The Da Vinci Code ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Free Essays

Contribution of Enterprise Systems Essay

What are venture frameworks? Give instances of authoritative capacities bolstered by big business frameworks. One individual needed something that someone else had, so they figured out how to exchange one thing for another. In that spot, we can see the advantages of such a framework. Every individual included had gotten included out of free decision as opposed to being constrained into it. What's more, on the grounds that every individual was not constrained into it, every wa ready to settle on the best decision that he could, and gain from any mix-ups that he may have made. Undertaking frameworks (ES) are huge scope application programming bundles that help business forms, data streams, detailing, and information examination in complex associations. These frameworks are intended to oversee huge volumes of basic information. These frameworks are regularly intended to give elevated levels of exchange execution and information security. Merchants in this space incorporate IBM, Oracle, HP and that's only the tip of the iceberg. How does adequately executing and utilizing undertaking frameworks add to accomplishing operational greatness? Undertaking frameworks offer some incentive both by expanding operational proficiency and by giving firm wide data to assist directors with settling on better choices. Venture frameworks additionally assist firms with reacting quickly to client demands for data or items. Since the framework coordinates request, assembling, and conveyance information, fabricating is better educated about creating just what clients have requested, acquiring precisely the perfect measure of segments or crude materials to take care of genuine requests, arranging creation, and limiting the time that parts or completed items are in stock. Associations need to utilize venturesome frameworks successfully to accomplish operational greatness. The endeavor frameworks should be planned and arrangement effectively from the earliest starting point. On the off chance that the endeavor programming doesn't bolster the organizations’ method of working together it very well may be redo. In any case, endeavor programming is mind boggling and customization may debase framework execution and thusly may not amplify the advantages from the framework. It is prescribed to expand profits by the product, the business need to fit in with the business forms in the product. What difficulties are presented by big business applications? Venture applications is programming that different organizations use so as to help take care of certain endeavor issues or to smooth out business activities. Things like email records, finance, customer data, etc are put away in big business applications. Since the product is utilized and shared over a huge association, one of the disadvantages of an endeavor application may have to do with the security of the data that is put away. A few advantages of big business frameworks are expanded business proficiency, data broad assists the board with settling on better choices, and it powers formally dressed practices all through the organizations. Be that as it may, there are a few difficulties to an undertaking framework. The costs of buying, introducing and keeping up the equipment and programming of an endeavor framework are viewed as trying. Frameworks are more perplexing today than previously. Before most frameworks comprise of equipment, working framework, database and capacity application handily associated together in one framework. Today a framework setup can comprise of a few separate smaller than usual frameworks with many separate stockpiling zone organize, organizing gear.

Understanding Business Valuation and Multiples for Startups

Understanding Business Valuation and Multiples for Startups We cannot just randomly assign numbers on how much a business is valued at, or how much an owner’s interest in a business is worth. There has to be a valid basis behind the estimate of the economic value of a business. In the same vein, there is a set of procedures on how these estimates are arrived at. This is called business valuation. © Shutterstock.com | Rasdi Abdul RahmanIn this article, you will learn 1) about the basics of business valuation and why its important to know, 2) business valuation methods, and 3) factors affecting your business valuation of your startup.BUSINESS VALUATION AND ITS IMPORTANCEIn general terms, the process of determining the price that a business will be sold, or bought, for is referred to as business valuation. You are literally putting a specific value on a business, or certain parts of it, so you can sell it.In order to understand the importance of business valuation, we first have to know when it is used or needed. Usually, the subject of business valuation becomes more rampant in conjunction with a possible takeover offer or any other form of business combination, whether it’s a merger, straight acquisition or consolidation. Businesses also tend to focus a lot of valuation when they are seeking financing for a major project or venture.However, more than just about knowing how much a business is worth at the point of buying or selling, business valuation has a bigger role to play.As an internal performance indicator. Valuing the business will tell a lot about its overall performance, and the direction that it is currently going. The business already has a mission and vision, to begin with, and it has clear-cut goals that it strives to achieve. Knowing how much the business is worth will give management and other stakeholders an idea whether the business is on track towards achieving those business goals.As a basis for allocation of resources. Say, for example, that a business is working with a limited pool of funds. One way to determine where to put a specific portion of those funds is to see which aspects of the business needs it most. Naturally, the areas of the business that show high growth and, therefore, corresponding economic value, will get the most attention and the bigger slice of the pie.As a gauge of assessing the life cycle of the industry, a nd the position of the business in the market. As much as we would like it, industries do not remain at their peak positions forever. There will be downtimes and, sometimes, industries can even wane and fade into oblivion to make way for newer, stronger ones. Business valuation can help the business to assess whether the industry it belongs to will still be around longer, and if it will thrive just as well as it currently is. It is also a good way to assess whether the business will still be able to maintain its market share or position in the industry in case the latter expands.As a decision-making tool. We have already established that the value of a business will demonstrate how well it is performing (or otherwise) and how healthy it is as a going concern. These will become valid bases for management to make key decisions on where to take the business from a certain point. It becomes a very useful tool for strategic decision-making. For example, if it has been noted that the indu stry is in decline, management can accordingly map out an exit plan that would still be beneficial to the company and its stakeholders. On the other hand, if the market or industry demonstrates growth, management could find ways to keep up with that growth.BUSINESS VALUATION OF STARTUPSIn the earlier discussion, we focused on business valuation in terms of already existing and thriving businesses. There is a bit of a twist when it comes to business valuation with respect to startups.A startup is basically a company or a business that is in its very first stages of operations, prior to earning revenue. Valuation becomes tricky when it comes to startups, and this is where budding entrepreneurs and owners of these startups have their first hurdle: how to convince angel investors and venture capitalists that they are worth investing in.Businesses that are already in operation have a slightly easier time convincing potential investors to put their money in them, since they are already sh owing earning power and a steady revenue stream. They already have results of operations to show.Startups do not. They are not even earning revenues yet, so how can they put a value to how much their company is worth? In the past, valuation used to be based on the amount of assets of the startup. Today, however, investors no longer accept that as a standard for determining a startup’s economic value.Valuation of a startup has one major purpose: to obtain financing or funding. Early on, you can already tell that there is a conflict of interest here. Startup owners and entrepreneurs would want to put a high value on their business in order for them to get more funding. Investors, on the other hand, would want to own more than a reasonable portion of the business that they invest in, so they would prefer that the business have a lower value. After all, even if they invest a low amount, this would mean they would still have a sizeable interest or ownership in the startup.BUSINESS VALU ATION METHODSThere are many valuation tools and methodologies that businesses can now readily use in order to determine their economic worth. Among these methodologies, we can shorten the list to those that would apply best to startups.1. Cost-to-Duplicate MethodAlso often called as the Cost-to-Recreate method, this approach takes that “what if” stance. What if you are to build another similar company from scratch? How much would it cost you to do so? That is the cost to duplicate. The general rule is that investors will not pay an amount that is higher than the cost required to recreate or duplicate the business.This method focuses on the fair market valuation of the physical assets of the startup to determine the cost to duplicate. Other amounts that figure into the cost, especially in the case of startups, include costs that have already been incurred, such as research development costs, patent costs and cost to build a product prototype.What this method fails to take into co nsideration, however, is the cost of intangible assets, especially if the startup has those. Therefore, it does not fully capture the value of the company, especially in the future, when it is already generating revenues and earning returns on investment.2. Market MultiplesThis methodology is using multiples based on revenue, cash flow, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), EBITDA and net income. There are several other industry specific multiples that are used, but the ones mentioned are the most commonly used.The strength of this approach is that it makes use of market indicators that are truly reflective of market conditions. After all, investors take into account the various market forces at play when evaluating their investment options, especially when it comes to startups.These multiples are most commonly used in forecasting, which means they are also useful in predicting the future performance of the startup. The only limitation is the availability of these market indica tors and statistics. There is also a degree of difficulty in identifying transactions that are comparable, in order to establish trends and patterns that can be used in forecasting.3. Discounted Cash Flow MethodThis involves conducting a discounted cash flow analysis and, as the name implies, places strong emphasis on the amount of cash flow that is expected in the future and how much that cash flow is worth today.This valuation method makes use of an expected rate of return on investment, which is both a good thing and a bad thing for startups. It is a good thing because it is possibly one of the closest estimation of the future cash flows of the company. However, it is also bad because startups are often assigned with very high expected rates of investment return, considering that they are considered to be more high-risk than business that are already in operation and earning revenue.4. Venture Capital MethodIn calculating the pre-money valuation of a startup, this method takes in to account the expected rates of return on investment when the company makes its exit from the industry. It follows the following formula:Anticipated ROI   =  Terminal (or Harvest) Value / Post-Money ValuationPre-Money Valuation   =  Post-Money Valuation â€" InvestmentWhere:Terminal Value, also known as investor harvest value, is the anticipated selling price for the company at a certain point in time â€" often several years â€" after the investment has been made. This is arrived at by computing the estimated revenues of the company on the year of sale (the harvest year) and the estimated revenue multiple based on industry statistics.Post-Money Valuation is the value of the company after it has received outside financing or funding from investors. It is different from Pre-Money Valuation in that the latter excludes these injections of capital or financing.Example:Company A plans to exit the cloud computing industry in year 2025.Estimated revenues in 2025$ 30.0 millionEstimated a fter-tax earnings in 2025$ 4.5 millionRequired investment$ 1.25 millionPrice-Earnings Ratio in 2025  based on industry standards10xAnticipated ROI20XTerminal Value = 10 x $ 4.5 million  = $ 45 millionPost-Money Valuation = $ 45 million / 20  = $ 2.25 millionPre-Money Valuation = $ 2.25 million $ 1.25 million  = $ 1 millionFACTORS AFFECTING BUSINESS VALUATIONConsider this: in a large industry, you cannot expect your startup to be the only one of its kind. You will have competitors or rivals, and the investors will not be looking solely at you. There is more than 99% chance that the investors will be looking at more than two or three similar startups at the same time, and they are simply making comparisons on which one is the best bet. There is also more than 99% chance that the valuation of these two or three similar startups will be different, even if they belong to the same industry. These differences arise due to various reasons and influencing factors.We can categorize the facto rs into three: financial, strategic and investment ecosystem reasons.Financial ReasonsThis is pretty straightforward, as most investment decisions are spurred by financial motivations. Some of the financial aspects that potential investors pay attention to when looking at a startup’s valuation include:Size of the market being targeted. If the market is huge, there is a tendency for the startup to have a higher valuation.Growth rate of market share. If there is high potential of the startup enjoying a fast growth in its market share, it will be valued higher.Growth rate of sales. Sales is one of the key determinants on whether a startup has a chance to succeed or not. Investors tend to be willing to pay a higher amount for startups that have a potential to have high sales growth.Future profits. Forecasting the future results of operations or performance of a startup is one of the key methods adapted by investors in determining what the startup is worth. Business valuation will defi nitely be higher if the computations and estimates show the company earning exceedingly high profits in the future.Strategic ReasonsInvestors do not just focus on the numbers. They also have strategies that, at first, may not be quantifiable but, in the long run, become one of the financial reasons. Some examples are:If the startup owns, or is in possession of, a technology or any other intellectual property that gives it strategic advantage in the market and over its competitors;If the startup has exclusive rights or ownership over key people/talent, that gives it an edge over the competition.If the startup already has customer access or a distribution channel for its products or services.Investment Ecosystem ReasonsMost investors readily claim that the investment ecosystem is the biggest determinant of the value of a startup. We are basically referring to the market forces of the industry and the specific sector within that industry that the startup aims to belong to. They call th is factor as the “hotness of the industry”. In short, investors ask, “How hot is the industry where the startup will operate in?”The investors would be especially concerned about the following:The size of generally available capital to be invested into startups. The fluctuating nature of the availability of capital is seen in the balance and imbalance between the demand and supply of money that the investors have purposefully for funding startups.The size and frequency of recent exits from the industry. If there is a sudden stream of business making an exit out of that industry, it could be an indicator a decline is impending, and this will influence how investors will value startups.The willingness of investors to pay premium. There are investors that are not hesitant to pay more, especially if they are sure that they are getting an excellent deal out of it. If investors have no qualms about paying such premium, this could also affect the business valuation of a startup.Oth er factorsThere are other factors that have an effect on the valuation of a startup.The reputation of the entrepreneur or startup owner or founder. This may not be the first startup of the entrepreneur. If this is the case, investors will also look into the reputation of the person behind the startup. There are entrepreneurs who have established stellar reputations that, no matter what their next startup is, they are bound to get high valuation for it. In contrast, a startup idea may be brilliant and shows a lot of promise, but if the person who came up with it and is pushing for it does not have a good reputation, valuation may be low.Stock Options for employees. A startup that is able to set up an option pool for future employees gives off the impression that the startup will be able to attract talent. The amount set aside for the option pool will be deducted from the valuation, since it is value set aside for future employees, meaning you still do not have these talents in your s tartup.

The Legalization of Same Sex Marriage - 1623 Words

The United States has been constructed around the ideas of sovereignty and free will. There were many movements that have taken place in history that have made this country’s policy on freedom so unique; unique in how the citizens value their morals. An every day American would think that being with the same sex is not normal, or is frowned upon. Recent studies show that half of all Americans believe that gay men and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry (Craighill). Same-sex marriage has caused many conflicts around the country and even the world with multiple stand points. World views on same-sex marriage are changing day to day. â€Å"Of the 15 countries worldwide to permit gay men and lesbians to marry, eight have done so since 2010.† (Desilver) It is becoming no longer acceptable to discriminate these couples, therefore the legalization of same- sex marriage should be universal. With the help of religious leaders, world role models, and many politicians, s ame-sex marriage can be influenced positively, and also help bring light to this modern acceptance. The legalization of same-sex marriage should be made in every state without any rules or regulations that come with the ability to be married. It is known that in the religious aspect, the Pope is not supposed to support same-sex marriage because it is supposedly against the bible. Pope Francic became Pope of the Catholic church on March 13, 2013. Before becoming Pope, he was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. â€Å"WhileShow MoreRelatedLegalization Of Same Sex Marriage Essay963 Words   |  4 PagesKaye Shannelle Romuar Alfritz Arevalo Angelika Figueroa Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage I. Introduction Same-sex marriage can also be called gay marriage. This is a marriage between two males or two females, in either a religious setting or in a civil ceremony. Same-sex unions are recorded in the history of a number of cultures but this type of marriage is rare, or doesn’t exist in other cultures .The first law that provided same-sex marriage for the people was in 2001 in the Netherlands. As of JulyRead MoreLegalization Of Same Sex Marriage1594 Words   |  7 PagesWhy The Nationwide Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage Will Greatly Benefit The Economy Same-sex marriage has been a long debated issue in the United States. Since the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in countries such as Holland, Belgium, and Canada American gay couples have been pushing harder for equal marriage rights under the law. Opponents claim that allowing same-sex unions would not only lead to less stable marriages and higher divorce rates for heterosexual couples, but also precipitateRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage930 Words   |  4 Pagesof legalizing same-sex marriage all across the nation, after years of social, political, and cultural mobilizations of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and allies. However, this achievement is not an end it itself. Leaders of the marriage equality movement, as well as community members, ask: Now what? This proposed project attempts to provide an answer for this question by looking at the perceived impact of the legalization of same-sex marriage among Black LG BTsRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage938 Words   |  4 PagesRights To All Most people believe that they deserve the rights they are granted by the government. A citizen who pays their taxes, serves their community and abides by the law should be afforded the same rights as any American. However, not all citizens are afforded equal rights. Lesbians, gays, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) are consistently denied rights that are typically taken for granted by the average American. Specifically, gay and lesbians couples are denied the right to marry even ifRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage2317 Words   |  10 PagesCavataio PHL 118: Intro to Philosophy 8/14/14 Gary Fuller One of the most heated and debated topics today is the legalization of same-sex marriage. No matter where you look, people are always expressing their opinion on this issue. Politicians, athletes, and celebrities are some of the many people who continually come out with either support or opposition of same-sex marriage. History has shown that issues regarding equality and rights take time to move forward. The women’s suffrage movementRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage1091 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of same-sex marriage is a hot topic in the U.S. approving, it in all fifty states can be harmful to the country. Same-sex marriage should not have been legalized in the United States. First, legalizing can be harmful to the society, Second, same-sex marriage it always denies a child a father or a mother, Third, legalizing It Offends some religions and violates tradition. In addition, It means all citizens should have understood of the consequences before maki ng the decision. OneRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage1411 Words   |  6 PagesNikta Kalatari Writing Assignment #1 The proposead legalization of same-sex marriage is one of the most significant issues in contemporary American family law. Presently, it is one of the most vigorously advocated reforms discussed in law reviews, one of the most explosive political questions facing lawmakers, and one of the most provocative issues emerging before American courts. If same-sex marriage is legalized, it could be one of the most revolutionary policy decisions in the history of AmericanRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage1294 Words   |  6 Pages The Legalization of Homosexual Marriage Brandon Taylor Wichita State University Gay marriage, also known as homosexual or same-sex marriage, has been a major topic in our country ever since it was allowed in Massachusetts whenever the state’s Supreme Court ruled the ban as unconstitutional. It was legalized in thirty seven of the fifty states before the Supreme Court’s ruling on June 26, 2015 that it was unconstitutional to deny marriage to a same sex couple (ProCon.org, 2015). The Merriam-WebsterRead MoreLegalization Of Same Sex Marriages1390 Words   |  6 PagesLegalization of Same Sex Marriages As a Muslim, in my opinion same sex marriage is not right and same sex marriage should not be legalized. Out of this statement comes the question: what is the purpose and meaning of marriage. Can we ever explain marriage in the context of a bond between two males or two females. Can this relationship be called a â€Å"Marriage†? Whether we disguise this relationship with the label of marriage, does it become accepted into society as a real marriage? Or are we foolingRead MoreLegalization of Same Sex Marriage9779 Words   |  40 PagesTHE LEGALIZATION OF SAME SEX MARRIAGE AS ASSESED BY CITHM STUDENTS S.Y. 2011-2012 A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of International Tourism And Hospitality Management LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Tourism By Ang, Dianne Marie M. Bayot, Donalynne B. October 2011 CHAPTER 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION    In our generation today, homosexuals

Basic Issues For The I 130 Marriage Based Study - 1417 Words

This paper documents the basic issues for the I-130 Marriage-based Study and some of the challenges which hamper the swift execution of the study. The paper begins with a brief description of the study purpose, follows by important definition of key study concepts for marriage-based IBFA and a discussion for the sample size needed to execute the study optimally. Recommendation solutions are provided at the end of the paper on how to specify the roles for OPS and each stakeholder and members of the Technical Working Group to assist and ensure the successful execution of the study. Purpose of the IBFA Pilot Study (For details see IFRET’s White Paper) †¢ Fraud estimate: The primary purpose of the pilot IBFA study is to fulfill Congressional request for USCIS to estimate a defensible â€Å"true† benefit-fraud rate within the Form I-130 marriage-based petitions. †¢ Utility and benefits for USCIS †¢ Estimate the actual resources required by USCIS if all suspected cases are investigated by Immigration offices and compared to the actual allocated resources for fraud detection †¢ Exploratory research: IFRET has designed the IBFA study with an objective to examine the sample characteristics, such as an overstayed visa status of the beneficiaries or non-cohabitating couples, so that a statistical model can be used to estimate the probability of fraud for the population given the sample characteristics. †¢ Utility and benefits for USCIS: This data driven information will help USCISShow MoreRelatedResearch Outline Gay Marriage Essay2797 Words   |  12 PagesControversy â€Å"Same-sex marriage permits couples of the same gender to enter legally-recognized marriages and provides them with the same legal rights as couples in heterosexual relationships† (Same-Sex Marriage). â€Å"Opponents of same-sex marriage argue that the institution of marriage should apply to only unions between one man and one woman. Allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry, they say, undermines the institution of marriage† (Same-Sex Marriage). Where the Issue Stands Today â€Å"In AmericaRead MoreMarriage12231 Words   |  49 PagesAND ITS BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION Marriage is one of the deepest and most complex involvements of human relationships. It is a corner stone of society and a very necessary part of the social system. It is a crucial and sacred bond between two personalities merging into one for ideas, attitudes, habits and likes and dislikes. In Philippines marriage is considered a lifelong partnership. It is the foundation stone on which the family is built. Basically marriage is a social and legal contract. PeopleRead MoreCan Divorce Be Reduced in Arab Nations? Essay1805 Words   |  8 Pagesreservation of oil. For these countries, half of their income principally is based upon oil. Oil was first found in a large portion of the GCC nations in the 1930s by the British colonies who used to conquer over the greater part of the GCC nations. Anyhow, the GCC countries did not begin to advance and benefit from their oil until the end of the World of War II (Mongaby, n.d.). Before the introduction of oil the GCC’s economy was based mainly upon pearl fishing. (Sheikh Maktoum, 2012). After the introductionRead MoreIgnou Bshf101 Solved Assignment 20113442 Words   |  14 Pagesmany states have expressed that they would not be able to implement the Act in the absence of funds from the center. Orissa in fact wants the same status enjoyed by the North Eastern states with respect to the Act. The success as far is the financial issues are concerned largely depends upon the center-state cooperation.The ambitious project is already falling short of around Rs.7.000 crores in the very first year itself. Since the Act involves improving the infrastructure of schools, training teachersRead MoreEpidemiology And Public Health Significance2485 Words   |  10 Pagesproportional to income, while among non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American men obesity prevalence decreases as income decreases.9 Although the prevalence of obesity among women with income below 130% of the poverty level is higher than among those with higher incomes, the majority of obese women do not have incomes below 130% of the poverty level.9 Among men and women with a college degree, the prevalence of obesity is less than among those with some college education.9 College educated women are less likelyRead MoreState Life Insyrance Corporation Internship Report9747 Words   |  39 PagesACKNOWLEDGEMENT With the  name of  ALLAH the Most Beneficial and Merciful. I completed my internshipin State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan. I am really pleased to have a professional learning experience in one of leading insurance organizations of country. In these sixweeks I worked in different departments and I am truly thankful to all officers and staff  who entirely give  assistance to me.I am also grateful to my honorable teachers Sir Fida Hussain Bukhari, Sir Irshad, Sir RiazAhmed MianRead MoreEssay on Piaget vs. Jung4984 Words   |  20 Pagesdevelopment , his theory of cognitive development has suffered a great deal of critics that it neglects the social nature of human development.(Hook, Watts and Cockroft ,2002).So the following essay will discuss on whether this critic is valid or not based on detail discussion of Piaget theory. The theory of Vygotsky shall also be discussed to prove that indeed social factors play a role . Piaget theory of cognitive development neglects the influence of social factors on child cognitive developmentRead MoreEssay on Religious Justifications of Slavery in the Caribbean3525 Words   |  15 PagesNevertheless, the nineteenth century Christian churches of the Caribbean Islands created a racial distinction between humans which determined who could and who could not be granted eternal life through the Christian faith. This concept of race was based on the belief that Africans were intellectually unable to make an educated decision regarding personal religion. Planters supported this discrimination against their workers because then they did not have to be cruel to fellow Christians. Two kindsRead MoreA Family Profile2068 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿MY SELECTED FAMILY PROFILE When a family doesnt have children, it seems like they can spend more time on their own health and wellness needs. For this reason I decided to interview two friends of mine. They are an unmarried man and women who live together, have no children and see themselves as being active sports and health people. They eat well, exercise regularly. Both are white and spend a good deal of time outside. He worries about concerns about how often he gets sunburned while runningRead MoreFemale Genital Mutilation: A Violation of Human Rights Essay3246 Words   |  13 Pagesdefined as any surgical change of the female genital organ, consist of any procedures involving partial or total removal of the external parts of female genital organ, or any other injuries to the female genitalia for cultural, or non-medical reasons. Based on the severity of cutting, World Health Organization (WHO) classifies female genital mutilation in to four (4) major parts. Type-1: Partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce (clitoridectomy) Type-2: Partial or total removal of

Stefan’s Diaries Origins Chapter 10 Free Essays

September 4, 1864 Midnight. Too late to fall asleep, too early to be awake. A candle burns on my nightstand, the flickering shadows foreboding. We will write a custom essay sample on Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 10 or any similar topic only for you Order Now I am haunted already. Will I ever forgive myself for not finding Rosalyn until it was too late? And why is she –the one I vowed to forget–still on my mind? My head is pounding. Cordelia is always at the door, offering drinks, lozenges, powdered herbs. I take them, like a recuperating child. Father and Damon glance at me when they think I’m asleep. Do they know of the nightmares? I thought marriage was a fate worse than death. I was wrong. I was wrong about so many things, too many things, and all I can do is pray for forgiveness and hope that somehow, somewhere, I can summon strength from the depths of my existence to step firmly onto the path of the right again. I will do it. I must. For Rosalyn. And for her. Now I will blow out the candle and hope for sleep–like that of the dead –to engulf me quickly†¦. â€Å"Stefan! Time to get up!† my father called, slamming my bedroom door. â€Å"What?† I struggled to sit, not sure what hour it was, or what day it was, or how much time had passed since Rosalyn’s death. Day faded into night, and I could never really sleep, only doze into terrifying dreams. I wouldn’t have eaten anything, except that Cordelia continued to come into my room with her concoctions, spoon-feeding them to me to ensure that they were eaten. She’d make fried chicken and okra and a thick mash of what she called sufferer stew which she said would , make me feel better. She’d left another one, a drink this time, on my nightstand. I drank it quickly. â€Å"Get ready. Alfred will help you prepare,† my father said. â€Å"Get ready for what?† I asked, swinging my legs onto the floor. I hobbled to the mirror. I had stubble over my chin, and my tawny hair stood up on all ends. My eyes were red, and my nightshirt was hanging off my shoulders. I looked awful. Father stood behind me, appraising my reflection. â€Å"Y ou’ll pull yourself together. Today is Rosalyn’s funeral, and it’s important to me and the Cartwrights that we are there. We want to show everyone that we must band together against the evil that’s scourging our town.† While Father prattled on about demons, I thought about facing the Cartwrights for the first time. I still felt horribly guilty. I couldn’t help thinking that the attack wouldn’t have happened if I’d been waiting for Rosalyn on the porch, instead of lingering in the study with Katherine. If I’d been outside, waiting for Rosalyn, I would have seen her walking from the fields in her pink dress. Maybe I could have faced death with her, too, and she wouldn’t have had to confront that nightmarish animal alone. I may not have loved Rosalyn, but I couldn’t forgive myself for not being there to save her. â€Å"Well, come on,† Father said impatiently as Alfred walked in, holding a white linen shirt and a double-breasted black suit. I blanched. It was the suit I’d have worn at my wedding–and the church where we were mourning Rosalyn was to have been the site of the ceremony establishing our union. Still, I managed to change into the suit, allowed Alfred to help me shave, since my hands allowed Alfred to help me shave, since my hands were so shaky, and emerged an hour later ready to do what I had to do. I kept my eyes down as I followed Father and Damon to the carriage. Father sat up front, next to Alfred, while Damon sat in the back with me. â€Å"How are you, brother?† Damon asked above the familiar clip-clop of Duke’s and Jake’s hooves down Willow Creek Road. â€Å"Not very well,† I said formally, a stiff lump in my throat. Damon put a hand on my shoulder. The magpies chattered, the bees buzzed, and the sun cast a golden glow on the trees. The entire coach smelled like ginger, and I felt my stomach heave. It was the smell of guilt over lusting after a woman who was never to be–could never be–my wife. â€Å"Your first death, the first one you witness, changes you,† Damon said finally, as the coach pulled up to the white clapboard church. The church bells were ringing, and every business in town was closed for the day. â€Å"But perhaps it can change you for the better.† â€Å"Maybe,† I said as I descended from the coach. But I didn’t see how. We reached the door as Dr. Janes hobbled into the church, his cane in one hand and a flask of whiskey in another. Pearl and Anna were sitting together, and Jonathan Gilbert sat behind them, his elbows perched on the edge of Pearl’s pew, just inches from her shoulder. Sheriff Forbes was in his usual place in the second pew, glaring at the cluster of rouged women from the tavern who had come to pay their respects. At the edge of their circle was Alice, the barmaid, cooling herself with a silk fan. Calvin Bailey, the organist, was playing an adaptation of Mozart’s Requiem, but he seemed to hit a sour note every few chords. In the front pew, Mr. Cartwright stared straight ahead, while Mrs. Cartwright sobbed and occasionally blew her nose into a lace handkerchief. At the front of the church, a closed oak casket was covered with flowers. Wordlessly, I walked to the casket and knelt down in front of it. â€Å"I’m so sorry,† I whispered, touching the casket, which felt cold and hard. Unbidden, images of my betrothed popped up in my mind: Rosalyn giggling over her new puppy, giddily discussing flower combinations for our wedding, risking the wrath of her maid by planting a covert kiss on my cheek at the end of one visit. I moved my hands off the casket and put them together, as if in prayer. â€Å"I hope that you and Penny have found each other in Heaven.† I leaned down, letting my lips graze the casket. I wanted her to know, wherever she was, that I would have learned to love her. â€Å"Good-bye.† I turned to take my seat and stopped short. Right behind me was Katherine. She was wearing a dark-blue cotton dress that stood out in the sea a dark-blue cotton dress that stood out in the sea of black crepe that filled the pews. â€Å"I’m so sorry for your loss,† Katherine said, touching my arm. I flinched and drew my arm back. How dare she touch me so familiarly in public? Didn’t she realize that if we hadn’t been carrying on at the barbecue in the first place, the tragedy might never have happened? Concern registered in her dark eyes. â€Å"I know how hard this must be for you,† she said. â€Å"Please let me know if you need anything.† I immediately felt a wave of guilt for assuming she was doing anything other than showing sympathy. After all, her parents had died. She was just a young girl, reaching out to offer her support. She looked so sad that for one wild second, I was tempted to cross the aisle and comfort her. â€Å"Thank you,† I said instead, sucking in my stale breath and walking back to the pew. I slid next to Damon, who had his hands crossed piously over a Bible. I noticed his eyes flick up as Katherine briefly knelt down by the coffin. I followed his gaze, noticing the way several curls had escaped from beneath her hat and were curling around the ornate clasp on her blue necklace. A few minutes later, the Requiem ended, and Pastor Collins strode up to the pulpit. â€Å"We’re here to celebrate a life cut far too short. There is evil among us, and we will mourn this death, but we will also draw strength from this death †¦,† he intoned. I covertly glanced across the aisle at Katherine. Her servant, Emily, was sitting next to her on one side and Pearl on the other. Katherine’s hands were folded as if in prayer. She turned slightly, as if to look at me. I forced myself to look away before our eyes could meet. I would not dishonor Rosalyn by thinking of Katherine. I gazed up at the unfinished, steepled beams of the church. I’m sorry, I thought, sending the message upward and hoping that Rosalyn, wherever she was, heard it. How to cite Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 10, Essay examples

Seoul Policy toward North Korea Nuclear Crisis

In the following work peculiarities of Inter-Korean relations are analyzed. Main aspects of existing crisis in relations between North Korea and South Korea are outlined and analyzed. Great attention is given to description of North Koreas Nuclear Program. Its main threats are investigated. Reaction of official Seoul to development of this program is given.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Seoul Policy toward North Korea Nuclear Crisis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This work analyses peculiarities of policy of the ROK. Prior directions of development of external policy are also taken into account. In the end of the work possible scenarios of the end of nuclear crisis are given.  Eastern region of our planet has always been a place of a great interest for different countries. This fact was determined by a number of different reasons. First of all, this region remained unstable for a long period of its history. Constant civil wars, wars for independence and some inner conflicts drew attention of people to this region. As a result of one of these wars, China lost its influence there. Japan became the owner of this land however, not for a long time. WWII influenced greatly state of affairs in this region. With the end of the war â€Å"Japanese colonial rule also came to an end on the Korean Peninsula† (â€Å"Inter-Korean Relations† para.1). However, it did not become a unitary state. The USA and the USSR â€Å"agreed to a temporary division of the Korean Peninsula at the 38th parallel until a provisional government could be established and independence restored† (â€Å"An Overview of Inter-Korean Relations† para. 4). Unfortunately, it was not a temporary decision as it was supposed. Brutal Korean war destroyed any chances for reunion of the state. There were no contacts between governments of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) after this war. However, some positive shift happened under the President Roh Tae-Woo. The states renewed negotiations. This positive tendency continued and there was a period of gradual positive change in relations between two states. Election of Lee Myung Bak as the President announced new approach to Inter-Korean relations which was called pragmatic (â€Å"An Overview of Inter-Korean Relations† para. 7). This approach led to deterioration of relations between South and North Koreas. The skirmish between battleships of these countries only worsened the state of affairs. New President Park Geun Hye promised to improve diplomatic and economic relations with North Korea. However, there is still tension between these two states. North Korean Nuclear crisis promotes further development of this tension. The main point is, that this state has its own nuclear weapons program which is a major concern for the whole world (Sigal para. 3).Advertising Look ing for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"In 2006, 2009 and again in 2013, North Korea announced that it had conducted successful nuclear tests – they all came after the North was sanctioned by the UN for launching rockets† (â€Å"How advanced is North Korea’s nuclear programme?† para. 1). With this in mind, it is possible to speak about the Nuclear crisis. Government of this state refuses to abandon this program. Negotiations with the participation of the USA, Russian Federation, China and some other countries were not successful. Pyongyang refuses to show all materials connected with this question. Moreover, there is no guaranty that it will stop development of this program. It is quite obvious that nuclear threat is used by North Korea as a bargaining chip in order to get some benefits. However, possibility of its existence and usage should not be ignored . That is why leading countries are worried and try to solve this problem, hoping to avoid new war in this region, which can be even more brutal and catastrophic than the previous one.  Taking Nuclear Program of North Korea into account, official Seoul should have special policy in order to react to all threats, created by Pyongyang. Moreover, this policy should try to improve relations between two countries in order to obtain some benefits. That is why the President should be a strong leader and accept some hard decisions. â€Å"Park has already advocated a stronger South Korean military contribution to the U.S.–South Korea alliance, particularly in response to recent North Korean attacks and provocations† (Klingner para. 7). These actions were influenced by great aggression in North Koreas statements. The DPRK says about the possibility of nuclear attacks on South Korea, Japan, the USA. That is why international community is disturbed by these proclamations. South Korea should do something with respect to these facts as it is the first to suffer from North Koreas aggression. Nowadays, it seems that there is no possible peaceful solution to this problem. The President of Korea, Park Geun Hye, tries to guarantee security of her state. Her first step is connected with the foreign policy of the country. It is an attempt to obtain a powerful ally in a probable war with North Korea. Diplomatic relations between the USA and the ROK are now as stable and close as they have never been before. The USA acts as a guarantor of South Koreas security. The President tries to obtain more support from the USA. Troop coordination of these states moved to a new level. Military presence of the USA in the region increased significantly. Preparing for some military conflict, Park Geun Hye also does not forget about possible diplomatic solutions to this situation. It is very difficult to solve this problem under existing conditions. Cooperation of South Korea with t he USA irritates Pyongyang.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Seoul Policy toward North Korea Nuclear Crisis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More That is why North Korea refuses to hold a parley with Seoul. That is why peaceful decision of this problem seems to be more and more complicated. However, the ROK preserves its attempts to establish normal relations between these two counties. Within a framework of this policy, South Korea tries to ignore all provocations and military acts which North Korea performs. The ROK even tries to continue its humanitarian mission, trying to help some vulnerable groups which exist among population of North Korea. The main aim of these measures is to show peaceful character of South Korea and its intentions. However, there are also some firm actions. The May 24 Measures are still observed. Administration of the President of South Korea tries to find some new steps which will be able to improve existing situation. However, there is also a clear message to North Korea. It states that though the ROK is not interested in war and further escalation of violence, it is ready for any possible development of the situation and will be able to answer to military aggression.  Having understood North Koreas main motives in development of its nuclear program, it is possible to cogitate about potential solutions to this problem. It became clear that official Pyongyang is not going to stop development of its nuclear program. The situation is getting worse day by day whether it is the nation’s nuclear program, advances in missile technology, cyber warfare operations or its horrible human rights record (Soesanto para. 2). This fact influences greatly further development of the situation. It should be said that this program is taken as a real threat to existing world order, that is why it becomes not only the problem of South Korea. Historically, Russia, China, t he USA and Japan were the most active participants of main events which happened at Korea Peninsular and now they try to find solution to this problem. On the current stage these countries try to use diplomatic means, hoping to find compromise. There is a great number of different guaranties which these countries give. In the first instance, it is connected with safety and security arrangements. Leading countries are ready to become guarantors of North Koreas security if it closes its Nuclear Program. However, negotiations are not very successful. Being not sure in its own forces and having no trust to these countries, North Korea does not give any distinct answer. Moreover, there is still a question whether it really has nuclear program and weapon. That is why all negotiation parties are very careful in their suggestions. It should also be admitted that Nuclear Program has a very strong ideological influence and meaning.Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For years Pyongyang has been stressing necessity of conquering South Korea and unification of the country. Having obtained the remedy for realization of their main purposes, North Korea has no chance to destroy it as it would mean renunciation of official ideology. Having analyzed the data, it is possible to suggest some believable scenarios of further development of actions. The first scenario provides peaceful decision of existing problem. North Korea can close its Nuclear Program in exchange for security safeguards and help in economic development of the country as current state of affairs is very complicated. Relations with South Korea will also improve and provide better development of the economy of the state. However, there is one more possible scenario which is not so peaceful. Failed to find compromise, leading states could just decide to solve this problem in a heavy handed way. In this case, possibility of the world war exists. That is why it is very important to find pea ceful solution which will satisfy all litigants. Works Cited An Overview of Inter-Korean Relations.  Web. Inter-Korean Relations. Web. â€Å"How advanced is North Korea’s nuclear programme?â€Å". The BBC News. 2014. Web. Klingner, Bruce. The U.S. Should Support New South Korean President’s Approach to North Korea. 2013. Web. Sigal, Leon. The North Korean Nuclear Crisis: Understanding The Failure of the ‘Crime-and-Punishment’ Strategy. 1997. Web. Soesanto, Stefan. â€Å"The North Korea threatâ€Å". The Hill.  2013. Web. This research paper on Seoul Policy toward North Korea Nuclear Crisis was written and submitted by user Wesley S. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Why College Students Should Not Turn To Caffeine

Why College Students Should Not Turn To Caffeine Introduction Caffeine is a stimulant that is extracted from plants with its major source being coffee plants. In its extracted form, caffeine exists as crystals which are bitter in taste. As a stimulating drug, caffeine is commonly used by youths especially those in college. This paper seeks to discuss the reasons why college students should not turn to caffeine. The paper will look at some of the trend of involvement of college students into caffeine consumption and the risks that surround consumption of caffeine by college students.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Why College Students Should Not Turn To Caffeine specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Caffeine usage by college students The use of caffeine by students has been identified as a common issue. Being readily available in soft drinks such as â€Å"coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, soft drinks and over the counter preparations† (Landrum 151), student s who have come to believe that caffeine can stimulate their bodies to respond more to the demands for more study time are increasingly getting involved in the consumption of caffeine purposely for its stimulating effects (Landrum 151). A number of researches that have over time been conducted on the use of caffeine by college students revealed some trends in such consumptions. One of the trends that have been realized with respect to the consumption of the drug in college is that caffeine consumption by students bears some relationship to the level of effort that students need at a particular time in their study. This follows the college system that has less work for the students at the beginning of an academic season which gradually increases with time as the students approach their exams. According to researches, it has been significantly identified that as students approach the exam periods, their rate of consumption of caffeine increases. The students have therefore associated caffeine with the capacity to study, an opinion that is promoting the consumption of the substance among college students (Landrum 151). Females have been identified to consume caffeine more than male students. For whatever reasons, the consumption of the substance is thus dependent on sex and the more female students are in a college institution, the more consumption of caffeine is likely to be registered by the institution. The level of seniority of students in college also influences consumption of the substance. It has, for example, been identified that the level of consumption of caffeine is directly proportional to the study levels in college. A higher level of consumption is thus realized by senior students than their junior counterparts. It therefore brings about the impression that college environment has a characteristic feature of influencing students to use the substance.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your f irst paper with 15% OFF Learn More Whether this influence is induced by the institutions’ systems or just a mere influence that is driven by college students among themselves, the issue is that college students are turning to the consumption of caffeine as a means of securing their academic success. The relationship between the consumption of the substance to the level of study of students and the academic season in relation to exams supports the claim that college students are resorting to caffeine (Landrum 151). Why college students should not turn to caffeine The use of caffeine by college students can be attributed to influence that is triggered by either the students or the academic environment that is occasionally strenuous to students forcing them to resort into substances that can stimulate their bodies to sustain extra efforts as they extend their studying time. There are, however, a number of reasons as to why students should not see caffeine as a so lution to acquiring of extra efforts in studies. Consumption of caffeine has been associated with a number of risks and dangers that can pose some limitations to a student. One of the effects of caffeine is the interruption that it causes to a person’s sleep. People who are deeply into high level of caffeine consumptions have the problems of interrupted sleeps. This interruption is particularly dangerous for students as they are expected to have enough rest and sleep in their lives. The students will on the contrary have insufficient amount of sleep that is most likely transmitted into the day when full attention is required in class. Attending classes in a sleepy condition will therefore reduce the student’s effectiveness in understanding. According to Kley Kara, consumption of caffeine has the effect of increasing â€Å"heart rate and blood pressure† (Kley 1). Such impacts have a possibility of overworking the heart which may lead to malfunctioning of the hear t. Students who are much into caffeine consumption are therefore in danger of heart problems that can arise from issues such as cardiac arrests due to the heart muscles being overworked. Such complications have greater impacts in the life of an individual including death in the case of severe arrests. Same complications can arise in the case increased blood pressure. Dizziness has also been an impact of consumption of significant level of caffeine. Together with â€Å"irritability and restlessness†, a student’s level of concentration will be compromised following consumption of caffeine (Kley 1). Other effects of caffeine include â€Å"decreased blood flow to the stomach, increased risk of osteoporosis in later age† (Kley 1) besides its addictive nature. An individual who falls into addiction of caffeine consumption further has the danger of prolonged and more severe impacts of the general effects of caffeine consumption (Kley 1). Excess consumption of caffeine has also been associated with â€Å"dehydration, diarrhea and ulcers† (Faith Purpose 1). Medical complications of these effects have negative impacts on a student’s ability to attend and concentrate in class. Dehydration, for example, leads to extreme exhaustion of the body following reduced functionality of body organs; some of these functions are related to the brain system and thus induces a state that may not be favorable for a student to study.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Why College Students Should Not Turn To Caffeine specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Cases such as ulcers on the other hand have the capacity of subjecting a person to hospitalization. A student will therefore suffer from pain as well as miss class lessons while undergoing treatment following medical complications that are induced by consumption of caffeine. Other direct impacts of excessive consumption of caffeine incl ude â€Å"increased premenstrual, problems in the stomach and the esophagus, headaches and risen body temperature† (Faith Purpose 1). Usage of caffeine also has the threat of reducing levels of some minerals in the body. It has, for example, been established that excess caffeine in the body plays a role in reducing the level of iron and calcium in the body. An individual who consumes large amounts of caffeine therefore risks deficiency of such minerals and the consequences of such deficiencies. Deficiency of iron, for example, which is essential in the development of bones and the production of red blood cells, can therefore pose threat to a person’s well being. Excessive caffeine usage is thus identified to be dangerous to lives of students (Faith Purpose 1). Upon consumption of substances that are rich in caffeine, a person experiences decreased time duration taken to react to situations. This means that consumption of caffeine rich substances can induce faster unmed iated reactions. Whether in class work or outside class, a student is subject to making quick decisions that could be erroneous. A case of a mistake made in a class assignment or an exam due to the induced quick response of caffeine can cost a student marks and even grades in final grading in college. Since female college students are adults who can at the same time get pregnant, the dangers of caffeine to the health of an unborn child or an infant is equally a reason why caffeine consumption should be checked by female students. This danger can be discussed in two aspects: that of a college student who is expectant in school and is consuming high level of caffeine and that of a woman who got addicted to caffeine consumption while in college. Excessive intake of caffeine by an expectant woman is particularly dangerous in the fact that caffeine easily diffuses through the placenta into the unborn child’s system. Similarly, a breast feeding mother can pass caffeine content into her child’s body through the breast’s milk. The danger under these considerations is that while the adults’ body systems are developed enough to eliminate the toxic caffeine by natural processes, the body of an unborn or a young child is not developed enough to eliminate the caffeine contents in itself. Usage of caffeine by these women therefore induces a level of intoxication to their children. The concern should be adequately addressed under caffeine consumption at the college due to the possibility of addiction which might be effective through out a woman’s life (Goldberg 235).Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There is a possibility that a student engaged in consumption of caffeine products may be taking too much of the caffeine without being aware. Following the lack of specification of substances in terms of the level of caffeine that they contain, a student might as well get into excessive consumption of caffeine without his or her notice. This means that a student can still be subjected to the risks of excessive caffeine consumption without being aware (Walker and Humphries 75). There is, however, those arguments that seem to support the consumption of caffeine by college students. There are opinions that caffeine usage induces â€Å"increased sense of alertness, positive mood and alleviate headaches† among other benefits (Kley 1). Conclusion Consumption of substances that are rich in caffeine is highly adopted among students in collage following its stimulating effect. Though there are opinions of some benefits of caffeine in the body, the negative impacts that are associated with the consumption outnumbers the benefits and some of the consequences of caffeine consumption such as ulcers and heart and blood complications are fatal. It can therefore be concluded that college students should avoid or control their consumption of caffeine rich substances. Faith Purpose. Dangers of excessive caffeine consumption. Assatashakur, 2011. Web. Goldberg, Raymond. Drugs across the Spectrum. New York, NY: Cengage Learning, 2009. Print. Kley, Kara. Caffeine, what every college student should know. Housing, 2010. Web. Landrum, Erick. College students’ use of caffeine and its relationship to personality. Psych, n.d. Web. Walker, Allan and Humphries, Courtney. The Harvard Medical School guide to healthy eating during pregnancy. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2005. Print.

Alternative Meanings for Names of Sense Organs

Alternative Meanings for Names of Sense Organs Alternative Meanings for Names of Sense Organs Alternative Meanings for Names of Sense Organs By Mark Nichol The words for body parts that enable us to perceive stimuli have, sensibly, been applied to other meanings that are extensions of the original connotations. Here are additional meanings of ear, eye, nose, skin, and tongue. Ear An ear is an earlike part of an object or a body or a plant. It also means â€Å"sensitivity to pitch and tone of music or melody or rhythm of speaking,† and it’s a figurative term for a listener or the attention or awareness a listener offers. Eye This word refers to something resembling an eye in appearance or function. It might also denote a glance or a look, or close attention or scrutiny, as well as judgment or point of view or good eyesight or discernment. Eye also refers to the direction from which wind blows or the center of a storm. Nose Nose is employed to mean â€Å"the sense of smell,† or to refer to the aroma or bouquet of something. It also applies, usually in the adjectival form nosy, to curiosity or meddling, though, more positively, one might be said to have a nose, or a knack for comprehending or finding, for something. Also, the forward or projecting end of a tool or any object is frequently referred to as its nose. Skin The covering of a piece of fruit or a seed is called the skin, and any casing or sheathing, or a film or a similar layer, is often referred to as such. It also refers to well-being (â€Å"Save your skin!†) or to one’s self (â€Å"She’s comfortable in her own skin†). Tongue Tongue applies to the power of communication, or to language itself. The word also describes the quality of the tone of something said, or the intention or sense of the message (as when describing someone as having a sharp tongue). In plural form, it refers to meaningless utterances, usually in the context of religious ecstasy (â€Å"speaking in tongues†); tongue also denotes the cry of a hound during a hunt, or a similar sound. It also applies to a narrow projection of an object or of land, or to an object resembling a tongue in form, a projecting edge on a board designed to be inserted into a groove on an edge of an other board (this system of construction is called tongue-and-groove), or a flame. 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 Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Handy Expressions About HandsRules for Capitalization in TitlesPrepositions to Die With

The Historical Development of the Bureaucracy Essay

The Historical Development of the Bureaucracy - Essay Example Political scientists have identified four major periods in the history of American bureaucracy. The first, called the Government by Gentlemen (1789 - 1820), was marked by the dominance of people from elite families in the professional bureaucracy. In the next period (1830-1870), the bureaucratic positions were filled up by members of the major political parties that were lucky to win the presidential elections. In this connection, the number of people from middle and lower strata of society among the officials has dramatically increased. Many progressive changes were introduced into bureaucracy in 1880-1920 - it was reformed with the focus on balanced, rational administration. The fourth period that coincided with the period of contemporary history deepened depoliticization and professionalization of the bureaucracy. Its formation is now conditioned by competitive selection (Merit System). At the end of the 20th century, the number of federal employees in the United States has reache d 3 million people. 90% of all job positions were filled solely through a competitive process. In recent times the bureaucracy is regulated by a number of decrees and laws imposing specific legal and ethical standards, for instance, the U.S. President’s Executive Order of October 17, 1990 - Principles of Ethical Conduct for Government Officers and Employees. One of the provisions runs that public service is a sphere of activity that excludes any personal or other financial interests that can prevent acting in good faith.

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 11

Management - Essay Example This paper identifies how increased competitiveness creates opportunities for change and how it impacts the manager’s role. One particular management theorist suggests that contemporary managers, in the face of rising competition, must be results-oriented by identifying specific goals as part of the planning process, measure whether these goals have been achieved, and determine whether or not the end results led to peak effectiveness and efficiency (McLean, 2006: 16). This suggests a manager who must make careful use of internal strategy whereby goals are identified and internal staff members are aligned to meet business needs as part of a planning model. Effective measurement of whether goals have been attained could include a total performance management system which provides employees with reward for maximum contribution toward meeting goals or offering criticism or training in the face of subordinate inability to assist the business. As one example, it would seem that in an environment where a business has a great deal of external competition, the manager must remain focused on achieving maximum prod uctivity by effectively controlling the activities of workers and assessing their progress. Additionally, employees seem to be a considerable resource for making a company more competitive. McHenry (2008) identifies that increased competition also comes in the form of whether or not a business sustains top talent under a talent management model. This model suggests that managers must consistently assess the business structure to look for opportunities to motivate staff members to meet long-term goals. The author identifies that effective talent management, as part of management planning, involves maximising career opportunities for workers and also assessing whether the current recruitment and selection criteria is designed to bring the business top talent over that of competing businesses (McHenry). This talent management model would seem to point

A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ But a Sandwich :: Hero Ain’t Nothin’ But a Sandwich Essays

Webster has defined nostalgia as a â€Å"wistful or excessively sentimental, sometimes abnormal yearning for a return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition.†Ã‚   Nostalgia is a psychological time machine that transplants adults to the good old days of another era. Once there, they will find that it is a state of mind, oblivious to actual or imagined barriers. For some it is a pleasant stroll through yesterday, a simple, less turbulent past. Benjie Johnson is thirteen, Black, and well on his way to being hooked on heroine for good. Benjie’s wry humor and courage, his hard surface and vulnerability beneath make it impossible not to care about him. This book confronts a difficult subject and offers no easy solutions. The inner city students I presently teach can relate to much of what Benjie talks about. The Black English used is a variation but a continuation of school boy vernacular which we saw in the previously mentioned novels. â€Å"Now I am thirteen, but when I was a chile, it was hard to be a chile because my block is a tough block and my school is a tough school. I’m not trying to cop out on what I do or don’t do cause man is man and chile is chile, but I ain’t a chile no more. Don’t nobody want to be no chile cause, for some reason, it just hold you back in a lotta ways; unless you be a rich chile like in some movie picture or like on T.V.—where everybody is livin it up and their room is perfect-lookin and their swimmin pool and their block and their house and they also ridin round in one rollin Cads with a tape-deck playin cool music and with air condition goin.†21 The block where Benjie lives is no peaceful place. People are getting mugged and robbed regularly. After age three when the relatives hold your hand you are on your own in the poorly lighted hallways of the tenement. â€Å"Walkin through dark, stinky hallways can be hard on anybody, man or chile, but a chile can get snatch in the dark and get his behind parts messed up by some weirdo I’m talkie bout them sexuals. Soon’s you get up to leven, twelve and so—they might cool it cause they scared you know where to land a good up punch, dig?

Grades do not Reflect Intelligence Essay

As young adults we have been tested many times over the years, whether it be by a parent, friend or life itself however, the most common of tests we receive are from school. Growing up we were taught to believe that A meant smart and F meant dumb. Time and time again this caused distress in students who were very smart but declared dumb by the education system. Contrary, students who were receiving higher marks are not necessarily the most intelligent. Eventually, people came to the realization that the marks received on tests in fact were not an accurate representation of ones intelligence but merely a showcase of their ability to memorize information. Firstly, the education system does not properly reflect ones intelligence due to common inflation of marks. Secondly, while we are all different, the education system provides us with the same learning and thirdly, grades are the result of effort not intelligence. As the years pass the entry level for most elite university programs rise and are currently well over 90 percent, as a high school student this can be very discouraging. Students are under an immense amount of pressure to do well and this rubs off on the teachers. More often then not teachers are faced with the pressure from students and parents asking or even demanding higher grades, many times they often ascribe any lack of high marks as the teachers fault. Coincidently, as of 2007 more than 60 percent of Ontario high school graduates had an A average, and 10 percent had an A+ average. According to Western University professor James Cà ´tà © that’s up from 40 percent in 1980. (Authority) In todays society many are obsessed with the best, resulting in many parents wanting to send their children to the best schools. This ultimately leads to schools feeling pressure to maintain their supreme standing. Many schools use the success of their past students to enhance their title. For both these reasons listed, inflation occurs. Schools and teachers are raising the marks of their students to their benefit. Of course they are just trying to help however, more often than not they are doing the complete opposite. According to a 2010 report from Brock University, students who entered university with a 90 percent or higher average in high school experienced a dramatic drop of 11.9 percent. Whereas students with high school marks in the 60-79 percent range only dropped 4.4 percent. (Statistic) Grade  inflation does not truthfully assess students learning, resulting in greater problems for their future. With the common act of inflation it is hard to decipher the difference in learning abilities between students. As human beings we are all diverse, not one an identical copy, now if this is the case why does the education system treat us like we are? (Rhetorical question) The education system has made some improvements over the years by dividing students based on their learning but there is much more work to be done. In high school there is a lack of diversity in available courses. There are a multitude of academic courses and very little courses related to apprenticeships and trades. High schools push and push for students to take these academic courses and follow suite to university, when the reality is not everyone is meant to go to university, and that is not a bad thing. However, the truth of this is being concealed by all the grade inflations and false hope given to students. After high school many students will come to the unfortunate realization that just because they did well in high school does not mean they will do the same in university and the high school education system will be to blame for that. If high schools represented college in a more positive way, many students would feel more comfortable and confident in taking the appropriate courses to accommodate to their learning needs. In reality, many students aren’t even aware that they have so many more options outside of these academic courses because the high schools are not making them available. This results in students who learn differently to be put in the same classes and tested the same ways, resulting in one being smarter than the other, when this is in fact not true. Albert Einstein once said, â€Å"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.† (Authority) Therefore, high schools should not test all students equally, but take the time to adhere to their learning abilities and follow suite with appropriate courses and testing. In addition to every student being completely different, it doesn’t help that there are so many of us. There are 105 secondary schools in the Toronto District School Board alone, meaning there are approximately 87, 273 students, and 5, 800 teachers. (Statistic) Now in this whole system of people, one can’t help but wonder, is my A+ the same as you’re A+? (Rhetorical question) If Sally is an intelligent student who doesn’t try hard at all and is managing to pass with  B’s and Julie is at a lower intelligence level but working her butt off to turn her C’s into B’s does this mean t hese grades are equivalent? (Example) Do these grades communicate anything about Sally and Julie’s intelligence, or are they merely a showcase of their efforts? (Rhetorical question) Grades are important yes, but they cannot determine ones intelligence. Grades show teachers how well you are able to retain information; they are an example of who sat down, put the effort in and studied and who didn’t. Yes, it may be easier for an â€Å"intelligent† person to get good grades, but someone of mediocre intelligence can also get good grades with hard work. High schools make test marks out to be everything, when in reality, as stated before; they are not an accurate representation of ones intelligence. Just because John got perfect on a math test and Billy didn’t, does not mean John is smarter, it means they excel in different areas and should be treated accordingly. Time after time many students will find themselves discouraged by their low marks, but that does not have to be the case. With the right amount of effort, and the right guidance everyone has the opportunity to be a genius. It is now time for the education system to put their best foot forward and conjure the effort to make this happen. In conclusion, it is evident that high school grades are no longer an accurate representation of students’ intelligence. Grades are inflated, students who are at completely different ends of the spectrum are getting the same tests and effort now differentiates most students’ grades, how can one possibly believe that this system accurately demonstrates the knowledge of our youth? (Rhetorical question) High schools need to develop a system that can evenly show case everyone’s intelligence. Until that is done, high achieving students will keep being told their brilliant and low achieving students will keep being pushed from, grade to grade. Overall, the question still remains, if academics cannot determine our intellect, what is the true test of intelligence?

`` Culture `` By Stephen Greenblatt - 1504 Words

Stephen Greenblatt’s essay titled â€Å"Culture† presents many arguments about culture and the set of limits that go along with culture. Greenblatt says, â€Å"The ensemble of beliefs and practices that form a given culture function as a pervasive technology of control, a set of limits within which social behavior must be contained† (Greenblatt 1). Greenblatt also provides examples of consequences for those individuals that do not stay inside the boundaries. Greenblatt examines how culture is within art and literature and that they are the great institutions for the enforcement of culture. The art and literature pieces in which culture is present are either texts of constraint or mobility. When Greenblatt says that culture is a â€Å"set of limits†¦show more content†¦Those norms are on the topics of children, divorce, and being a perfect wife. The Awakening as a whole is a text that batters against the boundaries of the culture in this particular t ime period and book and is a mechanism of constraint. There are multiple cultural boundaries present in the Awakening. One of them being on the subject of children. In this novel it is assumed that most women want or like children. The protagonist, Edna Pontellier, does not particularly feel that way. She has two children with her husband Leonce. Edna says that her marriage was a mistake and it can be assumed that she also extends that to her children. Edna likes her children but in â€Å" an uneven, impulsive way. She would sometimes gather them passionately to her heart; she would sometimes forget them (Chopin, 18) .† Most parents love their children an extreme amount but loathe their constants complaints. However, the strong love and connection never disappears. With Edna that love and connection is not there. To Edna, â€Å" their absence was a sort of relief, though she did not admit this even to herself† (Chopin 18). Edna likes when her children are not wit h her because she does not like the responsibility that â€Å"she had blindly assumed and for which Fate had not fitted her (Chopin 18).† Edna was not able to prepare herself for children, Fate did not observeShow MoreRelatedThe Swerve Vs. World Civilizations And Ideas1566 Words   |  7 PagesSessy Hernandez HIST 1113 Gomez April 25, 2016 The Swerve vs. World Civilizations and ideas Stephen Greenblatt introduces several different themes through out his writing in The Swerve. Making it helpful in understanding the ancient worlds civilizations. While Greenblatt narrates the events of Poggio Bracciolini the themes of social hierarchies, nature/culture, and gender are brought up to various times through out the story. These themes reveal parallels and similarities with the ancient worldRead MoreNew Historicism Is A Really Good Way For Analyze Texts And Show Correlation Between Ideas And Timelines1408 Words   |  6 Pagesaesthetic cultures of the historic periods in which they would begin to arise. A New historicist looks at literature in a more wider and more historical context and they examine how the write affected the work and the work will reflect on the writers time. It recognizes the current cultural contexts that critics have conclusions about. New Historicism was developed around the time of the 1980s by a man that was named Stephen Greenblatt. According t o the man that is named Stephen Greenblatt, the roleRead More Use of Culture in Writing Essay586 Words   |  3 PagesThe Culture â€Å",Culture†, is a concept which is related to the art, beliefs and traditions of a society. Even if it is thought as a concept used in social norms, it is the real value of a society by carrying the significant characteristic features of being â€Å",identity†,. It means that the culture forms the society’,s real identity. There are so many writers whose works are based upon the concept of the culture. Stephen Greenblatt is the one who has an essay about the culture and its affects onRead MoreKate Chopin s The Awakening Essay1617 Words   |  7 Pageslimited amount of options in the many difficult choices we face today in life and bounded to a certain status. Stephen Greenblatt proclaims that the â€Å"beliefs and practices that form a given culture function as a pervasive technology of control, a set of limits†¦ to which individuals must conform† as well as that â€Å"literature†¦ has been one of the great institutions for the enforcement of culture through praise and blame.† The Awakening is the first of its time to introduce the idea that women should notRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Tempest Essay1019 Words   |  5 Pagesas an â€Å"evil† individual. Whether that be because they have done the protagonist wrong or simply just do not comprehend the ways of a no rmal human, they are automatically viewed by the audience as the universal evil. One critic in particular, Stephen Greenblatt, believes that antagonists such as Caliban from The Tempest represent more than a source of evil. Some theorists argue that Caliban should been seen as a â€Å"colonial other.† I agree, and in this paper I demonstrate and give prime examples as toRead More William Shakespeares Othello1440 Words   |  6 Pagesdefending her position and employed her own system of dualism to strengthen her claim to the throne. She emphasized the division of the â€Å"body politic,† the immortal and perfect ruler, and the â€Å"body natural,† the mortal and fallible human person (Greenblatt 19). The immortal/mortal division of Queen Elizabeth was enhanced by a masculine/feminine division of her character. She often referred to herself in the masculine sense to affirm her capability as a ruler. On the eve of the Spanish Armada in 1588Read MoreAnalysis Of Ama nda Palmer s My Mind 923 Words   |  4 Pagesvalues valorized by their individual cultures, often without meaning to simply because they are the conventions of the contemporary era. This has been a historical fact not only through lyrical and poetic writing, but also films and drama. They are so deeply ingrained to and reproduced by cultures that members within them hardly notice them influencing them. These values are therefore often seen as a manifestation of the constraints people feel within their own culture. The values that are consideredRead MoreOthello Research Paper1226 Words   |  5 Pagesacceptance in Venice† (Berry, 1990). Critics also even see how Othello’s identity is altered by the constant racial tension against him in the play. â€Å"Stephen Greenblatt argues, Othello’s identity depends upon a constant performance of his story, a loss of his own origins, an embrace and perpetual reiteration of the norms of another culture† (Greenblatt , 1990). All of this racism in the play causes Othello some serious anxiety. Anxiety is a condition that can drive an individual to do things thatRead MoreA Far Cry from Africa: Divided Loyalties1682 Words   |  7 Pagesartistic criteria, but as products of the economic and ideological determinants specific to that era. Literature reflects an authors own class or analysis of class relations, however piercing or shallow that analysis may be (Abrams 149). The cultures being examined in this piece are African and European and the author presents an analysis of each class in both piercing and shallow ways. The poem is the product of the British ideologies in the 1950s regarding the Mau Mau: The contemporaryRead MoreMutability By Percy Shelley Analysis915 Words   |  4 PagesShelley’s desire to educate, or speak directly to his readers rather than an indulgent insight into the narrative voice† (Greenblatt, 551). In the first stanza, Shelley is comparing humans to clouds that veil the midnight moon (Line 1). The use of the word veil in this line creates a sense that the moonlight is hidden on purpose. Richard Hamblyn writes in his book Clouds: Nature and Culture, â€Å"in the opening lines of Percy Shelley’s poem â€Å"Mutability† clouds were a ready symbol of the inevitability of change