The Odyssey

The Odyssey In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus does not deserve his reputation as a brave and clever leader because he is very arrogant, conceited, and he only cares about his glories which causes him the life of all his loyal companions. Odysseus makes the mistake of bragging out to the Cyclops about how he conquered stabbing his eye and escaping his cave â€Å"Cyclops if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaca! (Book 9, lines 416-420). Odysseus does not think about the consequences he will have now after yelling out his real name, his father’s name, and his home land. His journey home will be much more difficult due to a non-clever decision. The Cyclops tries to trick Odysseus into going back and possibly eat or kill him ‘’Come back Odysseus, and ill treat you well, praying the god of earthquake to befriend you, his son I am †¦ if he will, he may heal me of this black wound †¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Book 9, lines 431-435).Odysseus does not return which does show some cleverness but then again he yells out to the Cyclops â€Å"if I could take your life I would and take your time away, and hurl you down to hell! The god of earthquake could not heal you there! †(Book 9, 437-440). This aggravates the Cyclops and he puts a curse on Odysseus â€Å"†¦grant that Odysseus, raider of cities, never see his home †¦let him lose all companions, and return under strange sail to bitter days at home†(Book 9. Lines 445-452). Due to all of his actions, bragging about his glories, Odysseus will face many difficult challenges and may not return home. The Odyssey In the tenth book of the Odyssey Odysseus and his companions find themselves trapped in the cave if the Cyclops Polyphemos. After their monstrous host has munched his way through several of his guests, the remainder take action. Odysseus makes a sharp, wooden stake, cutting it from the massive cudgel discovered in the cave; then together with four of his men he plunges the stake into the eye of the drunken, sleeping Polyphemos. Snodgrass, however, would dissent. His whole book is devoted to proving that not only did early Greek art rarely illustrate Homer, it was rarely even inspired by it. This theory is not a new one. Many other scholar have thought and pondered the same ideas. Snodgrass meticulously studies examples of scene often thought to be illustrations of Homer. Geometric art, he argues, offers nothing that can be identified as Homeric; indeed, there is only one Trojan war scene and that is Ajax's rescue of the body of Achilles, a scene which occurs in neither the Odyssey nor the Iliad. One of the more bizarre apparitions of geometric art takes the form of a pair of Siamese twins, warriors with two heads, four legs, four arms and one torso and the subject of some fascinating pages in Snodgrass's book. They were especially popular in early Greek art, but there is no clear Homeric influence here. Twice does the Iliad does refer to the twins, yet significantly he does not mention their rather striking deformity. It is preferable to understand both the artist and Homer as drawing on the same body of legendary material. By the mid seventh century figures on vases are beginning to be identified by captions. This at least makes it easier to determine whether the scene is from the Trojan war. Instead of two warriors fighting over a body we can be sure that we are looking at Menealos and Hektor fighting over the body of Euphorbos, as found on a famous Rhodian plate of the late seventh century, a picture that makes an impressive and appropriate cover for the book. This could very well be an illustration of the Iliad book where Menealos abandons his attempt to strip the corpse. Evidence for this tradition can be found in the shield of Euphorbos by Menealos himself. This is certainly plausible and helps to show that common subject matter is insufficient to prove influence. On the other hand, where a minor character is names, such as ‘Odios' in the embassy to Achilles, then we can be more confident that the artist had Homer in mind. This is a book of enormous leaning and subtlety, and it conclusion is surely right, yet at the same time it seems something of a missed opportunity. It is devoted to a negative and tightly-argued thesis, that Homer's epic poems had only minimal influence on early Greek at. Snodgrass is re-thinking early Greek art as he goes, but he is re-thinking it within the restrictions imposed by the very narrow focus of the book as a whole. Thus, the positive, for instance the illuminating chapter on synoptic narrative and on composition, can be rather swapped in the relentless negative arguments. Other will now need to work through the implications of his thesis, for example the role that must be assigned to oral tradition and all its local variations. Perhaps it is no conscience that his book should appear at a time when the literary culture of the recent past is being eroded by an increasing emphasis on the visual. The Odyssey The Odyssey In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus does not deserve his reputation as a brave and clever leader because he is very arrogant, conceited, and he only cares about his glories which causes him the life of all his loyal companions. Odysseus makes the mistake of bragging out to the Cyclops about how he conquered stabbing his eye and escaping his cave â€Å"Cyclops if ever mortal man inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities, took your eye: Laertes’ son, whose home’s on Ithaca! (Book 9, lines 416-420). Odysseus does not think about the consequences he will have now after yelling out his real name, his father’s name, and his home land. His journey home will be much more difficult due to a non-clever decision. The Cyclops tries to trick Odysseus into going back and possibly eat or kill him ‘’Come back Odysseus, and ill treat you well, praying the god of earthquake to befriend you, his son I am †¦ if he will, he may heal me of this black wound †¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Book 9, lines 431-435).Odysseus does not return which does show some cleverness but then again he yells out to the Cyclops â€Å"if I could take your life I would and take your time away, and hurl you down to hell! The god of earthquake could not heal you there! †(Book 9, 437-440). This aggravates the Cyclops and he puts a curse on Odysseus â€Å"†¦grant that Odysseus, raider of cities, never see his home †¦let him lose all companions, and return under strange sail to bitter days at home†(Book 9. Lines 445-452). Due to all of his actions, bragging about his glories, Odysseus will face many difficult challenges and may not return home.

Climax, Symbolize and Theme in the Lottery Essay

â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson is a very famous American short story. It was published in the June 26, 1948, issue of the The New Yorker. Written the same month it was published. It is ranked today as â€Å"one if the most famous short stories in the history of America literature.† It has been studied in preparatory schools and in universities since its publication. It is very controversial. Some like it, others do not. The lottery has climax, mood and theme.The lottery has a really crazy climax. Climax is the point of greatest emotional intensity in plot. I think the climax of story is killing the person who picks the lottery up. When they kill the woman, their eyes are changed to jealous. Someone said ‘Hurry up!’ and then they throw stones to the woman. Among the people, their family included. I was shocked about her family killed their mother. Even if the son’s face was very pitiful, his parents gave a stone and let him cast it. The chillin g climax also shows serious mood.The story also has extremely serious mood. The mood is generally defined as the atmosphere in the story. Although weather, surrounding and background in the story are sunny and clear, the electing process of the sacrificial victim is too quiet. The weather is a contrast to the village people. At least, the woman has only a tragic ending. She was killed by her friend and family. I think the best of the scene is children kill her too. It’s impossible, though custom is very important, they shouldn’t have let person sacrifice for their personal goal. These things made me confused to understand the story. The lottery has a theme which is difficult to understand. When I saw the title â€Å"The lottery†, I think this story has a good ending, but woman who won the lottery was killed by stones casted by people who she believes and love. It is very irony. Why they killed who won the lottery? I can’t understand this story exactly. But the author who wrote lottery gives us some message. There is old saying â€Å"Don’t judge a book by its cover† I think this crazy climax and serious mood make me difficult to understand this story.In conclusion, â€Å"The Lottery† is a short story which uses crazy climax, serious mood. I think Shirley Jackson who wrote â€Å"The Lottery† gives us some messages. First, don’t judge by appearance. This story title is â€Å"The Lottery†, but the ending is died who won the lottery. Second, we should remove wrong culture. Wrong culture killed innocent person. So, wrong culture is changed quickly. I searched a lot of information of this story. People say this story is written objectively. I strongly agree with this comment. They were extremely relieved when saw the women who won the lottery. In the movie of last scene, I felt selfishness from them.

Ethics and Governance Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethics and Governance - Case Study Example Also, in monitoring the suppliers' compliance with the codes it has been stated, 'it is the supplier's responsibility to ensure and provide evidence that any subcontractors and outworkers used conform to the criteria outlined in this code'. The obvious weakness is its monitoring procedures, which amount to little more than self-certification by suppliers, with no independent system of checking. Conflicts of cultural tradition occur when business-making processes within western corporations are confronted with well-established norms and behaviors strictly linked to local settings and most of the time unfamiliar to western staff in foreign settings. As a result norms and behaviors result acceptable in one setting, and unacceptable in another. For example, in Pakistan there is no legislation against child labour. Although Next doesn't have a connection with Pakistan, the fact has been mentioned only to show how different right and wrong could be in different countries. The point is that, in developing countries like India, where Next has its sourcing industries, even though there are strict legislations against child labour, the corruption and bribery in those countries may allow children work with those industries. Since the monitoring procedure of Next relies on the suppliers' evidence of conformance to criteria, this becomes a case of an ethical dilemma, since the chances of child labour remain. EVALUATION BASED ON ETHICAL THEORIES In Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill argues that moral philosophers have left a train of unconvincing and incompatible theories that can be coherently unified by a single standard of beneficence that allows us to decide objectively what is right and wrong. The principle of utility, or the "greatest happiness" principle, he declares the basic foundation of morals: Actions are right in proportion to their promotion of happiness, and wrong as they produce the reverse. This is a straightforward, and potentially very demanding, principle of beneficence: That action or practice is right (when compared with any alternative action or practice) if it leads to the greatest possible balance of beneficial consequences or to the least possible balance of bad consequences. Mill also holds that the concepts of duty, obligation, and right are subordinated to, and determined by, that which maximizes benefits and minimizes harmful outcomes. The principle of utility is presented by Mill as an absolute o r preeminent principle-thus making beneficence the one and only supreme principle of ethics. It justifies all subordinate rules and is not simply one among a number of prima facie principles. The utilitarian method of reasoning could actually be in favour of Child labour. Viewed from the different stakeholders involved, the extra income gained from the child would maximize happiness for the most. The family

Disseminate your findings to make changes in practice Essay

Disseminate your findings to make changes in practice - Essay Example When seniors reach a certain age, then the cognitive testing and MRIs should be a mandatory process of the regular checkup. Being able to sufficiently track these diseases will help others in the future to avoid or reduce the debilitating symptoms these diseases cause. As our population now lives longer than ever before, there are issues that have become more in evidence that concern the elderly, particularly past the age of 70 years of age, sometimes sooner. The diseases of dementia and Alzheimer disease (AD) have become a larger issue in recent decades as the medical community conducts more research into the problems these diseases are causing, both to the health of the elderly, and the families involved (NINDS 2014). As the last few decades have provided a generation of older adults, living well into their 80s, there is also the problem of how to handle this situation through medical diagnosis, legal supervision by lawyers, and how families are supposed to deal with the varied outcomes that can occur. It is important to also know how older people and their families can also help themselves in a number of ways, including living a more healthy life, with less stress from the effects of debilitation from both dementia and AD. Some of the problems involved with this issue is that there is no mandatory testing and scanning requirements or regulations in place at this time which would help catch these diseases early on, whereby rehabilitation could be given early enough to reduce the effects of onset of dementia and/or AD. The largest issue with dementia and subsequent Alzheimer diagnosis is that, in some cases, the elderly can be hard to monitor for the simple reason that elderly people do not want to be considered as mentally incapable of handling their own affairs, and have a fear of being sent to rest homes, shut away for the rest of their lives (NCB 2009). It is also hard on the families

CASE STUDY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CASE STUDY - Essay Example m to 199 ?m). Between 1999 and 2000, the profits before tax decreased slightly from 421 ?m to 360 ?m although there has been no change in the same. But the profits before tax payments has decreased considerably for the company between 2000 and 2001, from a profit of 360 ?m to a loss of 534 ?m. Further, during the same five year period, the company’s investment in infrastructure almost doubled from 4,625 ?m to 8,841 ?m, its credit value increased almost 3 times from 420 ?m to 1,356 ?m but its provisions almost halved and its debt increasing by almost 7 times from 522 ?m to 3,480 ?m in the same period. These values and trends indeed represent a complex economy as it can be seen that in addition to the company’s sliding profitability at the end of the five year period, the regulatory constraints too seem to have taken a toll on its profitability, in turn affecting its provisions and its capability to invest in future by banking on its capital market. Lack of effective stra tegies to tackle the changing market environment in terms of capital, infrastructure, innovation, operations, etc. have also affected the company’s profitability in the long run. ... In 2001 the company made a loss but the dividend was paid. Why should the company feel it necessary to make such a payment? The company has maintained a dividend payment of 26.9 p through 2001 from 2000 although it made a loss of 534 ?m during the same period. First, the decision of the board to pay the dividend was to keep both its stakeholders and shareholders happy as this could help the company become more competitive in the market place while still attracting capital in spite of its poor performance in the recently concluded year. Also, considering it to be the end of the first five year control period, the company needs to cater to the interests of its shareholders as much as there is a need to attract passengers and freight to sustain in the long run. And with the company running short on investment and poor performance leading to more regulatory constraints and lesser competitiveness, the company runs the risk of alienating its investors in the second five year control period . Also, the company needs to attract more capital to be able to improve its assets, performance, and rail network maintenance, foster innovation and competitiveness among its franchisees and sustain the positive trend in the passenger and freight incomes. Giving a dividend of 26.9 p is also necessary to project a positive impression and a sense of control among its shareholders as well as its other stakeholders particularly after the fatal accidents in 1997, 1999 and 2000. In spite of the under investment, poor performance and the lack of effective strategies, the company still required to pull on into the next control period as the agreed government grants and the ?2 billionn facility loan availability give it scope to adjust its debt record and improve its

Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, AL Campus Police Research Paper

Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, AL Campus Police - Research Paper Example This essay will review the campus police department at the Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, addressing several factors about the police department. These factors include issues such as the jurisdiction that the department covers, the primary crime problems and measures taken to prevent them, the campus crime trends over the past five years, how the department interacts with other law enforcement agencies, qualifications of officers in the department, training and certification of the officers and campus statistics among other issues. Introduction Campus or university police in the US and other countries are sworn law enforcement agents deployed to colleges and universities with a view to provide protection in the campus and its environs, and persons who visit, work or live in it. In Jefferson State Community College, the Jefferson State Police Department is tasked with upholding law and order in the community. These officers are sworn personnel who work in collaboration with campus security officers to contain and prevent crimes and civil unrest problems such as riots and other unruly behavior by students in and around the campus premises. While campus police sometimes employ and train students to serve as escorts to other students, campus police in Jefferson State Community College have the ultimate task of ensuring overall security throughout the entire campus. Jefferson State Community College campus police have immeasurable merit in the performance of their duties within the diverse college community. Discussion Jurisdiction Covered by the Campus Police Department The Jefferson State Community College campus police has jurisdiction over all accidents that take place on campus grounds. The campus police are tasked with completing all the necessary accident reports necessitated by state and federal law. In addition, the campus police assist students who encounter vehicular problems while on campus grounds. In addition, the campus police departmen t entails the protection of life and property within the campus. This encompasses students and college faculty and the college’s property, as well as individuals’ property (JSCC, 2011). It is also within the campus police jurisdiction to keep up a successful and efficient parking system within the campus and maintain a viable traffic system that allows for easy movement in and around the college premises. The police also provide driving directions for those who work, visit, or live on the college premises. It is also the campus police department’s work to report serious crimes to law enforcement agencies and assist the latter in conducting investigations. Moreover, the campus police officers, who have fully-fledged arresting powers, ensure law and order by arresting disorderly and unruly members of the college community and presenting them to the school’s disciplinary committee. The Jefferson State Community College campus police are also mandated with th e response, investigation, as well as prosecution of criminal indignations that take place on campus grounds. Crime Problems and Preventative Measures The predominant crime problems within the campus are burglary, road accidents, possession and distribution of drugs, disorderly conduct and possession of firearms. In order to prevent the incident of in-campus road accidents, the campus requires that all students

Are peace support operations under the auspices of the United Nations Essay

Are peace support operations under the auspices of the United Nations sufficiently accountable - Essay Example However, the United Nations certainly faces a lot of issues in bringing such violators to justice and making them accountable for their actions. To give a real answer to the problems of accountability of Peace Support Operations which is posed in the question, we must first examine the evidence which suggests that violations of international law and human rights have been made. After that we can take a look what has been done about those violations by the United Nations or other international bodies which will give us a measure of the level of accountability that has been adopted by the UN (Akbar, 2005). Finally we can discuss what ‘sufficient’ accountability is and discuss some of the recommendations made by experts on the idea of accountability for PSOs. The problem associated with the definition of peace support becomes multiplied when we consider the various terms that have been associated with different operations. For example while one operation may be undertaken on the basis of humanitarian intervention to bring peace to a country, another might be conducted to prevent a war from spilling into neighbouring regions (Akbar, 2005). Still others may be required for rebuilding and reconstruction of the civilian infrastructure after the ravages of war. In fact, the military forces can even be called in to keep the peace after a natural disaster has struck a region such as a Tsunami in coastal regions or an Earthquake in any part of the world. With the rising number of peace keeping operations, the diversity of a typical peace keeping unit has certainly increased. With that diversity we get different cultures that may bring different ideas of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour (Akhavi, 2003). In 1988, less than thirty countries had ever sent their forces to be a part of an alliance for peacekeeping, in 2000, there were more than 80 countries which had

Experience of Mosque Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Experience of Mosque - Assignment Example I visited the ICM on Friday and attended ‘Jumuah’ prayer at 1.30 pm. Besides, I went through the prayer calendar to find out the exact time of ‘Jumuah’ because my religious faith is different from Islam. Besides, this helped me to attend the congregational prayer that started at 2.00 pm. One can see that mosques are flooded by believers on Fridays. So, I parked my car at Lot ST8 and walked to the ICM. Entering the mosque, I noticed that most of the visitors are students. Besides, the only noticeable difference in dress is the cap or ‘Taqiyah’. But most of the visitors were not wearing ‘Taqiyah’. Besides, pants and t-shirt/shirt is the common dress among the visitors. So, one can see that there is no strict dress code implemented by the authorities because most of the believers are students. The mosque’s exterior is not so different from other buildings in the neighborhood. To be specific, the exterior does not represent the traditional mosques in the Middle East. Entering the mosque, I noticed that the main hall used for prayer purpose is symbolic of modern construction because there are fewer symbols or images that signify Islamic architecture. But the only difference is that there is a separate facility for womenfolk to pray. Besides, the noticeable symbol of Islamic architecture within ICM is the ‘minaret’ type protrusion on the bu ilding. As the believers are aware of the rules within mosque premises, there are no strict rules to be followed at ICM. Besides, silence during prayer time, proper dressing, ‘hijab’ (say, for womenfolk) are general rules. My conversation with an African American and an Indonesian student proves that they feel satisfied with the prayer services at the ICM. Still the conversation shed light into the differences between Islamic and Christian faiths. Renard (2011) states that, â€Å"In fact, a Christian attending services on Sunday could

Interpersonalinterprofessional skills - social work Essay

Interpersonalinterprofessional skills - social work - Essay Example Today there are several families where the elderly people need care, children especially the disabled need support and increasing number of people are patients of AIDS and other STDs. Social workers are expected to reach out to these people in need as well as to those social problems such as abuse, family issues, rape, etc. The result is that social workers experience increasing pressure on a day to day basis. If we look into the professional roles of social workers it can be said that presently it is focused on managing access to available services rather than on helping people find solutions to their problems. As a result of this the trend is now that people have become passive recipients of services and are not much involved in participating in social care. A typical social worker needs to be dedicated, intelligent, and demonstrate leadership qualities, work with the team, and also requires a capacity for critical thinking. Professional social workers are committed to a value base and the British Association of Social Workers defines five basic values - â€Å"Social work practice should both promote respect for human dignity and pursue social justice, through service to humanity, integrity and competence† (ADSW, 2004). In fact these are the basic values that empower the behaviour of social workers while in the field. A professional approach is a must in working with individuals, families, social groups or communities, especially an unbiased approach. Today, many consider social work is a meaningful career, diverse, dynamic, challenging, and have a deep sense of satisfaction. This is the basic reason that social work has now become a subject that need to be specialised in before it is taken up as a profession. There are several qualities in particular the leadership qualities that need to be developed. It is expected that from the professional training, social workers get a wide range of knowledge on people’s needs and allow them to

The Virginia Department Essay Example for Free

The Virginia Department Essay The Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice is the state agency responsible for handling juveniles in the state of Virginia. This department operates a number of group homes (22), detention centers (24), and correctional centers (5). The Beaumont Juvenile Correctional Center is capable of housing and providing services for 264 males to the age of 21. This facility offers high school classes, GED programs, and college correspondence courses so that the juveniles can continue their education. Treatment services include the following: substance abuse, sex offender, anger control, and independent living skills. This facility has both medium and maximum security buildings. The Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center is capable of housing and providing services for 193 males and females. It is in fact the only co-ed correctional facility operated by the DJJ. Education programs include high school classes and courses leading to the GED. Treatment programs include the following: substance abuse, aggression management, sex offender, and an intensive therapeutic program. This facility provides mental health services. The Culpeper Juvenile Correctional Center has a budgeted capacity of 144. This maximum security facility handles the 18-20 year-old Circuit Court male offenders. It offers educational programs leading to the high school diploma or GED. Treatment programs include the following: sex offender, substance abuse, and anger management. Mental health services are not provided on a regular basis, but psychiatrists and counselors are on staff in case of emergency. The Hanover Juvenile Correctional Center has the budgeted capacity of 120 males aged 12-18. Educational programs leading to the high school diploma or GED are offered, as are vocational programs. Treatment programs offered at the medium security facility include the following: sex offender, substance abuse, and anger management. This facility also offers the Junior Reserve Officers Training Program. Social workers and psychologists offer individual, group, and family therapy. The Oak Ridge Juvenile Correctional Center houses 40 juvenile males with severe behavioral disorders and developmental disabilities. As such, this is the primary facility for juveniles with mental health issues. Treatment programs include sex offender, anger control, life skills, and substance abuse. Residents are able to continue their education at the facility, and special education curricula are offered. In addition to the correctional facilities, the Department manages three halfway houses: Abraxas House, Discovery House, and Hampton Place. These locations provide juveniles just leaving correctional centers with programs designed to help their transition and to reduce the risk of re-offending. References Department of Juvenile Justice. (2010). Residential Programs. Retrieved from http://www. djj. virginia. gov/Residential_Programs/Default. aspx

Methods in the Assessment of Infertility

Methods in the Assessment of Infertility DISCUSSION 6. DISCUSSION 6.1 Fertility depends on the presence of normal fallopian tubes. Tubal factors have been reported to account for 25% to 30% cases of infertility. [6]Partial or complete occlusion of fallopian tubes is one of the major etiological factors in infertility. 6.2 In the present study, 60 cases attending Gyneac OPD in Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology at Base Hospital were studied. Among all cases of primary infertility was found to be 73.3% in present study and cases of secondary infertility was found to be 26.6%. (Table -5.1). Allahabadia et al (1992) studied 50 patients, out of which 40 (80%) had primary infertility and 10 (20%) had secondary infertility. [61] 6.3 The average age in primary infertility group, in present study was found to be 25.27 years while that in secondary infertility group was 28.83 years (Table: 5.2 5.3).Average age of all cases of infertility was 27.05 years. Tufekci et al (1992) studied 44 cases. The mean age of patients was 24.17 + 2.83 years (age ranging from 20 years to 35 years).The maximum number of cases i.e. 29 (65.9%) of primary infertility were in 21-25 years age group. In secondary infertility group, the maximum number of cases i.e. 8 cases (50%) were found to be in 26 30 years age group. [79] S. Kore et al, in their study had similar observation. Maximum numbers of the patients in his study were between 25-30 years of age, 34 patients had primary infertility and 6 had secondary infertility. Mean duration of infertility in his study was 5.2 years. [8] S lal et al, studied 100 patient of infertility and majority of the patients i.e. 64% of the women were cases of primary infertility and maximum number belonged to the age group of 26-30 years .[57] 6.4 The average duration of infertility in primary infertility group was 7.78 years, while that in secondary infertility group was 9.58 years (Tables 5.5, 5.6). The maximum number of cases i.e. 17 cases (38.7%) of primary infertility were infertile for 1-5 years whereas for 6-10 years (Table 5.5, 5.6) in secondary infertility group i.e. 9 cases (56.3%). Among all cases of infertility, the maximum number of cases i.e. 24 cases (40%) were infertile for 6 -10 years (Table – 5.7). Similar finding were also reported by A.K. P. Ranaweera et al. (2013); in which study population comprised 42 infertile women in Srilanka.[80] Overall, the mean age was 31.95 years, with a range of 24–39 years. Mean duration of infertility was 2.98 years, range 1–10 years. Infertility was reported as primary and secondary by 38 (90.5%) and 4 (9.5%), respectively [84]. Another study which was done by Aziz N. (2010) on infertility cases, where cases were taken by ratio of primary and secondary infertility as 2:1.Out of 50 patients, 32 patients (64%) presented with primary infertility and 18 patients (36%) presented with secondary infertility. The mean duration of infertility was 3.7 years and 7.3 years in primary and secondary infertility respectively, while mean age of presentation was 28 years in primary infertility and 32 years in secondary infertility. [68] 6.5 On transvaginal sonosalpingography, out of 44 cases of primary infertility, tubes were found to be patent in 30 cases and blocked in 14 cases (Table 5.8). These 30 cases of patent tubes included 5 cases which showed delayed spill on one side and free spill on other side. Out of 14 cases of tubal block, 6 cases (13.7%) showed bilateral tubal block, 4 cases (9%) each showed right sided and left sided block respectively (Table – 5.8). Out of 16 cases of secondary infertility, 8 cases (50%) showed bilateral tubal patency and 4 cases (25%) showed bilateral tubal block. 1 case (6.2%) and 3 cases (18.8%) showed left sided and right sided block respectively (Table 5.9). Out of all 60 cases of infertility, 38 cases (63.3%) showed bilateral tubal patency and 22 cases (36.7%) showed tubal block (unilateral/bilateral) (Table – 5.10). Tubal block was found to be more common in secondary infertility cases i.e. 8 (50%) as compared to primary infertility cases 14 (31.7%) (Tables-5.8, 5.9). Bilateral tubal block was more common in secondary infertility cases i.e. 4 cases (25%) as compared to primary infertility cases i.e. 6 cases.(13.7%) (Tables- 5.8, 5.9). Tufekci et al (1992) performed transvaginal sonosalpingography and accurately showed patency in 26 patients and bilateral non-patency in 3 patients. [79] Allahabadia et al (1992) performed The Sion Test in 50 patients and found bilateral patency in 41 cases, (82%), bilateral block in 6 (12%) cases, left block in 2 (4%) cases and right block in 1 case (2%). [61] Transvaginal sonosalpingography could also pick up additional findings. Cystic ovary was observed in 5 cases (8.3%) and fibroid in 3 cases (5%) (Table 5.11). 6.6 In Primary infertility group, out of 44 cases chromolaparoscopy showed bilateral tubal patency in 31 cases (71.4%) and bilateral tubal block in 6 cases (13.6%). Left sided block and right sided block was seen in 3 cases (6.9%) and 4 cases (9.1%) respectively (Table 5.12). Out of 16 cases of secondary infertility, chromolaparoscopy showed bilateral tubal patency in 9 cases (56.2%), which included one case which showed delayed spill on one side. Bilateral tubal block was seen in 3 cases (18.8%). Left sided block and right sided block was seen in 1 case (6.2%) and 3 cases (18.8%) respectively (Table 5.13). 6.7 Out of all 60 cases of infertility, chromo-laparoscopy revealed tubal block in 20 cases (33.3%) and bilateral tubal patency in 40 cases (66.7%) (Table 5.14). Tubal block was found in 7 cases (11.7%) in secondary infertility group as compared to 13 cases (21.7%) in primary infertility group (Table 5.14). Darwish AM et al study, where SHG agreed with laparoscopy for the patency of right and left tubes in 72.4% and 60.5% cases. [75] Allahabadia et al (1992) observed bilateral tubal patency in 41 cases (82%); bilateral tubal block in 6 cases (12%) left block in 2 cases (4%) and right block in 1 case (2%). [61] 6.9 Out of additional findings picked up by chromolaparoscopy in all cases of infertility, adhesions (peritubal / periovarian) were most commonly observed i.e. in 21 cases (35%). Cystic ovary and fimbrial cyst were observed in 4 cases each (6.6%) respectively. Fibroid was seen in 3 cases (5%). Tubo-ovarian mass, acute kinking of tube and endometriosis were seen in one case each respectively (1.6%) (Table 5.15). Aziz N (2010) observed tubal blockage in 21.9% and 33.3% cases of primary and secondary infertility respectively. Out of all 15.6% cases of primary infertility were detected as polycystic ovaries (PCO) which was not found in cases of secondary infertility. Endometriosis was found in 12.5% cases with primary infertility and 11.1% cases with secondary infertility. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) was found in 3.1% and 16.7% cases of primary and secondary infertility respectively. Peritubal and periovarian adhesions were detected in 6.3% cases with primary infertility and 22.2% cases with secondary infertility. Fibriod was found in 6.3% and 5.6% cases of primary and secondary infertility respectively. Ovarian cyst detected in 6.3% cases with primary infertility while none was found in cases of secondary infertility. [68] 6.10 A significant advantage of chromolaparoscopy over other methods of detecting tubal patency is that, it permits the visualisation of additional pelvic pathology, particularly pelvic adhesions. This is particularly relevant in assessing the feasibility of their surgical intervention. If dense pelvic adhesions are seen to be associated with totally disorganised tubes, laparotomy may not be indicated. This is of further value with reference to genital tuberculosis, as it presents a real diagnostic problem.Reliable diagnosis of genital tuberculosis is of significance not only to enable proper specific treatment, but also to avoid futile and possibly hazardous surgery.Inability to diagnose accurately the peri-tubal adhesions is an important shortcoming of transvaginal sonosalpingography. 6.11 The presence of peritubal and periovarian adhesions and that too, with high incidence is a significant finding in this study. It implies that adhesions can affect the tubal function with-out affecting the tubal patency. Adhesions affect the fallopian tube by restricting its mobility, interfering with ovum pick up and changing its peristalsis. Laparoscopy provides additional information concerning The site of adhesions whether peritubal or periovarian. b)The extent of adhesions. c)The effect on the course of the tube. d)Anatomical relation between fimbia and ovary Exact site of tubal block could not be diagnosed by transvaginal sonosalpingography.Out of 7 cases of tubal block in secondary infertility group, 2 cases (12.5%) each showed corneal block and midtubal block was seen in 1case (6.2%) and 4 cases (25%) showed fimbrial block (Table 5.17). 6.12 When results of transvaginal sonosalpingography and chromolaparoscopy were compared in all cases of infertility, 38 cases (63.4%), showed bilateral tubal patency by transvaginal sonosalpingography, whereas by chromolaparoscopy 40 cases (66.6%) showed bilateral tubal patency.Agreement regarding tubal patency was seen in 63.4% of cases. Regarding tubal block, agreement was seen in 33.4% cases. On the whole, agreement was seen in 96.6% cases (Table 5.18). Tufekci et al (1992) found completely consistent results in 76.32% of cases by transvaginal sonosalpingography and chromolaparoscopy and partially consistent results in 21.05% cases, and inconsistent results in 2.63% case. [79] Allahbadia et al (1992) performedSiontest and chromolaparoscopy in 50 patients. They found 100% agreement between the two methods for tubal patency. [61] 6.13 Comparison between transvaginal sonoslpingography and chromolaparoscopy in tubal block group (Table 5.19) showed that regarding bilateral tubal block, agreement was seen in 40.9% cases. Regarding unilateral tubal block, agreement was seen in 50% cases, and on the whole agreement was seen in 90.9% cases. Out of 60 cases 22 cases (36.6%) showed tubal block by transvaginal sonosalpingography whereas by chromolaparoscopy only 20 cases (33.4%) showed tubal block. Two cases were falsely picked up by transvaginal sonosalpingography as cases of tubal block. Jeanty P (2000) observed that Air-sonohysterography and laparoscopy with chromopertubation showed agreement in 79.4%. In 17.2% of patients, the tubes were considered nonvisualized by air-sonohysterography when they were patent. The sensitivity was 85.7% and specificity was 77.2%. [70] 6.14 One of the cases which showed right sided block by transvaginal sonosalpingography and bi-lateral tubal patency by chromolaparoscopy showed flimsy peritubal and periovarian adhesions and delayed spill on instillition of methylene blue dye from right side, when chromolaparoscopy was performed. The other case which showed bilateral tubal block by transvaginal sonosalpingography, showed apparently healthy tubes and free spill from both sides by chromolaparoscopy. This might be due to spasm which was relieved under general anaesthesia. Study has done by Tanawattanacharoen S et al. (2000) Shows corresponding results between HyCoSy and chromolaparoscopy in 80.0%. The agreement between both procedures in assessing the uterine pathology was 80.4% (68%). [77] Dietrich, M et al. (1996) find corresponding results with regard to the tube patency between HyCoSy and conventional chromolaparoscopy in 82.5% of cases .Right sided block was observed in 31.8% by both methods. Left sided block was seen in 22.7% by transvaginal sonosalpingography however chromolaparoscopy confirmed block in 18.1%. Percentage of false positive results as shown by transvaginal sonosalpingography was 4.6 %, whereas no false negative results were seen. [63] Allahabadia et al (1992) observed bilateral tubal block in 12%, left sided block in 2% by both Sion test and chromolaparoscopy. [61] 6.15 Divergent observations emphasize the difficulty encountered in accurate localisation. Cornual occlusion for example either functional or structural precludes any evaluation of the remainder of the tube. Furthermore, the patients with apparent cornual block may show a block at the ampulla on repeated film. Chromolaparoscopy revealed more of additional findings as compared to sonosalpingography (Table 5.15). 6.16 Comparison between these two methods in patients of tubal block showed that chromolaparoscopy was the most reliable method for diagnosing tubal block. Out of 22 cases of tubal block by transvaginal sonosalpingography, 2 cases showed patent tubes by chromolaparoscopy and only in 20 cases, the tubal block was confirmed. Level of agreement between these two methods regarding bilateral block was found to be 40.9%. Regarding unilateral block, agreement was seen in 50% cases. On the whole, agreement regarding tubal block was 90.9%.Sensitivity of transvaginal sonosalpingography was found to be 95 %, whereas specificity was found to be 100 %. There were no false negative results by transvaginal sonosalpingography whereas 5% results were false positive. Allahabadia et al (1992) found that transvaginal sonosalpingography showed bilateral occlusion with sensitivity of 100% and tubal patency with 96% specificity. [61] Sensitivity and specificity of transvaginal sonosalpingography as diagnostic test for tubal patency by various studies: The results of this study confirm that both transvaginal sonosalpingography and chromolaparoscopy constitute valuable methods in the assessment of infertility. Though, superiority of chromolaparoscopy over transvaginal sonosalpingography has been clearly demonstrated but the 2 techniques should be considered complimentary and not as a substitute for each other. Transvaginal sonosalpingography can safely replace HSG for determining tubal patency as a routine diagnostic procedure. Trans-vaginal sonosalpingography when compared with HSG: Is more accurate in demonstrating the presence of tubal patency Is potentially safer. Is potentially more convenient and less expensive. Idiosyncracy to contrast agent cannot be expected. Can be performed on ambulatory basis. Trasvaginal sonosalpingography can be criticized on the grounds that- Exact site of tubal block cannot be determined Peritubal adhesions and mobility of tube cannot be properly assessed. It does not provide an accurate assessment of intrauterine and tubal anatomy. It is advocated that young women, as a first examination for fallopian tube patency, should undergo transvaginal sonosalpingography of the pelvis. If tubal patency is demonstrated, the patient should be recommended a six month trial period to become pregnant before invasive procedures are initiated. Chromolaparoscopy should be a vital part of the investigation in all cases of unexplained infertility as it may document hitherto unsuspected pelvic pathology. It is also an essential step former to any tubal surgery at it may not only preclude the requirement of operation but may also provide essential information regarding the nature and extent of future surgery. It is observed again that transvaginal sonosalpingography is not a substitute for chromolaparoscopy; it is offered as a screening test which is very cheap, noninvasive, simple, and cost effective with no infectious morbidity. It is a promising screening and diagnostic technique in evaluation of tubal patency on an ambulatory basis. 1

Don Pepe :: essays research papers fc

Like Castro, Gueverra, and Sandino, Jose Figueres Ferrer holds a place as one of the most important revolutionary and political forces in Latin American history. This so-called “father of modern Costa Rica'; led his country to revolution and eventual democracy. Known affectionately as “Don Pepe'; by his admirers, Figueres was both an enemy of communist and a thorn in the side of the United States. While putting down a communist regime and allying himself consistently with the U.S., Figueres was also a strong socialist and nationalist and would prove to be an enigma to U.S. policy makers during his terms as president. Despite the praise and admiration that Figueres enjoyed, a much darker side to his administration as well as an unmistakable duality in his dealings with the U.S. and democracy itself is seen in his political history.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Following a time of democracy in Costa Rica, in the early 40’s, then president Rafael Calderon allied himself with the Costa Rican communist party, Vanguardia Popular as well as the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza. Figueres would then give a radio speech disdaining Calderon and his actions which would lead to Figueres’ exile to Mexico in 1942. (Cockcroft, 232) Figueres returned in 1944, and an alleged fixing of the 1948 Costa Rican election was the window that he had been waiting for. Supported by the governments of Guatemala, Cuba, and the U.S., Figueres and his Army of National Liberation would force the surrender of President Picado, a puppet of Calderon, and the Vanguardia forces, Figueres would seize control of Costa Rica as the head of the revolutionary junta for eighteen months. Control was then turned over to the rightful winner of the 1948 election, and Figueres would return for three terms as president, the first in 1953 and the final beginning in 1970. (Longley, 3)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During his interim term following the revolution and his subsequent terms as president, Figueres would institute a number of changes that would steamroll Costa Rican democracy. Don Pepe began by extending suffrage and full political rights to blacks and women, a certain democratic move. He then instituted a ten percent tax on the very wealthy, which had no considerable backlash politically in Costa Rica due to the surprisingly large middle class. Figueres also established a presidential term limit and created an independent Electoral Tribunal to oversee future elections. In perhaps his most amazing and debated decree, Figueres disbanded the government army, thus protecting himself from the possibility of an out of hand military. Don Pepe :: essays research papers fc Like Castro, Gueverra, and Sandino, Jose Figueres Ferrer holds a place as one of the most important revolutionary and political forces in Latin American history. This so-called “father of modern Costa Rica'; led his country to revolution and eventual democracy. Known affectionately as “Don Pepe'; by his admirers, Figueres was both an enemy of communist and a thorn in the side of the United States. While putting down a communist regime and allying himself consistently with the U.S., Figueres was also a strong socialist and nationalist and would prove to be an enigma to U.S. policy makers during his terms as president. Despite the praise and admiration that Figueres enjoyed, a much darker side to his administration as well as an unmistakable duality in his dealings with the U.S. and democracy itself is seen in his political history.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Following a time of democracy in Costa Rica, in the early 40’s, then president Rafael Calderon allied himself with the Costa Rican communist party, Vanguardia Popular as well as the Nicaraguan dictator Somoza. Figueres would then give a radio speech disdaining Calderon and his actions which would lead to Figueres’ exile to Mexico in 1942. (Cockcroft, 232) Figueres returned in 1944, and an alleged fixing of the 1948 Costa Rican election was the window that he had been waiting for. Supported by the governments of Guatemala, Cuba, and the U.S., Figueres and his Army of National Liberation would force the surrender of President Picado, a puppet of Calderon, and the Vanguardia forces, Figueres would seize control of Costa Rica as the head of the revolutionary junta for eighteen months. Control was then turned over to the rightful winner of the 1948 election, and Figueres would return for three terms as president, the first in 1953 and the final beginning in 1970. (Longley, 3)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During his interim term following the revolution and his subsequent terms as president, Figueres would institute a number of changes that would steamroll Costa Rican democracy. Don Pepe began by extending suffrage and full political rights to blacks and women, a certain democratic move. He then instituted a ten percent tax on the very wealthy, which had no considerable backlash politically in Costa Rica due to the surprisingly large middle class. Figueres also established a presidential term limit and created an independent Electoral Tribunal to oversee future elections. In perhaps his most amazing and debated decree, Figueres disbanded the government army, thus protecting himself from the possibility of an out of hand military.

Shakespeares Macbeth does not Follow Aristotles Standards for a Trage

Macbeth does not Follow Aristotle's Standards for a Tragedy There have been many great tragic authors throughout history: Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles from ancient Greece; Corneille and Hugo from France; Grillparzer and Schiller from Germany; and Marlowe, Webster, and Shakespeare from England. From this long list of men, Shakespeare is the most commonly known. Many Shakespearean critics agree that Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet are great tragedies. Many critics also claim that Macbeth is a tragedy, but if one follows Aristotle's standards for a tragedy, Macbeth would not be a tragedy To really determine if Macbeth is a tragedy according to Aristotle, one must first look at his guidelines. The majority of Aristotle's standards relate to the downfall of the central character. To set the character up for a downfall, Aristotle thought he or she should be of the middle class. This was because he felt the poor had nothing to lose. He also felt the downfall should be caused by a fatal flaw. Another characteristic Aristotle believed was important, was a conflict between the central character and a close friend or relative. According to him, the main character should also have an enlightenment at the moment of his or her downfall. Aristotle also believed that the feelings of pity and fear should be felt by the audience during the play. He thought that these feelings would lead to a catharsis, or release of emotions. Although most of Aristotle's characteristics of a tragedy had to do with the downfall, he had two that did not. First, he thought the central character should not be totally good or evil. This was based on the belief that the ruin of a totally good character would be too painful, and the ruin of a totally bad char... ... not even thank is wife for the plan that made him king. Due to Malcolm's final speech, the reader is left with positive, not negative feelings. Overall Macbeth is not a tragedy according the Aristotle's standards. Macbeth's downfall does follow the guidelines: he has something to lose, he has a downfall, and he has conflicts with his friends and relatives during his downfall. But, the heart of the play, which is the emotions created, just do not follow Aristotle's standards. The reader should feel pity, and grieve. Yet, there is no reason to feel this way because Macbeth is all evil, and in the end, the "good guy" is restored to power. Shakespeare put forth good effort in trying to make Macbeth a tragedy, but he came up too short. Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. â€Å"Macbeth.† The Complete Works of Shakespeare. Ed. David Bevington. New York: Longman, 1997.

Economic Impact of Natural Disasters Essay

Natural disasters are catastrophes hauled by the nature on man. They may bring about large scale destruction depending on the type of natural disaster. Natural disasters include a range of hazards which may cause widespread devastation and human and animal casualties. They range from floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, cyclones, tornadoes, tsunamis, avalanches, volcanic eruptions, famine, heat wave and droughts etc. Natural disasters in the past were mostly unpredictable however, with the advancement of science and technology numerous authentic ways of previously detecting the possibility of natural disasters have developed. Nevertheless, even with the invention of modern scientific ways and pre-disaster preparations, human societies are not completely safe from the terrible outcomes of the disasters. The calamities bring with them huge destructions to land, property, human lives and the economy of region concerned. Natural Disasters are not only destructive for the land, people and buildings; they are also at times economically crippling. â€Å"Natural disasters affect people and their livelihoods or their ability to earn a living and support their families. Ultimately, then, severe natural disasters not only destroy people and property, they also affect the economy of the affected region. † (Stoltman, Lidstone and Dichano p. 297) Disasters heavy burden on the economy of the government since it has to make huge monetary expenditures on the recovery of the catastrophe-stricken area and rehabilitation of the victimized population. â€Å"These actions may lead to the postponement of or abandonment of planned investments, reductions in the provisions of public services and deferment of wage and salary increases and of staff appointments. † (Benson and Clay p. 29) This may mean huge losses will be incurred to the economy from this aspect as well in the long run. It is also believed that since in modern times the possible occurrence of a disaster can be predicted, the government has to take safety steps which also incur huge costs; though these safety measures may not even be able to fully protect the area from destruction, which is true in most cases. Hence the cost spent of safety measures is also nearly lost. In the United States natural disasters have been quite frequent and the governments during different times have been able to cope with the economic stress brought about by the calamities. However, sometimes exceptions did exist especially in the past when the technology was not as developed as it is today and the pace with which the rehabilitation should occur was not as fast as in today’s advanced society. America has faced all kinds of disasters from floods, hurricanes, cyclones, volcanic eruptions to heat waves, blizzards and tsunami. Hurricanes and cyclones have been more frequent in some areas prone to such type of disasters. North America especially the United States has generally been successful in holding down the death tolls even in very destructive incidents. (Stoltman, Lidstone and Dechano p. 323) Some natural disasters which occurred in the United States are being discussed from the point of view of the economic destruction they brought. Super Outbreak The largest and the worst known and recorded outbreak of a series of tornadoes over a period of 24 hour in nearly thirteen states of USA took place on 3rd and 4th of April, 1974 and are known as the super outbreak. It is believed by some to the â€Å"worst out break of the 20th century†. (Super Outbreak NOAA) 148 confirmed tornadoes caused widespread damage and destruction in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and New York. It extensively damaged approximately 900 square miles (1,440 square kilometers) along a total combined path length of 2,600 miles (4,160 km). (Super Outbreak Wikipedia). Reported to have begun around the afternoon and continued for a huge duration of 18 hours, the super outbreak lead to large number of casualties, injured and great loss to the buildings and revenue. According to the statistics caused 315 to 330 people’s deaths altogether in all the affected states, 5,484 victims were injured and 27, 590 families suffered the losses of the disaster. Overall estimated damage ranges from $3. 5 billion to $6. 0 billion according to varying sources. (Statistics taken from â€Å"Super Outbreak† Wikipedia and NOAA). Most of the losses incurred were due to the property damage, damage to basic facilities of life like roads, rail tracks which form the means of communication to other areas were severely affected. Tornadoes incurred maximum damage in areas where their intensity was at their peak. â€Å"Hanover was 90% damaged and destroyed. † (Super Outbreak Wikipedia)The task of rehabilitating the areas was not a small one; in fact it spread over 13 US states and a heavy burden was on the government. The estimated cost of the damage to the Hanover College alone was about $10 million. (Super Outbreak Wikipedia) Estimated damage to about 11 schools amounted to $7, 705, 000 in total with some schools not being included in the list. (Super Outbreak NOAA) Rebuilding huge structures is a humungous task. The recovery of all the basic facilities of life like availability of food, water and shelter and means of communication along with the availability of electricity; all had to be provided efficiently and effectively to all the victims of the disaster. In addition the medical costs of those injured had to be met by the government. Measures had to be taken to prevent disease epidemics from erupting in areas facing sanitation problems. These costs were those which had to be used in investments and on other progressive developmental projects, however, due to the disaster a huge amount was now spent on rehabilitation and recovery of victims of the super outbreak. This did not put a temporary burden on the government’s economy but actually affected all those possible ways of economic progress which were being sought through future investment plans. Louisiana Flood 8th May, 1995 â€Å"The United States has a long history of attempting to deal with hazards beginning with floods and focus has been on mitigation. † After experimenting with dams, levees also became discredited after the expenditure of $200 million in 1927. â€Å"That year a massive flood left 250 dead and 700,000 temporarily homeless. † (Stoltman, Lidstone and Dechano p. 326) This proved that no matter what preventive measures may be taken, the losses incurred by the natural disasters (may they be losses of life or economic losses) cannot be fully prevented. Another huge disaster experienced in the history of natural disasters in the USA was the Louisiana flood of 1995. The flooding was actually on set by excessive continued raining from 7th till 8th of May, 1995. Cities like Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish, including the cities of New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, River Ridge, Harahan, Slidell, and Covington etc. All these areas were severely affected and experienced huge losses due to the flood. Six people died as a result of the flooding. The city of New Orleans suffered $360 million in damages, and the damage of the surrounding areas put that total above $1 billion. Some 56,000 homes were damaged in 12 Parishes. Thousands of cars were flooded. 14,600 homes and apartments were flooded in Jefferson Parish. The cause of the massive rain fall totals was a stalled out frontal system from the northwest. It produced a train effect, in which rain and/or thunderstorms continued to form over the same area. Pumping stations were overwhelmed and could not pump out the water into Lake Pontchartrain. The pumping stations are only rated to pump one inch per hour maximum. (May 8th 1995 Louisiana Flood Wikipedia) In addition to meeting the huge costs of restoration of normal living standards, the government was also concerned to take steps to prevent such disastrous conditions as much as possible in the future. The countries economy was once again weighed down by the responsibility of taking prospective and effective safety measures. Such catastrophic rainfall floods were planned to be prevented by building high costing much more effective pumps to remove the rain water before build up develops. 1994 Northridge Earthquake The Northridge earthquake occurring on the January 17th 1994 caused large scale devastation and a lot of economic damage as compared to its relatively low intensity of 6. 7 on the Richter scale and low duration. â€Å"Yet in terms of financial losses Northridge is one of the worst disasters in US history. 57 people were killed and 72 deaths were attributed to the earthquake. 11,800 people received hospital treatment for injuries and 22,000 people were left homeless. † (Petak and Elahi Northridge earthquake USA) Direct losses, like damages to residential and commercial buildings, roads and bridges, means of telecommunication, agriculture and lifelines (like water supply and sewerage lines were damaged) etc altogether amounted to $41. 8 billion. Infrastructural losses like water, gas and power demanded immediate action just as the rescue and recovery of those trapped. Basic necessities of life had to be provided without delay just as immediate medical treatment was essential for the injured. â€Å"Life line damage was estimated $ 2 billion but later was found to have exceeded. † (Petak and Elahi Northridge earthquake USA) Damage to schools was also costly and the cost was approximately $100 million. (Petak and Elahi Northridge earthquake USA) It was a sorry state of affairs that the hospitals were also damaged nearly 31 in number and 9 were forced to evacuate. (Petak and Elahi Northridge earthquake USA) This caused serious problems since the injured had to be dealt with in the hospitals and the transportation systems were damaged to take them to nearby safer areas for the purpose of treatment. However the airports were relatively less damaged or almost not damaged at all. The earthquake wreaked havoc on numerous massive buildings including centers of trade and commerce and shopping plazas, bridges and roads. The destruction of roads and bridges lead to serious complications and further economic loss. Lack of transportation caused various business dealings to be delayed, the damage to office buildings also acted as an aggravating factor in this situation and incurring indirect financial loss. â€Å"The area’s largest shopping center, the Northridge Fashion Center was virtually destroyed and did not open for more than a year and a half. † (Petak and Elahi Northridge earthquake USA) Business loss literally affected the country’s economy which was already dealing with the blow the earthquake had given to it. The overall business losses were estimated to be $15. 2 billion. However, the situations were quickly dealt with which meant that supply was meeting the demand. The area took some time before it was fully restored despite the fact that the recovery process and the aid being provided were both quick and effective. Hurricane Katrina In terms of material as well as economic destruction, Hurricane Katrina, occurring on the 23rd of August, 2005, was one of the worst natural disasters to have affected the US in most recent times. Failure of levee system in New Orleans and Louisiana lead to great loss of life and property. This was greatly criticized since modern day technology demands much more effective measures to be taken by the government in preventing huge catastrophes like hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina has managed to shatter the economy for good. It has caused huge damages to the oil and gas production causing major damage to many oil platforms and leading to the shut down of refineries. â€Å"The total shut-in oil production from the Gulf of Mexico in the six-month period following Katrina was approximately 24% of the annual production and the shut-in gas production for the same period was about 18%. † (Hurricane Katrina Wikipedia)This is a sorry state of affairs since the damage to done to other business market, business dealings and buildings, is apart from this damage to the oil and gas industry. Along with the destruction of various job opportunities the forest industry was also affected. People were not only left homeless but also unemployed and the country’s constant gain through income tax from these previously employed also halted because of the loss of their jobs. Families were left without a means of livelihood and problems of poverty were becoming increasingly significant. â€Å"It is estimated that the total economic impact in Louisiana and Mississippi may exceed $150 billion† (Hurricane Katrina Wikipedia) It is a natural phenomenon that loss of employment opportunities and unavailability of basic needs of the people causes them to move places in search of better opportunities in all fields of life. This has a negative effect not only on the areas which are left, because their chances of future progress become dim, but also of those areas which are over burdened by the influx of people. These areas come under economic pressure because now they have to provide jobs, residential areas and food for more people on the same available resources. This holds very true especially in the case of victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The economic lows in their region forced them to migrate to other regions or states which also suffered a set back when burdened by an extra population to be supported. Conclusion Analysis of the US attitude towards natural disasters has shown that US governments have been active and keen on preventing as well as providing immediate remedies to the disaster stricken people. However, the preventive measures like levee system have not been cost effective. They have not proved to be good in preventing huge damages. Amount spent on these preventive measures is wasted once the disaster strikes. On the other hand, effective and efficient help is provided for the recovery of the victims and the destructed area but the economic blow is very strong. In many areas the fast rehabilitation system is not enough though and migration of people to other states causes burden on those states. The economic damage due post-disaster era is caused due to direct and indirect causes. The direct causes include destruction of buildings especially corporate and residential ones and providence of basic facilities of life to the victims and injured and indirect damage is incurred by mainly destructed transportations, repair, rehabilitation and rechecking of newly built structures for safety. â€Å"Disasters can cause government revenues to fall since lower levels of economic activity including possible net declines in imports and exports imply reduced direct and indirect tax revenues. † (Benson and Clay p. 29) Hence, modern day technology demands our government to take better and more reliable preventive measures to avoid huge damages from disasters which can prove to be long term economic set backs. Works Cited Benson, Charlotte and Clay, Edward J. Understanding the Economic and Financial Impacts of Natural Disasters. 2004. World Bank Publications â€Å"Hurricane Katrina. † Wikipedia. 26 April 2008. Petak, William J and Elahi, Shirin. â€Å"The Northridge Earthquake USA and its Economic and Social Impacts. † 26 April 2008 Stoltman, Joseph P. Lidstone, John and Dechano Lisa M. International Perspectives on Natural Disasters. 2005. Springer Publishers. â€Å"Super Outbreak†. NOAA’S National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office. Northern Indiana. 26 April 2008. â€Å"Super Outbreak† Wikipedia. 26 April 2008.

A Comparative Study of Date Leaves as Mulch for Tomato Plants Essay

Science Investigatory projects Dried Papaya Leaves as Organic Mulch for Tomato Plants Mulching in agricultural provides a safe yet equally profitable method of enriching and fertilizing the soil planted with crops. Most often-used mulches are of organic composition, such as dry leaves and barks. Unlike synthetic fertilizers and herbicides, these organic mulches pose no or little damage to the soil and crops. Usually defined as the use of organic and biodegradable materials to give plants the nutrients they need, organic farming proved to be the safest and most effective method of increasing and sustaining yield. Various methods fall under organic farming, such as composting, green manuring, legume inoculating, and utilizing animal manure as fertilizers. Mulching is a simple process that increases soil fertility and regulating several factors affecting overall plant growth. In this method, a layer of material-the mulch-is placed on soil surface around the plant. The mulch is used to retard the growth of weeds, protect roots and stems from sudden or extreme temperature changes, reduce soil erosion by wind and water, retard runoff of rainfall, prevent soil puddling by breaking the impact of raindrops, and keep flowers and fruits from being spattered with mud during rainstorms Used Cooking Oil as an Additive Component of Candle The study aims to produce a low-priced, high-quality candle by using used cooking oil as a major component. The following candle compositions were used: 100 percent paraffin wax; 90 percent paraffin and 10 percent oil; 80 percent paraffin and 20 percent oil; 70 percent paraffin and 30 percent oil; 60 percent paraffin and 40 percent oil; 50 percent paraffin and 50 percent oil. The firmness, texture, and light intensity of the candles were tested and compared. Today, candles are made not only for lighting purposes but for many other uses such as home dà ©cor, novelty collections, as fixtures for big occasions (weddings, baptismals, etc.), and as scented varieties for aromatherapy. Candles are made from different types of waxes and oils. Cooking oil is a major kitchen item in Filipino households. It is also used substantially in fast-food outlets, where it is used in different stages of food preparations. Ordinarily, used cooking oil is discarded. This waste oil pollutes and clogs canals and sewerage systems.

Payroll Accounting Chap. 3 Matching and Questions for Review

CHAPTER 3 Matching Quiz E1. Employee’s FICA Tax Rates D2. Form SS-4 H3. Semi Weekly Depositor J4. Taxable for FICA A5. Non Taxable for FICA I6. Self-Employed’s FICA Tax Rates C7. Form 941 B8. Monthly Depositor G9. Taxable Wage Base F10. Form SS-5 CHAPTER 3 Review Questions 1. If the person employs 1 or more individuals for performances of services in the US unless such services or employment are specifically exempt by law. 2. Defined by the common-law relationship of employer/employee 3. If the business has the right to tell a worker how, when, and where to work 4. a person who follows an independent trade, business, or profession.Where they offer their services to the public the following is the â€Å"test†: Hire, supervise, & pay assistants Determine the sequence of their work Set their own hours Work for as many employers as they wish Are paid by the job Make their services available to the public Have an option for profit or loss Furnish their own tools Have a substantial investment in their trade May be dismissed only under terms of a contract 5a. They must collect the employee’s FICA tax on tips that each employee reports. Then deduct the FICA taxes from other wages due to the employee 5b.Employers are liable for their share of the FICA tax on any tips subject to the employees FICA tax 6. After 6 months of consecutive calendar months the sick pay is not taxed. Period off work MUST be consecutive any return to work restarts the 6 month count. 7. They are subject to FICA tax but the employer’s match portion is tax free. 8. YES!!!! The amount of over payment is credited against the employee’s federal income tax for the year. Instructions are given on the Individual Income Tax Return (Form 1040) that explain how the over payment should be treated. So file your taxes John!!! 9a. 3. 3 % 2013-Projected 10. 4% for OASDI 2. 9% for HI b. Usually the net business income of individual as shown in their income tax returns make up their net earnings from self employment for the purpose of the social security act. The max taxable income for an individual is $110,100 for OASDI but for HI the total income is taxable 10. The EIN’s can be obtained directly from the IRS website. No registration is required and the EIN is recognized by the IRS immediately or they can call the IRS or mail or fax the SS-4 (Application for EIN) 11. The requirements are based on the â€Å"lookback† period.The amount of employment tax the employer reported on the quarterly returns for the 4 quarters in the lookback period determines if they are a monthly or semi monthly depositors. Each Nov. the IRS notifies employers weather they will be monthly or semimonthly depositors. 12. Pretty much all employers except those with a $2,500 or less in ? tax liabilities that pay when they file their returns. 13. Generally by touch tone phone, personal computer, or online 14. Generally 3 months of each calendar year 15a. A certain % of the amount of tax required to be reported will be added to the tax. . 5% of the undeposited taxes c. 2% of the amount (if less than $1,250 then penalty is $25 or the amount of the check, whichever is less) Practical Problems A (please see the Excel file for the rest of the problems and then I am mailing in the forms used for problems 3-11A, 3-12A, 3-13A, 3-14A, & 3-15A) 3-15A LO4,5 b. 1. Jan. 182. Feb. 63. Feb. 204. Mar. 65. Mar. 20 6. Apr. 3 3-16A LO5 1. Apr. 15 2. a250. 52505 * 10% = 250. 50 b. 12. 532505 * ? % = 12. 53 c. 3. 712505 * 3% * (18/365) = 3. 7118 days late d. 266. 74 Total Penalty Imposed

Raynair Business Model Essay

This year, Air Scoop is publishing an updated report on Ryanair’s Business Model, with a new task in mind. Starting from what was built last year, the 2011 Ryanair report has been conceived with a double objective in mind: to provide readers with a brief, compelling, synthesis of Ryanair’s business model and highlight new elements and evolutions in Ryanair’s skies. In no way is that report intended as a replacement of the one published last year, rather as a complement that should provide anyone interested in the European low-cost industry with a wealth of information on the market’s most important company. Conceptually, the 2011 report was elaborated along two different axis of analysis. In a first part, the report starts by taking a look at Ryanair’s revenues and expenses. According to the company itself, if Ryanair has grown so fast, it is thanks to an efficient mix of ever increasing sources of income and ever wider cost-cutting measures in all services. For this reason, the 2011 report looks, item by item, at Ryanair’s cost-cutting, profit-maximising strategies. From the most discussed to the lesser known tactics, the goal is to show how Ryanair has managed and still manages to constantly extract increasing income from its passengers while maintaining rock-bottom prices, through a relatively complex fare system and a slew of ancillary services. The report also investigates Ryanair’s largely misunderstood relationship with its own assets and how the airline managed to practically neutralise costs usually associated with aircraft and human resources, even turning airports into direct sources of revenues. The second part of the report is dedicated to a more analytical approach of the airline’s structure, providing the reader with an analysis of what Air Scoop judges to be the three main strengths of the airline. Namely, Ryanair’s legal strategy, whose dominant feature is an extremely proactive stance towards anything even remotely menacing to the airline, deterring irate customers from engaging legal action and submerging European regulators with complaints. Second, and perhaps most important, is Ryanair’s financial structure itself, through which the airline has optimised every part of its business, taking advantage of varying legal and fiscal frameworks all around Europe. Third is the most visible, but also possibly the least understood, part of Ryanair’s package for success, its communication. The airline, mainly through its hyper-charismatic CEO, Michael O’Leary, has managed to be present in every form of media outlet almost daily. Whether it be in good or bad terms, Ryanair is being talked about, and gets into customers’ minds and on every newstand in Europe. The traditional pricing system means that â€Å"fundamentally, each flight must be paid for by exactly one fare, but a single fare may pay for more than one flight. Multiple fares may be combined to pay for all the flights in a journey. The airline industry uses the term fare component (FC) to refer to a fare and the flights it pays for (covers)†1. Fare components can be combined in six different geometric figures (ranging from direct trip to elaborate circle trip), any combination of one to four fare components qualifies as a â€Å"Priceable Unit† (PU). A ticket can be built from any number of priceable units to form a coherent sellable trip. Some more restrictions may apply such as rules indicating that there â€Å"must be a Saturday night between departure of first flight in first fare component of priceable unit and departure of first flight and last fare component†2. This results in an incredibly complex faring system in the traditional airline industry and low transparency for customers. Many low-cost carriers use a different pricing system. Because companies such as Ryanair rely on a point-to-point rather than a hub-and-spoke system, they cannot offer similarly connected flights. Ryanair has decided to turn this into an advantage and offer simply-priced â€Å"point A to point B† tickets, avoiding the hassle of elaborating complex ticket structures and allowing the company to deny any responsibility in a missed connection while having the opportunity to intensively utilise aircraft and crews.

Film Genre Essay

â€Å"Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality†. Popular fascination with shock, horror and psychological thriller genre has been situated at an ultimate high, with school students wanting to learn about these popular genres. From watching videos and reading books from these exquisite genres, students receive various in site from the different eras and how those particular eras were controlled. Throughout the range of poetic genres each author has their own way of express feelings, protruding language techniques and helps show and feels emotions. Authors who illustrate genres in a particular way should be a part of the English curriculum, for the way they display the particular genres and help students understand the nature of fear, guilt and human conscience. Particular language techniques are used in shock, horror and psychological thriller genres. The language techniques have changed intensely over the years and this is due to how lifestyles are controlled and how woman and men portray themselves to each other. The differences between sentences from today society and society from years ago have changed dramatically. A sentence from ‘Macbeth,† Wherefore was that cry†. Today’s society â€Å"what was that noise or where did that noise come from†. Another quote from Edgar Allan Poe shows that the sentence structure were simple but complex and had intended to mean so much through such little words, â€Å"We loved with a love that was more than love.† Sentence from Authors who lived in different eras are interesting to study because we received a brilliant in site to how the language techniques were portrayed to being simple but complex. With the evidence provided, it is easy to see that Authors from different eras have much better language techniques. From directors, narrators, author and actor, in their plays, movies and shows a high variety on universal themes are shown. A universal theme is human emotions that the audience can relate to throughout the play, movie or show. A universal theme is themes were the actor or character is feeling sad, happy, angry or betrayed. Universal themes are defiantly very important for a student to learn about, and understand these different terms. These themes are used to interact with the audience and make the audience involved and when using universal themes in a scene it helps the audience interact  with that particular scene and helps the audience feel apart. Thirdly, students in today’s society are more engaging in English themes that they are wanting to learn about or what they enjoy learning about. With shock, Horror and the Psychological thriller genre at high demands and statistics say that these 3 genres are the most demanded genres in the world. With Shock, horror and psychological thriller genre being taught in schools, will most likely make school students engage in the Lesson more because they want to actually learn and be involved in the lesson. The final criterion is the difference in shock, horror and psychological thriller genre to now and 100 years ago has changed dramatically. These genres a long time ago were about simple fighting, simple killing, blood and guts. And in this century these genres mean people playing sick mind games and torturing, ghosts, demons, spirits, haunted houses, more in depth gory scenes and lots more. It is very important for students to learn about the difference in these genres and to compare them together they have changed a lot. School students today learn a lot from shock, horror and psychological thriller genre. The students learn a lot from particular language techniques, universal themes and how these particular genres have changed and evolved over time. If the Queensland censorship board considers banning these genres, they are taking a lot away about history that students need to learn about and are essential to the English learning curriculum.

Comparison of Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine Coursework

Comparison of Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine - Coursework Example In traditional medicine, the traditional healers consider a person healthy when the body and the mind are healthy that is the treatment of a disease cannot be done in different body parts. The benefit of using the traditional medicine is that they use natural methods of treatment (Gevitz, 2004). The demerit of using the method is the treatment based on beliefs that may cause treatment of the wrong disease. Allopathic medicine focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of human disease in parts. It is used to refer to conventional health care systems of treatment using surgery and prescription medications. The major advantage of using the allopathic medicine is that its fast healing while its disadvantage is that it may cause death or severe side effects when drugs are excessively consumed. On the other hand, osteopathic medicine is based on mind-body treatment in that the body is made up of organs that combine to make a unit. This unit is capable of regulating itself and maintaining its health. The body system structure of as well as its function are reciprocally related, and treatment of the body is based on the principles of body unity, self-regulation as well as the relationship of the organ structure along with functions. The merit is; it encourages the body to heal itself by increasing circulation and reduce blood pressure (Gevitz, 2004). On the other hand, it causes headaches and

'The stoning of Soraya m.' movie review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

'The stoning of Soraya m.' - Movie Review Example The stoning of Soraya tells a true story about victims of stoning in modern Iran. The story is deeply moving, and if one watches this film, he will never forget Soraya. The main protagonist is a journalist who gets lost in the small village when his car stalls. He is approached by a woman called Zahra who narrates with great sorrow the stoning of her niece, Soraya, the previous day. In the movie, a lot of positive changes can be seen as regarding the general Hollywood theme of damsel in distress, who gets rescued. The end of the movie is bittersweet. In the end, Soraya still gets stoned and dies a bloody death. However, women are strongly portrayed as being very strong in this film. This is demonstrated by the zeal with which Soraya’s aunt, Zahra, fights the local authorities and other opposing forces to ensure that the story of her nieces stoning is told to the rest of the world. She is also very daring and this is illustrated when she slaps the village chief. The good thing about this kind of portrayal is that it changes people’s perception about Muslim women. While most films always portray them as weak and voiceless, this film shows their strength and endurance. Soraya shows great courage even in the face of great injustice. She does not scream out that she is innocent because she knows it is a futile thing to do. Instead, she calmly addresses the crowd and then takes what comes with dignity. Her aunt also shows great strength because of the things she endures to ensure her niece gets justice. Not only does she have to face death threats several times, she hides the original tape of the happenings and ensures the journalist gets it in the end. This movie portrays a society in which the men use religion to peddle lies and to oppress women. In most instances, people have termed Islam as a bad religion because of such practices. Not so with the stoning of soraya. This movie

Literature Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Literature review Example 80). For example, a 24/7 customer support service is available to customers in case of online businesses which is not there usually in case of traditional businesses. If we talk about online clothing sale business, we can say that it is a wonderful approach towards such business as it provides benefits for both customers and the company in terms of increased convenience for customers and increased customer base for the company. E-retailing actually started in 1997 by Dell computers. Today, there are a large number of companies that are doing their businesses online, such as, The Outnet, E-bay, and Amazon. The Outnet is one of the most successful UK clothing e-retailers. The company operates its business online and offers a wide range of luxury clothing products, such as, bags, shoes, clothes, and other garments to the customers. To ensure efficient working of business processes, the company has implemented an efficient management information system that keeps the business information up-to-date. The information system makes use of information technology tools for the processing of information and generation of reports (Earl 1996). As Oz (2009, p.9) states, â€Å"Information is the lifeblood of any organization†. ... Almost every company having online presence needs to manage the details of business processes and other information in the database in order to carry out the business processes effectively. According to Stahl (2008, p. 1), management information systems promote efficiency and effective control of business processes. The Outnet would have been a failure without the implementation of information system because it is a customer-oriented company and needs to be efficient in managing the information about customers’ orders and payments. Therefore, information management is one of the basic needs of an online retailer company in order to succeed in today’s competitive environment. If we talk about the benefits of online shopping for customers, we can say that customers find it very easy and convenient to do online shopping as it saves them a lot of time, energy, and money in terms of reduced traveling costs. Similarly, in today’s busy world, customers do not have much time to go to stores physically and spend a lot of time to select and purchase clothes. They prefer to do online shopping because they can do it from anywhere and any time. They do not have to dedicate some part of their time for shopping; rather they can do it while doing other personal or professional life activities. For example, people can do online shopping within the break they usually get in office hours. Similarly, a woman can check out latest clothing fashions on the websites of online companies while doing household activities. Moreover, they can also easily search many other alternatives to choose the best bag, a pair of shoes, or any other clothing product. A

Mission, aims and objectives of Tesco PLC Essay

Mission, aims and objectives of Tesco PLC - Essay Example This way, Tesco seeks to be valued not only by its customers, but also by the communities it serves, its employees and its shareholders. This vision is a qualitative long term target for Tesco as a business thus one could arguably state that it describes the Group’s aims. The company used the above stated mission and vision statements to develop seven corporate objectives. These seven corporate objectives are quantifiable medium to long-term targets that inform Tesco’s corporate strategy. The first objective for Tesco is to continue to grow its UK core market. The UK is the largest business in the Group and a key driver of sales and profit. In 2011, the UK contributed 68% of the Group’s trading profit (Tesco 2011a). The second objective is to be an outstanding international retailer both in stores and online. The company is currently in 14 markets outside the UK that contribute 25% of the Group’s profits. The third objective is to be as strong in everyth ing the company sells as they are in food. This involves broadening their products and services offering. The fourth objective is to grow their broadening retail services in all the markets where the Group operates. Tesco has largely focused their retailing services within the UK market. The three remaining objectives are: to put the Group’s responsibilities to the communities it serves at the heart of what the organisation does; to be a creator of highly valued brands; and to build their team so that the organisation creates more value. Tesco’s organizational diagram Tesco is a large, multinational organisation. This naturally leads to the organisation adopting a huge and complex organisational structure that has to delegate roles and responsibilities across the world. The diagram shown above only covers the executive level of the Group and does not include the board of directors, to whom the Group CEO, Philip Clarke reports. Evaluate how the choice of structure of an organisation can affect the way the organization is run Organisational structure refers to the patterns of relationships between roles in an organisation and its different parts. Some define it as the system of organizational rules, divided into rules regulating the behaviour of people and rules regulating the functioning of machines (Scheidegger 1997). It deals with issues such as responsibility, authority, communication, coordination, and control. A more modern definition is suggested by McMillan (2002) who defined organizational structure as the visible and invisible architecture that connects and weaves together all aspects of an organisation’s activities so that it functions as a complete dynamic entity. How an organisation is run depends on the competitive strategy that is has adopted. For example pursuing a differentiation strategy requires the business to be run differently than when the business is pursuing a low cost leadership strategy. For this reason, Chand ler (1962) argued that structure follows strategy in organizations. Strategy is the determination of long-term goals and objectives, courses of action and allocation of resources, and structure is the way the organization is put together to administer that strategy, with all the

Choose a business function (e.g. marketing HR finance) and outline and Essay - 1

Choose a business function (e.g. marketing HR finance) and outline and discuss the changing nature of work and employment in thi - Essay Example The project tries to explore the key influential factors resulting in such changes with emphasis on the challenges faced by the human resource management departments on organizations. External Factors influencing the changing nature of human resource management practices Few of the major factors that have been undergoing dramatic changes in the global scenario have been increasingly posing threat towards organizations. Consequently their business needs have also undergone changes. Technological factors, the economic challenges, and changes in the local and governmental issues are some of the key factors worth mentioning in this context. Workforce diversities, unions and political factors have also been responsible towards changing the human resource management practices in organizations. Predominantly the organization structure and culture has demonstrated changes. Globalization has generated different forms of human resource management functions in the global competitive environment . Firms which have been competing in the global competitive environment have been facing with numerous new demands on their people and their organizations. They also seem to be pushed into different and contradictory directions. In response to this, new global organizing paradigms are concentrated on the complementarities, and not on the trade-offs, on management processes, not on the organizational structures and procedures. It demonstrates a shift away from the static and traditional solutions to the global business challenges towards the acceptance of global organizations as being an evolving and dynamic network (Pucik, â€Å"Human Resources: An Obstacle to Globalization?†). The changing economic environment has also driven changes in the human resource management practices in firms. With the increasing significance and presence of the MNCs as being crucial players of the global economy, there has also been an increasing interest on the concept of international human resou rce management of these MNCs. In spite of the growing importance of this IHRM as being one of the most innovative sources of competitive advantage, there has been very little research on ways to manage the globally dispersed mass of employees belonging to the MNCs effectively. A number of studies have been conducted by the application of greater theory driven conceptual frameworks, for better understanding of the multinational corporations and the international human resources management practices undertaken in them. Following are some of the findings from the results. Firstly the general result that followed is that the human resource management practices remain localized to reflect the differences in the cultural and regulatory environments between the host and the home countries. This primarily throws light on the fact that these multinational organizations require modifying their parent human resource management practices in the overseas subsidiaries in order to achieve a degree of isomorphism with the environmental institutions of the host countries (Kim & Gray, â€Å"Summary, limitations and suggestions for further research†). Recently organizations are also faced with the growing challenge of confronting and managing workforce diversities. The shifting business realities and the social and demographic changes have increased the workforce diversi

Middle eastern cuisine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Middle eastern cuisine - Essay Example Marriage entails two individuals to be together, living under the same roof, hopefully for the rest of their lives. Now what can one expect if this marriage is composed of spouses whose cultures greatly differ from each other?3 In answer to this, the paper aims to explore the different causes of issues in interracial marriages in an effort to find answers to why some individuals and societies view such marriages with hostility. Arab Religion and Culture Islam dominates the Arab world, 4 with their laws and culture revolving mainly around the beliefs and practices deemed lawful or acceptable by the religion.5 If one is aware of the Arab culture and beliefs, it is easy to see centuries-old practices and stereotypes that could be strikingly different from other cultures around the world. Even non-Muslim Arabs have a set of practices that are unique to this race. This region of the world is highly patriarchal, and even though the western idea of gender equality may have reached some soci eties, particularly non-Muslim societies, there is still a segregation of gender roles in every family unit.

Equity vs. Equality and Merit in Compensation Essay

Equity vs. Equality and Merit in Compensation - Essay Example The author of the essay Equity vs. Equality and Merit in Compensation makes a detailed analysis of considerations related to the principles of equity and equality that has been very much a part of the debate about the structure of reward or compensation systems since the early 1970s. Researcher finds that apart from issues related to the inequality of sexes in a society and gender mainstreaming, the principles of equity and inequality also have an impact on matters related to egalitarianism, racial equality and poverty alleviation as well as the satisfaction of the wants or desires of an individual through the selling of their skills and expertise. At the end the author comes to the interesting and thought-provoking conclusion. Whereas the principles of equity and equality as well as the notion of merit in the allocation of resources or rewards, such as compensation or wages represent some of the fundamental considerations associated with such decisions, employees generally feel happ y when they know that they have been fairly treated in regard to their compensation under the circumstances in which they may find themselves. Equity with an attempt to consider the requirements of a job when deciding on pay usually results in the fairest determination of compensation as an individual is fitted to a job. Equality is fair for a group, but can disadvantage individuals while recognition of merit provides employee satisfaction in terms of the recognition of their outstanding work efforts.