both parties are not yet married. In Lebanon, it is unusual to have an arranged marriage but it does not mean that it does not exist. Contracting marriage had been brought by present economic crisis of the country. Among Muslims, polygamy is accepted. However, very few people choose to live this kind of lifestyle. The issue of divorce is also very relative. It is easy to get divorced if you are a Muslim and harder for orthodox Christians. In Marinate communities, divorce is something that is very difficult. Moreover, if a mother is incapable of rearing the child or the money to get married or is protecting her honor and her family’s name, she hands the baby over the church and this is considered an irrational set of taboos. One thing that is sure to happen in the lives of everyone is death. Avery is expected to die at a certain point of time. It is something that every people should be prepared of, whether the death of the people around them or their own death. One of the most complicated things in such event is the funeral. This is the time wherein people often show and are encouraged to show their feelings of loosing a beloved. Most funerals in Lebanon are commonly followed by processions by which the people take the dead body in their final destination. Funeral Home Service in the place provides options on arranging funeral service. They can assist you with customary service, non-traditional service, cremation of the dead body with or with out the memorial service. They can also make the option and opportunity of transporting a family member into another city or state, and offer you with pre-burial planning. Death rituals have an emotional power – the funerals, the singing of laments, the distribution of food, the daily visits to the graves, and especially the rite of exhumation. These rituals help them face the universal paradox of mourning or grief: how they can accept the fact of bringing them to the end; how can living sustain relationships with the dead; and how they may continue their life on the earth and live meaningfully as part of the community. When a person dies, family and friends travel from long distance to get to the funeral. They are also having a festive watch over the body of the person before its burial. More grieving families, based on the tradition, engage in the protection of the dying and bereaved those who have difficulty dealing with the death. They expressed their feelings during the grieving process. In this case those health care providers assist the person by providing support and privacy during the bereavement. Lebanon has a highly developed medicine and health care. Lebanese people have a very little belief on the effectiveness of traditional medicines remains nowadays. The country has many doctors and health care provider than they actually need. There are also lots of hospitals continuously trying to be restructured and modernized. Lebanon has relatively good health care programs and free hospitals for the benefit of the public and all the people who care for their health but cannot afford to pay big amount of hospital bills. Advanced technology has provided modern medicines and complex indicative diagnostics. Some authorities advocate the increase in the use of paramedical workforce to care for the persons or patients with persistent and incurable infirmities. But modern practices in treating disease are not fully applicable in some areas such as urban places and the ethnic groups. Health care providers should consider lot of things and take careful assessment before they should practice their duties and execute their function. Lebanese ethnic groups are related and are engaged upon the use of folk medicine and folk medicine practices to treat their diseases. And they combine these with variety of prayers, use of herbal teas and medicines and other applications. As a health care provider, it is very much important that they are aware about the practices, its purpose and the way it should be carried out. References: Countries and Their Culture. 2007. Culture of Lebanon Retrieved September 19, 2007 from http://www. everyculture. com/Ja-Ma/Lebanon. html .F. A. Davis Company. 2003. Transcultural Health Care. Retrieved September 19, 2007 from http://www. fadavis. com/related_resources/1_1916_1. pdf George,J. Ethnic. no date. Cuisine: Lebanon. Retrieved September 19, 2007 from http://www. sallys-place. com/food/cuisines/lebanon. htm Federal Research Divition. no date. Lebanon A Country Study Retrieved September 19, 2007 from http://books. google. com. ph/books? id=nMwEs12tKJoC&dq=culture+of+lebanon+country+++&pg=PA77&ots=l6Hr7q-puC&sig=uqJRJNFJHf1THFZ9ILxWkJalpxo&prev=http://www. google. com. ph/search%3Fhl%3Dtl%26q%3Dculture%2Bof%2Blebanon%2Bcountry%2B%2B%2B%26meta%3D&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1#PPA252,M1

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Fair Value vs Historic Cost - 4348 Words

Review of Business Information Systems – First Quarter 2013 Volume 17, Number 1 Fair Value Accounting vs. Historical Cost Accounting Paul Jaijairam, Bronx Community College, City University of New York, USA ABSTRACT This paper reviews fair value accounting method relative to historical cost accounting. Although both methods are widely used by entities in computing their income and financial positions, there is controversy over superiority. Historical cost accounting reports assets and liabilities at the initial price they were exchanged for at the time of the transaction. Conversely, fair value accounting quotes the prevailing price in the market. Nevertheless, while both methods of accounting affect financial statements, the†¦show more content†¦Determining the true market value of an asset is sometimes controversial, especially for assets that do not have active and liquid markets. By definition, the fair value does not need the existence of an active market. In case of market inexistence, IASB offers guideline that looks at the type of assets or liabilities. For instance, for property, plant and equipment, depreciated replacement cost is recommended if market based evidence is unascertainable. For biological assets (animals and plants), IASB suggest the use of discounted present values of future cash flows (Weetman, 2011). Later, FASB introduced FASB ASC 820 – Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (SFAS 157) (Zyla, 2010). The main aim of this statement is to offer additional guidance and information on issues that relate to fair value and its measurement. FASB ASC 820 – Fair Value Measurements, in technical terms, does not bring in any new accounting principle rather it provides financial analysts and auditors with â€Å"additional information on how the FASB intends fair value to be measure in any instance it is required in financial reporting† (Zyla, 2010). The FAS 159 – the Fair Value Option(FVO) on Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – brings in the fair value option that a company may use in their first and successive measurements of their particular financial liabilities andShow MoreRelatedThe Financial Accounting Standards Board581 Words   |  2 Pagescompanies as a result. Fair Value vs. Historic Costing Historic cost accounting means requiring all financial statement items be based on original cost (Thompson, 2007). Fair value reporting means that the financial statement item is recorded based on its current value. In general, fair value reporting would only apply to derivatives and other assets with similarly fluctuating market values. However, it could be applied to things like fixed assets or inventories as well. Cost accounting accommodatesRead MoreAccounting Systems At The International Level1387 Words   |  6 Pagesextensive disclosures to the public since they have more access to information. 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