Can Obama Make All the Changes that He Promised Essay

Can Obama Make All the Changes that He Promised - Essay Example The message of â€Å"change† and â€Å"hope† that his campaign bombed the public with was entirely predicated on the existence of a contrast: they and I, thou and I. Obama’s election is solely attributable to this contrast and the rhetorical emphasis upon that contrast. America experienced this same phenomenon in 1976: the year in which Jimmy Carter became renowned for lofty campaign promises. All that Carter needed was an image: the image of an â€Å"outsider†, somebody â€Å"fresh†, somebody to stand in contrast with the failure of Nixon and his corruption. Like Carter, Obama has made promise under the guise of an outsider, and Americans took him on his word. But Carter met resounding failure, both in his ability to stand up for his country in the face of its enemies and to bring lasting improvement in the country’s economic situation. To the question of whether the current President can keep those promises he has given to get elected, it a ppears as though he will not be able to. As Jonathan Woon and countless commentators have indicated, there is an aura of optimism floating above Obama’s supporters. Of course, the stars are aligned for the implementation of progressive policies not seen since the legislation of New Deal policies (Woon 329). The Congress is led by Democrats in both houses, ready to submit to a Democratic President for approval. But not only are liberal members of Congress impeding the â€Å"progress† that Obama supporters are seeking, politicians have not changed their ways from the paradigm the new President called â€Å"politics as usual†. The optimism these supporters share is merely symbolic: it is what the President represents as a person, and not as a politician, which is the subject of so much hero worship. Although optimism is good when dealing with life’s problems, in excess it can stand in the way of real progress. Loyalty to people,

Is Credit Card Necessary in Our Life Essay Example for Free

Is Credit Card Necessary in Our Life Essay A credit card is a card issued by a financial company to the holder in order for an individual to borrow funds often at a point of sale. It is important to note that credit cards charge interest and are basically use for short-term financing. Moreover, the interests charged on credits cards are enacted usually one month after purchasing is made and borrowing limits are pre-set. This is with regard to the individual`s card rating. Significantly, credit cards contain a higher interest rate that is about 19% per year than majority of the consumer lines or loans of credit. Consequently, many consumer stores allow payment through credit cards, an aspect that has seen the vast growth of these cards. Suze denotes says â€Å"For Americans who don’t pay their entire credit card bill each month, the average balance is close to $4,000. † In addition, they are a mode of payment in the current world by most companies and even the civil servants. However, the various limitations like dent limit make credit cards insignificant in our life. Credit cards are not necessary in our life because they impose various limitations to the card holders. First, charging items, goods, and services on plastic can be convenient but encourage poor spending habits. Credit cards are readily within one`s reach. Moreover, people walk with these cards in their wallets and handbags. This is not only, a limiting factor, but also encourages the issues of money expenditure. For instance, online stores have become a considerable element in the current American society. Buying of goods and services can be done within seconds, especially with the home delivery services at hand. Suze in her argument emphasizes, â€Å"But also realize that some of you are broke by circumstances. I believe you are Broke by Choice. † This is to indicate the practices that we engage with the accessibility to the cards. Credit cards expose high rate expenditure among people with even little goods they would purchase locally. Credit card debt is a considerable problem that each ground people every year. Rise in the interest rates is a limit factor towards the use of credit cards. It is evident that financial companies vary their rates within days and even a month. For instance, the interest rate may change frequently if the economy of the nation keeps alternating. This puts the credit card holders in a chilly spot. The fluctuation of interest rates has resulted to individuals going for loans since they cannot support their bills. Suze denotes, â€Å"The average interest rate charged on credit is 15 percent, with plenty of folks paying 18 percent † Moreover, the financial companies are after profits, and to ensure they have established this, they enact interest rates that are merely undistinguishable by the credit card holders. This exposes the card holders to vulnerability of inevitable charges by the organizations. Moreover, at times payments through the credit cards get missed. This is usual among the card holders. Various companies have emphasized on credit card payment mode. However, it is imperative to note that during the transfer of money from the corporative, some instances of money loss have been identified. Efficiency is a factor that cannot be relied on from payment and service coherence. Furthermore, online vandalism in the form of account hacking is a current problem facing credit card issuing financial corporations. For instance, payoneer company accounts that are issued online to individuals from various regions of the world have faced vandalism with clients and card holders losing millions of cash. Hacking online credit card accounts has become a common practice in the present society. This has forced people to limit the utilization of the credit cards. Credit cards are likely to accumulate debts if the monthly charges are not paid in time. â€Å"†¦if you are late on any other card, your zero deal can be in jeopardy. † In addition, credit card scores are trashed by the financial companies rendering to discrimination of the individual card holders. On the other hand, credit cards can be regarded to be very significant in the modern world. This is because they solve the issue of distance payment. For instance, an individual living in Great Britain can receive his/her salary even if working for a company established in the United States. This is because the credit cards allows funds to be deposited on the card holder`s card. Furthermore, the card holder can withdraw money from any card supporting Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). This is not only an advantage to the credit card holders but a limitation to knowing their bank ledger rates and various banking processes within the account. Majority of the credit card holders neglect the various conditions and terms they are subjected to during account application. Considerably, for the people who do not pay their credit card bill every month, it is significant to note that their average balance is estimated to $4,000. Considerably, the higher earning individual with an annual income that ranges $75000 and $100000, the average balance is approximately $8,000. â€Å"To see if you have been late on any card, not just their car. † This is a remarkably high cost in incorporating credit card in aspects of payment and other financial areas. It does not make meaning if an individual is paying, for example, 18 percent interest on a $7,000 balance and he/she makes just 1. percent minimum payment each month. This is because the individual will end up paying $20,000 in the averagely 50 years he/she will take to decline the balance to zero. It is important to note that those people who like buying goods on credit are at a big risk of ending up in great debts. The various transactions or credits that are made on the credit cards are crucial since they gain more interest to the related financial company. It is important to limit the rate at which one uses the credit card. Suze denote â€Å"Push yourself hard to make that extra payment as large as possible. Otherwise, an individual will end up accumulating a good amount of dents. Paying for groceries and friends drinks at the restaurant at your expense is a practice will finally get one to the unpaid credit balance. The card sets an individual for many snares and traps though the card companies in order for you to spend more creating more debts. The strategy for getting out of rid of the credit card debt is only by maneuvering the credit card companies with strategies that will ensure individuals pay the least amount possible interest rate. Considerably, the average interest charged on a credit card is about 15 percent. However, Suze says that, â€Å"majority of the people pay at around 18 percent and any balance carried by a credit calls for the rate lowered as possible. † In conclusion, it is important to note that credit cards are not necessary to our life. This is with consideration on the various credit debts they can amount to an individual. Further, they enhance high expenditure through online stores including groceries. Therefore, progressive use of credit cards even with minor goods and services that can be obtained readily endangers you to debts that are critical within credit card use. The most appropriate strategy in dealing with high-rate debt in the use of credit cards is ensuring that all your cards are equally used. â€Å"If you have a FICO score of at least 720, and you make at least the minimum payment due each month, on time, you should be able to negotiate with your current credit card issuer to lower your rate. If other cards are frequently used unlike others an individual would be paying the monthly charges and other interests for free. Therefore, credit cards are a critical aspect in the financial ground of an individual.

hoes and bitches :: essays research papers

Fuck, sittin' up lettin' these motherfuckerz know, though You're my pimp buddies, my boy Sean Dogg, you on a mission (Yeah, baby!) Creep Dogg, I know you trippin' (I feel you) Ya heard me? (um-hm) [murmur] We just sittin' up in here droppin' game about these motherfuckin'...HOS (HOS?!) That's right, hos, and that what the topic is today on the show: hos (Why you always gotta talk about 'em?) I mean, cause if you gotta blame it on somebody You might as well blame it on a motherfuckin ho.... [beat kicks in] You feel me, Meech (Now that I think about it...) It was all on a motherfuckin' ho (Ya heard me?) That the topic today: Hos Live here, Snoop Dogg, and uh..what I'm gonna do right here [inhales] besides smokin' this weed...I'm a holla at 'chy'all... It was all on a ho, in one minute or two it, too cause I know I got it like that...y'knahmsayin? It was all on a ho (Ho, ho, ho) ["Now that I think about it?" echoes] Shiit, niggaz straight feelin' like Bobby Womack is in this motherfucker tonight...y'knahmsayin? That's the way I feel about 'cha...hm hm..it was all on a ho... But uh...it's Nineteen-motherfuckin'-Ninety Eight And I believe today is uh...October 31st, if I ain't...wrong...right, nigga? Yeah, yeah there, so uh... as they say in Halloween world or... White world or just a world, in general: Trick or Treat, bitch (Ha ha!) Ya feel me? (Ya heard me?) We puttin' this Space-Age pimpin' Full ?Fledge? pimpin' right here...y'know? Right now, bitch can't even look at me Bitch you under arrest for "Reckless Eyeballs" We just doin' this real P-Im right about now, ya feel me? (That's it...that's it...) Because...I mean, I got a big grip...a BIG, BIG memory, cuz I remember a whole lot of bitches didn't wanna give no nigga no title "Playa" Bitches wouldn't even look at me, y'knahmsayin? (Yeah you!) They just want a nigga to bust a rap about 'em, y'know (Yeah you!) Buy 'em sometin' to eat from...IHOP, y'know Go get 'em a Big Mac value pack or sumthin'... But uh...I'm a tell you what I really remember the most about these bitches, cuz (What chu remember, dawg?) [Snoop raps] I remember Rachel, Tina, Lisa, and Grace cause every single one of them had a special place in my heart From the start, see I was just a young puppy A young dummy, panties, bitches to fuck with me Now that I grew up and blew up, I look back and thanked [thought] on these hos, they straight to' up, know what? I'm in effect for the nine-eight

How technology making culturally diverse ideas Essay

  Question: How has technology worked to make the world a smaller place and bring about culturally diverse ideas that help identify opportunities and solve problems? There was a day when high tech communication was a guy on a pony galloping to the next town to deliver a letter. Then there were the days of switchboard operators and party lines, now we have nearly instant communication with anybody in the world right at our fingertips. Communication technology has always served to make the world a smaller place. The recent surge in high tech communications has hastened the process. Maybe the biggest way that technology has made the world smaller is through the internet. The internet or World Wide Web is almost scary when you think about how accessible it has made the places that were once the farthest away. With things like Google earth, you can actually look at just about any place on the globe. Just type in an address or a name of a town and you can instantly see a satellite image of that place, zooming in and you can start to make out the streets and houses. No, the technology doesn’t actually transport you there but by looking at it with your own eyes, you feel like you are there. It’s not just Google earth that help the internet make the world small. It’s the internet in general. The World Wide Web is just that, it is a web that connects every computer in the world. No computers are more than a few links away and you can use the computer to do amazing thing, like see your baby take his first steps, even though you are in a different state. Programs like Youtube.com guarantee that anything captured on camera can be viewed by millions and millions of people, often within seconds or minutes of the event. Web cams also serve to make the world smaller. You can check out webcams anywhere and get up to the minute information about what is going on there. Smart phones are another instance of technology making the world small. The new business -phones are so efficient and so high tech that you  can now do face to face international business from thousands of miles away. If you want to talk with a whole roomful of people in France from the comfort of your bedroom while wearing your pajamas, you can use your smart phone to do just that. If you want another example of how technology has made the world small consider online dating. There was a time that a person had to put on nice clothes and go out into the real world to meet a love interest. Today, you can be â€Å"out there† without ever having to go out. You can meet hundreds of interested singles, see what they look like, and find out about their interests, backgrounds, and values while locked in your room. You can even engage in a virtual relationship by using email or instant messaging. It is possible to get to know a person on a relatively deep level without ever meeting at all. This is a part of the beauty and the freakiness of internet.

Differences and Comparisons of Ethics Essay

When we think of ethics, we think of two words, good or bad. Through the history of our world, philosophers and scientists have devised several thoughts that include a system that we are able to use to determine who and what is good or bad. As a population, we can use these different terms and types of ethical theory to determine which style, form, or behavior of ethics fits with our beliefs and culture. Some of these different types of theories include virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. Although these all fall into the category of a theory of ethics and may seem to be similar, they are also very different. When looking at the virtue theory of ethics, we can see that the term character can be used in the place of virtue. According to Ben (2007), the virtue theory has roots that reach back to the time of Plato. Plato, and the virtue theory, suggest that all men and women would be happy if they would only grasp the eternal Form of the Good as his or her criterion. In contrast to the virtue theory, the utilitarianism theory suggests that a person present or have behavior of good for the entire team or group. One of the problems associated with this theory according to Boylan (2009) is that for any moral theory to work in a group, the group must first come to some terms of a general agreement. Knowing this and thinking on this statement, there are few times in my life where a team or group of people come together on any idea and agree on its entirety. The deontological theory suggest a contrasting idea to the other two theories, it suggests that there are features within the actions of the individual that determine whether it is right or not. The first theory was about the character of the individual, the second theory was about a group of individuals, this theory involves the actions of a person. The deontological theory also suggests that an individual may believe that good intentions are more important than the results. One personal experience  that comes to mind when writing about these theories. Many years ago, I worked for an electrical contractor, his moral concepts and mine were not the same. His idea of running a business was to bid much lower than any other contractor, when in fact, he did get the job, the work he applied was shoddy and the materials were sub-par. He could not perceive the value of the labor that was performed by his employees, he could have simply bid more per job, paid his employees’ wages tha t fit their position, and used materials that were deemed appropriate. His virtue or company mission statement was; â€Å"get the job done as cheaply as possible†. As a businessman I can realize the importance of saving money and using business sense to achieve business directives, however, purposefully paying employees low wages, using non name brand parts and bidding lower than any other contractor for every job is one ethic that I do not agree with. There are seven general ethical categories used in defining the ethical values and morals people follow. Each category has different subsections and expectations for a person’s behavior. A person’s morals and ethical beliefs develop from a mixture of values from these various theories; therefore he or she does not necessarily fit snugly into one category. The top three ethical theories are deontological, utilitarianism, and virtue-based ethics – these are the theories under examination. Deontological Theory Also known as ‘duty-based’, ‘categorical imperative’, and ‘The Golden Rule’, deontology focuses on â€Å"decisions about what’s right [based] on broad, abstract universal ethical principles or values such as honesty, promise keeping, fairness, loyalty, rights (to safety, privacy, etc.), justice, responsibility, compassion, and respect for human beings and property† (Trevino, 2011, pg. 42). People following this ethical category believe moral principles outline the necessary obligations and duties – principles developed by biblical or religious beliefs and societal or government laws. A deontological person does not worry about the consequences of a decision. Their concerns focus on duty or moral obligations. In a professional capacity, the person follows instructions of managers or supervisors because it is his or her duty to respect authority, even if the instructions are unethical. Utilitarianism Theor y The second most common category of ethical behavior is also known as  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœconsequence-based’ or ‘teleological ethics’. In this category, people focus on decisions that result in the most benefits for the greatest number of people in a society. Utilitarianism ethics applies to much of the decision-making in the business world, as a company exerts an effort to become environmentally responsible and trustworthy. A difficulty that arises with utilitarianism is that the decisions made cannot account for every possibility. This means that the person is â€Å"unlikely to arrive at a completely accurate assessment of all future consequences [and] †¦ the rights of a minority group can easily be sacrificed for the benefit of the majority† (Trevino, 2011, pg. 42). Virtue Ethics Virtue ethics tend to fit in more with the deontological category than with utilitarianism. In this category, the focus is on making good decisions because it reflects the type of person one wants to be. A good person makes good decisions and exerts effort â€Å"to cultivate excellence in all that [they] do and all that others do† (Boylan, 2009, pg. 133). In this category, people take a personalized approach to decision-making that not only accounts for societal expectations but also for how the person wants to be perceived, focusing on the act or decision instead of the consequences. Virtue ethics are beneficial to people working in specialized professional communities. A professional community or organization, such as physicians or lawyers, has a highly developed set of ethical standards. These standards give the members of the community guidelines to follow when trying to be good moral agents. Personal Experience In a gambling casino, deontological values are important. In any position, there are local, state, and federal laws that govern the activities within the casino. State regulations are especially strict on how employees handle money and gambling chips. As a surveillance employee in a local casino, my deontological ethics followed company and state policies. Because of the possible legal ramifications, I chose to place state regulations before company obligations. There were inconsistencies in how management handled money – per state guidelines; documentation was required for every step in the process. Whenever I saw something getting done incompletely or  inappropriately, I documented each instance. After a few weeks of documentation, I discovered that the Washington State Gambling Commission representative had never seen any of the paperwork. This meant that my immediate supervisor and the owners had concealed the paperwork so that the company would not have to make the necessary changes or possibly face fines for improper handling of money. My morals and values caused an ethical dilemma because I knew that the company was following improper procedures but I also knew that informing the representative of the missing paperwork and improper handling practices could cost me my job. I chose to follow the higher level duties and obligations outlined by the state regulations in an effort to prevent the loss of the company. This choice backfired on me in the end – management fired me because I informed the state representative of the issues. Conclusion Each ethical theory has its own rules and expectations. There are sub-levels within each category that creates even more varied options. When a person knows his or her own values and morals, it is easier to identify which ethical category he or she fits into. In this manner, a person is more aware of why he or she makes the decisions he or she does and can see other viewpoints more clearly. There are different types of ethical theories. Ethical theories help to find how a person should act towards another or in a situation. The various types of ethical theories helps people define what is right and what is wrong and how we make those assumptions. Although the three main theories of ethics have the same purpose they are different from one another. The virtue theory is the ethical theory also called character ethics is based on the moral of what is ethical. It is based on personal belief and feeling of character. It â€Å"describes the character of a moral agent as a driving force for ethical behavior, rather than rules (Wikipedia, 2012). Virtue ethics is character based and focuses on helping people develop a better character trait. According to the text (2009), virtue ethics â€Å"take the viewpoint that in living your life you should try to cultivate excellence in all that you do and all that others do. These excellences or virtues are both moral and non-moral.† It deals with the moral character of a person rather than what is the more ethical thing to do or what society expects from them. Utilitarianism states that something is  morally right if it is for the greater good of all. It is most often used in the United States government because of the principle of satisfying everyone. According to Wikipedia (2012), it is the measurement between what is right and wrong without consequence. A utilitarian is a person who puts the need of others before their own. They believe that success is achieved as a whole rather than individually. It is based on factual beliefs where the moral worth is based on the overall outcome. Deontological or â€Å"Duty† ethics is the ethical theory that is based on one’s duty to do the right thing. Deontology states that people act ethically moral because of what is expected from them in a particular situation. For example, at work you are more likely to use deontological ethics in determining how to behave in the workplace. It is because your employer expects for you to follow the code of ethics set forth by the company. It is based on what society expects out of you as a person and a citizen. Voting could be considered to be a deontological ethical decision as well as utilitarianism because even though you may want to vote because of your personal beliefs and character, most people do it because it is necessary and they are expected to do so. It also is for the good of all Americans and if one person fails to vote it can affect the people as a whole. For me this is also a virtue base theory as well because I feel that it is my duty to myself to vote because of how I was raised. I was always taught the importance of voting and the things that can become from voting. The three main ethical theories are the basis of the path to making decisions and how decisions are made. They set the standard for how and why people act the way they do or why and how they make the decisions that they make. It helps to determine what is right and what is wrong and how assumptions are made to come to conclusions. Although the three main ethical theories serve the same purpose of establishing ethical principles (Rainbow, 2002), they differ from one another because they each define different points and differ in a person’s duty to make ethical decisions. Utilitarianism is a consequentialist ethical theory. An action is right or wrong based on its consequences. John Stuart Mill was an important philosopher in developing the idea of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism holds that any action that  results in a greater amount of happiness in the world is a right action and any action that results in pain or less happiness is wrong. Utilitarianism can be divided into di fferent versions. Act utilitarianism is one of the versions of utilitarianism. Act utilitarianism’s goal is to maximize the overall happiness of the universe. Act utilitarianism uses the Greatest Happiness Principle which says in every situation, choose the option that you believe to be most likely to produce the greatest possible happiness or least possible unhappiness for the all people who will be affected. An act utilitarian would determine if robbing a bank is a right action or not by determining how much happiness the robbery would create. To do this he would have to use the hedonistic calculus, which is a way of adding up all the happiness that everyone affected by an action would receive. If the results of this calculation show that the bank managers, the hundreds of investors, and the police would all be unhappy with this action and only the robber and maybe his family would be happy, then robbing the bank is a wrong action. If the bank managers did not care about the customer’s money, the FDIC insured all the stolen money, the police wer e not unhappy because of the robbery, and the robber was extremely happy because he could move to the Caribbean and never work again, then robbing the bank would be a right action. There are many good points to act utilitarianism. It is very appealing because most people want to increase their happiness and reduce their pain. Act utilitarianism says that people could do that and they would not only make everyone happier but they would also be doing what is morally right. Act utilitarians will not have conflicts over any action being right or wrong because the hedonistic calculus is an objective test that proves the amount of please or pain that will result. It is a standard that all actions can be evaluated by. Another point or act utilitarianism that can be seen as an advantage over rule utilitarianism is that each individual situation can have a different action be right. This means that in every situation the right action will provide more happiness or less pain as opposed to rule utilitarianism where the individual situations do not matter. Act utilitarianism also has some disadvantages. One major fault of act utilitarianism is that some actions would produ ce a greater amount of happiness if they were done in secret. The same action, however, would produce less happiness if it were done in public. That means that the exact  same action and situation would be right if no one knew about it but wrong if enough people were aware of it. If people know about an action and believe it is wrong, then wouldn’t it be just as wrong if no one knew about it? The action would still have the same affect on the same amount of people, they just would not know about, so they could not be unhappy about it. Act utilitarianism can also seem unjust because the hedonistic calculus may say that it is right to take away the rights of a person because it will contribute to the overall happiness in the universe. Act utilitarianism would say an action producing pain for a small number of innocent people is right as long as the rest of the world is happy about it. Another problem is the feelings of a person are disregarded; only the consequences are important. Some other problems with act utilitarianism are if a person has never experienced a similar situation, then they will be unable to perform the hedonistic calculus because they will not know if people will be happy or not. It also may not be possible to compare the different people’s happiness. Act Utilitarianism has many problems. If everyone acted according to act utilitarianism, then the majority or people would probably be happier. But morally correct actions do not necessarily have to make people happy, so act utilitarianism might not be a good way to determine if an action is really right or wrong. References 2006 Pearson Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River NJ 07458 The Legal Environment of Business: A Crititical Thinking Approach 4th Edition Nancy K. Kumasek, Bartley ABrennanm M. Neil Browne, Bowiling Green University 2009 Oxford University Press Business Ethics and Ethical Business Robert Audi, University of Notre Dame New York /Oxford 2011 SAGE Publications, Inc Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility: Stakeholders in a Global Environment 2nd Edition William B Werther Jr(University of Miami) and David Chandler (University of Texas at Austin) 2013 South-Western CENGAGE Learning Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases 9th Edition O. C. Ferrell, John Fraedrich and Linda Ferrell Mason, Ohio

A Guide to Vertical Lists

A Guide to Vertical Lists A Guide to Vertical Lists A Guide to Vertical Lists By Mark Nichol A recent post described how to organize and format in-line lists, those that occur within a sentence. This one explains the proper use of vertical lists, which are organized by setting the items on the list (following an introductory phrase or sentence), apart from each other, distinguished by numbers, letters, or other symbols, on consecutive lines. Vertical lists are best employed in place of in-line lists when the list is long and/or the items consist of longer phrases or even complete sentences (or even more than one sentence). However, vertical lists are often useful in contexts in which guidance or instruction is being offered, though they are most effective when they are concise, and extended list items are not advised. If list items consist of more than one sentence, the information might be better displayed as regular text. The following vertical list (too simple to be formatted as such but used here for illustrative purposes), is offered as a basic example: The colors of the American flag are red, white, and blue. (Note: This and other correct lists in this post are formatted in boldface.) Just as is the case with an in-line list, if one or more items in a vertical list itself requires a comma, each item should be set off from the others by a semicolon. Note that despite the vertical-list formatting, because the introductory phrase and the list constitute a syntactically organized sentence, the introductory phrase is not punctuated, but terminal punctuation follows the final item. (Some publishers, however, simplify this format by omitting especially the conjunction and perhaps the commas as well.) However, compare the previous example with a version in which the introductory phrase constitutes a complete independent clause: The colors of the American flag are as follows: red white blue Here, the introductory phrase and the list do not constitute a sentence, so the list items are not punctuated. Terminal punctuation is included, however, and first word of each list item is capitalized, if the items are themselves self-contained sentences: Although the colors of the American flag did not have any official meaning when it was designed, the colors on the Great Seal represent the following virtues: White signifies purity and innocence. Red signifies hardiness and valor. Blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Note how the sentences in the list are organized consistently. In the following examples, the list items must be revised to make the list syntactically consistent: According to our survey, the top three factors are lax enforcement of budgets and savings being spent in other areas, invalid savings assumptions or changes in the assumptions used to calculate savings, and realized savings are not being effectively tracked. Note how the first two items follow the syntactical structure of the introductory phrase but the third one is an independent clause. The list can be rendered consistent in two ways: According to our survey, the top three factors are lax enforcement of budgets and savings being spent in other areas, invalid savings assumptions or changes in the assumptions used to calculate savings, and ineffective tracking of realized savings. According to our survey, these are the top three factors: Budget enforcement is lax and savings are being spent in other areas. Savings assumptions are invalid or there are changes in the assumptions used to calculate savings. Realized savings are not being effectively tracked. Avoid producing vertical lists in which to or more list items begin with the same word or words, as in this example: In this session, you will learn how to get business processes and systems to scale to business growth, how to build out a financial team to drive and support growth, how to build these important pillars within an audit/business controls mind-set, and securing/managing financing to support corporate growth strategy. To revise, incorporate the recurring word or phrase into the introductory phrase and revise any list items that begin with different wording so that they conform with the others, as shown here: In this session, you will learn how to get business processes and systems to scale to business growth, build out a financial team to drive and support growth, build these important pillars within an audit/business controls mind-set, and secure/manage financing to support corporate growth strategy. Note, too, that any symbol may be used in place of bullets, but the same symbol should be employed throughout not only a single vertical list but also all such lists throughout a document or publication. If one or more items in a vertical list marked by bullets are followed by subsidiary items of their own, a distinct symbol (such as a hollow bullet) should be used for those items, which should also be indented farther than the primary list items. Sometimes, no symbols are used at all, but this strategy is best employed if the items are brief and numerous, such as in a vocabulary list consisting of one- or two-word items. (In addition, a vertical list in which items are short can be formatted into two or more narrow columns if the width of the printed or online page is wide enough to accommodate them.) Also, numbers and letters may be substituted for bullets, but numbers are recommended only when the items in the list should be read in a particular order, such as when outlining a procedure or ranking the list items. Letters are appropriate primarily for multiple-choice test items, for example, or when the text includes frequent cross-references such as â€Å"See item d.† A basic outline-style vertical list can be organized using a simple hierarchy of Arabic numerals and lowercase letters. For a complex outline, the recommended hierarchy of numbers and letters varies according to various style manuals and writing handbooks, but The Chicago Manual of Style advises the following sequence: Roman numerals (I, II, III, and so on), capital letters (A, B, C, and so on), Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, and so on), lowercase letters (a, b, c, and so on) followed by a close parenthesis, Arabic numerals enclosed in parentheses, lowercase letters enclosed in parentheses, and lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, and so on) followed by a close parenthesis. Another outline format is the decimal outline, as shown below (appropriate indentation not used here): 1. 1.1 1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 1.2 1.2.1 . . . 1.3 1.3.1 . . . 2. 2.1 . . . Ultimately, the goal of any list organization is clarity. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Yiddish Handbook: 40 Words You Should Know8 Proofreading Tips And Techniques"Wracking" or "Racking" Your Brain?

Knowing God

Knowing God What does it mean to "know the Lord"? God wants His people to have more than an intellectual understanding of the principles of His kingdom - more than a mere awareness of His existence. His desire for man is that he might enter into a very personal and intimate relationship with his God.A. This is not a "head knowledge" (Jeremiah 9:23-24), but a "heart knowledge" (Jeremiah 31:33-34).B. It is not a revelation of facts or intellectual truths, but a personal revelation of The Truth (Jesus Christ).2 Timothy 3:7 C. Israel knew the works of God, but Moses knew His ways.Psalms 103:7 Hebrews 3:10 (Psalms 95:10) D. Knowing about God is not enough; we can know Him personally. God desires us to enter into a realm of experience higher than the initial salvation experience.1 Timothy 2:4 II. The knowledge of God is progressive.Hosea 6:3 A.English: Peresopnytsia Gospels. 1556-1561. Miniatu...Now "we know in part." 1 Corinthians 13:9-12 B. Scripture says that we increase in the knowledge of Him.Eph esians 1:17 Colossians 1:9-10 2 Peter 3:18 C. One day the knowledge of the Lord shall fill all the earth. Then shall we know even as we are known.Jeremiah 31:33 Habakkuk 2:14 1 Corinthians 13:12 1. We are betrothed to know the Lord.Hosea 2:19-20 2. He has given us a heart to know Him.Jeremiah 24:7 1 John 5:20 3. "They shall all know Me." Jeremiah 31:33, 34 III. God really desires for us to get to know Him.A. "Let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me ... for in these things I delight. saith the Lord." Jeremiah 9:24 B. "For I desired mercy ... and the knowledge of God ..." Hosea 6:6 C. "Who will have (desires) all men to be saved,

What Are Contractions (Warning Not a Guide to Pregnancy)

What Are Contractions (Warning Not a Guide to Pregnancy) What Are Contractions? If you’re heavily pregnant and noticing a tightness in your uterus at regular intervals, congratulations! You’re probably about to go into labor. However, if you’re looking for advice on that issue, we’re afraid you’re in the wrong place. The â€Å"contractions† we’re interested in are words. But what are these contractions? And how can you avoid errors when using them in your writing? Read on below to find out! What Are Contractions? A contraction is an abbreviation formed by combining two words. For instance: Could not = Couldn’t I am = I’m Where is = Where’s As shown above, we use an apostrophe to indicate that letters have been dropped from the new word. All contractions are formed like this, so make sure not to miss the apostrophe out! When to Use Contractions Contractions are very common in speech. As a result, you can use them in writing if you’re aiming for an informal, friendly tone. They’re also very useful in fiction, especially dialogue. However, since contractions are informal, you should not use them in formal writing (e.g., college papers and technical writing). The one exception to this is â€Å"o’clock† if you’re writing down a time in full (this is actually a contraction of â€Å"of the clock†). What time of the clock is it? Watch Out for These Sneaky Words! Finally, we’ll end on a list of common contractions that are regularly misused or that could be confusing. Look out for these terms in your writing and make sure that you’ve got them right: Contraction What It Means Common Errors It’s It is or it has Don’t confuse this term with the possessive determiner â€Å"its† (no apostrophe). They’re They are Not to be confused for the possessive determiner â€Å"their† or the adverb â€Å"there.† We’re We are Not to be confused with the past tense verb â€Å"were† or the adverb â€Å"where.† You’re You are Not to be confused with the possessive â€Å"your.† Can’t Cannot The full form of this term is written as a single word, so make sure not to write â€Å"can not† in formal writing. Won’t Will not This term is technically short for â€Å"woll not,† since â€Å"woll† is an old-fashioned spelling of â€Å"will.† And although â€Å"will† became standard for the positive form, the â€Å"o† spelling became standard for the negative contraction. With these terms, if you’re not sure whether the contraction is correct, try using the expanded version in the sentence. For example, while â€Å"we’re† and â€Å"were† look similar written down, there is an obvious difference between â€Å"they were happy† (grammatical) and â€Å"they we are happy† (ungrammatical).

Managerial Traits and Skills Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managerial Traits and Skills - Research Paper Example 2). High level of emotional intelligence is fundamental to the good relations between a manager and the subordinates as well as the clients. Emotionally intelligent managers know how to tackle the challenges that are encountered by them on daily basis. Emotional intelligence inculcates a sense in the manager to deal with others without getting caught in dysfunctional conflicts with them. This enables them to achieve the organizational objectives without having to exert unnecessarily. Dealing with people in the appropriate way in context of a certain situation is not a rule of thumb. It is more of an art. Emotionally intelligent managers have the intrinsic feeling of behaving the right way, which may not necessarily require the manager to be patient all the time. There are times when it is better to let go of things and yet there are times when the manager needs to take serious action in order to control the situation. The manager derives this sense from emotional intelligence. ... locus of control inculcates confidence in the managers that they are able to control the circumstances and mould them according to the need of the hour. On the other hand, managers who have external locus of control tend to underestimate their ability to control the circumstances. Instead, they tend to think that things will happen as they are destined to be. While the significance of destination cannot be undermined, it is equally important for a manager to believe that his/her destination is in his/her own hands. Without this belief, the manager lacks the confidence required to play his/her individualistic role in the change of circumstances for the better. Interpersonal skills of an individual have a large impact on his/her effectiveness as a manager. Interpersonal skills, as the name indicates, are the skills required to deal with people. Interpersonal skills are linked to emotional intelligence and the two have a cause-and-effect relationship. High level of emotional intelligenc e inculcates sound interpersonal skills in the manager. The fundamental key to the improvement of interpersonal skills is knowledge of business ethics. Business ethics teach a manager what is the right thinking which needs to be adopted for the evaluation and analysis of matters. Teamwork is essential for a manager as he/she is frequently required to work as part of a team. Teamwork is essentially a skill that is not very common in people. Different people have different problems that affect their tendency to be effective as a team member. Such problems include but are not limited to attitude problems, neuroticism, and group think. Some people are not able to get along with others well. This may happen because of a contrast between others’ beliefs and perceptions and theirs. This causes

Answer questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Answer questions - Essay Example practice insurance does not mean that a professional can use the same when he conducts an act of negligence; the insurance is simply for protecting him against some malpractice committed while being ordinarily prudent in his affairs of conducting his activities, yet causing some damage to the patient, in an unknowingly negligent manner. It thus should not ideally lessen the care that is taken by a professional in his work. 29. The role of the insurance industry is to reiterate the fact that despite any professional possessing liability insurance, he must not fall short of being competent or prudent while conducting his daily affairs. The insurance should not be treated like a ticket to being negligent, but merely used during a time of crisis. 30. Churning amounts to a breach of securities law; when a broker conducts an excessive transaction and sells the securities that have increased in their value while keeping the securities that have lost out on their value, misrepresentation or fraud may be committed by the broker and the company that he represents. Thus, the line should be drawn when one steps onto fraudulent methods to earn a higher commission. 31. It is ethical for an insurance company to base the commission of an agent on the basis of a buyer’s needs because at the end of the company is carrying out a business transaction and every agent acting on behalf of the company should be entitled to receive that which he is able to get; regardless of the buyer’s needs, the agent will only be entitled to the amount of commission equal to that of the policy that he has been able to sell to the client. 32. It is important and pertinent for a state to respect and enforce the judgments that are awarded by courts in other states as well as the statutes and case laws of other states because when a certain judgment has been passed for a particular case in a state, it may act as a precedent for a similar case taking place elsewhere. The state thus must foster

Compare, contrast and summarize the information from 3 article Essay

Compare, contrast and summarize the information from 3 article together - Essay Example Short term use of stimulants known to be an effective intervention strategy, Corkum and associates (2010) investigate the long term impacts of methylphenidate (MPH). 85 children with ADHD were initially assessed with Wide range achievement test-revised (WRAT-R), parent and teacher rating, estimated intellectual ability, OCHS academic and psychosocial ratings, duration of medication and academic support. Children were randomly assigned to MPH treatment and placebo group in a double blind trial, with former administered a gradually rising dose of 5mg/administration to reach a target dose of 0.7mg/Kg body weight. 12 months later baseline assessments were repeated and using regression analysis academic performance was estimated, one for each subset of WRAT-R and for parent and teacher ratings with baseline covariates, and total treatments as variables. The results indicated that both medication and academic interventions were insignificant in academic improvement. II. Clarfield and Stone r (2005), explored the efficacy of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) on ADHD. The study specifically explored the role of headsprout reading basics; an internet based reading program as a CAI tool in improving the reading and task engagement. 3 children, selected using BASC (behavior assessment system for children), ADHD ratings; and parent, teacher & psychologist interview; received Reading Recovery instruction as part of their curriculum, along with two of them receiving stimulants and one consulting psychologist as part of prior interventions. The frequency of sessions (20-30 minute) was thrice a week with participants completing 27, 24 and 21 sessions. They were assessed using DIEBELS (Dynamic indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) oral reading fluency (DORF) and BOSS (Behaviour observation of students in schools). An improvement in reading fluency was observed in all three students, along with reduction in off task behaviour. III. Shalev et al (2007) tested that a systema tic individualized computerized progressive attentional training (CPAT) can at least partially overcome the lack of attention characteristic of ADHD. CPAT was designed to train each of the four attentional networks, i.e. sustained, selective, orienting, and executive attentions. A double blind randomized control trial (RCT) involving 20 children in treatment and 16 in control group, with baseline similarities in age and intelligence and meeting the DSM-IV criteria for ADHD was conducted. The training schedule was two one hour sessions per week continuing for eight weeks. Pre and post assessments tests relevant to the grade of the child assessing reading, writing, mathematical skills and parental ratings were used for evaluating results. The results specifically showed improvements in all the above fields within two weeks of initiation of CPAT. Critical Evaluation I. 1. What claims are being made? Lack of long term and cumulative impact of MPH on ADHD related academic underperformanc e. 2. What evidence has been provided to support the claims (research study, expert opinion...) The evidences include research study with exhaustive assessments and naturalistic trials. 3. Is the evidence credible (are the tests relevant, can they be repeated, examine validity and reliability)? Assessments are subjective as well as objective enabling repeatability, reliability and validity.

My best, or your worst, team experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

My best, or your worst, team experience - Essay Example We were to prepare documentation for business plan, three-year cash flow, and development plan for three, five, and ten years respectively, and lay out a marketing policy for the bank establishment. We divided the tasks equally amongst ourselves and worked hard to accomplish the goals. The command was challenging especially due to time constraints. However, the command experience was made exciting by respect from all members. All team members were respectful, disciplined, and obedient to one another. We made friendship and learned how to solve our differences professionally. Everyone contributed thoughts, ideas, and expertise. As the command leader, I made a great contribution by utilizing my team leadership and problem solving skills. The greatest experience came when we presented and won the command competition. Making the command successful was the most important accomplishment to me. It felt great and I was very happy to have led the command and emerged the winners. The whole command was a learning experience. I learned that collaboration, discipline, obedience, and positive attitude are the keys to a great teamwork

Automobile Industry in China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Automobile Industry in China - Essay Example The aim of this paper is to discuss more thoroughly on these points and more, and to offer a more in-depth and comprehensive point of view on the situation of the impact on the automobile industry in China after China's accession into the WTO. "Since the beginning of economic reform and its opening to the outside world, China's economy has been growing at a rate of nearly 10 percent annually and its external trade has expanded by more than 15 percent a year. In 1999 China's trade volume reached $360.7 billion, ranking 9th in the world, with export volume reaching $195 billion. China has emerged to become an important player in world trading system." (Zhai & Li, 2000). Negotiations over China's accession into the WTO immediately provoked a debate between "pessimists who believed that opening the economy would lead to a flood of imports and a de-nationalization of manufacturing industry, and those who believed that it would spur rationalization of state-owned enterprises, lock in domestic reforms, attract foreign investment, and open the way for trade expansion." (Noble et al). Th The aim of this paper is to thoroughly realize and discuss these interests and more, in order to come to a clearer and more understanding point of view on the particular situation. In order to do this, the following questions must be addressed: 1. What is the WTO 2. What was China's automobile industry like before China joined the WTO. 3. What was the impact on the automobile industry in China after China's accession into the WTO 4. What conclusions can be drawn from this occurrence By discussing these three questions, we can more precisely comprehend and opinionate on this subject matter. This is what will be dissertated in the following. What is the WTO The WTO (World Trade Organization) is an organization which consists of 123 signatory countries. Established on January 1, 1995, and based in Geneva, the WTO replaced the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) as the most primary legal and institutional foundation among the multilateral trading system of member countries. The aim and prime purpose of the WTO is to set forth the principal contractual obligations which determine how governments outline and execute domestic trade legislation and regulations. Through debate, negotiations, and adjudication, the WTO is the literal platform on which trade relations among separate countries evolve. The WTO is in all actuality the sole organization which deals with the rules of trade between nations. Since the time of its inception, which took place in 1999, protestors and anti-globalization movement contesters have targeted the WTO as a main place of impact. This is because the WTO promotes economic

My best, or your worst, team experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

My best, or your worst, team experience - Essay Example We were to prepare documentation for business plan, three-year cash flow, and development plan for three, five, and ten years respectively, and lay out a marketing policy for the bank establishment. We divided the tasks equally amongst ourselves and worked hard to accomplish the goals. The command was challenging especially due to time constraints. However, the command experience was made exciting by respect from all members. All team members were respectful, disciplined, and obedient to one another. We made friendship and learned how to solve our differences professionally. Everyone contributed thoughts, ideas, and expertise. As the command leader, I made a great contribution by utilizing my team leadership and problem solving skills. The greatest experience came when we presented and won the command competition. Making the command successful was the most important accomplishment to me. It felt great and I was very happy to have led the command and emerged the winners. The whole command was a learning experience. I learned that collaboration, discipline, obedience, and positive attitude are the keys to a great teamwork

Biological principles Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Biological principles - Term Paper Example Simply put, all cells have basic molecular mechanisms to synthesize or absorb nutritional elements such as carbohydrates and proteins, are surrounded by a protective layer of membrane so as not to let foreign material invade them and comprise of a genetic structure that regulates their function and aids in proliferation (Gunning & Steer, 1996). Depending on the structure and functional differences, these cells can be classified into two types: prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells. The word ‘karyon’ means nucleus, therefore the word ‘prokaryotic’ means before nucleus- that is they do not have a nucleus, and ‘eukaryotic’ means comprising of a true nucleus. Prokaryotic organisms are always single cellular and mostly bacteria, as contrasted to the single or multicellular eukaryotes in the form of protists, fungi, plants and animals (Black, 2008). Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, although mostly different do have some similarities. Both of the types of cells comprise of a cell membrane, that limits the extent of the cells of both types (Black, 2008), by holding in cytoplasm and organelles. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are also similar due to the fact that they comprise of genetic material in their cells in the form of DNA (Black, 2008), which makes them capable of replicating, thus resulting in the proliferation of cells. Structurally, the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells can be divided into their genetic and reproductive structures, and extracellular and intracellular structures (Black, 2008). The genetic material in both the types of cells is similar, however eukaryotes comprise of a double-membrane bounded nucleus that the prokaryotes do not have (Perry etal., 2013). The difference also lies in the shape of the DNA, the prokaryotic DNA is circular in shape whereas the eukaryotic DNA is in the form of multiple strands of the DNA molecule wrapped around proteins and organized in the

Joseph Stalin Essay Example for Free

Joseph Stalin Essay World leaders are leaders with high governmental power in the world. Every leader, not just world leaders, is either great or corrupt; they are rarely both. Most of Russia’s history is filled with corrupt leaders. Joseph was one of those leaders. Stalin killed millions of people during his rule. But Stalin also led the Soviet Union almost to the top in world power. Stalin had many influences that led him to his Soviet Leadership in which gave him many admirers but even more non-supporters. At the age of 10, Joseph â€Å"Stalin† Djugashvili attended Gori’s religious elementary school. His mother, Yekaterina, wanted him to be a priest and would usually beat her son if he son whenever he misbehaved. These beatings were never as bad as those received from his father, Vissarion. Vissarion would frequently beat Stalin and his mother until they finally had enough and Yekaterina kicked Vissarion out. In 1894, at the age of 16, Stalin attended the Tiflis Seminary on a full scholarship. At the school, in 1899, he joined an underground Marxist revolutionary group. Because of his membership in this group, him and other revolutionaries were arrested and sent to Siberia. Two years later, Stalin escaped from Siberia. On his return, he joined the RSDLP or Russian Social Democratic Labor Party. Later, when the RSDLP split because of differences, he joined the Bolsheviks half under the control of Vladimir Lenin. With the Bolsheviks, Stalin helped with many revolutions. The first was the take down of Tsar Nicholas II and the Russian Tsarist government. With the tsarist takedown, Russia set up a new provisional government. It worked at first but then it started going downhill. Since fleeing the country in fear of arrest, Lenin put Stalin in charge of the central committee of the Bolsheviks Party. Unimpressed by Stalin’s compromising with the Provisional government, Lenin started writing hate letters to the provisional government. Most, if not all, of these letters were published in Stalin’s communist newspaper, Pravda. The Pravda was one of the ways the Bolsheviks spread the communist revolt. The Russian’s loss in the Russo-Japanese war was the another way that they got the public to turn against the provisional government and strengthen the communist revolt. The revolt got stronger and stronger until the Bolsheviks finally revolted and took down the Russian Provisional Government. Because of this, civil war erupted all over the country. At the end of this war, in 1920, the Bolsheviks set up the USSR, or Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, under control of Vladimir Lenin. When Lenin died, Stalin aggressively worked his way up until he was the leader of the USSR. In his control, Stalin set up a â€Å"5 year plan† to advance the Russian economy from just farming to also having industry. In this plan, he would also advance the military and â€Å"cleanse the country of villains† or those he saw as villains. To â€Å"cleanse the country†, Stalin would have unfair trials that would have many on trial at once. These were called his â€Å"Show Trials†. The majority, if not all, of these people were found guilty and sent for execution. They were executed all at once, and the executions were called the Purges. To advance the Russian economy, Stalin would work the farmers to death†¦ literally. When the farmers revolted, Stalin stopped sending them food and even more died from starvation. On the last of the purges, 16 men were put on trial and accused of acts of terrorism towards Stalin and the Soviet government. Two of them were Stalin’s allies after Lenin’s death, Zinovyev and Kamenev. All 16 of them confessed although none they were innocent. One of the accused that wasn’t sent to execution was Robert Eikhe. Eikhe wrote a letter to Stalin saying that Stalin was wrong and shouldn’t have executed those men. Furious, Stalin demanded that Eikhe was shot to death. Not too long after, Stalin’s wife died. With that, Stalin will never truly trust anyone or ever be the same. In Europe, there was another leader rising to power, Germany’s Adolf Hitler. Stalin admired Hitler and, in WW2, hoped they wouldn’t have to fight, so the USSR and Germany signed a Nonaggression Pact to avoid battle between them. It wasn’t too long until Hitler broke the Pact and attacked Ukraine. During the invasion, the Soviet air force was wiped out. Feeling surprised and betrayed, Stalin had a mental breakdown. Stalin finally pulled himself together and set up a â€Å"Scorched Earth† policy. He had both soldier and citizen initiate this scorched earth policy by destroying everything the Germans needed in their area and push out the invading Germans from Ukraine, which was taken under German control. Many were killed in the invasion; the Germans captured four million and killed three million people. Then the Soviets started fighting back. In that winter, many Germans died because of harsh weather and lack of supplies. Towards the end, Roosevelt sent weapons, equipment, and food to the Soviet Union. Stalin launched his final attack on the Germans in Stalingrad. At the end of WW2, Germany was left with nothing and no one in control. The â€Å"big three† (The United States’ Franklin D. Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin, and Britain’s Winston Churchill) met in Yalta, Ukraine. In Yalta, they discussed many topics. One of them was about Germany. They split Germany into four parts. The four parts were under control of the USSR, USA, Britain, and France. They also talked about Roosevelt’s preposition and set up the United Nations. The effects WW2 had on the Soviet Union were drastic. People would have their houses destroyed and had to live in their caves. The food rationings for the poor would continue for a while. Stalin knew nothing about it. It got worse when the United States stopped sending supplies. Because of this, Stalin declared war on the United States and its allies. This war would was called the Cold War. At that, the Soviet Union started developing nuclear technology and tension escaladed. Not too long after, United States President Harry Truman set up the â€Å"Marshal Plan† which had no trade sent to the Soviet Union or any other communist country. A little after that, Germany was officially split into two parts, East and West. East Germany and East Berlin was under Soviet Control. West Germany and West Berlin was under United States, British, and French control. Stalin blockaded East Berlin from the West. Knowing the end of this life was near, Stalin did many things to make sure he would be remembered. He wrote a 16 volume set of books, and he built canals and bridges to â€Å"show his control over nature†. Many of the projects were unfinished, though. Not too long before his death, Stalin accused seven doctors of planning to kill him and other governmental officials that were their patients, and put all seven on trial. On March 1st, 1952, Stalin suffered a stroke caused by a burst blood vessel in his brain in his mansion outside Moscow. He died four days later. After his death, Stalin still had many supporters. The Supporters mourned the loss of their great leader. They disregarded the millions of murders or say that they were for the better of the country. They also believed that some of the negative information was fake and still remain loyal to him. Other people that were non-loyal to Stalin were glad that he’s gone. The non-supporters renamed the bridges and streets he named after himself. They also renamed Stalingrad to Volgograd. The propaganda Stalin used didn’t completely work. He tried having history books rewritten to make him look peaceful because despite the terror, he wanted peace to be part of his remembrance. Stalin would have picture taken and paintings made of him doing good or kind things. He would also say things to make it look like his murders were okay. In one of his speeches, he said â€Å"A great danger hangs over our country. † (â€Å"Stalin, Joseph 1878-1952† 205) He says this for his multiple 5 Year Plans and his Purges. Joseph Stalin will always be known as the man who changed Russia. He evolved the working class country into an industrial, Military-strong country. His goals for Russia and the Union were good, but the ways he reached those goals weren’t so good and that’s why many people didn’t like him. The opinion of Stalin that I had was that he was a terrible ruler and that he thought for the worst; that changed. I learned that he wanted to advance Russian economy from farming to more industrial factories and that gave me more respect towards him, but I still think he could have done better.

Bacteria on Stainless Steel Surfaces | Experiment

Bacteria on Stainless Steel Surfaces | Experiment The attachment of bacteria on food processing surfaces and in the environment can cause potential cross-contamination, which can lead to food spoilage, possible food safety concerns, and surface destruction. Food contact surfaces used for food handling, storage or processing are areas where microbial contamination commonly occurs. Even with proper cleaning and sanitation regimes or practices in place, bacteria can remain attached to the surfaces and this attachment can lead to biofilm formation. The purpose of this study was to identify the presence of pathogenic microorganism in a food processing area and to evaluate the effect of the cleaning procedure on the microbial load in the food processing area. Ten replicate food contact surfaces were tested: stainless steel, marble and wood, with adjacent areas being sampled before and after cleaning. The test surfaces were analyzed with a swab method before and after the cleaning stage. The results of these studies indicate that three of ten stainless steel surface were contaminated before cleaning and no surface was contaminated after cleaning. Furthermore, three out of ten marble surfaces were contaminated before cleaning and one surface was contaminated after cleaning. Six of ten wood surfaces were heavily contaminated before cleaning and three surfaces were contaminated after cleaning. The difficulty in cleaning was related to the amount of surface damage and it is best to avoid this type of surface. Hypochlorite solution that was used for cleaning the surfaces in this study was considered to be effective against the foodborne pathogens tested. This study has highlighted the fact that pathogens remain viable on dry stainless steel surfaces and present a contamination hazard for considerable periods of time, dependent on the contamination levels and type of pathogen. Keywords: Microorganisms; Survival; Cross-contamination; Food contact surface Introduction Food contact surfaces are the chief denizen of biofilm that can host potentially harmful microorganisms. This, therefore, is a prominent phenomenon in food processing plants owing to dregs and residues of all sorts chemical, biological, organic, and/or inorganic -which build up on the surfaces of equipments that may get in contact with food (Mafu et al. 2010). The presence of these undesirable microorganisms to the material surfaces is a source of concern, as this can result in food cross-contamination, leading to food poisoning. Under favourable circumstances (temperature, pH, relative humidity), pathogenic microorganisms are able to survive and/or replicate on a large scale within the biofilm. In domestic kitchens and food processing industries, foodborne illness can result from incorrect storage of foods, particularly with respect to temperature, contamination of raw or cooked foods before consumption, by contact with other foods or utensils (food contact surfaces ) carrying path ogens, and inadequate cleaning procedures that may not see complete removal of microorganisms (Teixeira et al. 2007). In food processing industries, food contact surfaces, such as stainless steel, marble and wood may create an enabling environment for the survival of the microorganism, leading to serious hygienic problems. Furthermore, dead ends, corners, joints, valves and any other hard-to-reach places are the most appropriate areas for the presence of bacteria. (Peng et al. 2001). The value of maintenance and disinfection processes in food processing industries depends, to a large extent, on the design and maintenance programmes adopted by the company. Lack of efficacy in cleaning procedures may allow persistence and survival of pathogens in foods owing to their consistent adherence to food contact surfaces. This may lead to transfer of microorganisms from people, objects or contaminated food to other food or material, hence leading to cross-contamination. People can, in many ways, be a source of cross-contamination to foods (Holah and Thorpe, 1990). Food can be contaminated when it is handled, so it is very important that people who may be carrying or suffering from certain diseases do not handle food. Contamination can also be passed from equipment when contacting food. It specifically happens when utensils or equipment are not efficiently cleaned and sanitized between each use and may lead to development of biofilm, creating favourable conditions for the survival of the pathogens. Contamination from food to food occurs mainly when raw foods come into contact with cooked or prepared foods (Montville et al. 2001). The persistent presence of microorganisms in food processing factories, specifically on food contact surfaces despite deliberate efforts to combat the phenomenon, poses great challenges to the company. It reduces the profit margins of the industries due to the increased cost incurred in the attempts to adopt advanced cleaning services and programmes. A potential effect of the presence of microorganisms on food surfaces is food poisoning. Occurrence of food poisoning will mean great damage to the image of the company and persistent stress on the part of the management, thus derailing the progress of the company. Cross contamination is also becoming a common problem both in the kitchen setting and in industry. Transfer of resistant pathogens and microorganisms across and around these food producers through various agents and factors that propagate and carry the pathogens is a health hazard. Studies show that the level of contamination varies depending on the duplication and the rate of material handling that occurs in the factory. In this context, therefore, workersà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ hands, utensils and the broad extension of all food contact surfaces contribute to in cross contamination (Zhao et al. 1998). A thorough examination of the whole concept of microbial survival and persistence on food contact surfaces despite typical cleaning procedures and revised designs of the food contact surfaces (such as textural properties, maintained solid surface hydrophobicity) will reveal that more detailed analysis and studies should be focused on the factors that create an enabling environment for the persistent replication and presence of the foodborne pathogens in the food processing industries and kitchen setting (Scott and Bloomfield, 1990). The study of various relevant properties for the microbial adhesion process has been another imperative goal of this study and the purpose behind it is to obtain a broader knowledge base of the mechanisms of bacterial adhesion to food contact surfaces so as to formulate strategies for its control. The objective of this study is to identify the microorganisms that can survive in the food contact surface, such as stainless steel, marble and wood, even after cleaning procedures, thus increasing the risk of food cross-contamination. The study will focus on microorganisms that survive in the food processing areas even after the cleaning procedure. Foodborne pathogenic bacteria adhere to inert surfaces; they may exhibit a greater scale of resistance to chemical or ordinary cleaning and fumigating agents (Barnes et al. 1999). The concept of cross contamination is of major concern in the food processing industries that constitute a threat to human health because they cause most food borne illness outbreaks. Food poisoning is one of the consequences of adherence of microorganisms to food contact surfaces (Sattar et al. 2001). Materials and Methods Premises In order to assess the microbiological safety of a food processing area in Oman, three types of food contact surfaces were studied: Stainless steel, marble and wood. Ten surfaces of each of the three types were tested, with the adjacent areas of each one being sampled before and after cleaning. This study was performed randomly in nineteen selected Army camps kitchen. Data analysis Swabs were taken from the food processing area within the Royal Army camps kitchen and sent to the food microbiology laboratory of the environmental of health unit for analysis. The swabs were each tested for pathogenic bacteria linked with food and coliforms that can survive on the surface of food preparation areas before and after cleaning. The plates were read for the number of colonies of pathogenic bacteria and coliforms. A Phoenix machine was used to identify the bacteria and readings were taken directly from the Phoenix machine. A Phoenix is automated microbiology system is intended to provide rapid identification results for most aerobic and facultative anaerobic Gram positive bacteria as well as most aerobic and facultative anaerobic Gram negative bacteria. The identification of the Phoeonix panal uses a series of conventional, chromogenic and fluorogenic biochemical tests to identify the organism. The growth-based and enzymatic substrates are employed to cover the different types of reactivity among the range of taxa. The tests are based on the use of bacteria and deterioration of specific substrates detected by different indicator systems. Acid production is indicated by a change in phenol red indicator when an isolate is able to utilize a carbohydrate substrate. A yellow colour is produce by Chromogenic substrates upon enzymatic hydrolysis and the enzymatic hydrolysis of fluorogenic substrates results in the release of a fluorescent coumarin derivation. Organisms that utilize a specific carbon source reduce the resazurine based indicator. These results were recorded and the log reduction was calculated for each plate at each dilution rate after and before cleaning of the surface (BD Phoenix, 2007). Sampling methods and microbiological examination (Before Cleaning) Tests using the swab method were carried out on surfaces contaminated with food borne pathogens in a food processing area. Tubes containing 10 ml of sterile buffered peptone saline solution were used to wet the swabs prior to sampling. Cotton swabs were removed from their sterile packaging and were held by the stick while they were moistened with buffered peptone saline solution, the excess broth was returned into the bottle. All surfaces were prepared in sizes of 20 x 20 cm2 for survival experiments. The swabs were rotated while in contact with the food preparation surface. After the defined area was swabbed, the swab was returned to the test tube containing the buffered peptone saline solution to dislodge the bacteria. Serial dilutions of the swab solutions were prepared and duplicate pour plates were prepared for each dilution using nutrient agar, MacConkey agar and Blood agar. The plates were incubated for 24 hours at 37oC. Sampling methods and microbiological examination (After Cleaning) The surfaces were washed with hot water and chemical detergent and then rinsed with hot water. Then the surfaces (stainless steel, marble, and wood) were disinfected with 5.25% of hypochlorite solution for 10 minutes. The surfaces were allowed to dry before sampling. The swabbing method used was as above. Duplicate pour plates were prepared for each dilution using nutrient agar, MacConkey agar and Blood agar. The plates were incubated for 24 hours at 37oC. Sampling methods and microbiological examination (Control) Some of the food borne pathogen strains used as a control for these experiments on the surfaces (stainless steel, marble, and wood), such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were obtained from the Armed Forces Hospital Laboratory. For their control strains a clean stainless steel table without tiny groove was prepared as the food contact surface because it can be fabricated with a smooth cleanable finish. The table also was disinfected with 5.25 % of hypochlorite solution for 10 minutes. The surface was then washed with hot water, with chemical detergent and rinsed with hot water. The surface was allowed to dry before sampling. The test suspensions were prepared by making serial dilutions of the microorganisms in peptone saline solution. Two different levels of contamination were prepared: high contamination (approximately 106 colony forming units (CFU)/100 cm2) and low contamination (approximately 103 CFU/100 cm2), obtained by spreading 1 ml of an appropriate solution on a surface of 20 x 20 cm2 over the grid reference table. The table was allowed to dry for 15 minutes to represent the environment of food preparation area. Selective agar media were used for the enumeration of pathogens: Blood agar for Staphylococcus aureus, incubated for 24 hours at 37oC and MacConkey agar for Escherichia coli incubated for 18 à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 24 hours at 37oC. Furthermore, the effects of two different contamination levels on the survival of pathogens on dry stainless steel surfaces for 24 hours at room temperature were investigated. Result Microbial survival on food contact surface (stainless steel surface) Table 1: The Colony descriptions of the microbial survival on stainless steel surface Table 1 shows the Colony descriptions result of the microorganisms isolated from stainless steel surface. Three of ten stainless steel surface were contaminated with bacteria before cleaning. Table 2: The colony count of the microbial survival on stainless steel Sample No. Serial ten-fold dilutions in deionised water diluents colony count (CFU ml-1) before cleaning colony count (CFU ml-1) After cleaning 2 3.2 x 102 Bacteria Not Detected 6 2.6 x 102 Bacteria Not Detected 9 4.3 x 102 Bacteria Not Detected Table 2 shows the result of the colony count obtained before and after cleaning of the stainless steel surface. Table 3: Gram stain result of the microbial survival on stainless steel surface Sample No.:  2 Gram stain result:  Gram negative, rod shape Sample No.:  6 Gram stain result:  Gram positive cocci Sample No.:  9 Gram stain result:  Gram negative, rod shape Table 3 show the result of the Gram stain of bacteria that were isolated from the stainless steel surface before and after the cleaning stage. Sample No.:  2 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  344 Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Klebsiella aerogenes Name of Bacteria detected After cleaning:  Not detected Sample No.:  6 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  367 Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Staphlococcus aureus Name of Bacteria detected After cleaning:  Not detected Sample No.:  9 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  382 Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Klebsiella aerogenes Name of Bacteria detected After cleaning:  Not detected Table 4: The Identification of bacteria by phoenix machine that survived on the stainless steel surface before the cleaning stage Table 4 show the result of bacterial identification that obtained by phoenix machine which was isolated from stainless steel surface before and after the cleaning stage. Microbial survival in food contact surface (Marble surface) Table 5: The Colony descriptions of the microbial survival on marble surface Sample of location No.:  1 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Sample of location No.:  2 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Sample of location No.:  3 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  Pink in colour, mucoid Blood agar:  white, large and mucous colonies Sample of location No.:  4 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Sample of location No.:  5 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  smooth, round, grayish-white colonies Sample of location No.:  6 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Sample of location No.:  7 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Sample of location No.:  8 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Sample of location No.:  9 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Sample of location No.:  10 Nutrient agar:  Small circular colonies, yellow in colour MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  swarming motility Table 5 shows the colony descriptions result of the microorganisms isolated from the marble surface. Three of ten marble surfaces remained contaminated with bacteria before and after cleaning. Table 6: The colony count of the microbial survival on marble surface Serial dilutions in deionised water diluents colony count (CFU ml-1) before cleaning colony count (CFU ml-1) After cleaning Sample No.:  3 *TFTC Bacteria Not Detected Sample No.:  5 5.1 x 102 Bacteria Not Detected Sample No.:  10 #TMTC TMTC *TFTC: Too Few To Count #TMTC: Too Many To Count Table 6 shows the result of the colony count obtained before and after cleaning stage of marble surface. Table 7: Gram stain result of the microbial survival on marble surface Sample No.:  3 Gram stain result:  Gram negative, rod shape Sample No.:  5 Gram stain result:  Gram negative, rod shape Sample No.:  10 Gram stain result:  Gram negative, rod shape Table 7 show the result of the Gram stain of bacteria that was isolated from the marble surface before and after the cleaning stage. Table 8: The Identification of bacteria by phoenix machine that survived on the marble surface before the cleaning stage Sample No.:  3 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  301 Marble Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Klebsiella pneumonia Name of Bacteria detected After cleaning:  Not Detected Sample No.:  5 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  326 Marble Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Yersinia enterocolitica Name of Bacteria detected After cleaning:  Not Detected Sample No.:  10 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  381 Marble Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Proteus vulgaris Name of Bacteria detected After cleaning:  Proteus vulgaris Table 8 show the result of bacterial identification that obtained by phoenix machine which was isolated from marble surface before and after the cleaning stage. Microbial survival in food contact surface (Wood surface) Table 9: The Colony descriptions of the microbial survival on wood surface Sample location No.:  1 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  Non-lactose fermenters colonies Blood agar:  White, non haemolytic colonies Sample location No.:  2 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Sample location No.:  3 Nutrient agar:  smooth, translucent large colonies , greenish blue growth and pigment diffuses into medium MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  large brownish colonies Sample location No.:  4 Nutrient agar:  White, smooth, round colonies MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Sample location No.:  5 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Sample location No.:  6 Nutrient agar:  Circular, smooth, opaque colonies MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  swarming motility Sample location No.:  7 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Sample location No.:  8 Nutrient agar:  smooth, translucent large colonies , greenish blue growth and pigment diffuses into medium MacConkey agar:  slight pink colonies Blood agar:  large brownish colonies Sample location No.:  9 Nutrient agar:  smooth, translucent large colonies , greenish blue growth and pigment diffuses into medium MacConkey agar:  slight pink colonies Blood agar:  No Growth Sample location No.:  10 Nutrient agar:  No Growth MacConkey agar:  No Growth Blood agar:  No Growth Table 9 shows the colony descriptions result of the microorganisms isolated from the wood surface. Six of ten wood surfaces remained contaminated with bacteria before and after cleaning. Table 10: The colony count of the microbial survival on wood surface Sample No.:   Serial ten-fold dilutions in deionised water diluents colony count (CFU ml-1) before cleaning colony count (CFU ml-1) After cleaning Sample No.:  1 6.4 x 102 Bacteria Not Detected Sample No.:  3 5.3 x 102 Bacteria Not Detected Sample No.:  4 2.7 x 102 Bacteria Not Detected Sample No.:  6 TMTC TMTC Sample No.:  8 1.67 x 103 2.9 x 102 Sample No.:  9 9.3 x 102 3.6 x 102 Table 10 shows the result of the colony count obtained before and after cleaning stage of wood surface. Table 11: Gram stain result of the microbial survival on wood surface Sample No.:  1 Gram stain result:  Gram negative, rod shape Sample No.:  3 Gram stain result:  Gram negative, rod shape Sample No.:  4 Gram stain result:  Gram negative, rod shape Sample No.:  6 Gram stain result:  Gram negative, rod shape Sample No.:  8 Gram stain result:  Gram negative, rod shape Sample No.:  9 Gram stain result:  Gram negative, rod shape Table 11 show the result of the Gram stain of bacteria that was isolated from the wood surface before and after the cleaning stage. Table 12: The Identification of bacteria by phoenix machine that survived on wood surface before the cleaning stage Sample No.:  1 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  86 wood Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Acinetobacter baumannii Name of Bacteria detected after cleaning:  Not Detected Sample No.:  3 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  301 wood Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Pseudomonas spp Name of Bacteria detected after cleaning:  Not Detected Sample No.:  4 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  326 wood Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Enterobacter hafinae alvei Name of Bacteria detected after cleaning:  Not Detected Sample No.:  6 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  342 wood Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Proteus vulgaris Name of Bacteria detected after cleaning:  Proteus vulgaris Sample No.:  8 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  369 wood Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Pseudomonas aeruginosa Name of Bacteria detected after cleaning:  Pseudomonas aeruginosa Sample No.:  9 Sample No. In phoenix machine:  385 wood Name of Bacteria detected before cleaning:  Pseudomonas aeruginosa Name of Bacteria detected after cleaning:  Pseudomonas aeruginosa Table 12 shows the result of bacterial identification that obtained by phoenix machine which was isolated from wood surface before and after the cleaning stage. Control Table 13: Survival of Staph aureus and E.coli on stainless steel surfaces Staphylococcus aureus Escherichia coli Time of swab process after contamination High contamination level (106 colony) CFU/100 cm2 Low contamination level (103 colony) CFU/100 cm2 High contamination level (106 colony) CFU/100 cm2 Low contamination level (103 colony) CFU/100 cm2 After 15 minute 2.0 x 107 1.0 x 104 1.6 x 107 5.2 x 103 After 2 Hours 1.73 x 107 9.1 x 103 8.3 x 106 1.8 x 103 After 6 Hours 1.3 x 107 3.8 x 103 2.1 x 106 No growth After 12 Hours 5.8 x 106 No Growth No Growth No growth After 24 Hours No growth No Growth No Growth No growth Table 13 shows the survival of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli on stainless steel surfaces at room temperature (25oC) for 24 hours at two contamination level; high contamination level of (106 colony CFU/100 cm2) and Low contamination level (103 colony CFU/100 cm2). Discussion Sampling food contact surfaces is a complex problem, and the results depend on many factors, including the type of surface, the cleaning solution, the sources of contamination, and the temperature. The accuracy and reproducibility of all sampling methods are reduced when the numbers of bacteria on the surface are low. Some differences between methods are probably due to an uneven distribution of bacteria on the surface. The type of surface markedly influenced the cleaning results. For this study, nineteen selected premises were tested/studied (Ten replicate surfaces were tested; stainless steel, marble and wood, with adjacent areas being sampled before and after cleaning). The results of these studies indicate that three of ten stainless steel surfaces were contaminated before cleaning the surfaces and no surface was contaminated after cleaning, which means that stainless steel surfaces were more easily cleaned. Furthermore, three out of ten marble surfaces were contaminated before c leaning and one surface was contaminated after cleaning the surfaces, which means marble surfaces were easily cleaned but using the wrong cleaning products and the wrong cleaning techniques can damage the marble because marble is a calcium-based natural stone which is highly sensitive to acidic materials (Marble Institute of America, 2012). Stainless steel resists impact damage but is vulnerable to corrosion, while marble surfaces are prone to deterioration and may develop surface cracks where bacteria can accumulate (Leclercq and Lalande, 1994). Wood surfaces were particularly diffi

Advertising :: essays papers

Advertising Nowadays, advertising is a very big business. Very often is the major means of competing among firms. Furthermore, supporters of advertising claim that it brings specific benefits for consumers. First off all, they claim that advertising provide information to consumers about the quality or the availability of several products. This is very important for consumers because they do not waste time for searching (search costs). If we suppose, that consumers want to shop at the lowest price shop but, they do not know which is the store with the lowest prices, then they gather information by reading and watching advertisements and TV commercials respectively or by visiting several stores. This action of consumers makes prices to fall, but only if consumers have the appropriate information. Otherwise the prices may rise. Supporters of advertising also claim that advertising may encourage price competition among the firms, if prices feature significantly in the advertisement. In addition to this, by increasing sales through advertising, firms can gain economies of scale, which means that it will help to keep prices down. As we can understand information is very essential for consumers, not only because it lowers the prices, but also because it improves the quality of several products. The problem here is that it is unlikely for all the consumers to have perfect information. This means that the information is either imperfect or asymmetric. Imperfect information, as well as asymmetric information, lowers quality. Advertising may solve this problem in most cases. Consumers can gather information for several products through advertisements and because of this, producers must improve the quality of their products. But why firms advertise so much? As I noted above advertising increases consumer ¡Ã‚ ¦s information. So we can suppose that a firm which advertise much, has high quality products. A very expensive advertising campaign is something like a signal to potential consumers, that the firm believes that its product has good quality. Furthermore the company believes that because of its good quality products, is going to make repeat sales for a long time in order to  ¡Ã‚ §recoup the fixed costs of initial advertising ¡Ã‚ ¨. On the other hand, firms with poor quality products  ¡Ã‚ §that know that consumers will soon discover they have been misled about quality ¡Ã‚ ¨, do not invest much in advertising.

High-Tech Education

Using high technology methods in the process of education is a serious matter that a lot of people argue about it, some agree and the others disagree with it. Although it provides the education with a lot of futures that makes it better than the past. It also has some disadvantages that reflect on this process. But they think that old methods that were applied in the classrooms have more benefits than that high tech ones. And some people also consider that these new technology may change the role of both student and teacher to be unlike as usual. One of its disadvantages according to the author's opinion is that it may also distract students and fragment their attention†¦. â€Å"Why am I against using technology in the classroom? Why do I ban laptops in my classroom?. This article by David Cole, a professor of Law at Georgetown University. Was published on 23 of October, 2008,In the Washington Post. The main claims that the author thinking about it may be summarized in some specific points like that he considers that by using these high tech methods in education like internet, laptops and blue ray DVD Players might actually hinder the education not making it better because they make both students and teachers or doctors passive. The author hopes that if classrooms are restored to the Pre-Internet days of wooden tables and chalk. This means taking technology out of the class room and back to â€Å"TEACHING NAKED†. By flying to the purpose of his we can mention that he totally disagrees with this new education system and he agrees strongly with the â€Å"TEACHING NAKED†. Without the aid of any machines just because Dr Jose Bowen thinks that if you have a good PowerPoint presentation it does not mean you have a good lecture. Classroom time should be reserved for discussions with professors, aiming at teaching students to think critically, argue, and raise new questions. Then, by analyzing the author's opinion and his point of view, the pre-internet days of wooden tables and chalk are the most suitable and useful way of learning and educating people because this old technique allows educators to think, work, exert efforts and teaching themselves and never forget what they had, always remember it during applying it in their aily life. Unlike the high-tech learning which provides easy way for learning and just reading not sharing at all, so he just receives the information not work or search for it. And the author provided his theory with slight strong evidences and reasons, than can Be summarized in the following explanation as, a survey that found that 59 percent of students called at least half their lectures boring –particularly those involving power point. Then , he thinks that â€Å"note taking on a laptop encourages verbatim transcription and the note taker tends to go into stenographic mode and no longer processes information in a way that is conducive to the give and take of classroom discussion because of taking notes the old fashioned way , by hand , is so much slower , the student actually has to listen , think and prioritize the most important themes . So as he thinks if one's idea of a lecture is a process by which the notes of the

Balanced Scorecard: Traditional Performance Measurement

Balanced Scorecard Traditional Performance Measurement Historically, the measurement system for business has been financial. Activities of companies were measured and monitored through the traditional financial accounting model. However, the extensive, even exclusive use of financial measurements in business has been criticized primarily because an overemphasis on achieving and maintaining short-term financial results can cause companies to overinvest in short-term fixes and to underinvest in long-term value creation, particularly in the intangible and intellectual assets that generate future growth. Indeed, the Harvard Business School Council on Competitiveness project in 1992 identified the following systematic differences between investments made by U. S. corporations and those made in Japan and Germany: The U. S. system is less supportive of long-term corporate investment because of the overemphasis on improving short-term returns to influence current share prices. The U. S. ystem favors those forms of investment for which returns are most readily measurable; this leads to underinvestment in intangible assets – product and process innovation, employee skills, customer satisfaction – whose short-term returns are more difficult to measure. Inevitably, as managers are pressured to deliverconsistent and excellent short-term financial performance, trade-offs are made that limit the search for investments in growth opportunities. Even worse, the pressure for short-term financial performance can cause companies to reduce spending on new product development, process improvements, human resource development, information technology, data bases, and systems as well as customer and market development. In the short run, the financial accounting model reports these spending cutbacks as increases in reported income, even when reductions have cannibalized a company’s stock of assetsand its capabilities for creating future economic value. Alternatively, a company could maximize short-term financial results by exploiting customers through high prices or lower service. In the short run, these actions enhance reported profitability, but the lack of customer loyalty and satisfaction will leave the company highly vulnerable to competitive inroads. The concern with the overemphasis on financial performance measures has also permeated the U. S. rofessional association of public accountants as a high-level special committee on financial reporting of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants reinforced concerns with exclusive reliance on financial reporting for measuring business performance: â€Å"Users focus on the future while today’s business reporting focuses on the past. Although information about the past is a useful indicator of future performance, users also need forward-looking information. The committee acknowledged the importance of reporting on how well companies are creating value for the fut ure, and recommended linking business performance reporting to management’s strategic vision: â€Å"Many users want to see a company through the eyes of management to help them understand management’s perspective and predict where management will lead the company. † It went on to say that nonfinancial measurement must play a key role: â€Å"Management should disclose the financial and nonfinancial measurements it uses in managing the business that quantify the effects of key activities and events. The committee concluded by recommending that companies adopt a more â€Å"balanced† and forward-looking approach: To meet users’ changing needs, business reporting must: Provide more information about plans, opportunities, risks and uncertainties Focus more on the factors that create longer-term value, including nonfinancial measures indicating how key business processes are performing Origins of the Balanced Scorecard By the mid-1990s other organization al theorists had taken up Kaplan and Norton’s work and modified the design method of balanced scorecards, ironing out early flaws. Kaplan and Norton published their ideas in full in The Balanced Scorecard: Translating Strategy into Action in 1996 and it became a business bestseller. The Balanced Scorecard Each perspective of the Balanced Scorecard includes objectives, measures of those objectives, target values of those measures, and initiatives, defined as follows: Measures – the observable parameters that will be used to measure progress toward reaching the objective. For example, the objective of profitable growth might be measured by growth in net margin. Targets – the specific target values sought for each of the measures, for example, +2% growth in net margin. Initiatives – action programs to be initiated in order to meet the objective and reach the target. The framework for the balanced scorecard is illustrated below: Figure 1: Balanced Scorecard Framework {draw:frame} As can be seen from the diagram, the objectives and measures of the scorecard are derived from an organization’s vision and strategy. The balanced scorecard should translate a business unit’s mission and strategy into tangible objectives and measures. The measures represent a balancebetween external measures for shareholders and customers, and internal measures if critical business processes, innovation, and learning and growth. The measures are also balancedbetween the outcome measures – the results from past efforts – and the measures that drive future performance. Lastly, the scorecard is balancedbetween objectives, easily quantified outcome measures and subjective, somewhat judgmental, performance drivers of the outcome measures. Every measure selected should be part of a link of cause-and-effect relationships that culminate in improving financial performance. The scorecard should tell the story of the strategy, starting with the long-run financial objectives, and then linking them to the sequence of actions that must be taken with financial processes, customers, internal processes, and finally employees and system to deliver the desired long-run economic performance. Financial Perspective Table 1: Stages of a Business’s Life Cycle Table 2: Measuring Strategic Financial Themes Revenue growth and mix refer to expanding product and service offerings, reaching new customers and markets, changing the product and service mix toward higher-value-added offerings, and repricing products and services. The cost reduction and productivity objective refers to efforts to lower the direct costs of products and services, reduce indirect costs, and share common resources with other business units. For the asset utilization theme, managers attempt to reduce the working capital levels required to support a given volume and mix of business. They also strive to obtain greater utilization of their fixed asset base, by directing new business to resources currently not used to capacity, using scarce resources more efficiently, and disposing of assets that provide inadequate returns on their market value. All these actions enable the business unit to increase the returns earned on its financial and physical assets. Customer Perspective The customer perspective addresses the question of how the firm is viewed by its customers and how well the firm is serving its targeted customers in order to meet the financial objectives. In the customer perspective of the balanced scorecard, managers identify the customer and market segments in which the business unit will compete and the measures of the business unit’s performance in these targeted segments. These segments represent the sources that will deliver the revenue component of the company’s financial objectives. The customer perspective enables companies to align their core or generic outcome measures to targeted customers and market segments. This core measurement group of outcomes is generic across all kinds of organizations, and is illustrated in the following diagram: Figure 2: The Customer Perspective – Core Measures {draw:frame} These outcome measures represent the targets for companies’ marketing, operational, logistics, and product and service development processes. However, these outcome measures have some of the defects of traditional financial measures in that they are lagging measures – employees will not know how well they are doing with customer satisfaction or customer retention until it is too late to affect the outcome. Also, the measures do not communicate what employees should be doing in their day-to-day activities to achieve the desired outcomes. Because of these, managers must also identify what customers in targeted segments value and choose the value proposition they will deliver to these customers. The segment-specific drivers of core customer outcomes represent those factors that are critical for customers to switch to or remain loyal to their suppliers. These attributes are illustrated in the Figure 3 below: Figure 3: The Customer Value Proposition {draw:g} {draw:frame} The customer perspective enables business unit managers to articulate the customer and market-based strategy that will deliver superior future financial returns. Thus, the customer perspective of the scorecard translates an organization’s mission and strategy into specific objectives about targeted customers and market segments that can be communicated throughout the organization. Internal Business Process Perspective Internal business process objectives address the question of which processes are most critical for satisfying customers and shareholders. These are the processes in which the firm must concentrate its efforts to excel. Objectives and measures for this perspective are typically developed after formulating objectives and measures for the financial and customer perspectives to enable companies to focus their internal business process metrics on those processes that will deliver the objectives established for customers and shareholders. The process of deriving objectives and measures for the internal business process perspective represents one of the sharpest distinctions between the balanced scorecard and traditional performance measurement systems. While traditional approaches attempt to monitor and improve existing business processes, the scorecard approach usually identifies entirely new processes at which an organization must excel to meet customer and financial objectives. The balanced scorecard internal business process objectives highlight the processes, several of which may not be currently performing at all, that are most critical for an organization’s strategy to succeed. Additionally, while the traditional performance measurement systems focus on the processes of delivering today’s products and services to today’s customers (short wave of value creation), the balanced scorecard approach is to incorporate innovation processes into the internalbusiness process perspective as illustrated in Figure 3. Figure 3: The Internal Business Process Perspective – The Generic Value Chain Model {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} The innovation process highlights the importance of, first, identifying the characteristics of market segments that the organization wishes to satisfy with its future products and services, and, then, designing and developing the products and services that will satisfy those targeted segments. This approach enables the organization to put considerable weight on research, design, and development processes that yield new products, services, and markets. Among the measures that can be used in the innovation process are percentage of sales from new products, percentage of sale from proprietary products, new product introduction versus competitors or versus plan, manufacturing process capabilities, and time to develop next generation of products. The operations process represents the short wave of value creation in organizations. It starts with receipt of customer order and finishes with delivery of the product or service to the customer. This process stresses efficient, consistent, and timely delivery of existing products and services to existing customers. It remains important and organizations should identify the cost, quality, time, and performance characteristics that will enable it to deliver superior products and services to its targeted current customers. The influence of the total quality management and time-based competition practices of leading Japanese manufacturers has led many companies to supplement their traditional cost and financial measurements with measurements of operating processes’ quality, cycle time, and cost. Finally, the postsale service process enables companies to feature, when appropriate, important aspects of service that occur after the purchased product or service has been delivered to the customer such as warranty and repair activities, treatment of defects and returns, and the processing of payments. Measures of performance in the operating processes can also be applied to postsale service process (i. e. time, quality, and cost metrics). Thus, cycle times can measure the speed of response to failures and cost metrics can evaluate the efficiency for postsale service processes while first-pass yields can measure what percentage of customer requests are handled with a single service call, rather than requiring multiple calls to resolve the problem. Companies that deal with hazardous or environmentally sensitive chemicals and materials may also introduce critical performance measures associated with the safe disposal of waste and by-products from the production process. Learning and Growth Perspective The fourth perspective of the balanced scorecard, learning and growth, addresses the question of how the firm must learn, improve, and innovate in order to meet its objectives. It identifies the infrastructure that the organization must build to create long-term growth and improvement. The enablers for learning and growth come primarily from three sources: people or employees, systems, and organizational procedures. The financial, customer, and internal business process objectives on the balanced scorecard will typically reveal large gaps between the existing capabilities of people, systems, and procedures and what will be required to achieve breakthrough performance. To close these gaps, businesses will have to invest in reskilling employees, enhancing information technology and systems, and aligning organizational procedures and routines. Figure 4: The Learning and Growth Measurement Framework {draw:frame} Within this core, the employee satisfaction objective is generally considered the driver of the other two measures, employee retention and employee productivity. It recognizes that employee morale and overall job satisfaction are preconditions for increasing productivity, responsiveness, quality, and customer service. Companies typically measure employee satisfaction with an annual survey, or a rolling survey in which a specified percentage of randomly chosen employees is surveyed each month. Employee retention captures an objective to retain those employees in whom the organization has a long-term interest. The theory underlying this measure is that the organization is making long-term investments in its employees so that any unwanted departures represent a loss in the intellectual capital of the business. Long-term, loyal employees carry the values of the organization, knowledge of organizational processes, and sensitivity to the needs of customers. Employee retention is generally measured by percentage of key staff turnover. Employee productivity is an outcome measure of the aggregated impact from enhancing employee skills and morale, innovation, improving internal processes, and satisfying customers. The goal is to relate the output produced by employees to the number of employees used to produce that output. The simplest productivity measure is revenue per employee, which represents how much output can be generated per employee. As employees and the organization become more effective in selling a higher volume and a higher value-added set of products and services, revenue per employee should increase. Linking the Balanced Scorecard Measures to Strategy Uses of the Balanced Scorecard The Balanced Scorecard originally was conceived as an improved performance measurement system. However, it soon became evident that it could be used as a management system to implement strategy at all levels of the organization by facilitating the following functions: Clarifying strategy – the translation of strategic objectives into quantifiable measures clarifies the management team's understanding of the strategy and helps to develop a coherent consensus. Communicating strategic objectives – the Balanced Scorecard can serve to translate high level objectives into operational objectives and communicate the strategy effectively throughout the organization. Planning, setting targets, and aligning strategic initiatives ambitious but achievable targets are set for each perspective and initiatives are developed to align efforts to reach the targets. Strategic feedback and learning – executives receive feedback on whether the strategy implementation is proceeding according to plan and on whether the strategy itself is successful (â€Å"double-loop learning†). These functions have made the Balanced Scorecard an effective management system for the implementation of strategy. The Balanced Scorecard has been applied successfully to private sector companies, non-profit organizations, and government agencies as discussed in the succeeding sections. Potential Pitfalls The following are potential pitfalls that should be avoided when implementing the Balanced Scorecard: Lack of a well-defined strategy: The Balanced Scorecard relies on a well-defined strategy and an understanding of the linkages between strategic objectives and the metrics. Without this foundation, the implementation of the Balanced Scorecard is unlikely to be successful. Using only lagging measures: Many managers believe that they will reap the benefits of the Balanced Scorecard by using a wide range of non-financial measures. However, care should be taken to identify not only lagging measures that describe past performance, but also leading measures that can be used to plan for future performance. Use of generic metrics: It usually is not sufficient simply to adopt the metrics used by other successful firms. Each firm should put forth the effort to identify the measures that are appropriate for its own strategy and competitive position. Effectiveness of the Balanced Scorecard (Success Stories) Mobil North America Marketing and Refining CIGNA Property and Casualty Insurance Brown & Root Energy Services’ Rockwater Division Chemical (Chase) Retail Bank AT Canada, Inc. Zeneca Ag Products North America Southern Gardens Citrus University of California, San Diego Duke Children’s Hospital United Parcel Service Building and Implementing a Balance Scorecard Balanced Scorecard Components Figure 5: The Logic of Balanced Scorecard Strategic Planning {draw:frame} Process of Building a Balanced Scorecard Kaplan and Norton defined a four-step process that has been used across a wide range of organizations. Define the measurement architecture – When a company initially introduces the Balanced Scorecard, it is more manageable to apply it on the strategic business unit level rather than the corporate level. However, interactions must be considered in order to avoid optimizing the results of one business unit at the expense of others. Build consensus around strategic objectives – The top three or four objectives for each perspective are agreed upon. Potential measures are identified for each objective. Select and design measures – Measures that are closely related to the actual performance drivers are selected for evaluating the progress made toward achieving the objectives. Develop the implementation plan – Target values are assigned to the measures. An information system is developed to link the top level metrics to lower-level operational measures. The scorecard is integrated into the management system.